Author: Steve

27th April 2016

This week Gary was able to attend for the first time for a while. As can be seen some of his modern day stock made an excursion from Halsdon Road to run through the Pennines, nothing unusual, and good to see. He also bought with him some redundant picture boards to be used in the club room.

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The welding up of the leg frames for Heyno Junction (HJ) has been completed. Two have had adjustable feet attached, as a template for the rest. The legs will be completed next Wednesday. Then we can sort out their attachments to the boards.
In the HJ workshop board H had its track bed fitted and board G constructed ready for track bed. All these boards now need putting together and on legs so the removable section of fiddle yard can be made.

We have been invited to take Gas Works to the opening of James’ new shop at Hambridge, near the smokery, on 11/12 June 2016. The address is:

DCC Train Automation,

Unit 4 The Courtyard, Bowdens Farm, Hambridge, Somerset, TA10 0BP

On Wednesday we were visited by a possible new member, Paul who models at both extremes, 15 inch and 2mm Fine scale, Hopefully he will pay us further visits as he seemed keen to get involved.

Partial automatic semaphore and colour light signalling using servos controlled from the pointwork setting is now up and running in both directions on South Junction and very good it looks too.  Peter C was still busy with circuit testers but he assured me only to put together a circuit diagram for future reference.

Epsom Show 23/24April 2016

Bob Alderman’s latest creation, St Martin’s Wharf, made its début at the Epsom show at the weekend where it was well received. There are a few operating items to sort out and other than that it ran well for its first outing. Thanks to Graham and Peter Beare for their help at the show and Jim with loading.

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20th April 2016

Another constructive evening for Heyno Junction. Board G now largely complete just the ‘Y’ shaped track bed to fit and fettle. This has now been cut out by Keith this afternoon, a bit of a relief if truth be known.  Dave S has begun putting together a jig for the construction of all the legs.

The remaining books/kits/and models from John M have now gone so we now have more space.
Bob A has packed away his new layout and is now off to be exhibited. Dave S promised not to take his class 40 along this time!!
Paul R was in for a while working on his diesel depot as was John L fettling Holly Junction.

Work continues on Evercreech New with the assembling of servos by James of DCC Train Automation (www.dcctrainautomation.co.uk). The servos will activate the signals and points so the layout will again become a runner albeit for shunting only for the time being.

The youth team were in again this evening running trains on MIRA Roads. They need something else to do until they can help on Heyno Junction. Perhaps they could put Gasworks through its paces?

6th April 2016

Wednesday evening saw a momentous event; the first three boards built for Heyno Junction were fitted together.  Yes although cut and built from plans they fitted perfectly without need for any real fettling!  A real achievement!!  Dave S has now ordered the leg kits and once they are constructed the layout will be free standing,  we will then be able to build more boards starting with the complex board J, which will be a challenge!  Progress at last.

It was good to see some younger visitors running a Warship with coaches on Mira road, they seem to be enjoying themselves.
A couple of Virgins were seen on Holly Junction, one with a large overhang which skimmed a bridge parapet, maybe she needs to trim down??
Bob A continues to work on his new impressively detailed layout this time without a railtour in sight.
There were two visitors during the during the afternoon who viewed the layouts with interest particularly the freight train on summit.  They are potential new members, more are always welcome!  A good attendance this week with 24 members in to Play trains and other activities.  I must bring in something to play with on Gas works  it needs a work up before open Day.
I am away next week, I will not be’ Stuck’ abroad like our chairman so see you in two weeks. Keep up the good work!!

Evercreech New at Evercreech Village Hall

Evercreech New (EN) had its first outing to Evercreech Village Hall at the Remembering The Railway day – 5th March 2016. The show celebrated the 50th anniversary of the closure of the S&D. It was a show worth attending. We gleaned a lot of information about EN from locals. For instance, there was a deep pond behind the platform (signal box side near the footpath). There were earth works behind the kiln so that horse and carts could take their loads to the top of the kiln and drop them in. One old guy’s horse and cart went over the edge! The lady who was in the pushchair (as a child) in one of the pictures turned up. One lady told us of her trips on the footplate (dad was a driver) to school and worked some of the signals. One gent told us that they used to go to the south bound home signal where detonators were left (saved carrying them there) “borrow” some and take them to the quarry where stones were thrown at them until they exploded. We were also donated some pictures of EN as long as we don’t publish them; copyright owner not known. All in all a well worth outing. Thanks to Julian, Steve, Simon and Dick for helping at the show. Good to see Peter and David Sedgman visiting.

Pictures show shots of EN in the hall. One of these show a picture wall which included a map of where the pictures were taken. This last feature was used a lot by visitors and is now available for us to use with EN in the future.

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The Summit at Guildex – September 2015

The final push to Telford started last Wednesday when we packed TS up into several stillages and plastic boxes.  The 7.5T truck was collected on Thursday evening and was at CS2 just after 17:30. Just as a matter of interest we measured the length of the truck. It was 1 foot shorter than the one previously measured. Fortunately we can push against the sides of a real van and by 20:00 we had finished loading.

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After an uneventful trip we arrived at Telford around 13:30 on Friday. We got our tickets and were marshalled into the hall. 15 minutes later the van was unloaded and on its way to be parked. With most of the team of ten members together by about 14:00, as planned, assembly then started. Four and a half hours later we had finished. The longest part was assembly and levelling of the track boards. We will have to find a quick method for doing this.

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For the two days of the show the layout performed without a fault.  Operator error was the cause of most problems. One loco did fail as did a van having its end pulled off in public! Other than that it was compliments all the way. Most pleasing.

At the end of the show we were disassembled, packed up and loaded into the van in two and a half hours. Most of the crew then left for home leaving four members to stay overnight and bring TS back home the next day