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A sort of routine evening – 9 members, plus a return visit from Graham – we obviously failed to scare him off last time when we had no trains running.  Also good to see Ian Carter, after missing the last meeting with a Tesco roll induced tummy upset, and Peter after another Cyprus visit.

We soon got the usual circuit up and running, and it was a largely Continental evening.  Paul had brought along his Taurus’ and Cargowaggons.  Allan and Derek had been to a swapmeet in Selsdon and were testing their purchases.  Both Allan and Derek were running some double deck coaches, but Derek’s rake didn’t look quite right with a BR Class 25 (or something) on the front.

Apart from that, there was an exhibition planning session.  I need to get the last bits and pieces organised this weekend.  And some more publicity around the town, if any shops will take a poster.

PS Farish 4F 0-6-0 just arrived with the postman.  Looks very, very, nice.  I hoped it would arrive in time for last night’s meeting, so it will have to wait till next time for a test run.

A few more views of our afternoon playing trains…..

We were supposed to be working on the ‘gate’ ready for the show.  But it didn’t get far.  Talk is indeed cheap, and running trains was more interesting than laying track.

I like this view of Ian’s V2’s on a passenger train.  The wheel slip is caught well and was rather impressive in the flesh.  The photo also shows the terrible joint between modules here.  Most trains just bounced over it without uncoupling.

The engineer’s train looks good as it goes by, but watch to the end for the ‘slip’ coach, as it leaves the brake van behind.

Martin appeared, having left his Eddie Stobart articulated at home.  Perhaps we could hold next year’s exhibition inside a trailer?  He brought along this excellent modern image coal train to run.  It looks good running through Derek’s board.

Allan’s Terrier and Maunsell coaches made a good show.  Not quite right together for period, but they would look good on a preserved line.

Most of the trains on show were from the UK, but we did have a couple of USA visitors.  Dave’s double headed Alco’s made a colourful show.

I’d brought along all my Lehigh Valley plus other cabooses, so ran the ultimate ‘brake van special’.  It would have made a good enthusiast’s train!

Finally, I brought along my nearly complete ‘O’ gauge LSWR G6.  It needs safety valves, tank fillers, lamp irons and the like.  As it hasn’t been touched since 1993, I suppose it can wait a little longer.  ‘O’ gauge just looks enormous alongside ‘N’.

Our second ‘PlayDay’ of the year went as well as the first one in January.  So some statistics first, then some pictures and videos, and some more in a second post.  9 members and two friends attended and we had a very relaxed afternoon running trains followed by the usual curry.  The morning in Redhill had dawned cloudless, and like Saturday looked like it was going to be a lovely spring day.  I was beginning to feel guilty that I was going to play trains and not go for a healthy walk with my better half.  However by 2pm, it had clouded over and there was some drizzle in the air – for once this was entirely welcome.

So we got a quickly got a larger than usual circuit up an running, with some extra modules.  Dave brought along his dual gauge quarry, Derek ‘Eightfoot’ and his junction board and Allan the speedo board.  Adding two dashboards, we ended up with a 17′ x 9′ circuit – good for letting trains stretch their legs a little.

The slowest thing recorded by the speedometer board was Miles’ hand…..

First the club record.  Paul’s Japanese goods train got up to 112 vehicles, including a mid-train helper.  The larger circuit made it easier to keep things on the track and not pulled off across the corners.  Everyone talked about the phenomenal pulling power of the Kato Japanese locos.  However, we replaced the head loco with a Farish ‘O8’ 0-6-0 shunter, and it still moved the lot….

The fiddle yard wasn’t as full as it could have been, but there were some interesting trains on show.  I finally (after 5 years) gave my Hymek a run…..

Ian and Alex’s Allan’s Deltic (credit where credit’s due) looks good on the main line and passing through Dave’s quarry (despite the 1:1 scale glasses).

More next time!