Bobj Berger / Photos by Bobj Berger

Our May Seattle-North Clinic required close attention from the roomful of attendees. Roger Ferris held the group’s attention with his detailed and enlightened history of model train development. This laid the groundwork for the remainder of his clinic about how to make your rolling stock dependable and compatible not only with your own rolling stock, but in being a responsible guest on other layouts. All of this from using common shake-the-box-kits to create quality rolling stock of which anyone would be proud, as well as working toward your AP qualifications. Great job, Roger, for this entertaining and informative clinic!

“Show & Tell” produced some interesting items we have not seen before including: a huge and fascinating scale model of a coupler brought in by Bob Keeney; Rob Jones continued to share his great collection of nifty N-scale items, this time with brass caboose and locos; Bob Rorabaugh unveiling his newly-designed train display cases which he now builds commercially; and CJ Riley, MMR completing the pilot model of a Sears & Roebuck mail order house laser kit that Jim Bainbridge designed and is preparing for production.

For the June clinic we had our Annual Layout Tour Field Trip, viewing a couple of layouts as well as a 1:1 scale railroad in Woodinville. Sadly, in the past we had partnered with the Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association, which would provide us with one of their restored vintage buses, so everyone could travel together for conversation and announcements. But this can never be done again because the Federal Government gave money to Metro and some private bus companies complained that they were being cheated out of revenue (that our 501.c.3 can not afford to pay!). Now those old buses owned by the group cannot be used for things like this. Bummer, as the vintage bus was a big part of the allure of the tours.

Have a great summer, get some railfanning done, and get ready to attend the Cascadian International Convention in Lynnwood this September 15–18. But first, I hope to see you at the September 2, 2010 Seattle-North Clinic, where we’ll share our annual “What I Did With Trains This Summer” and other fun stuff! One story for sharing will be from our June Clinic outing.

Remember, we’ll meet at the Ronald United Methodist Church, just north of 175th and Hwy 99, on the west side, between the Cadillac dealer and Deseret Industries. We meet the first Thursday of each month, except July and August, in the lower level around 7 PM. We’ll be back with Roger and the MART; Chris with refreshments and “Show & Tell;” Jim with more door prizes; and Stu with the Video Library. As always: Be there or be an even-sided rectangle.