esngblog

We had a rather different weekend playing trains.  Saturday was spent setting up a N-club layout as we hope to take to the Erith show next year.  We filled the hall with modules!

After a certain amount of fettling and rewiring (!) trains moved!

Highlights were the first train over Allan’s ‘temporary bridge.’

And being joined by Nick Falconer with his lovely funicular module.  At least the funicular railway worked, even when the rest was playing up.

By the time Sunday afternoon arrived, eight members, plus our junior and our auditor turned up to play on the layout.  Not perfect running, but it was settling down as time went on.  Members were also having a little difficulty with a different mode of operation – control a section of track and pass trains along, rather than run your own train on a its own continuous circuit!

The weekend was completed by the usual curry.  And Brian captured both days.

Thankfully, Wednesday wasn’t as hot as the previous few days.  It could almost be described as pleasant!  And six members had a pleasant evening running a few trains and talking a lot.

Sean appeared with a couple of CJM bargains from a show – almost giveaways!  The Class 89 is a lovely looking locomotive and such a pity it wasn’t put into production.  The Intercity livery also suits it very well.

This Class 47 is just a repaint, but also an excellent bargain.

And a Dutch bargain from the same source, rapidly passed on to Brian.  I love these parcels units, but I’ve only seen them in dark green till now.

Terry also visited the show and came away with this lovely bit of Bavaria!

And he also ran some American stock.

Derek’s train ran better without a pony truck on the track.

Not many photos tonight, but to finish here’s some wonderful EM modelling.  

A different ESNG meeting on the 18th.  We had a visit to the Kent & East Sussex Railway for a fish and chip supper on the train.  Eleven members and partners got there for a very pleasant evening.  It was a perfect evening, and the train left Tenterden at 6:30pm, returning by 9:15pm.  Catering appeared to have been collected from the local chippy, but it was hot and very nicely cooked.  Most members went for the fish.  I opted for sausage and chips, but Richard and Maxine did very well – I think they shared a chicken between them!

Unfortunately we had diesel power, albeit an interesting one, probably due to the dry heatwave weather.  They were running steam during the day, but had less people manning the line in the evening, and a lineside fire could have been tricky to deal with.

On arrival at Bodiam, there was a rush for the ice creams….

And a chance to inspect the innards of the diesel.

Return to Tenterden was at dusk.  The drive home was nearly a disaster, as we hit the M25 to find a complete standstill.  Fortunately it was only for 10 minutes (Ron – “We’ll be here to midnight.”) whilst they set up a lane closure for overnight works. 

On the 22nd, I was on holiday, but was able to catch up on proceedings thanks to Brian.