A Wednesday working party did a few odds and ends – Mr Atfield lengthened his legs – and repaired the Speedo board. Two of us arrived in time for fish and chips.
In the evening, we had seven members along, and ran a few trains. Highlight was Simon’s oil tankers, four locos, 60 cars long, that managed several circuits without uncoupling.
Not much else to report, so here’s an ode to autumn!
And a reminder that we will be exhibiting again on the 18th, in Redhill.
Six members turned out, and ran a few trains. The usual suspects….
Another repair job needed. We tried out the speedo board for a future show. It still looks good after 20+ years, and we persuaded the speedometer to work, but the baseboard may need a little reinforcement!
A feature of the afternoon seemed to be crossing and passing trains….
And a selection of other models on the move…..
And the usual more in focus pictures from Brian….
Just a few pictures for your delight, today….
I know who might be tempted to build this. Not sure what radius curve it would be good for?
Yate station in 1900. The wagon turntable is, to say the least, interesting.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Dungeness branch. A model with nothing but shingle and a lighthouse for scenery? (No Romney Hythe and Dymchurch or nuclear power station in those days. They’d barely discovered the atom, let alone split it!)
The entrance to Nine Elms, towards the end of steam. I passed these hallowed gates once with a school railway club outing. Brilliant, even with just the last locos left in service.
This so reminds me of an ESNG running night. How did it travel so far without a disaster happening? Those couplers must be quite something. Do they do them in N gauge?
A fine London Transport scene…
Now that’s what I call modelling!!!!! A portaloo on wheels!
How to get around a tight corner – trams in Lisbon.
No tight corners here. Cincinnati.
On that wet Day 6, a little excitement….
While sitting and waiting for a tram back to Douglas, I witnessed a incident with tram 19 and trailer 58.
As normal, the tram was uncoupled and pulled forward. It reversed to the other track. They then tried to roll down the trailer. They were having some problem. The driver even gave it a push. The conductor was having trouble reapply the brake. It ended up hitting the buffer stop with a big bang and breaking the buffer stop.
The tram left without the trailer. As we sat on the following tram, someone came in by car to check it over. There was an empty tram passing us on the way back, I think to recover trailer 58.
Really, just like an ESNG club night!
Meanwhile, I was sent a couple of candid camera photos of the ‘Dawes Duo.’ I hasten to add that the titles are as sent, not mine (but I wish I’d thought of them.)
Relaxing with a pint of Okell’s after a hard day’s travel
Dynamic Track Testing on the Manx Electric Railway between Groudle Glen and Laxey
Allan sent me this one, but it does remind me of what my grandfather said to my teenage father, “What you eat would kill a weak man!” I had wondered whether Allan & Ron would shrink with all that rain, but looking at the size of the pizza – most unlikely!
The ‘Do not try this at home’ spot – playing the ukulele on a motorcycle!
Of course, Day 7 and home was perfect and sunny…
Flying home this afternoon and left hotel to find sun shining in an almost cloudless sky.
The weather seems to have gone downhill, sunny periods and showers, but getting progressively worse – though not as far as the mainland, with flooding around Manchester, and a league football match abandoned in Blackburn, as it had become impossible to kick and move the ball.
Day 4
Following overnight rain overcast becoming sunny. Took bus through the back doubles to Peel for bus to The Sound. Returned to Port Erin for bus to Derby Castle for return trip to Laxey on last northbound journey, which was not going beyond Laxey.
Day 5
Sunny turning wet in the afternoon, By tram and bus to Ramsey for ride on minibus with flexible route through Northern villages. Returned to Douglas by bus via Pier and Airport. Finally return trip to Port Erin for our evening meal out on last train of the day return by bus.
Day 6
Rain all day. Travelled around on our transport passes only stopping for drinks and snacks.
But trains are waterproof….
Especially in museums…
As are trams (through I’m not sure I’d like to travel on the ‘toastrack’ car, and I’m glad that the toilets were inside!)
As are horses….
As is Ron, apparently!
But not buses?
Really, it’s just the Great British Holiday.
Day 3 and things looking up – briefly!
Sunny and windy. In view of good weather we decided to go up Snaefell so we took tram to Laxey for the mountain railway. As we crossed Mountain Road/TT Course we ran into low cloud, which continued up to summit, where a gale was blowing. After a hot drink we came down to Laxey for a tram to Ramsey. From there we travelled via Peel and outskirts of Douglas to Port Erin for last steam train of the day to Douglas.
A definite gale – the summit was leaning quite a long way!
Elsewhere…
Trains….
Trams….
And horses….
And even the ferries were running again.
Day 2 – what’s Ron’s weather forecast today? Not sure whether the first sentence is about the weather or about Allan and Ron???
Wet and windy with a couple of brighter periods. Took steam train to Port Erin and returned by bus the long way round via Peel and Ramsey. The weather on the west coast was better than on the east coast.
The beach after last night’s storm.
Douglas Station.
Port Erin Station.
Beach at Peel (plus Ron).
And Ramsey bus garage.
And the location of fine dining!
Guess where we had our evening meal!
Yes it was raining!
Wednesday night and we did manage to run a few trains. Just the five members again, but some slightly younger and keener ones! No photos, due to the natural laziness of the club secretary (who again was acting charman.)
Meanwhile, Allan and Ron are back on the Isle of Man. Wisely they flew there this time, avoiding the disruption of the ferries due to storms and gales. Ron writes….
Train to Gatwick under blue skies for flight to Isle of Man and landed early under cloudy skies. During bus journey to hotel it started to rain. Leaving cases in room caught horse tram to Derby Castle for Manx Electric railway to Laxey to meet friends from Vancouver Island who fly home tomorrow. On arrival it was raining heavily so adjourned to Mines Tavern for two pints of local beer. On return to Derby Castle it was still raining with strong wind blowing waves onto promenade. What could the four of us do but dash into The Terminus for another pint and a pub meal. Weather forecast is not looking good for tomorrow.
This trip is turning out as bad as Ron’s German jaunts – just count the pints of real ale rather than the gluvines? Statue at the airport looks like it was made after a few pints….
Laxey in the rain…..
And a few trams – also in the rain.
Waves over the promenade….
Three more pictures from TINGS from Simon…
There wasn’t much at TINGS but I thought you might like these.
The layout was probably the best in show?
Nazareth Portland – The layout is based upon the Cement manufacturing industry of North East Pennsylvania in the USA. The time frame is early 1970s and features contemporary railroad equipment.
One of my favourite locations – interesting industry and Lehigh Valley and Lehigh New England railroads.
Next time, a return to the Isle of Man with Allan and Ron.
It was probably optimistic to have a meeting on the TINGS weekend. We didn’t run trains, but this was mainly due to illness and holidays. Five of the very senior members turned up, but felt no inclination to build a train set, so we happily spent the best part of two hours chatting and drinking tea. Lacking all members of the catering department, I had to serve drinks.
We did manage to finalise the show accounts, and eliminate the discrepancies between my master spreadsheet and the door and shop takings.
I didn’t get to TINGS this weekend, mainly due to the feeling that I’d come home disappointed. And I didn’t want to buy anything, anyway. Reports do seem to be that it has become a large second-hand boot sale. A few good layouts, but not as many as yesteryear.
However, Mr Rowlatt, our northern club representative, did go and has let me post his Facebook pictures of a few layouts.
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