Richard and Allan have been off exhibiting Richard’s model buses at the Bournemouth Bus Rally. The weather was variable, but a gazebo on the back of the Transit did the job.
All sorts of things on show….
Old buses….
Red buses….
Yellow buses….
Technicolour buses…
Buses that have been under a low bridge….
And ones that have shrunk…
A little selection, mainly from the internet, today…..
A lovely bit of O gauge modelling….
What a superb electric locomotive. Totally ugly, but totally impressive! Looks like it’s been made out of a lot of left overs. I’d love a model of one of these.
Three for modellers… First, if you haven’t got the room for a large layout, go vertical…
I can’t comment on the overall layout, but surely it doesn’t need my hydrological expertise to know that rivers don’t run off the TOP of a mountain?
The potential of T-track….
This could be challenging in N….
As could this….
Finally, some live footage from the ESNG AGM (or maybe just a modelling suggestion?)
Once again, the ESNG AGM has arrived – and gone again. Amazingly, this is the 27th AGM of the club. We’re getting quite aged – but nothing like as old as the club members.
For the neutral observer, our AGM’s are an exercise in managed mayhem. They have never been the same after the passing of our President, who brought the rigors of the BP boardroom to a club wih a score of members. It might have been more correct, but it wasn’t half as much fun!
The meeting was due to start at 7:30pm, but there was an extraordinary motion (rather painful?) to start the meeting early as all but one member likely to attend had arrived, drunk their cup of tea, and were seated ready to begin. Said member shambled in during the discussion so we got things under way a bit early.
The committee reports were received with only limited heckling. The committee realised years ago that it was safer to remove the fruit from the tins before the meeting started. We did have a new report this year. The Cha(i)rman has promoted himself to Catering Manager, so provided a report. This sums up the state of British industry, when even the tea boy has delusions of grandeur.
There were the usual flood of nominations for committee posts. Forget the secret ballot – a show of hands prolonged the agony of the existing members for another year.
We did have some useful discussions, though. Having failed to hold our own exhibition this year, we may move the date a little later into May, when there seem to be less exhibitions in SE England. I had resigned as Exhibition Manager last year, but I don’t think anyone believed me. I need to do the impossible and may a three figure loss on the show to get sacked.
We also discussed club projects. We will carry on maintenance and make some improvements to our existing club modules. For example, Raysden has a lovely GWR footbridge that won’t pass double-stack containers and the pantographs from Swiss Crocodile locos. Brunel was spinning in his grave….. We will also try out a few mini-modules, T-Track or the even smaller single track version, to get more members to make something. We haven’t managed a club day out this year, but we may have another go, hopefully a little further afield than the local curry house.
The meeting closed around 8:30pm, and I thought, “Great, an early evening!” However, being ESNG we continued to talk about everything else for quite some time….
As always, we could use a few more members, but we seem to have had a consistent number coming to our meetings. We’re definitely solvent, and (mostly) enjoy the club activities. Above all….
Continuing Dave’s Welsh photos. First, some more modern stock on the line, plus some bits and pieces around the workshops.
A slight diversion onto a miniature railway.
Then onto the Teifi Valley Railway. The Teifi Valley Railway is a 2 ft narrow gauge railway occupying a section of the former standard gauge Great Western Railway line between Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn. After the closure of the former line by British Rail in 1973, a preservation group built and periodically extended a narrow-gauge railway along the route, westwards from Henllan, eventually operating a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long line as a tourist attraction. In 2014, the railway closed and much of the track was lifted. It re-opened in 2016, running along about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) of relaid track.
Here are Dave’s images of this little line.
Next time I’ll be reporting the excitement of the ESNG AGM. As exciting as the England football team?
Dave recently sent me the Gwili Railway and the Teifi Valley Railway, and sent me some photos.
Near Carmarthen, the Gwili Railway is one of the UK’s most picturesque preserved lines. Set in beautiful countryside with abundant wildlife, the line follows the River Gwili on a steady uphill journey through farmland and wooded hillsides.
A saddle tank was in steam (and the keen enthusiast will also spot Dave.)
Some interesting rolling stock.
And more stock hopefully being restored.
More next time.
Next stop, the sea front at Gorleston.
Went down to East Anglia Transport Museum with a stop on route on the front at Gorleston. Afterwards we met up with our cousin & husband for an evening meal.
Those benches look so familiar. I recall my grandmother and great-aunts sitting there swapping their glasses. “Try these, Ethel”. “Oh no Eva, mine are far better.” At least they weren’t swapping teeth….
Meanwhile, at the East Anglia Transport Museum…. Trams (nice teeth)….
Trolleybuses…..
Buses…..
And other things…
Next post, we’ll move onto Dave’s Welsh adventures (plus the gripping ESNG AGM!)
As we leave the Mid Norfolk Railway, a couple of shots looking down the line….
And rural Wymondham….
And my pictures of Dereham station in 1964. I think that I was more interested in the Eastern Counties buses, rather than the DMU’s in the station. Dereham was an impressive junction in rural Norfolk, and extensive granaries and malthouses next to the railway. All gone now, but I remember them well.
Allan and Ron move on to Wells-next-the-Sea, also once home to an interesting station and harbour branch. The dynamic duo visited the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway.
Next post, southward bound….
Allan & Ron move on to the next railway….
Overcast with periods of sun and heavy rain. Went to Dereham for a ride on Mid Norfolk Railway (MNR) and then on Wells Next The Sea for Wells and Walsingham Light Railway. Now in pub for evening meal.
Careful what you say, lads – my mother hailed from Dereham, so there might be a trace of Boadicea’s blood in my veins!!!!
A little steam and a smart Class 47.
We’re not in Essex anymore, Toto!
Allan comments…
Visited the Mid Norfolk this morning. I’ve never seen so many Mk3 coaches in one place. They were everywhere.
Hope they can restore some of them. It looks a bit rusty to me.
Pulled by class 47 to Thuxton changing to class 142 (nodding donkey) for Wymondham.
Luxury and something else? But Pacers are ideal heritage line stock?
A few more Mid Norfolk shots to follow.
Sunday afternoon, and a good turnout of nine members to run trains and talk.
Long trains….
The inevitable 59’s….
Multiple units….
Derek’s Swiss railcar and train….
European goods….
Some interesting American stock from Dave…
Sean’s small but noisy ‘Gronk’.
Next meeting, the dreaded AGM. And thank you Brian for the video.
The North Norfolk also has its selection of diesels. Some DMU’s – I really like the original livery with the ‘speed whiskers’ before they got safety conscious with the yellow panel.
The train leaving from Platform 2….. Is rather small…..
And this monster in a siding – but typical of the region.
Some interesting parcels stock….
Sheringham is, of course, by the seaside…
You can’t keep an old milkman down (for long)…..
Look what I found on Holt Station. Have not seen a 10-gallon Express Dairy milk churn in years.
Here’s my one photo of the NNR line in 1970…
And I’ve a nasty suspicion that the last time I visited the NNR was in 1979 on my honeymoon.
Next time we move a little south.
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