June 2008 - the 4th Division • PNR • NMRA

Issue 501 • June 2008 Page 7
Clinic & Modular Group Reports
a Canadian company who constructed a factory in China for this purpose. The tracks are supported on concrete ties. In spite of the rugged
terrain, the ruling grade is just 2%. There are 286 bridges of various sizes and lengths totaling 108 miles.
Construction presented several engineering challenges. The high plateau is unstable permafrost and some places can experience an
elevation change of up to six feet from winter to summer. Because of the high altitudes, oxygen is available at every seat in all three
classes of coaches. The stations are spacious and attractive. Construction labor was almost exclusively Chinese. Many Chinese have taken
up permanent residence near the cities along the line.
Why is China going to this great expense? Rich answered, “China needs water and electricity. They are building electric power generating
facilities. There is mineral wealth in the mountains of Tibet, including uranium. China needs lumber and it has already depleted much
of the forest lands of Tibet.”
The second portion of Rich’s program was a series of excellent video clips of large steam engines in service as recently as 1996 on a
rail line in Western China near Mongolia. China has plenty of coal but it is of poor quality and not suitable for export. They looked to
these aging locomotives to make use of this abundant resource until they can build diesels.
We briefly discussed where we will hold future clinics. Parking is inadequate at our current location and the fire department has decided
that the training room we use will no longer be available for outsiders. A search is in progress for another facility.
The meeting concluded with a drawing for several door prizes donated by Performance R/C Hobbies located on Fairhaven in Burlington.
On Wednesday, June 11 th , we will convene at the home of Jack Tingstad at 508 NW Broadway in Coupeville. He has added a
large staging yard in an adjoining room, which greatly improves operating possibilities. See you there.
Tacoma N Scalers
Walt Huston
The Tacoma N Scalers met on Thursday May 1, 2008, beginning at 7ish with our usual bull session. “What’s New and What’s Upcoming”
was again presented by Mr Walt, followed by brief updates from the people who had been doing a lot of modeling during the
last month.
Our May clinic was “Soldering, or How Not To Get Burned” by Mr. Walt. I demonstrated how to solder tiny little joints without
leaving a lump of solder and without burning your fingers, hands, or anything else including your ties (the ones on your layout).
The Tacoma N Scalers are a fun group of people having fun with N scale modeling. We have been meeting on the first Thursday of
the month for nearly 25 years, in this same location. Come join us and share your experiences with the group. Bring questions… we love
to answer them, and more often than not, we tell the truth (i.e., we get it right).
The Tacoma N Scalers meet the first Thursday of the month at the Fircrest Recreation Center, 555 Contra Costa, Fircrest, WA. Come
visit with us and see you on June 5 th for the next exciting meeting!
Tacoma Clinic
Al Babinsky
Our temporary leader Jim Sabol called the May Tacoma clinic to order with 38 attendees. Several modelers formerly sidelined by
medical problems are back in attendance. We decided on the following subjects for the next few clinics: June: Operations; September:
Building Resin Kits; and, October: Benchwork.
The PNR convention is in Chiliwack, BC on June 14 -15; the National Narrow Gauge Convention is in Portland, OR in September;
and, the GN and NP Conventions are in July, the latter in Tacoma at the Murano Hotel (formerly Sheraton).
• Major scales, N, HO, O, & G
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