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Pennsy Technical & Historical Society Oct 15 Meeting is Canceled!

Written by Cliff Green
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David Yadock

The Oct 15th Meeting is Canceled!

Due to bad weather conditions expected for Saturday October 15th the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society meeting is canceled. Many members travel quite a distance to get to meetings and the bad weather will make it difficult for them to attend. The next meeting is expected to be in April 2017.

Original post:

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (Pacific Northwest Chapter) will meet Saturday, October 15th at 12:30 PM at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien. Click here to see event information, including a map to the PNRA. We end around 5 PM. For those that want to go to dinner after the meeting we usually go to either Vince’s or Angelo’s restaurant. All are invited.

Anyone who is interested in the Pennsylvania Railroad or would like to learn more about the Pennsy, please come. If there are any questions please contact Jim Trunzo at jetrunzo@gmail.com.

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Railroad History

Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic Report for September – 3D Printing by Chip Van Gilder

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green, Photos by Cliff and Russ Segner

It was a dark and stormy night, September 29th, 2016.

Chip Van Gilder at the Renton Clinic giving a 3D modeling and printing presentation. (Photo by Russ Segner)

Chip Van Gilder at the Renton Clinic giving a 3D modeling and printing presentation. (Photo by Russ Segner)

Actually it was a very pleasant evening, not dark and stormy, and I enjoyed seeing the brand new Renton Highlands Library (opened in 2016) for the first time. The library facility is big and bright and comfortable, although the Renton clinic organizers are looking for a permanent home outside of the library system (the KCLS meeting rooms can only be booked a couple of months in advance and are in heavy demand).

I joined nine other clinic attendees, settling in for a fine presentation by Chip Van Gilder on “3D Printing”.

Click here to read an overview of what 3D design and printing is about.

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Burien Clinic

Olympia Clinic on Oct 14, Chuck Ricketts On Using Computers to Build Paper Structures

Written by Cliff Green
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Greg Wright

On October 14 at the Olympia Clinic Chuck Ricketts will be presenting: Using Computers to Build Paper Structures.

Chuck received an American Flyer electric train on his first birthday. He was running it himself by age three and received a Lionel train at the end of WWII. A few years later, he switched to HO scale. Over the years, he modeled in HO, N and HOn3. Since 2006, he has been in On30 and started his current home layout in Washington in 2007. He recently achieved the NMRA Master Model Railroader status (MMR number 562). His railroad, the Sherwood, Shelton and Sarazen, has been viewed by people from all over the world who attended the National Narrow Gauge Convention in 2012.

(Editor’s note: A photo of the wharf scene on Chuck’s layout is the first layout image on the 4D web site. Click here to see a previous Grab Iron post about operating on the Sherwood, Shelton and Sarazen.)

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Olympia Clinic

Seattle-North Clinic Discusses Control Panels – October 6, 2016

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, October 6. Planned topics include designing and building control panels, plus the next installment in our fallen flag series.

Last Clinic:

September’s clinic included a discussion of “What did I do this summer (railroad-wise)?” and short videos on Union Pacific’s newly restored 844 FEF-3 steam locomotive and model locomotive maintenance. When the first clinic of the season precedes Labor Day, attendance usually suffers and this was no exception. Thanks to those who turned out and participated.

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Seattle-North Clinic

Pacific Science Center Model Train Show Volunteers Needed, New Background Check

Written by Cliff Green
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David Yadock

Notice!

To all volunteers that want to participate in the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show, the Pacific Science Center (PSC) is now requiring a background check for all volunteers. They will conduct the background check. This will require volunteers to provide a minimal amount of information to the PSC: full name, birthdate, and gender. It is easier for volunteers to provide that information prior to arriving at the PSC train show (see below). This will insure a fast and easy check-in when arriving at the PSC. I know this may be another hurdle for folks volunteering at the PSC train show but we must work together with the PSC staff to provide a safe show. Thank you.

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Model Train Show

A Narrower View – Our Own Miniature World

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the 15th article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. In this article Syd writes about his personal interests and motivations for narrow gauge modeling. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Most of the model train hobbyists have a fascination, however slight, with the quest for travel across the great land masses. The motion from here to there and the machinery necessary to make that happen has been an interest as well as a necessity. Since man has wanted an improvement over foot sore, then animal-powered travel, he has looked at any and all machines for answers. The earliest means of movement across land sought a more level, firm, and direct path and the last one or two hundred years of progress in this effort find some interesting mechanical answers.

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Articles, Narrow Gauge

Eastside Layout Tour on October 1

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

On Saturday, October 1st from 1 to 5 PM is a wonderful opportunity to visit four fine layouts located about half an hour apart in Fife, Auburn, Kent, and Bellevue along the I-405 corridor and Kent / Auburn / Puyallup valley area. Take advantage of this chance to meet some great model railroaders and see how they have designed, built, and operate their layouts.

(Editor’s Note: The layouts are listed in south to north order. Two of the listings below have links to dedicated layout web pages, and the others have links to web pages with pictures of the layout.)

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Layout Tour

Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic on Sep 29

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

The next Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic will be in Renton at the Renton Highlands Library on Thursday the 29th (note – we’re meeting on the fifth Thursday of the month instead of the usual fourth). This is our first meeting of the clinic season and I am hoping that we have a good turnout. Our program will be “3D Printing” presented by Chip Van Gilder. Learn about this new and creative way to build that special model.

The evening begins at 6:30 with getting acquainted. Share some coffee and pastries and meet someone new. Bring a model to share. Parking is under the library. One of the nearby streets is under construction, so be careful finding your way. Additional details including an address and map are available by clicking here.

I hope to see you there.

Burien Clinic

Mt Vernon September 2016 Clinic Report

Written by John O'Connell
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by John O’Connell   photos: KCAL-Sky 9, John O’Connell, Ted Becker, Rich Blake

BNSF Stack Train Halted by Fire on Cajon Pass

BNSF Stack Train Halted by Fire on Cajon Pass

 

September 8, 2016; Mt Vernon Senior Center

Ted opened the Clinic with a hearty welcome to visitors including Tim Silvas, Jack Vander Hoek, and Dave and Paulette Sitzenstock. We hope you’ll join us again!

Before Ted could get very far into his announcements, the tables were turned and Al Carter usurped the floor to provide some much deserved recognition of Ted’s Golden Grab-Iron Service Award for 2016.

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Tacoma Clinic Report, September 2016

Written by Dale Kraus
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Dale Kraus

The September 2016 Tacoma Clinic saw 30 members assemble at the Pierce County Library Admin. building for a presentation by Dale Kraus on laying out grades using a tool made from yardsticks. The tools are easy to make and will produce “close enough” grades that allows for curvature compensation without resorting to trigonometry.

Seven models were shown in the “bring-and-brag,” with the favorite being a brace of N scale logging trucks, all different, built by Tyler Whitcomb.

The October clinic will be held at the PC Library Admin building, beginning at 7 PM. Come join in the fun, and be sure to bring your latest or your favorite model. Additional info, including maps, are available by clicking here.

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Tacoma Clinic