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Travels to 2016 Selkirk Express Regional Convention

Written by Cliff Green
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Alex Brikoff

My wife and I traveled to Salmon Arm, BC last month to take in the 2016 Selkirk Express PNR Regional Convention. The drive from Hope, BC to Kamloops and then on to Salmon Arm was a beautiful drive through some beautiful mountain scenery. The convention hotel was on the shore of Shuswap Lake. The view overlooking the lake was spectacular.

But what I found even more spectacular was that the 4th Division was well represented. It seems like everywhere I turned was a familiar face! Overall, I thought the convention was very well put together with a number of clinics that were historical in nature as well as covering a number of modeling topics as well. Although we didn’t go on any of the tours, I heard reports from folks that the tours were excellent. There were some incredibly well built models and great photographs entered in the contests.

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Articles, Convention or Meet, Model Train Show

Ted Becker Receives Golden Grab Iron Award for 2016

Written by Cliff Green
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Jim Sabol, 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.

On May 14th at the NMRA/4D Spring Meet, a surprised Ted Becker was presented with the 2016 Golden Grabiron Service Award for 2016 (formerly the Man of the Year Award). Called to the podium during the annual business meeting, Ted was presented with the award by a committee of the previous years’ winners Jim Sabol, Russ Segner, and Jim Younkins. In presenting the award, committee members remarked on how easy it was to unanimously and enthusiastically select Ted as his name kept popping up for all his many and continued services to the Fourth Division.

Among those clapping loudest for Ted were several previous award recipients: Scott Buckley, J.J.Johnson, Walt Huston, Ed Liesse, Gay Liesse, Al Lowe, Jeff Moorman, Jack Hamilton, Di Voss, Gene Swanson, Dale and Diane Kraus.

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Convention or Meet, Grab-Iron, News

Paul Neumann and Dan Reilly Remembrances (Bremerton Northern MRR Club)

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

Paul Neumann and Dan Reilly, two Bremerton Northern Model Railroad Club members, will be missed.

Paul, 58, died of natural causes on May 3rd. Paul was a long time member of the BNMRR club. He was serving as Sergeant at Arms in the club at the time of his passing. Paul proudly served in the US Navy. He was a storekeeper and qualified in submarines. He retired from Puget Sound Naval Supply Center (PSNS) as a Chief Petty Officer. Paul served on board the USS Pogy SSN 647, USS Georgia SSBN 729 and the USS Louisville SSN 724. Paul was an avid railfan and was seen at hot spots taking pictures. I rode with him to the Monroe swap meet and I accused him of driving the railfan route. He was a collector and we always looked forward to his latest acquisition.

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News

Jim Frederickson Video Festival September 10th, 2016, at WA State Historical Museum

Written by Cliff Green
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Robert L Grove

The Washington State History Museum in Tacoma is hosting an all-day video festival featuring the work of Tacoma railroad expert James M. Fredrickson (1926-2016) on September 10th, 2016. This festival is jointly hosted by the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association, Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive, and the Tacoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The event runs from 10 AM to 5 PM. Click here for location and directions.

Railroad History

Grab Iron Assistant Editor Needed

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

A 4th Division position with high compensation is open!

I need help with Grab Iron and 4D web site content. There are two main reasons – continuous (and at times high) volume, and (more importantly) we should have more than one person “managing the pipeline” of 4D news and information through the Grab Iron newsletter and 4D web site. In particular, Grab Iron post notification is currently a manual process (through Constant Contact newsletters) versus the previous automatic e-mail notification process. When I’m not available to create the Constant Contact newsletter, time critical Grab Iron (GI) posts wait until I’m able to create the newsletter. We need more than one person managing GI content to improve this bottleneck.

So what is the compensation? It’s not money or stock options (hah!). I’ve been compensated with the connections and friendships I’ve made in (and outside) the 4D community (whether model railroading or prototype railfanning). I’ve been compensated with the satisfaction of spreading useful information within the 4D community. I’ve been compensated with learning about aspects of this hobby I would never have thought about.

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Grab-Iron

Westside Clinic in Bremerton on Tuesday, July 12th

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

Tuesday July 12th is our next 4th Division Westside Clinic. For our newcomers the clinic is held at the United Way of Kitsap Building in downtown Bremerton (647 4th Street) at 7:00 PM. Additional details (including a map and contact info) are on the Clinics Page.

I apologize for not having anything planned. Any ideas?

I’m hoping Jack will be back and rested from the Convention and can share.

As always refreshments will be provided.

Please contact me if you have any related question at whopay@tscnet.com or 360-621-5041.

Westside Local Clinic

Mt Vernon May 2016 Clinic Report

Written by John O'Connell
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By John O’Connell

May 12, 2016, Mt Vernon Senior Center

Ted Becker opened the Clinic with twenty-one in attendance. Ted welcomed our guests Kevin Klettke, the evening’s presenter, Bill Sandstrom, owner of Tacoma Trains; and Cliff Green, Webmaster and Grab Iron Editor for our 4th Division, Pacific Northwest Region website. Ted then asked new attendees to introduce themselves and the Clinic welcomed Ken Wagner, Mark Malmkar, and Kurt Boyd. We hope you’ll come back!

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Pennsy Technical & Historical Society to meet July 16

Written by Al Lowe
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David Yadock

prrherald1

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (Pacific Northwest Chapter) will meet July 16th at 12:30 p.m. at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien. Click here to see event information, including a map to the PNRA.

Anyone who is interested in the Pennsylvania Railroad or would like to learn more about the Pennsy, please come. The meeting consists of informative clinics followed by dinner at Vince’s restaurant. We are a newly chartered group of the PRRT&HS for the Pacific Northwest area. All are welcome.

Convention or Meet, Railroad History

Tacoma Clinic Report for June 2016

Written by Al Babinsky
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Article and Photos by Al Babinsky

Weathered freight cars from Larry Sloan

Weathered freight cars from Larry Sloan, “Bring and Brag” winner

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic and made the announcement that beginning with the September clinic we would start at 7:00 PM. The change was made to ensure that we would be out of the building prior to 10:00 PM before the alarm system would activate. The regional convention at Salmon Arm BC and the 4D spring meet at Tacoma Community College (which had 84 attendees) were discussed.

The clinic was attended by 34 modelers.

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Tacoma Clinic