esngblog

Another non-meeting on Wednesday.  A couple of people had to drop out, so I decided to cancel the meeting.  And then forgot to tell one of the people who was still coming.  Another fine mess by the club secretary……

However, Monday’s work on the fiddle yard was more successful.  Simon and Derek laid some more track, and I continued wiring the end boards.  I was worried when I put some power on the track, that I had wired the microswitches around the wrong way.  Fortunately it turned our that the problem was two years of dirt on the newly laid track.  A good rub with the trusty bath rubber and power was restored.

And at home, I’m making good progress on buildings for my new N-mod modules.  I bought a couple of the structures, but others are Ration kits, and I have been putting them together and painting them.  I shall soon be considering the landscaping needed on the boards.  More pictures (I hope), soon.

I close with this lovely illustration of Brighton at its best….

Six hardy members turned up for Sunday afternoon’s running session.  This was an interesting meeting, as (1) there were no dashboards – the circuit was entirely made up of real modules, and (2) we’d almost brought enough trains to compensate for the lack of Paul’s Japanese selection.

Modules consisted of Derek’s Doverswood, Dave’s canal basin, and my new boards (must think up a name…..)

I was pleased that my boards still worked after ballasting the main line.  Allan was running a Swiss push-pull train, with the loco somewhere in the middle.  Totally prototypical, I’m told – at ESNG it usually happens when half a train uncouples and is collected by the loco next time around.

Derek was having a continental afternoon….

Brian added a little Dutch flavour….

My own contribution was British…..

And Brian recorded it all on film – and to music by another of my favourite bands!

All in all, a pleasant afternoon.  Good, too, to see the days getting longer, as when we had packed up, it was still light outside.

Five members turned up for the Wednesday meeting, allowing plenty of running time all round.

I tried running my military train for the first time, having made the NGS Warwell and Warflat kits during the first lockdown.  It ran reasonably, but needs a little fettling, as it kept derailing at a couple of locations.  Still, I was pleased with it so far.

Chris was running some Metropolitan line underground stock.

I replaced my train with a container rake, that ran perfectly.  Chris then gave his re-geared Class 33 a turn on the front of the containers.  Graham’s American Union Pacific rake overtakes in the background.

Mr Stroudley turned in his grave at the sight of a Terrier pulling a GWR autocoach!

Whilst a GWR Small Prairie pulled lots of large coaches. 

After testing my new modules last Sunday meeting, I corrected the obvious errors.  Where I de-crimped the wires when folding the boards (having forgotten to unplug them), I made a new end board, with a slot for the wires to remain connected and loop from one board to the next.  A couple of legs fitted should allow the modules to be stored vertically.  I also fixed the misplaced track joint where the fishplate had missed.  Point control is nearly installed.  And a rattle can coat of sleeper grime painted the track in two minutes flat.  Next job, ballast.

More from Switzerland in the next post.