Researching the prototype railroads can enhance our modeling in many ways. We will explore and review many available
resources, their significance to the industry, and usefulness to our hobby activities. Examples from personal research into
the history of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway will be included.

Every modeler starts with a few basic tools and gradually grows a 'tool box' of items that work for them and make the quality of their modeling better. Along the way, they may find unique uses for items commonly found around the house but seldom in the workshop. They also have the pleasure of spending money on those 'perfect' tools that turn out to be a flop. Jack, a self-confessed tool junkie, will go through his very unique collection of tools that he has accumulated over 50 years of modeling. You may be intrigued by some of the unusual finds, his sources, and his advice on some tools that are just not worth it. As an added incentive, this clinic has door prizes for a lucky few.

My friends and I made several trips to the Westside Lumber Company before and after the mill closed. Finally we built our own powered railcar and travelled the entire length of the line from Tuolumne to Camp 45 and Camp 40. We took over 1000 photos.

Introduction and tour of the UCW. Views of recent changes to the layout including new dispatcher and agent office, moving and construction of a new active staging area (aka. The Mole) and changes to the layout. How the agent uses Flex-Bill to generate switch lists, wheel reports, and manage customer waybills. Staging trains using barcodes generated in Flex-Bill.

This clinic will take participants through a variety of modeling projects that can be enhanced through digital photography - from creating photo backdrops, signage, structures, and several structure enhancements, etc. Some photography tips will also be discussed.

Layout design based on research from Sanborn Insurance maps, aerial photos, railroad maps, and USGS topographic maps. Some examples that I used on my model railroad as well as some areas close to the convention will be presented. Sources for your own use and exploration will be provided. A great way to study the prototype for design and operation.

Trailer Train was formed in 1955 by Pennsylvania Railroad and Norfolk and Western Railway to provide a pool of flat cars for the emerging Trailer on Flat Car (TOFC) business. By 1960 Trailer Train was operating autoracks, later also containers. Renamed TTX in 1991, the company is today operating more than 200,000 cars, one of the largest fleets in North America.

Rick provides more information regarding Train Dispatching building on his Monday evening presentation. He will also expand on topics where there were questions in his previous (Monday) presentation.

This clinic will focus on realistic weathering for those you can't or don't have the time to spend many hours per car when it comes to weathering a freight car fleet. I will be showing time-saving techniques for achieving good looking, realistic results using a variety of mediums. Some highlights to include weathering an entire 18-car, HO scale unit coal train in a handful of hours. Paint fading without an airbrush. Underbody weathering and many other miscellaneous time-saving tips.

How do you model an urban railroad that served 500 industries with 60 switch crews a day in a 500 square foot space? This clinic includes the process of compressing elements of the 1956 prototype, the creative solutions to maximizing the available space for the HO-scale design and a look at the prototype research. You may find out that you have more room for your railroad than you think.

An in-depth look at the background, design, construction and lessons learned in building a model railroad layout of the US Military Railroad Aquia Line in 1863 in Virginia in O Scale.

In 1918, the US Army embarked on a project to secure aircraft grade spruce for the production of military aircraft. This clinic focuses on one of the Division's more ambitious projects, the construction of 39 miles of mainline railroad, 70 miles of logging spurs and two sawmills in Clallam County, west of Port Angeles, Washington.

Over the last decade I have been building and operating a medium sized garage layout based on the 1958-1960 Northwestern Pacific in Northern California. Several previous clinics covered the design philosophy of producing an operating, not static, representation of this prototype. This clinic extends the discussion to specific areas, largely equipment and scenic issues, where special effort was required to achieve this goal.

For the past several years the organization 'N Club International' has held a European N scale convention in Stuttgart, Germany, in conjunction with the trade show 'Modell Bau Sud'. Clubs from as many as nine countries set up their modules in a huge interconnected layout. This clinic will provide an overview of the skill and variety displayed by the clubs from across Europe including: Austria, England, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

A video of the Cumberland West railroad layout. It is structured as a 1953 style railroad promotional using the layout as if it were real.

Train Control Systems will explain and demonstrate their revolutionary WOWSound Decoder. The only sound decoder with True CD Quality sound. Both Steam and Diesel versions will be demonstrated. Using features including Auto Adjusting BEMF, Audio Assist[tm], Keep Alive[tm] and others TCS will show how to make your locomotive sound and run just like the prototype.

The clinic describes the design process for a basement-filling dream layout focused on the prototype Cascade Line of the Southern Pacific. Occupying 2400 sqft of basement, it features of the route from Eugene to Cascade Summit and Crescent Lake. The design process will be described, including trade-offs and challenges, followed by construction and initial operations

Based on our well received article in Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine (Dec 2012), this clinic will look at preparation for future catastrophes (death, fire, flood, etc.). What you do now may impact you or your family for decades. Don't miss this lively discussion.

The history of the CB&Q's California Zephyr, one of the last great named passenger trains. Learn how three great railroads cooperated to provide fast, comfortable, family-friendly service from Chicago to Oakland and San Francisco in some of the most stylish passenger cars Budd ever manufactured. We'll begin with the early planning in the 1940's and conclude with the last scheduled trip prior to Amtrak taking over the route in 1970.

A discussion of the fundamental processes and steps necessary to design and build/install a successful layout railroad signaling system - basic to advanced.



Presentation will include the methods and hardware variations (options) needed to install and operate various prototype signaling systems. Included will be our experience and lessons learned having done/assisted/advised on several layouts in the Pacific Northwest and west coast. Time will be allotted for questions and answers during and following the presentation.

Modeling a 207' long, 73' high frame trestle in HO scale. Cutting stock basswood on a table saw and detail photos of bent and stringer construction are included. Slides of the second and fourth subdivisions of the Camas Prairie Railroad, taken on a Hi-Rail trip in August of 1993, will be featured.

Charlie shares some of his techniques for building highly realistic scenery on his HO scale Bear Creek and South Jackson layout.

This clinic addresses the prototype practices of railroading and livestock. It will cover the distinctive features of stock cars, stockyard structures (corrals and loading chutes), special conditions and railroad rules for stock-handling (feeding, watering, rest stops), stock days and stock extras, seasonal movements, the large stockyards (Chicago, Omaha, Milwaukee, etc.) and stock selling and buying. The clinic climaxes with tips on modeling the stock traffic and industry.

This clinic will feature a brief review of resistance soldering theory followed by a practical demonstration of various soldering techniques using both pencil and tweezers type resistance soldering apparatus. We will discuss the use of solder flux, solder paste and normal wire solder. Following the demonstration we will have a "hands-on" solder session for those that would like to get some experience using the equipment.

Research for modeling and operating the SVOS was conducted with the aid of more than 60 members of OPSIG, LDSIG and SP, SP&S, NP, UP and GN Railroad Historical and Technical Societies. With their assistance, a 5-drawer file cabinet is packed full of prototypical information now in use to accurately model every station, industry, tunnel, bridge, trestle and the general overall railroad right-of-way and its operation. For example, over 250 prototypically based structures are being created. As a thank you for the efforts expended, Bruce illustrates what is being accomplished and the resulting excitement achieved via prototype modeling.

A brief history of the century-old Steel bridge which crosses the Willamette River in Portland. The bi-level bridge is rare in its design, with the lower level capable of telescoping into the upper level. The railroad occupies the lower level while trolleys, traffic, and light rail have crossed the upper deck.

The Pacific Northwest Region annual membership meeting. Come meet your regional officials.

The earliest attempted crossing of the Sierras by rail terminated in this town in late 1887. By 1900 two large saw mills - one of which later built a connecting branchline - along with a box factory, fruit packing sheds , a foundry, and farms were all shipping products, while mines, businesses and farms were importing machinery, fuel, and supplies. From 1915-1953 traffic expanded up to two trains daily of 20-30 cars each in late summer and during WW II. Presenter illustrates with photos and maps.

Charlie shares how to move from snap-shot quality layout photography to photos that look like the real thing. Updated!

This clinic supplements my Layout Design clinic, focusing on the wide variety of facilities needed to service passenger trains at terminals, illustrated with track diagrams and slides of coach yards, Pullman buildings, commissaries, car washers, and mail and express buildings. Switching of terminals is described. A handout includes specifications for servicing platforms and utilities such as compressed air, steam, water, and electricity.

Ed will show how to paint a Southern Pacific AM-2 Cab Forward. Discussion will include preparation of the brass for painting including simple solder techniques, disassembly, painting, making sure all electrical connections are intact, re-assembly and testing for proper operation

Understanding PFE involves far more than its refrigerator cars. The way the company did business, the ways it managed its many facilities, including shops and ice plants, and the ways refrigerator cars were built, serviced, repaired and operated, all form a complex and interesting story. Both for the historian and for the modeler, this presentation provides a detailed and inclusive view of these matters, along with some car fleet information.

In this clinic we will explore the world of Virtual Railroading on the computer to enhance your model railroading experience. Many of the skills and requirements of the NMRA Chief Dispatcher AP can be accomplished on railroad simulators including practicing operational methods, study of prototype routes, building time tables and track schematics. We will focus on each of these subjects as they relate to model railroading with live demonstration and open discussion.

This clinic is a Two-Part presentation directed toward the hosts of operating sessions. While it is largely oriented around Timetable and Train Order operation, much in the clinic will be applicable to other systems as well. In Part 1 the clinic addresses towns, yards, stations, staging and connecting to the larger railroad world, industries and types of trains. In Part 2, it addresses car forwarding, the ops jobs (road crews, yardmasters and dispatching), balancing the schedule and what operators take for granted (but you shouldn't).

A high level discussion of how OpenLCB and LCC work, followed by a discussion of the current status of the OpenLCB working group and LCC standards.

This is the story of a secret O scale layout in Australia where I provided a control system to automatically run up to twenty trains at a time for the owner's enjoyment.

The owner was a private individual and all who worked on the layout were sworn to secrecy.
Since the layout was built in the late 1970's, perhaps fewer than forty guests have seen it.
The late John Armstrong visited once while I was there and he remarked "Even for me, this is a bit over the top".

The owner passed away last year, hence the clinic title. Eight minutes of a recent professional video will be included.
The scope of the layout plus a very large 1/32 scale collection was most impressive.

The train collection and parts of the layout were willed to the Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich, QLD Australia for public display.

This clinic is a series of demonstrations on how to set up, wire, and configure layouts using LCC hardware. We focus on the user benefits of LCC, and how working with LCC hardware looks for a typical modeler, from unboxing to an operating layout.

The examples we will cover are the following:

1. Simple accessory control with output devices: turnouts, signals, un-couplers.

2. Creating fascia-mounted panels with input devices.

3. Creating software panels using JMRI.

4. Adding block detection with input devices.

5. Configuring a railroad crossing with detection, signaling and sound.

6. Configuring ABS signaling.

7. Modular layouts: automatic discovery of module sequences for ABS signaling.

Presentation and discussion of all the various NCE DCC products, demonstrations, and Q&A.

Over the last two years, I have been exploring the world of 3D printing, how it works, what it can possibly do for me in my modeling experience, some of the complications, some of the short comings, and how I can exploit this technology.

Making things move is virtually synonymous with model railroading. But making things move realistically can go way beyond movement on rails. This clinic will review different mechanisms and means to add movement to scenes, buildings, cars and models to add visible "life" to your layout. Small, scale, smooth mechanisms can be built at low cost using a variety of techniques. Come see how you can move your world!

I was interested in the State Belt as a possible prototype to model long before I wrote the book, but the research influenced the layout. What did I learn and how I applied it to the layout is the subject of the clinic. I had two goals: recreating the San Francisco waterfront and realistic operations based on WWII. I made choices both about the design and about the operations to make this idiosyncratic fit into a 12' by 12' footprint.

For the modeler who's tried to capture fall colors on a layout but found the results less than convincing. Although the focus is on Eastern US and Canada autumn scenery, many of the techniques and materials apply to any season or region of the country. Clinic will cover the importance of a believable overall color tone, modeling fields and pasture land by effectively blending static and other grasses to avoid a "golf course" look, background trees, and foreground trees "two ways."

Drink at the firehose: 60+ modeling tips in 60 minutes. Tips from the UK, but applicable world-wide, cover layout building ideas, soldering, general modeling, DCC, painting and finishing models, and ideas for when it all goes a bit stale. Take some of these tips home and try them for yourself straight after the convention.

Every division yard and many large industries weigh freight with track scales. Based on 15 years operating experience on my HO Scale C&S Railway this clinic shows how to model railroad track scales. It includes traditional and modern scales, track arrangements, scale houses, and scale test cars. It also explains how to systematically integrate weighing into model railroad operations, including freight movements, scale certification, and car card/way bill systems.

Project layouts are a rich part of Model Railroader's history. Associate editor Cody Grivno gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the HO scale Wisconsin & Southern, the magazine's 2008 layout. In this clinic, Cody talks about the field research he and senior editor Jim Hediger conducted. Over the course of several months, the duo photographed locomotives, rolling stock, structures, and rail-served industries along the WSOR system. In addition to field research, the staff was able to learn more about the WSOR through its website, which contained a list of industries served, inbound and outbound traffic, aerial photos of select industries, and a detailed locomotive roster.

With the research complete, then managing editor (now Model Railroader Video Plus producer) David Popp designed the track plan and the staff selected industries to model. Once the layout was complete, an operating scheme was developed that provided plenty of on line action, as well as interchange with the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy.

Integrating the modular concept with other layout design tools allows modelers to create prototypical layouts that can evolve for a lifetime. It helps focus the modeler's attention on the essential functions of a railway. Applying the concept to internal elements on the layout further enhances the concept. It is the best combination of practicality and value for money for today's mobile lifestyle.

TrainMasters TV - a top-quality internet TV channel for model railroaders - come meet the TMTV crew and learn about the new video projects they have on the drawing board. With over 100 new video titles produced so far - here's your chance to ask questions and let your voice be heard on what YOU would like to see TMTV put to video.

An informal meet-and-greet session where you can hobnob with current NMRA officials.

Introducing the new Canpotex 4300 cu. ft. 3-bay hopper, decorated for PDX 2015. The release of
this car is timed to coincide with the opening of the new Portland Canpotex potash facility.

Don and Dan Huberman of North American Railcar will will share with you the details of how
the Canpotex hopper is manufactured.

Downtown Kansas City on my layout is designed for night, as well as day viewing. The streets are filled with over 150 vehicles, all but a few of which have working headlights and taillights. Even motorcycles are lit. I will share my techniques.

An intensive 4-hour session on track planning sponsored by the Layout Design SIG. Discover how to refine vision, concept and purpose; select layout footprints and schematics; draw accurate and useful plans; create efficient and engaging yards and industrial areas; make best use of staging tracks; maintain space for people; and avoid common track planning errors.

The use of signals will enhance any layout. This clinic will discuss how signals can be used on a layout, from what signals do to where they are placed, and how they interact with segments of the layout.

JMRI (Java Model Railroading Interface) is a "state of the art", open source program for model railroad hobbyists. JMRI is a suite of tools distributed via a single download. The presentation is targeted to show you the areas that JMRI may help you. Ken will briefly cover DecoderPro, PanelPro and Operations so you get a clear idea of the many features the software may provide.

Learn basic airbrush skills. Airbrush your scenery, back drops, locomotives and rolling stock, track and structures for a natural weathered look.

This highly informative three hour "Hands-On" workshop teaches you basic and weathering airbrush techniques, what air sources to use, and what materials are compatible. The different types of paint available today and their uses, what working surfaces are suitable, their preparation, and the simple maintenance procedures that are required. Attendees will learn basic airbrush techniques, practice simple control exercises, and practice weathering. Attendees may bring their own piece of rolling stock or structure to weather, or one can be provided. Note that there are 20 available seats for students. Spectators are welcome. The class will consist of 30-45 minutes of technical information followed by two hours of hands on instruction with an Iwata Eclipse gravity feed airbrush.

Instructor: Alan Houtz

There is No Charge for this event.

CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS - SPECTATORS ARE WELCOME
First come first served!

For information, call 1-262-567-3190
E-mail alanhoutz@att.net

Learn basic airbrush skills to apply to your scenery, backdrops, locomotives and rolling stock, track and structures for a natural weathered look.

This highly informative one hour "Hands-On" workshop teaches you the basics of airbrush operation and maintenance. Topics will include airbrush types, air sources and paints. Attendees will learn basic airbrush techniques, practice simple control exercises. Note that there are 20 available seats for students. Spectators are welcome. The class will consist of 15-20 minutes of technical information followed by 30-40minutes of hands on painting with an Iwata Eclipse gravity feed airbrush. All materials and supplies provided.

There is No Charge for this event.

CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS

Sign up is required!

Contact Tom Grossman at 719-268-9848 or send him email at
tom@tagteamhobbies.com

Learn how prototype research can improve your layout's design and operations. Discussion includes tips for researching time and place, types of prototype documents, ICC valuation records, the National Archives and the Library of Congress holdings, Sanborn Insurance maps and other sources of information in a digital world. Freeman's article Research in the Information Age appeared in Model Railroad Planning 2002.

Bruce explains how easy it is to interface a computer to your model railroad. Focus is on the Super Mini-Node that greatly improves I/O distribution and significantly reduces system cost. Up to 128 nodes can be distributed all around your layout making wiring a snap. Simply connect any device directly to the nearest node. Only wiring between nodes is a single 4-wire cable. Applications focus on reducing layout wiring, prototypical turnout control, broad range of signaling systems, staging track control, lighting, animation, automation and interfacing to DCC. The result can greatly increase your railroad's prototypical realism and hobby enjoyment.

Mike O'Connell of Chooch Enterprises will demonstrate, decorate and show all the tricks on how to use Chooch's new flexible stone walls, painting and weathering along the way. He will also show you how to use the new Chooch Coal Textures to make any coal load in any size and in any scale. He will show you how to paint and weather the new Chooch Cribbing Walls using the new Chooch/Americana acrylic paints for washes and overall color textures. Mike will also discuss the upcoming full line of flexible surface details, such as brick roads, timber and rock wall tunnel liners. Each attendee will receive a free Chooch wall sample.

Join Greg Wright for a group discussion on how loud your locomotives should be as it travels
around your railroad. We are very careful to make sure we build our models to the scale
inch, but have you ever considered the scale of sound on your layout? What about forced
perspective with sound? You can do it with a scale rule and a little math. Join in for
an interesting discussion, you may find that you have your locomotives set too quiet.

You have observed the diamond shaped signs on rail cars. You may understand that they are there to warn of the possible hazards of the materials in that rail car. What you probably want to know is what are the correct markings or signs should be on the rail cars on my layout. With this clinic I will share with you a little history of the warning signs, now known as placards on railroad equipment. We will see what the correct placards are for what commodity in which era. We will start with the 1906 American Railway Association Regulations for the Transportation of Inflammable Articles and Acids and review the changes up to the current DOT regulations

This clinic looks at issues a modeler might wish to consider when designing a layout for operations. Topics include setting an era and location, designing a car fleet, developing a train schedule, and dispatching systems.

Ever want to see your name in print? Want to see your photos in a magazine? Want to make a (VERY) little money while doing something very fun? Well. come spend some time with me. This clinic is an hour of easy talk on how to get your ideas and photos published. We will talk about how to put together a simple article, and I will give you some thoughts on how to present your ideas to a publication. We will also cover some ideas about photos and how to "package" your submission for the highest chance of actually being taken seriously.

This clinic addresses kit-bashing or cross-kits, super-detailing, scratch-built additions, and painting and weathering techniques with a variety of media, such as, wet-in-wet, dry-brushing, stains, the use of spray bombs, chemical reactions of alcohol and solvents, dry pigments, Prisma markers, the special treatment of windows (boarded, bricked, broken glass), brick mortar, etching metal foil, roofs, detailing, signage and the tools involved.

Styrene, cover glass, and simple jigs are used to fabricate windows, doors, chimneys,
and corbels of specific prototype dimensions.

The use of silicone molds and urethane plastic to cast parts can be a boon to your hobby enjoyment. In many cases, when you have a need for duplicate parts, urethane castings will save you hours of effort. Clinician Jeff Johnston explains and demonstrates the step-by-step process in a fun and easy to understand manner.

This is a hands on make and take clinic where James will demonstrate making flat car and gondola loads from readily available everyday items. Supplies will be provided so that each participate will be able to make and take their own lumber, pipe or railroad tie load.

A.J. and Zana Ireland from Digitrax host their annual User Forum for Digitrax users. A brief presentation of new products for the past year is followed by an extended question and answer period.

The clinic describes the research, design decisions and construction techniques used in building my N scale railroad. Research elements include the use of Sanborn maps, photographic references, site visits and railroad timetables and artifacts. Construction techniques discussed include the unique use of Gatorfoam for all bench top construction. The layout was featured in Model Railroad Planning 2015 and N Scale Railroading Magazine in 2013.

Chuck and Seth will describe their experiences designing and implementing Model Railroad Signaling Systems and how they have used the cpNode system they developed, to streamline the process.
They will discuss power distribution and detection topologies, setting up signal locations, dividing the layout into blocks, cabling, cost optimization strategies and much more.

This clinic talks about the DCC decoder which is a device that must be installed in every locomotive for the DCC system to work. With the hardware installation done, now comes the most computer like part of the installation, programming the decoder. Programming the decoder correctly is critical to its success but it is easier than you think. However since decoders come with so many options to set, this clinic will help you sort all this out and get you going.

This clinic talks about the advantages of DCC over DC in operating and wiring your layout. It also covers the basic components used in DCC systems plus some basic notes on both decoder & layout wiring including mixing DC and DCC. Finally, a discussion about what you should think about in selecting a DCC system plus information showing pictures of various systems being offered. If you know nothing about DCC, this is the clinic to start with.

Model Railroader contributing editor Tony Koester recently added a large number of structures, many of them kitbashed, to his 1954-era HO railroad in preparation for the December 2014 MR feature on his railroad and a follow-up MR Video Plus shoot. He'll discuss disguising a kit's heritage, Americanizing European buildings, using a new roof to change a kit's appearance, making stores more realistic by doubling their length, and other ways to save time while enhancing realism.

This clinic presents one solution to controlling a large amount of turnouts and crossovers using mounted servos. The servos are controlled using pushbuttons located on fascia mounted panels. The electronics needed to drive the servos and to provide led lighted track routing on the panels will be clearly explained and demonstrated. There will be a step by step procedure that shows how to map the turnouts from a sample branch line track plan to the panel push button controls and to all the electronics and logic needed for successful operation.

Once you have an engine with a Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder, what do you do with it? This clinic will describe the Configuration Variables (CV) that control momentum and braking characteristics of Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders for both diesels and steam engines. Subjects include deciding how much momentum and braking to use, helping engineers to learn momentum and braking and how to choose settings that will work with engines that don't have Tsunami decoders. A complete configuration for movement control and sound will be presented with suggestions for change to meet particular layout situations.



Layout owners will learn how they help operators get used to brakes to include providing an 'Engine Card' so operators know the performance characteristics of the engines they are running. Another subject will be remapping throttle functions so operators do not need to look at their throttles constantly. Different programming actions for Digitrax, NCE and EasyDCC systems are explained as needed.



The clinic will conclude with an explanation of Tsunami consisting settings.

We go to train shows to run trains and to have fun. Our visitors come to see the trains run and, if the opportunity presents itself, to learn something about model railroading as a hobby. How to impart that awareness in the short time window available has always been a problem. Jack is going to take you through three 'Make-and-take clinics' that lend themselves to public events, are inexpensive, have low manpower requirements, and turn out to be big draws for the visitors. Two of the clinics have been featured with good success at various PNR events while the third is imported from 'down under'. You will see what you need to put on the clinic, learn how it works, see the actual clinic set up, and leave with the list of materials and procedures so you can make of go of it at your next event. Learning how to prepare for and actually hold a public event clinic is critical to our NMRA recruiting effort and the continued success of the hobby.

This clinic is an introduction to the Computer Automated Traffic System (CATS). CATS is open source software built upon JMRI for creating and operating a modern looking CTC panel. The clinic will open with creating a CTC panel for John Armstrong's "minimum-size loop-to-loop" layout, and operated as a magnet board. It will progress to demonstrating how to add occupancy detection, turnout feedback, turnout control, and signal control, in a simulation mode. The clinic will demonstrate other features built into CATS, including train tracking, session recording, train status display, crew management, and rapid CTC panel development for module groups. For a preview, see the August 2010 NMRA Magazine or http://home.comcast.net/~kb0oys.

The clinic details modeling my fictional Oregon Coast Railroad to be believable as a prototype railroad.

The clinic shows how using a prototype's history as a reality check can bring life to a railroad that never was. Photos will show how water features and layers of textured scenery duplicate Oregon's forest landscape. Other topics will include building a region and era appropriate car roster and the good and bad of kits.

The layout appeared in Great Model Railroads 2014.

Using inexpensive micro-controller development kits from some of the world's leading semiconductor manufactures (Freescale, Microchip, NXP, ST Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments); learn how to quickly build your very own LCC compatible node. In this class, each participant will create an LCC node, and then join that node to an LCC bus using CAN, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or USB. JMRI will be used in this class as a diagnostic tool.

The target audience is electronics hobbyists and manufacturers. Basic understanding of programming techniques in C, C++, and/or Java is recommended. Each participant is required to furnish their own PC running Apple OS X, Microsoft Windows, or Ubuntu Linux 12.04/14.04 operating system. Each participant will have the opportunity to take home a working LCC node and USB stick with the required tools and software.

Cost is $35 (a surcharge may apply depending on which hardware you chose). Limited to 20 participants.

Preregister at https://sites.google.com/site/openmrn/home to reserve a spot.

You will be contacted after signing up to verify your choices.

Modeling an HO scale 216' railroad bridge with abutments based on a Pegram Truss design using CAD drawings, Central Valley bridge parts, and scratchbuilt styrene and brass components. In progress photos will be presented as the construction steps are discussed.

See how I made the transition from BN 682 (ex GN 462D) in Tacoma to KCS #20 in my basement. I will show the project from scrapping to restoration of the F Unit Cab as a full scale "prop" in my basement. It makes for a fascinating and unusual story. Images and narration.

Wooden boxes were the only and preferred package for shipping produce from fields and most orchards to retail outlets from the 19th century until the 1960's. Nearly a third of all pine timber cut in our nation, excluding that for paper, was used in this manner. This clinic uses photographs from the presenter's collection and experience as a machine operator in a Califonia box factory for illustration.

Join Greg Wright as he describes how to fit a model railroad into any space and make it
look and feel bigger. Greg will share his ideas, his favorite reference material, and
use his Consolidate Republic Mining Railroad to illustrate his points.

Everyone loves bridges on their layouts, but limited selection and unrealistic design of commercial kits mean many scenes are not as interesting as they could be. Craig Bisgeier, an avid scratchbuilder and modeler, believes that we can all do better modeling with basic tools and parts and a little information. Follow step by step as Craig explains the basics of truss bridges, basic bridge design, and what's available out of the box (and why most of it is awful) to the average modeler. Craig then goes through how to use commercial kits and parts to improve the looks of the off the shelf models, and how to make custom bridges that will stand out on your layout with just a little more effort. Emerging technologies like laser cutting and 3-D printing are also pushing the limits of what's now possible! The clinic ends with a humorous discussion of what NOT to do. Join Craig and see what you can do to improve your bridge modeling!

Pete Steinmetz and members of the Dead Rail Society will be discussing all aspects of operating trains with battery power and radio control. We are not scale specific, but will concentrate on O Scale down to N Scale. We will discuss locomotive conversions, sound or no sound, choice of equipment and components, companies that supply parts used in Dead Rail, companies that do conversions, batteries, charging, and safety concerns.

Over the past 20 years, model railroading has moved into the electronic age, with the widespread use of DCC, computer control, and signaling. Learn the basics of electronic theory, what all the different components are and what they are used for. Some of the things that will be covered are the wire size for the layout, the different formulas that you will need (how to figure out what size resister to use for dropping the voltage to the headlight), and the tools that you will need to troubleshoot your railroad.

Under construction since 2002, the Housatonic has been no stranger to upheaval and renewal. Craig will talk about his reasons for modeling something very different from the pack, how it changed the way he models and what the pros and cons of it are. Begun with precious little information, the layout has experienced both subtle and dramatic changes made over a decade, thanks to more and better information than was available when it all got started. Craig also shares why sticking to a specific set of givens and druthers from the beginning made it possible to make changes, expand and even re-design parts of the layout on the fly when new things were learned.

Perspective is often used to add realism to our two dimensional painted backdrops. Museum diorama builders extend perspective to their three dimensional models as well. Although this technique is rarely used in model railroads, Kermit will show you how it can enhance your railroad's visual appeal.



The clinic will include historical background and principles of both two and three dimensional perspective. True perspective modeling is more than just placing objects of different scales behind each other in a scene. Many computer based drafting programs include a perspective feature making it easier to produce suitable model drawings compared to older manual drafting methods.



Examples will be included to illustrate how three dimensional perspective modeling can make your layout seem much larger than it really is.

As a public company, the SP issued annual reports to its shareholders that are readily available today. These reports are very useful to modelers in that they contain information about RR operations, locomotives and rolling stock, facilities, paint schemes and various business dealings.