Skip to main content

Grab Iron Posts

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic May 2016 Report, The Lost Art of Railroad Hand Signals by Ray Wheeler

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Article and Photos by Rich Thom

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey Island NMRA Clinic held its final meeting of the season on May 11th at the Summerhill facility in Oak Harbor. Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed new member Mark Malmkar, who recently moved from Nebraska to Oak Harbor. Mark is a long-time model railroader (since age 10) and has a large HO layout, 14 by 40 feet (still in storage back in Nebraska), which models a passenger line passing through the Colorado mountains. We look forward to its reassembly and Mark’s first open house. Mark also has his own business manufacturing interior details for passenger cars; readers can find his range of products on-line at http://www.PalaceCarCo.com.

Fig 1 - Ray Wheeler demonstrates hand signals

Fig 1 – Ray Wheeler demonstrates hand signals

Clinic Newsletter-Master Al Frasch mentioned that he and Al Carter had colluded on a possible idea to have one joint meeting each season of the SV&W and Mount Vernon Clinics, at a location TBD. The thought resonated with attendees, so we’ll leave it to the two Als to flesh out the idea.

Read More

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Renton Clinic May 2016 Report

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Syd Schofield, Photos by Syd

On Thursday, May 26th the Renton Gathering of 4D model railroaders met at the “new” Renton Highlands library (on Sunset) at 6:30 PM (and concluded at 8:30 PM). The meeting started with greetings by Russ Segner. There were fifteen folks in attendance.

May 2016 Renton Clinic attendees.

May 2016 Renton Clinic attendees

The “Bring and Brag” offering by Dave Yadock was a Southern Pacific diesel “cow and calf” multiple unit (MU) locomotive.

Read More

Burien Clinic

Olympia Clinic May 2016 Report

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Robert Grove

The May Olympia Clinic occurred May 11th at the Tea Leaf II restaurant, where the food is good. Approximately 30 persons attended to learn about “Working for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific Railroad”, presented by Bob Butler.

Following graduation from the University of Washington In 1968 Bob Butler went to work for the Milwaukee Road Engineering Department on the Coast Division headquartered at Tacoma, WA. Bob worked at Tacoma from 1968 to mid 1974 when he was transferred to the La Crosse Division at La Crosse, WI. In mid 1975 he was transferred back to Tacoma to be the Project Engineer of the new Fife Yard. Bob left the Milwaukee Road in February 1978 after the Milwaukee Road went into bankruptcy in November 1977 and cancelled the Fife Yard project.

Read More

Olympia Clinic

An Open Invitation to Model With the 4D HO Modular Group

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Mike Slease

Are you:

  • Short of space to build a dream layout?
  • Short of the time needed to build that empire?
  • Lacking the robber baron money as well?
  • Wanting to run those cool trains of yours on a larger layout?

The HO Modular Group of the 4th Division is here to help.

Click here to view or download our latest flyer (PDF format), which contains additional information and pictures.

Read More

HO Modular Group

Reminder – No Eastside Get Together in May

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

There is no Eastside Get Together clinic tonight (May 19th) in Redmond. There will be an Eastside Get Together Clinic meeting in Redmond in June on the 16th. The program in June will feature Brian Pickering with an outstanding presentation on DCC and Decoder Pro.

The Renton Clinic is on for Thursday, May 26th at the Renton Highlands Library at 6:30. That program will feature a presentation on the Dynamite Train at DuPont. Click here to see additional details.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

4th Division 2016 Annual Meeting

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent, Photos by Ken Liesse

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

Over 75 members attended our 4th Division Annual Meeting at Tacoma Community College last Saturday, as part of the Spring Meet. Kurt Laidlaw, our Assistant Superintendent, was in charge of planning the Spring Meet event and put together a fine list of clinics and presenters. We had several first time participants and very positive comments, especially from those attending the “Hands On” clinic (building laser cut structures). Many of the presentations focused on operations for layouts and we can expect to see more layouts use prototype methods in operating sessions.

Thanks to all who shared their experience and knowledge to help us enjoy this special part of model railroading.

Read More

Convention or Meet, Grab-Iron, News, Superintendent’s Message

Operating Sessions on the PNWRR and Cherry Valley RR

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Steve Haas

Operating sessions are continuing on (the late) Tom Enloe’s Pacific Northwestern Railroad and Cherry Valley Railroad (located in Duvall, Washington), although there will not be a session in May due to other commitments.

Pending a sudden change in plans, the PNW will be available for Ops Sessions through late spring/early summer of 2017. In the past, Ops Sessions were not held during the summer months as most folks were busy with outdoor activities and vacations. Since our remaining time to take advantage of the layout is limited we’re entertaining the idea of continuing Ops Sessions through the summer.

Please contact me at Steve.Haas@comcast.net to be placed on the e-mail list for upcoming operating sessions or if you have additional questions.

Operations

Renton Clinic on May 26, DuPont Dynamite Train

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

This month we will hold our second new clinic in the Renton area. We will meet at 6:30 pm Thursday evening on May 26 at the Renton Highlands Library, a new library just east of I-405. The address is 2801 NE 10th St, Renton, WA 98056. Click here to see the 4D Clinics page with additional information and a map.

The focus of the meeting will be getting acquainted with fellow NMRA members interested in establishing this new clinic on an ongoing basis. Another clinic will be held June 30 at the old Renton library.

Program: “DuPont Dynamite Train – 1906 to 1975”

The DuPont Company began construction of a blasting materials plant just north of the Nisqually Delta next to Fort Lewis/McCord in 1906. The plant was to supply dynamite and black powder to mining, logging, and construction activities from northern California to Alaska. It supplied munitions to the US Military through the Vietnam War and was closed in 1975. The 1000 acre site was subsequently acquired by the Weyerhaeuser Company.

Read More

Burien Clinic

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic Apr 2016 Report, Tom Hawkins’ Port Thomas & Southern

Written by Cliff Green
1 Comment

Article and Photos by Rich Thom

A layout visit makes for a nice change of pace, so on April 13th the Skagit Valley and Whidbey NMRA Clinic met at the Anacortes home of long-time member Tom Hawkins, for a close-up look at his HO-scale Port Thomas & Southern. Since only a few could view the layout at the same time, to keep others busy, and to discourage excessive consumption of the treats supplied every month by Susan and Phil Gonzales (thanks guys!), clinic members were invited to bring in their track plans — whatever the stage of construction, from dream to done. What a surprise! Of the 23 attendees, there were about as many track plans! Your clinic Grab Iron reporter for one had no idea there were as many layouts abuilding in our area. A lot of interaction and constructive suggestions occurred during the evening.

Tom’s layout, though, was the star attraction. The PT&S features a walk-in track plan in a 10 x 20 foot room. Tom’s plan won 3rd place in Model Railroader’s 2012 Track Plan Contest, and was published in the October 2012 issue of MR, pp 64-66.

Fig 1 - Port Thomas

Fig 1 – Port Thomas

Tom’s railroad was inspired by the prototype Port Townsend & Southern, envisioned by its builders to connect the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula to Portland, OR. Like many such dreams, it fell far short, only reaching the town of Quilcene 27 miles away.

Read More

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic