3rd August 2016

An eventful day which began with Dave S departing to repatriate the three rail train set with newly upgraded through station.  Judging by the pictures a wonderful layout, Sir Frank would be ‘chuffed’.  Well done!

Our birthday guest arrived and was shown around with Summit, Gasworks and other layouts all running trains.  He seemed to enjoy his visit, a possible associate member?

The workshop screen was re-erected and after maneuvering the Heyno Junction boards the scenic profiles were noisily trimmed to BobA’s approval. The two halves were re-attached and the layout levelled. Until we get more plans we will level out the track beds etc.

The front scenic boards on TS were removed for track/ground signalling upgrading in preparation for appearances later this year at Taunton RailEx in October and Warley in November.  No pressure, but all tasks will need to be completed more quickly than the real thing can manage!

27th July 2016

A big tidy up at the back of the shed means that we can now replace the curtains and recommence woodworking on the Heyno Junction boards.

An EMU was seen running around Welton Down continuously for most of the evening without derailment or rearranging itself which proves that layout works best without human interference!!

TS_long_goods_trainATrains also ran on South Junction which features in the current Model Rail magazine, now available in all good newsagents!

Trains also ran on The Summit. It appears the layout needs extending due to the length of our goods trains which can no longer be accommodated in the refuge sidings or fiddle yard!  The point on entry to the fiddle yard left has been sorted by Ed and just needs high-speed testing on all tracks.

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The group has very kindly been offered a shed boarded out for a layout and it is hoped that at least some of the boards will be suitable for the new Youth Section layout.

Perhaps the greatest excitement was found on the Hornby-Dublo 3-rail layout which has been in temporary residence at the club for track re-alignment to incorporate a city style station using modified original parts.  Dave S spent most of Wednesday wiring up the GPO mail bag equipment so it cannot be connected incorrectly – we get worse with age you know!

Once connected Dave was (allegedly) seen Morris dancing around the board.  Then much ‘testing’ took place sending the only mail bag to one side of the layout and then back again – what fun!  The HD system must be DIGITAL as it only needs two wires!!

Open Day – 9th July 2016

YMRG had a very successful Open Day.  The refreshments were excellent and the layouts performed well.  Both members and the many visitors appeared to have an enjoyable time with many favourable comments received.

YMRG Open Day

This is supposed to be a constructive and fun hobby and hopefully the group were able to demonstrate just how much fun (and construction) there is to be had!

Some interest was shown in the full length Lima HST seen on South Junction.  Details of the various upgrades carried out and planned can be found here.

29th June 2016

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Heyno Junction ready for Open Day

This week work continued in readiness for Open Day.  Heyno Junction was relocated to its new position in the club room although perhaps the wrong way round?  Anyway it looks good for Open Day.

 

 

 

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Wiring Evercreech New ready for Open Day

The main achievement was the positioning of Evercreech New, connecting all the boards and having the Jinty running from end to end without ‘digital’ assistance. Well done all!

Holly Junction continues to develop with further low relief buildings appearing to complete the High Street.  That’s real shops from before the days of charity shops, bookies, nail bars and estate agents!

 

There are a couple of problems on the curves of the test track, due to the use of Sundeala board, which will be sorted on Wednesday.

Rolling stock has now appeared on Summit, as well as Gas works so all we need is good weather on the day.

15th June 2016

Another busy day, with lots occurring.  With Open Day getting very close it was decided to suspend further construction on Heyno Junction once the current board is complete, and the removable top made, so the workshop can be cleared out to make space for Open Day.

June15 005-scaledCorrie continues to develop on Holly Junction, with the appearance of a large white hillside.  There was also the prototype of a road overbridge leading into the town.

 

Meanwhile prior to the referendum the Kaiser’s trains put in a welcome return.  Was this to persuade the undecided – if so which way?!

DaveJune15 001-scaled Haines visited the club and brought with him a beautiful example of a Wolverhampton Saddle Tank and coaches, nice to admire.

A new member Paul T has signed up and joined the club – welcome.

Otherwise Welton Down departed to Mere for the weekend, and ran well in the hands of Jim, Nigel and Steve.

 

8th June 2016

A busy evening with many members in attendance plus a few visitors/possible new members.

Holly Junction saw the installation of the first part of Corrie, the play ground and the chippy, developers have their own priorities!   At least they have public transport!!

The youth section have published their track plans, so we now need to arrange finance (Mr Treasurer).  They were also tasked with giving Gas Works a run before James’s shop opening.  One controller required adjusting which once plugged in correctly all was well. I did not know you could plug a DIN plug in the wrong way round, but you can; as was pointed out by young Peter, we will have to watch him!  Anyway Gas Works has now been dismantled and reassembled in James’s shop for the grand opening tomorrow. Rumour has it that there will be opening day bargains and giveaways to be had!

Heyno Junction progressed further with the construction of board K, any way just needs legs and a few stiffeners. Meanwhile Bob A has drawn some scenery profiles on the other boards so we will start trimming next week.

Welton down is to go to MERE for the weekend 18/10 June and Jim A would like some volunteer operators to help out,only those with 20/20 vision or magnifiers need apply.

Congratulations to James for having a picture published in a rail magazine, a DRS class 68 Diesel.

Open Day was discussed so please see Dave’s e-mail on the subject.

25th May 2016

Hello All

Me again. Well, changes are afoot. The original website is now dedicated to Yeovil Town and we now have our own new one – www.yeovilmrg.org .which you are reading now.

Wednesday saw HeJ  – let me explain. We have two layouts with the initials HJ, Holly Junction and Heyno Junction. So I’m going to distinguish between them by referring to Holly Junction as HoJ and Heyno Junction as HeJ. Now where was I, ah yes, the prologue – and if you remember that TV show you’re older that you think. Wednesday saw HeJ have another board finished – board E. Work is progressing well on HeJ.

HoJ continues to have scenic items added and lots of running trains.

The youngsters gave a presentation on their proposed layout. Well done chaps, excellent effort. It’s taken them two weeks to do that. How many years has HeJ been on the go – and The Summit (TS).

All continuity wiring has been completed on Evercreech New (EN). The loom has been made and it’s ready for assembly and testing of the assembled layout. That can be done while I’m away. One question – where is that Gaugemaster controller with two controls on it? Can’t find it in CS2 at the moment.

IMG_8311

Simon K brought in a copy of the Shepton Mallet Journal from March. On page 14 there is an article on EN when we took it to Evercreech Village Hall for the S&D celebrations. There was no mention of Yeovil Model Railway Group. The paper will be in CS2 in the library if you wish to read it.

Ed made some moving pictures of trains on TS and South Junction (SJ) for the new website.

SJ continues to be fettled and trains run.

Open Day preparations are under way. The toilet is ordered, several catering items have been purchased and a new urn from Odcombe village hall will be used.

DBS checks were discussed. Peter has found someone in Yeovil District Council to pay for some of use to be checked. Excellent work Peter.

Regards

Dave

18th May 2016

Hello All

First let me start by sending the YMRG’s best wishes for a speedy recovery to Simon’s son in law who was found at the side of the road by Bradfords on Thursday. He was taken to YDH where Simon spent most of the day. The membership of YMRG hope all is and will be well.

Wednesday started with Niall and myself moving on with the completion of the rewiring of EN’s 4th board. We are now working on the last board. Once the continuity wiring is finished we will attach the point motors. All boards work when connected up to TS’s power loom. We will need to make a separate power loom for working the 5 EN boards as a separate unit.

There was the usual break for Ice Cream. This has become a welcome weekly occurrence a bit like a tea break.

St Martin’s Wharf has now departed to Montacute after its successful début at the Epsom show.

Heyno Junction continues to progress – board E is now nearing completion.

Board E
Board E

Young James returned this week – we are obviously doing something right in attracting new members. We will probably need 3 or 4 members CRB (or whatever it’s called now) checked for the under 18 members.

Old James was there with his cousin sorting out Paul R’s wiring! Stay cool Mikey, perhaps best to do the wiring on your layout yourself.

Work continued on South Junction. Steve’s HST appears to be working well.

Trains ran as usual on Holly Junction.

That’s it for now.

Regards to all.

Dave

11th May 2016 – Update

YMRG MAY 2016 007

The main achievement this evening was the completion of the fifth board for Heyno Junction, attaching legs to all boards, and erecting all units to becoming a free-standing unit. Despite appearances this is a 4mm layout not a 7mm branch line! Neither is it going to be entirely in tunnel, it’s just that the profile boards for the scenery have yet to be cut to size.  Once the end boards are made we will be able to judge the full size of what we are creating!

A new youth member paid us a visit and spent most of the evening with us, perhaps he will join as well. Mean time our youth section did a first draft plan of their new layout, over seen by Paul R!

A couple of locos were run in on Mira Road,so that seems to be working OK, as does Gas Works.  A very nice LSWR G16 4-8-0T fresh out of the dirty paint shop ran on the The Summit. A Lima HST with working lights (just one end so far) made an appearance on South Junction.  It’s not clear in the photo, but the leading end sports two yellow marker lights and a near side white headlight which attempts to simulate day time running lights.   This is a DC layout and the rear lights illuminate before the set moves thanks to some devious electronics involving current limiting LM334Z ICs.  Once fitted with separate ICs for the marker lights and headlight this should be true at the leading end too.

Full Length Lima HST

4th May 2016

Board H on Heyno Junction nears completion with the track boards down. The track boards on G & H need ‘T’ ing.  Dave has completed the legs and two prototype leg attachments have been made; the remainder will be turned out by Bob O in his workshop.  We will then assemble the five boards completed so that we can consider the scenery.  Only 21 to go!

Gas Works has been switched on and track cleaned to get things running as it will be needed several times in the next few months, but only once we found the switches to operate the points from the back!   Meanwhile Pete C was smoothing the way past the sewage works on South Junction.

The youngsters were in attendance using the test track. At the seance they requested a juniors layout; a mixture of narrow gauge/standard gauge was proposed on a military type theme.  Paul R has volunteered to take this in hand.

The Gauge O Guild publication ‘Inspirational Layouts’ contained not only Albion Quarry, which was not a surprise, but also The Summit.  A copy will be retained for the library.

Our open day was discussed, Dave S has been tasked with co-ordinating the day.  Please see his e-mail on the subject.  James H will be bringing something automated.

James H’s new shop at Bowdens Farm Hambridge is currently being stocked.  The grand opening Day is 11/12 June.  Gas Works has been requested as an attraction, and it will also be paying a visit to the Hornby RCA exhibition at  the Methodist church hall Preston Road on September 24th – will a third rail will be needed?  Welton Down will be out on tour to Mere 18-19th June,  Jim would like some help, only those with good eyesight need apply.  Finally there is a model show at Junction Station this weekend.