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March 2009 Meet Report and Contest Recap




March 2009 Meet Report



We had many beautiful models displayed again for all of us to enjoy.  We had switching contests, photo contests, and fun was had by all.  Thank you to *all* the participants who entered and put on such a good show for the rest of us;  we hope you enjoyed our deep admiration and apprection for your sharing it with us.

Click on the links below to see the:
Model Contest
Show and Tell
Switching Contest
Photo Contest
Volunteers and People - See photos of our new Superintendent, Mark Schutzer, as well as many of the friendly people who make our quarterly Coast Division Meets possible.

Click here to see the upcoming Coast Division Model Contest and Photo Contest categories for future meets

You can click on any of the thumbnails below, to see a larger photo of the absolutely gorgeous models presented at the March 2009 Meet.
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Model Contest

*Congratulations* to the Model Contest winners by Popular Vote.   Thanks to *all* who participated - you are all winners by making a great show for us all.
  Click on the pictures and thumbnails to see close-up views of the Model Contest entries.

By Popular Vote, the Model Contest  lucky winners were:
Category 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

Caboose
Steve Wesolowski

Scratchbuilt Nn3 logging caboose

Click the small thumbnails for closeups:

       
Kenneth Martin
Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy caboose #13536 in HO

  

Click the small thumbnail to closeups:

      
 



 



Freight Car
 Andrew Merriam

Pacific Coast Railway Tank Car #945 in HO

  

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

        
 
     
Bob Booth

Scratchbuilt HO boxcar
with 1,100 individual parts

   

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

     
     
       

Kenneth Martin

Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy  end-door boxcar #20503 in HO

  
 

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

  

  
Maintenance of Way
Jerry Wilson

Fire Train cars, scratchbuilt in brass in HO

  

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

     
 
    

Andrew Merriam

SP MOW Gondola #4198 in HO

   

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

    
    
 
 
Bob Wirthlin

Mk III ECTR Track Alignment Tamper in HO

 

Click the small thumbnail for closeups:

   

The above model started as a pewter casting - all other paint and details by Bob Wirthlin.
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In the end, NMRA contests are not about winning, rather, they are about the fun of participating, about sharing your pride and joy in modeling, and having fun self-inspiring yourself.  We all love love to see your pride and joys, and you are all winners for participating.  Here is are all our other wonderful entries, each fascinating, interesting, and worthy of excellent mention.

Steve Wesolowski's entry:   Nn3 MOW track cleaning car

 

Bob Wirthlin's seven other MOW entries -  a complete modern Maintenance of Way set of equipment. 
These all started as raw pewter castings.  All detailing and paint done by Bob:

                  
    
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Here is a picture of our Model Contest table and all the Model Contest / Show Tell / Photo Contest tables - for March 2009:

       
         
Thank You to *all* that entered a model, you put on a great show and inspired the rest of us.   We hope you enjoyed our admiration of your work.  

So for June 2009, bring an entry and participate!  Bring something to share, and enter for the Fun of it in the Coast Division Model Contest.
Click here to see the upcoming Model Contest categories.  :-)

Model Contest and Show and Tell Chair: John Sing
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Show and Tell   at March 2009 Coast Division Meet

We also had great participation and wonderful models in our regular quarterly Show and Tell table.  
Click on any of the many thumbnails below to see the great models shared by our March 2009 participants:

Gary Kruse's HO SP 2-8-0 and Flanger:
         
 
Jim Eckman's wonderful embossed paper brick walls.    Go here to learn how Jim did it!
       
 
Manuel Noriega's work in progress large scale scratch-built stock car:
    

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Lindy Brun's photo "End of a Run-Around":


John Sing's N scale Santa Fe FM H12-44 and short SFRD reefer train:
    

And a great Weathering book by Tom Mann was on display:
  This book is available by mail order from Feather River Trains.

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Photo of our Coast Division Show and Tell Table for March 2009:

            

Thanks again to all who participated, and we look forward to seeing you at Show and Tell in upcoming Meets.  Bring something that you would like share - a model(s), display about your current project, a work in progress, it's up to you, as any category is always welcome for Show and Tell.   We love to see what you're up to!

Coast Division Model Contest and Show and Tell Chair: John Sing


Results of the March 2009 Switching Contest :    (Congratulations to all who participated!)

The winners in the Brakeperson category (5 car problem) are:

First Place Second Place Third Place
 Steve Williams  (6:51)  
   Promoted to Senior Brakeperson!		  

   Chip Morningstar (7:47)



  

The winners in the Senior Brakeperson category (6 car problem) are:

First Place Second Place Third Place
 
  Bill Burket  (4:54)
 
  Tom Crawford (6:20)
   Alan Havens (7:18)

Congratulations to all, and a special thanks to our Coast Division Switching Contest Chair: Mark Schutzer,  who keeps the Allen Fenton Timesaver switching puzzle running smoothly like a (fast) Swiss watch.

The Timesaver :



Is a fun, devilish little switching puzzle devised by the late, great model railroader, John Allen. 

Click on  these links above to learn more about the Timesaver, about John Allen, or his world famous HO Gorre & Daphetid model railroad, which inspired an entire generation of model railroaders worldwide.   John Allen lived in Monterey, California, and was a long time member of the Coast Division until his passing in 1973.

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Results of the March 2009 Photo Contest :    (Congratulations to all who participated!)

The theme was:  "Working on the Railroad":

There were many artistic, noteworthy, and creative entries, and every one is worthy of award and mention.   Thank you to all who brought your photo to share, we all love seeing your work.  

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see a larger copy of the Photo Contest Entry.   By Popular Vote, the lucky Photo Contest winners were:

First Place Second Place
Third Place
 
"Nighttime on CalTrain"
Chip Morningstar



"Quincy switcher at Portola"
Ronnie LaTorres

      
    
 
"UP Derailment at Los Gatos"
Steve Wesolowski

We had many entries, all of them interesting, artistic, and just excellent.  Click on a thumbnail below to see all of our other beautiful Photo Contest entries:    

    

Thank you to *all* who participated.  We hope you enjoyed a few minutes of fame and the ongoing admiration, of your fellow NMRA modellers and guests.

Bring a photo to the next Meet's Photo Contest!  Click here to see the upcoming categories.

Coast Division Photo Contest Chair: Pat LaTorres
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Upcoming Model Contest categories:

Coast Division Model Contest categories are rotated annually according to the following schedule.

Therefore, the categories for the Coast Division Model Contest June 2009 are:

----------

June 2009:         Structure, Display/Diorama,  Self-Propelled Cars & Traction

September 2009:      Steam Locomotives, Diesel & Other Locomotives,  Passenger Car

December 2009:      "Favorite Model" (open category)

March 2010:            Freight Car, Caboose, Maintenance of Way

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Results are determined by Popular Vote.  Arrive and enter early to get more votes!

Optional:  NMRA Judging is available at the Coast Division Meet to any Model Contest participant for:

- Achievement Program Merit Points
- Regional/National Contest entry preparation 'dry-run' and friendly expert advice     
- Or, just to see how you would have done (smile!)

Please contact the current Coast Division Model Contest Chair, John Sing,  or the current Achievement Program chair Kermit Paul, if you would to have your model judged at the upcoming meet.
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Upcoming Photo Contest categories:


June 2009:                  "Trains In Action"

Sept 2009:                             "Railfans I Have Known"

All photos should be matted (inexpensive, resusable mattes can be had at most art supply stores) and should be between 5x7 and 11x14 in size. Hope to see your work there!

Results are determined by Popular Vote. Bring your photos early to get the early votes.

Photo Contest Chair:  Pat LaTorres  
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Volunteers and 2009-2010 Election Results

Our thanks to our many Coast Division volunteers, we could not do any of this without each and every one of you!
 
Nominating Chair
Dave Connery,
announcing our 2009-2010
Coast Division officers:
                      Dave and Mark Schutzer, 2009-2010 Superintendent

Our new 2009-2010 officers are:

*Thank you* to:
 For a job well done!   We and Coast Division are all better due your volunteering.
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This quarter we honor more of our Auction Committee volunteers and our wonderful quarterly table of the best model railroading treasures and deals to be found anywhere , including Bob Ferguson, Vern Alexander, Jim Long, Stanley Keiser, Don Shortt, Bill Swindell, and many more:
        

Finally, we thank Don Shortt, who is able to have the Coast Division to use Buchser Middle School auditorium free of charge - a great gift to us all:



Steve Wesolowski, our Publicity Chair (and super helper on Model Contest) says it well for all of us:  

"So many people happily volunteer to make our Coast Division Quarterly Meetings possible.  In appreciation, whenever you have the chance, please remember to thank someone else in our Division who in whatever way, helps to make our Coast Division Meets the success they are today."

Thank you, Steve, well said.  :-)

Invite a new friend to come to the next Meet, and see what we're all about!

See all of you in June 2009.
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