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Seattle-North – Next Meeting is Groundhog’s Day 2/2/17

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

Important note regarding meeting arrangements. For the months of February, March, and April we will be meeting downstairs in the church Fellowship Hall, not upstairs where we have been. That space is being used to temporarily house a tax service. However, the church hosts community dinners in the Fellowship Hall on the evenings we meet. Those dinners end at 7:00, so their clean-up will overlap our set-up. Therefore, we may encounter some situations where we need to be flexible.

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, February 2, 2017. The agenda includes a “surprise” video which is supposed to build on the theme of our last meeting, the “Rocky Mountain Express”. If time permits, we will also do another installment of our fallen flags mini-clinics and/or start a discussion of creating layout backgrounds.

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Seattle-North Clinic

The Footplate, January 2017

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner, 4th Division Superintendent

This is the first issue of a monthly article I will be publishing about the activities inside our 4th Division. I hope you enjoy it.

We have just completed the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show. Before that, many participated in the Christmas show at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, The Great American Train Show and last weekend the World’s Greatest Hobby Show in Puyallup. We are well into our operating season.

These shows are our major outreach to the public and, in the case of the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show, the source of our annual funding. Last year, we added support for one more modular group and funded a trailer for the OmNi-Rail modular group.

So what’s ahead? The Tacoma Layout Tour, the 4D Spring Meet (which includes our annual Division Meeting), Spokane Falls Express (SFX 2017, the PNR Convention in Spokane), the NMRA Annual Convention (in Orlando, Florida), the National Narrow Gauge Convention (which will be in Denver, Colorado this year) and all our local clinics including the new Burien Clinic at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives in Burien. Does that leave any time to model and work on our layouts? Well, from postings in the Grab Iron and on Facebook, many of us are doing a lot. Please keep sharing comments and photos.

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Superintendent’s Message

Mt Vernon Clinic Report January 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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By John O’Connell

When Ted Becker opened the Clinic, we had 33 in attendance including two guests, Chuck Tracey and Ron Gutzmer and first timer, Steve Pickens. Welcome all!

Upcoming Events and Clinics

February 9: Bob Stafford, Retired BNSF Trainmaster will speak on Operations in Bellingham

February 25, 26:   United North West Club’s Train Show, Monroe – http://www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

March 9: Hands on Working Session

April 13:  Mini-Clinics

May 11:  TBD

Kit Build

Mike O’Brien was pleased to note that we have 13 kits in progress as evidenced by their builders bringing their projects and putting them on display. A great start!

A sample of DPM kits in progress

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Mt Vernon Clinic

January Tacoma Clinic Report

Written by Dale Kraus
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Dale G Kraus, Photos by Author

Host Gene Swanson welcomed a full house Thursday night to hear Al Babinsky explain maintenance and lubrication procedures used by The Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers (PSMRE) to maintain the four trains that run on the eight scale mile “auto loop” at the Washington State History Museum.

The two problems encountered at the PSMRE are gunk on the rolling stock wheels and wear in the locomotives. The “gunk” is a muddy substance caused by the mixing of airborne dust with the automatic transmission fluid used to improve wheel-to-rail electrical continuity. It can be removed mechanically from car wheels and from loco wheels using alcohol on a paper towel, cleaning one truck at a time while the wheels are turning.

Wear in locomotive drive trains is caused by lack of lubrication and foreign materials, mostly carpet fuzz, getting into the loco bearings.

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Tacoma Clinic

Robert (Bob) Sample Passes

Written by Cliff Green
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Gary Thurow, Superintendent 5th Division, PNR / NMRA

It is with great sadness that have to inform you of the passing of Robert (Bob) Sample. Bob passed away Tuesday, January 10th, at around 8:30 am. I do not have any details on services at this time.

He was a life member of the NMRA and a close friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us that know him.

(From Ed Liesse: According to Shirley, “he was telling jokes and his witty comments up until the end and got to be home where he wanted to be.” She also asked that we pass on the news to others as well. Shirley Sample is the current PNR Vice President and a long-time member and leader in the 5th Division. The 5th Division covers Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Montana.)

News

Pacific Science Center Model Train Show Starts Tomorrow – Last Call for Volunteers

Written by Cliff Green
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David Yadock

This is a “last call” for volunteers to help out at the Pacific Science Center show, which runs Saturday through Monday. I can’t do anything about Seattle traffic but the Pacific Science Center does provide free parking for the volunteers. I don’t think there will be too many mad post-holiday crowds at the PSC since all the folks will be able to see model trains! This train show is the premier fund raiser for the 4th Division and can’t operate by itself. There will be a number of smaller layouts that require train operation.

If you want to run some trains and mingle with the public come help at the show – contact me at hi61izq@hotmail.com.

Model Train Show

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic December 2016 Report – Christmas Wassail

Written by Cliff Green
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Article and Photos by Rich Thom Except as Noted

Fig 1 – The Blake Christmas Layout

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA Clinic revived an earlier tradition of our group by enjoying a Christmas wassail in place of the usual programs of modeling tutorials and hands-on sessions. All right: It’s a bit of a stretch since wassailing originally was the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts (click here for additional history). No singing tonight (thank goodness, knowing our group) or wassail bowls either, but plenty of merriment and a good program, too, by long-time member John White, who along with wife Valerie hosted our original wassails. Twenty-eight enjoyed the evening including several spouses, and an abundance of potluck finger-food prevented starvation.

In the spirit of the season, Clinic Chair Rich Blake skipped his usual announcements and calendar review, but did bring a Christmas tree with (of course) a train running around it (Fig 1). OK, we’ve all had circles of track around a Christmas tree, but with a pair of sidings for switching? Note the cargo: wrapped candy kisses.

This little “layout” traveled around the world during Rich’s long Navy career and meant a lot to his family. Thanks for bringing it, Rich.

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Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Mt Vernon Clinic Newsletter January 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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by John O’Connell

When: 7 PM, Thursday, January 12
Where: Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street, Mt Vernon, WA
Click Here for map & directions

The Program

Master Model Railroader Nick Muff will present “It’s All in the Details.” In Nick’s words, a model railroad can be viewed as a work of art: first, the broad strokes and the background, then, the middle ground and foreground, and finally, it’s time to paint in the fine details. It’s these fine details that make the whole art piece come alive. Adding important final touches to your model railroad scene will take realism to the next level.

Tool Time, Show and Tell and the Table in the Back

If you’ve found a tool or gadget especially helpful, bring it in and share it with the Clinic. If you’ve been working on a project, bring it in as well. If in photo form, be sure and let Ted know so he can have the laptop fired up.

We also encourage folks to bring along items for sale or swap, or even “freebies” – we’ll have a table for those items in the back.

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Eastside Get Together (Redmond) Clinic on Thu, Jan 19

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

Date: January 19, 2017
Time: 7 PM to 8:45 PM, doors open at 6:45
Where: Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

Click here for additional clinic information including a map. There will be coffee and doughnuts for all. Bring a model or project to share.

Presentation

Mark Allen will present a clinic on how to build model trees for dioramas and layouts. His On30 Diorama “Storm King” won Third Place for Modules at the recent NMRA Convention in Portland. He will demonstrate techniques and materials needed to make his convincing model scenes.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic