By Ken Liesse / Photos by Chip Van Gilder

26 hearty souls found their way to the Spanaway branch of the Pierce County Library system for an unusual meeting: it was in a different place on a different night. Due to scheduling conflicts, the clinic had to find another home for the month of June and this is where it ended up. First on the agenda were announcements and there were several. Gene Swanson, MMR, informed the group of a great estate sale he had visited, with lots of tools for sale. Jim Sabol then mentioned that the Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society was having an outing and picnic at the Jensen Antiques Museum near Kapowsin. Jim encouraged anyone interested to attend. (Note: apologies for this info not getting out sooner – the author misplaced the notes from the meeting.)

The Kitsap Live Steamers are back into their normal operating season and can be visited on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month through October. Hours are 10-4.

Supt. Ken Liesse reminded everyone of the upcoming “Spring” Meet in August, to be held at the Hilton Garden Hotel in Issaquah. Details on this event will be coming soon in the Grab Iron and other 4D communication devices. Ken also mentioned that a new N Scale modular group is being sponsored by 4D, called omNi-Rail. (See previous article in the Grab Iron.) Ed Liesse gave a quick follow-up on the PNR convention in Medford and said all who attended seemed to have a good time. 4D had a large presence at the convention, including staff, clinicians and volunteers.

Gene gave a recap of the recently completed Tacoma Layout Tour and said there was a pretty good turnout (the fact that we had the best weather in a long time on that day didn’t hurt). Everyone is looking forward to the next tour. Mike Shaw presented the Video Library, and in the absence of any representatives from Tacoma Trains, there was no “What’s New at the Hobby Shop.”

Herb Buhl officiated the Bring and Brag contest, which was won by Tony Bentley with his model of an HO Office Building and Pump House.  These models are part of a larger lumber yard complex that Tony has been working on. We were all spoiled with the presentation of the models as the library had a high-definition TV in our meeting room.

Since the regularly scheduled clinician (and normal Tacoma scribe) Al Babinsky could not attend due to last minute out of town guests (Germany is way out of town), Gene stepped up and presented a clinic on the Great Northern pool train 459/460 that ran between Seattle and Portland. The model version of the pool train resides at the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers’ layout at the Washington History Museum in Tacoma, but Gene had it stretched out on the table for all to see.

The engines on the train are both Proto 2000 units while the cars in the train are all Walthers kits, with some of the cars being kitbashed. Details set these cars apart from out-of-the box kits, and extras such as grab irons, coupler lift bars, diaphragms, window shades and figures really make a difference. The train consists of nine cars, including a Union Pacific through sleeper. Gene gave a neat tour of the whole thing, pointing out the little things that were done along the way. It was a great clinic.

Summer is here and that means no Tacoma clinics in July or August. Enjoy the hiatus and we’ll see you back in Tacoma on September 13.