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2024 Spring Meet Report

By Bill Messecar, Photos By John Thompson

Weeks of planning between two 4D Board members, Kurt Laidlaw and Bob Kenworthy and the staff at the NW Railroad Museum near Snoqualmie culminated in a day 4D attendees won’t forget. It started with a train ride from the old NP depot at North Bend to the museum in beautiful spring weather. We divided into groups to attend a clinic given by Greg Wright MMR, a tour of the museum Lionel and HO layouts and a behind the scenes visit to the museum restoration shop where we saw several engines/carts being restored. The museum staff also discussed their archives of equipment blueprints and drawings. There were two more opportunities for a layout or shop visit or attend Burr Stewart’s enjoyable clinics on videography of his layout and sage advice on achieving your goals in layout building. Burr has his own YouTube channel so you can check out those great videos.

At noon we then took a 30-minute lunch break to enjoy drinks and a delicious box lunch. Bill Messecar 4D Superintendent led the 4D Annual Meeting where he introduced the 4D Superintendent elect Mike Stepner as well as the current 4D BOD members. After the meeting we had a chance to explore the many museum exhibits and then boarded our train for the return journey to North Bend. To complete a great day of Model Railroading we had the opportunity to see four excellent layouts in the area.

If you were not able to make the spring meet this year—be sure to attend in 2025. It’s a great opportunity to meet local modelers and have a train filled day. This sort of event is one of the many benefits offered for your NMRA membership. Hope to see you next year.

Bill
4D Superintendent

Spring Meet Registrations Status Update

By Kurt Laidlaw

Confirmed registrations for the Spring Meet on Jun 8th:

Kurt Laidlaw
David Falconer
Michael Donnelly
GregPrice
Dennis Terpstra
EDwin Ives
David Yadock
William Messecar
Dave Enger
Thomas Keyes
Bob Rorabaugh
Russ Segner
Scott Buckley
Greg Wright
Nolan Deardorf
James Younkins
Gregg Arndt
Cole Van Gerpen
Dan Kellogg
Joel Scott
Kimberly Ford
Bob
Robin Peel
Byron Osborn
Bob Kenworthy
Dave Thompson
Lee Marsh
ROBERT BRUCE LOVE
Burr Stewart
George Chambers
scott wiesemann
syd Schofield
John Thompson
Mike stepner
Mark Malmkar
Paul Rising
Bob Staffolrd
Bud Thompson

If you think you have registered for the Spring Meet and don’t see your name, please re-register. There is still plenty of time to register, but most of the shop tour slots have been filled There are only 10 slots left. Now is the time to pull the trigger and register.

For the full schedule and registration details visit the Spring Meet page.

Kurt

Register Today For The June 8 Spring Meet

By Bob Kenworthy

There are still spots available for the 4th Division’s 2024 Spring Meet on June 8th, 2024.  Event Address:  North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan St, North Bend, WA 98045. Register today!

There is NO parking available at the Northwest Railway Museum.  Registration begins 7:30 AM.  Our special train to the museum leaves at 8:30 AM.

The following link will connect you to the registration form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfu2EpuEj0Te-YxzWX5KiT02uvC8uey41cSfjT7skO4rfPPTQ/viewform?embedded=true

For the full schedule and details visit the Spring Meet page.

Bob

Register Now For 2024 Spring Meet

By Bob Kenworthy

There are still spots available for the 4th Division’s 2024 Spring Meet on June 8th, 2024.  Event Address:  North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan St, North Bend, WA 98045. Register today!

There is NO parking available at the Northwest Railway Museum.  Registration begins 7:30 AM.  Our special train to the museum leaves at 8:30 AM.

The following link will connect you to the registration form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfu2EpuEj0Te-YxzWX5KiT02uvC8uey41cSfjT7skO4rfPPTQ/viewform?embedded=true

The schedule will be:
7:30 to 8:30 am – Registration at the North Bend Depot
8:30 to 9:00 am – Train Ride from North Bend to Museum
9:00 to 9:10 am – Gathering Time
9:10 to 10:00 am – Clinics:

  • 1A – Shop Tour (maximum 12 people)
  • 1B – Clinic in Conference Room, topic TBA
  • 1C – Clinic in Foyer, topic TBA

10:10 to 11:00 am – Clinics:

  • 2A – Shop Tour (maximum 12 people)
  • 2B – Clinic in Conference Room, topic TBA
  • 2C – Introduction to Museum Archives (maximum 10 people)
  • 2D  – New O27 Layout at Museum

11:10 to 12:00 noon – Clinics:

  • 3A – Shop Tour (maximum 12 people)
  • 3B – Clinic in Conference Room, topic TBA
  • 3C – Introduction to Museum Archives (maximum 10 people)

12:00 to 1:00 pm – Lunch and Annual Meeting
1:00 to 1:30 pm – Free Time at the Museum
1:30 to 2:00 pm – Return Train Ride to North Bend
2:00 to 3:00 pm – Travel Time to Layout Open Houses
3:00 to 5:00 pm – Layout Open Houses

Attendance is limited to the first 80 people who register.  Attendees must be NMRA members.  You may attend the 4D PNR Annual Meeting in person during the Spring Meet or by Zoom.  A Zoom link will be sent prior to the annual meeting.

Please Note:  Parking at the Northwest Railway Museum is extremely limited and will not be available to Spring Meet attendees.  Please plan to park near the North Bend Depot.  There is a significant amount of parking available on the south side of the depot and some parking available on the north side of the depot.  The train ride and museum are ADA accessible.  If you need accessibility assistance, please mark the appropriate box when you register.

2024 Spring Meet Set For June 8th

By Bob Kenworthy

The 4th Division’s 2024 Spring Meet will be held June 8th, 2024.  The Spring Meet will be held at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA.

The schedule will be:
7:30 to 8:30 am – Registration at the North Bend Depot
8:30 to 9:00 am – Train Ride from North Bend to Museum
9:00 to 9:10 am – Gathering Time
9:10 to 10:00 am – Clinics 1 and 2
10:10 to 11:00 am – Clinics 3 and 4
11:10 to 12:00 noon – Clinics 5 and 6
12:00 to 1:00 pm – Lunch and Annual Meeting
1:00 to 1:30 pm – Free Time at the Museum
1:30 to 2:00 pm – Return Train Ride to North Bend
2:00 to 3:00 pm – Travel Time
3:00 to 5:00 pm – Layout Open Houses

Additional information will follow as plans are finalized.  Mark your calendar now and plan to attend.

4D Spring Meet June 6, Register Now To Assure Lunch

Russ Segner and the Spring Meet Committee

The seats are filling for the 4th Division’s Spring Meet on June 6. Registration is still $25 until May 31. This includes lunch and passes to the layout tours on June 7. You can pay at the door or register online at wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/. We need a count for lunches, so if you wait beyond May 31 to register, you will not be guaranteed a lunch.

There are fabulous clinics offered on the 6th including:

  • An Example of a Prototype Layout
  • Making Tracks on your Layout (Fast Tracks hands on clinic)
  • Making Tracks to a Prototype
  • Freelancing
  • Making Tracks to a Large Layout
  • Modules
  • Trackside Details and Weathering
  • Bridge Design and Construction

There are world class layouts offered for touring on the 7th including:

  • JJ Johnston’s Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway, HO scale, a mythical GN layout set in 1939 with many structures
  • Burr Stewart’s merged GN, NP, Q and SP&S in the 70’s, HO scale, a big layout designed for operation
  • Bill Messecar’s ATSF Operation in the LA Division, HO scale, a 1950’s era layout with blocks of reefers handling citrus
  • Di Voss’ Everett and Monte Cristo Rwy, HO scale, a historical representation of 1895-1910 line hauling gold to the mill in Everett
  • Bob Stafford’s Memories Branch Line, HO scale, an operations oriented layout based on the many branches of the Lackawanna, Jersey Central, and Lehigh Valley railroads in Northampton County Pennsylvania
  • Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club’s Seattle and North Cascades Railway, HO scale, a bridge route connecting the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest
  • Ron Hopkins’ Moclips & Beck’s Creek, On30 scale, a layout featuring many prize winning scratch built logging, lumber and shingles structures
  • Russ Segner’s Coal Creek Lumber Co, Sn3 scale, a Northwest logging layout with lots of scratch built structures and geared locomotives
  • Bill Scheef’s Wind River Railway, Sn3 scale, a layout with excellent logging scenes and an operating incline
  • Al Lowe’s Modular Home Layout, N scale, consisting of 9 NTRAK and oNeTRAK modules on a unique, 54”-tall rack allowing plenty of operations in the space of a one-car garage
  • Steve Depolo’s Alaska Pacific Railway & Terminal Co, Sn3 scale, a layout featuring Alaska scenes with steep grades between mines and wharfs
  • Michael Dziubinski’s Northwestern Pacific (Southern Pacific), N scale, a layout based on the Northwestern Pacific in August of 1953

Sign up today. Click here for more details including registration and you can also contact Russ Segner at russseg@gmail.com or 425-228-7327 for more information.

Layouts Announced For 4th Div 2015 Spring Meet

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Editor’s note: Bob Stafford’s layout has replaced David Yadock’s layout for the Sunday tour.

You’re going to want to see the layouts chosen for this year’s Spring Meet! Some have never been shown before, while others are masterworks that you have seen in magazines.

This year, you’ll get to see these layouts – but only if you register for the Spring Meet. The Spring Meet clinics are on Saturday June 6 and the layout tours are on June 7. Descriptions and maps will be available at the conclusion of the clinic sessions on Saturday. Full details are here. Register now!

The layouts are:

  • JJ Johnston’s Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway, HO scale, a mythical GN layout set in 1939 with many structures
  • Burr Stewart’s merged GN, NP, Q and SP&S in the 70’s, HO scale, a big layout designed for operation
  • Bill Messecar’s ATSF Operation in the LA Division, HO scale, a 1950’s era layout with blocks of reefers handling citrus
  • Di Voss’ Everett and Monte Cristo Rwy, HO scale, a historical representation of 1895-1910 line hauling gold to the mill in Everett
  • Bob Stafford’s Memories Branch Line, HO scale, an operations oriented layout based on the many branches of the Lackawanna, Jersey Central, and Lehigh Valley railroads in Northampton County Pennsylvania
  • Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club’s Seattle and North Cascades Railway, HO scale, a bridge route connecting the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest
  • Ron Hopkins’ Moclips & Beck’s Creek, On30 scale, a layout featuring many prize winning scratch built logging, lumber and shingles structures
  • Russ Segner’s Coal Creek Lumber Co, Sn3 scale, a Northwest logging layout with lots of scratch built structures and geared locomotives
  • Bill Scheef’s Wind River Railway, Sn3 scale, a layout with excellent logging scenes and an operating incline
  • Steve Depolo’s Alaska Pacific Railway & Terminal Co, Sn3 scale, a layout featuring Alaska scenes with steep grades between mines and wharfs
  • Michael Dziubinski’s Northwestern Pacific (Southern Pacific), N scale, a layout based on the Northwestern Pacific in August of 1953

Additional info is listed here and more layout details will be added over the next few weeks.

The theme of the Spring Meet is: “How and why we build our layouts.”

Our clinics this year are designed to give insights and ideas on building layouts. Lots of questions will be addressed such as “How big do I build?”, “What era and prototype do I use for ideas?”, “What about operations?” and “Do I build alone or with others in a group or club?”

Eight great clinics will be offered:

  • An Example of a Prototype Layout
  • Making Tracks on your Layout (Fast Tracks hands on clinic)
  • Making Tracks to a Prototype
  • Freelancing
  • Making Tracks to a Large Layout
  • Modules
  • Trackside Details and Weathering
  • Bridge Design and Construction

Additional clinic details are here.

We have several MMR’s presenting who will share their experiences and what inspires them in the hobby. So, come with your questions. Meet and share ideas with model railroaders from across the Fourth Division.

Lunch is provided on Saturday. At lunch, we will have our annual meeting. Several awards, including The Golden Grab Iron Award will be presented. We will also get an introduction to our new website and Grab Iron communications. So, plan to attend. Register by mail or online, but do it before May 31 to guarantee your seat and lunch.

The registration is $25 for NMRA members if registered online or by mail before May 31st or $35 at the door for those not pre-registered. Lunch is included. For online registration and additional details visit http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/. A printable poster can be found at http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/SpringMeetPoster.pdf.

Please contact Russ Segner at russseg@gmail.com or 425-228-7327 for more information.

Clinics Listed For 4D Spring Meet

Russ Segner

There will be a full Saturday of clinics at the 4th Division Spring Meet to help us all enjoy our hobby more and become better model builders. A list of the clinics and the presenters has been posted to the Spring Meet web site. Come and enjoy learning from some of our best.

The date is Saturday, June 6 at the Bellevue Sheraton Hotel. Registration is available by mail or online and includes lunch. Additional details including online registration are in the previous Grab Iron post.

We will hold our 4th Division Annual Meeting during lunch and hand out some special recognition to some of our members for their fine work and contributions to the hobby.

Making Tracks – 4th Division 2015 Spring Meet, Saturday June 6th

Cliff Green

The 4th Division’s 2015 Spring Meet – “Making Tracks” – will be held on Saturday June 6th at the Sheraton Bellevue Hotel, 100 112th Av NE, Bellevue Washington. There will be layout tours on June 7th.

Eight great clinics will be offered including (at least):

  • Prototype locations for planning ideas
  • Bridge construction
  • Modules
  • Large layout design and operation
  • Layouts in smaller spaces
  • Fast Tracks hands-on
  • Freelancing

The registration is $25 for NMRA members if registered online or by mail before May 31st or $35 at the door for those not pre-registered. Lunch is included. For online registration and additional details visit http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/. A printable poster can be found at http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/SpringMeetPoster.pdf.

Please contact Russ Segner at russseg@gmail.com or 425-228-7327 for more information.