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CALDER NORTHERN GROUP
TRAIN ORDER News Update May 2020

Do hope you are keeping well during these difficult times and if like some of us you are making the most of the time by getting some work on a layout completed or building that kit that you have had in the cupboard for years? Keep safe is the motto and the hope that we can all meet up again soon is the aim of all of us!

Now to the main reason for this mailing –

We have learnt today that the 2022 NMRA National Convention in Birmingham has been cancelled. A message on the www.nmra2022uk.org website printed below states the reasons for the cancellation.

It is with a heavy heart that we advise that we can no longer run the NMRA National Convention in Birmingham UK in 2022.
Birmingham City bid successfully to host the Commonwealth Games (similar in scope to the Olympics but for British Commonwealth nations only) in the Summer of 2022 after Durban, South Africa withdrew as host city. This occurred sometime after our own bid to host the NMRA National Convention was successful. As a consequence of that we moved our dates back two weeks to accommodate. Now, as a consequence of the Olympic Games being postponed one year into 2021 due to COVID-19, and the World Athletics Games in Eugene Oregon being postponed one year to the early Summer of 2022, along with the European Athletics Championships in Germany, the Commonwealth Games are now beginning to hold venues and accommodation across the beginning of our convention week. It is possible that the Commonwealth Games dates might change officially. This of itself will put a strain on booking accommodation and meeting rooms. and will likely impact the prices to be charged.
Furthermore, our train show location, which is scheduled to play host to a number of indoor sports during the Commonwealth Games, has now confirmed that they cannot guarantee that the venue will be back in a useable condition following the Games, in time for the Convention to run at all in the summer. The National Convention needs to be in the Summer for a number of reasons ranging from availability of accommodation in a city location, to traffic conditions and heritage railways timetables which are geared to the holiday periods. There is also the added concern that travel, particularly international air travel, and hotel availability might not have returned to its pre-COVID-19 levels putting extra strain on our planning.
We apologise to all those who we know were either looking forward to participating as exhibitors or convention attendees and who were planning trips to the UK around the Convention.
Birmingham 2022 Convention Committee
Kathy Millatt
Convention Chair

Best wishes to everyone,

Terry Wynne
(on behalf of the secretary)

CALDER NORTHERN GROUP
TRAIN ORDER Extra News – May 2020

I have been contacted by Paul Whittaker, who was a Calder Northern member, asking if we would like some Walthers HO scale buildings either for a raffle or for members to choose which they would like and make an appropriate donation to club funds. I have suggested to Paul that if he could drop the items into the Heritage Centre one Wednesday whilst Mike Lenz is working there or perhaps someone may be able to collect them from Paul who lives in Middlewich. This to be sorted out in the next few days.
Paul is also selling his mainly HO Atlas DCC sound locos and his freight cars too. For these latter items Paul suggests members contact him for details of what he is selling and he will send a list. He has also generously offered to give 10% of selling price of these items to the Group. His email address is paulwhittaker20@hotmail.com Paul is changing to British N scale and so this is the reason for the items being available.
I list below the buildings Paul has sent me but I do not have the locos and rolling stock information. That you will have to ask for when you email him.
HO Scale Buildings
• Walthers Magic Pan Bakeries
• St Paul Depot, based on Walthers Golden Valley Depot
• Yard Office, based on Walthers Industrial Office
• Stuckey’s Pecan Shoppe, based on Walthers Roadside American Stuckey’s
• Two small corrugated iron industrial track side store buildings,
• Platform with canopies, based on Walthers Wood station shed and platform
• Walthers Low Relief Armstrong Electric Motors
• Single road engine shed, based on Walthers Machine shop
• Walthers Diesel Fuelling Facility
• Walthers Trackside Structures Set, (Interlocking Tower, Crossing Shanty Gate House, Speeder Shed (with speeder)
• Walthers Tenth World Comics
• Woodland Scenics J W Cobbler
• Woodland Scenics Citizen Savings and Loan with armours car and unloading man
• Michaelsville freight house, based on Walthers Golden Valley Freight House
• Johnstown freight house, based on Walthers Golden Valley Freight House
• Assorted cars (inc Fire Truck, Taxi, Police car, Gas (petrol) Tanker)
• Assorted people, fences, trees, deer, sheep

If anyone has any questions then these should be referred to Paul on his email address.

Terry Wynne

CALDER NORTHERN GROUP
EXTRA TRAIN ORDERS April 2020

Do hope you are keeping well, talking with friends and family and looking after loved ones where and when you can.

As you will have realised our regular Calder Northern Group monthly meetings have been cancelled for the foreseeable future and only when restrictions are lifted can gatherings again be considered? There is some doubt then about the number of people who will be able to gather together and this could impact significantly on those of us in the more senior age group.

Latest news –
Your committee have been thinking about and discussing the Group’s financial situation created by the Coronavirus pandemic. We stand to lose income each month due to cancellation of meetings and whilst we will ask for a reduction or part reduction of our annual rent to the Heritage Centre for the period of closure there is no guarantee that we would receive it.
The present Coronavirus problems have caused us to take a long hard look at the Groups finances and how we can support Calder Northern into the future so that we may continue to enjoy Group activities. In the short term we are suggesting that at the next meeting that takes place members could make a donation to cover any missing dues or, should individuals wish to, a donation that covers more than just the missing dues. This will bolster the finances for this financial year.
In the longer term the Heritage Centre too is feeling the effects of loss of income and could possibly ask the Group for a higher rent at the end of 2020 when our lease expires. It is in all our interests to make sure CN Group does not disappear due to lack of money. At present we just about make a profit based on ongoing expenditures and receipts, this excludes one off items like sales of assets. We have not had to increase dues since 2010, mainly because of some very generous donations from individuals and income from the sale of deceased member’s models. I think you will agree that we have done well to hold the dues at their current level. However if we are to ensure the continuation of Group activities, the committee feel we must increase our income.
When we can meet again and hold our AGM one of the items on the agenda will be Group finances. The committee will explain the current situation and present the proposed budgets for 2020 and 2021. It is proposed to hold dues at their current level for this financial year, but for a suggested increase in the dues to £5 per meeting for 2021. This has been much discussed by the committee but reluctantly we feel there is no alternative if Calder Northern is to continue and thrive.

Terry Wynne
(on behalf of the secretary)

CALDER NORTHERN GROUP
TRAIN ORDERS February 2020

Welcome to a rather long Train Orders this time, – the reason being the call for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Calder Northern Group.

First of all this is a reminder about layout operation for the summer season at the Heritage Centre. Hopefully each member has already contacted Paul Mitchell with the dates they are unavailable to operate at weekends during the Heritage Centre’s summer season. If you have not already done so will you please make contact and advise Paul right away. Thank you very much.

Meeting dates for 2020 are as follows:-

• SUNDAY 16TH FEBRUARY

• SATURDAY 21ST MARCH (AGM)

• SUNDAY 19TH APRIL

• SATURDAY 9TH MAY

• SUNDAY 14TH JUNE

• SATURDAY 18TH JULY

• SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST

• SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER

• SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER

• SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

• SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER (CHRISTMAS MEET)

Can you please note the February Meet is NOT now a Valentine’s Event as we do not have sufficient ladies attending for it to be a special event for them. Sorry!
You will also note that the March meeting date is our AGM. Please let me have your proposed nominations for Group Committee members by Sunday 15th March. Obviously you must seek the permission of the person you are nominating to confirm that they are prepared to stand for election to the committee. If no nominations are received by the due date then the membership will be asked for a vote of confidence at the AGM to re-appoint the current committee, assuming they are prepared to stand again. The post of secretary is or will be vacant at the AGM so please make proposals for this position too.

Don’t forget that being part of the Committee is an opportunity for you to work towards an AP certificate as Association Volunteer.

As you know Dorothy Flude, Chair of the Heritage Trust died in December. She had expressly wished that any donations offered were to be made to Crewe Heritage Centre. Calder Northern Group made a donation as she had been very supportive of our presence on this site. We understand a total exceeding £1300 has been raised in donations, showing that she was held in high esteem by many.

I hereby give notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Calder Northern Group on Sunday 16th February 2020 in the North Junction Signal Box at 11.15am.

Our February Meeting will host a special Extraordinary General Meeting so hopefully as many Calder Northern members as possible will make the effort to be there. This meeting is called following a request by Gordy Robinson, who organised last year’s British Region Convention in Aberdeen, with the hope for Calder Northern to host the 2021 Region Convention. Gordy had made tentative enquiries with a hotel from the same group as the one in Aberdeen, this time in Manchester. However the costs quoted were much too high and therefore, he sent an approach to this Group hopefully to work with Calder Northern and a local hotel for attendees.
In subsequent discussions with Mike Lenz we have been given a price for the use of the Heritage Centre for the first weekend of November 2021. Whilst this event is a little later than normal for Region conventions it is the first weekend outside the Centre’s summer season. The Heritage Centre will provide catering at the kitchen, run the miniature railway and allow such events as clinics in the two heated cars in the APT. Plus they will co-organise the shuttle bus to run between the Centre and hotel and railway station during the weekend. Other Heritage Centre attractions will operate as a normal weekend. Car parking and other requirements will be dealt with once a full agreement of Calder Northern members has been sought. This is what this EGM will seek to discuss and gain member thoughts with a view to informing the Region BoD should it be that our intentions, are or not, to proceed.
Gordy Robinson and Jonathan Small would head an organising committee but with some volunteer input from us here in Crewe. They will also deal with all computerised bookings and other matters so we are saved a task that many may feel is outside their comfort zone.
I have prepared a list of tasks that we would need to consider and hopefully gain support from our members to undertake some of these requirements during the next 18 months. A summary below will give you some idea of those tasks that need to be carried out before and over the weekend of the event. Obviously when that November weekend comes around, feet on the ground will be necessary. Please think about this venture and even if you cannot make the meeting please will you advise your thoughts to Terry Wynne so they can be considered alongside those attending the EGM on the day. If agreement by members is forthcoming then those volunteering need to be fully behind this event. We unfortunately cannot have people saying they will undertake a particular task and then further down the line advise that they no longer are able to complete the task. This has happened in the past when organising our Themed Train Shows and work has then fallen on others who have already had a heavy workload of their own to complete. So please think carefully about what you are prepared to offer in helping with this event. The aim would not be to overload just a few people but spread the tasks across all those who volunteer to help. Ideally the tasks will not be too onerous and it is intended that no one will have more than they can manage and it would be great if some might be able to share their tasks and help each other.

As with the usual format at Region Conventions 2021 will take place from Friday noon to Sunday afternoon. Accommodation will be at a local hotel. Suggested hotels are the Crewe Arms Hotel and the Ibis Styles Hotel both close to the railway station. These will be looked at and discussions as to what level of services they can provide. Besides meals and maybe the ‘banquet’ on the Saturday evening we might need a couple of clinic rooms and a leisure room for any ladies attending. Possibly a room for model/photo contests could be needed should interest be shown by Region members. It might also be possible to have an operating layout there as well depending on what the hotel facility has to offer. Principle layouts and traders will be located in the Exhibition Hall at the Centre with possibly clinic rooms in the APT if required. It is proposed that the public be welcomed on the Saturday only, so that as well as easing parking for Region members around the site there is more leisurely viewing of layouts and purchases from traders on Friday pm and Sunday am before everything wraps up for another year.

Summary of things that need to be considered.–
• Stewarding of car parking.
• Making sure APT clinic rooms are ready for next clinic.
• Pay Hut on Saturday for public and NMRA members (membership cards to be shown)
• “Can I help” stewards on Saturday only when public are involved.
• NMRA members Pre- Registration desk at hotel.
• On the Day Registration desk inside Exhibition Hall for NMRA members.
• Sale of raffle tickets Friday pm to Saturday 3pm – draw at 4pm
• Supervision of raffle prizes on display Saturday from noon.
• Arrange for as many as possible to pre-register car registration numbers for advising Tesco for use of their car parking. CN and NMRA members only.(not layout operators and traders who would have bespoke parking close to the exhibition hall)
• Suggestions for external visits in the local area and organising of same.
• Assist with setting up of tables and taking down at the end of event.

The above give you some of the requirements which will need to be discussed soon after this meeting to start the early preparation. This will be an ongoing programme and whilst at the start we might need only a few people to be involved, the nearer we get to the event the greater the commitment is needed.
I will have a number of other things to say at the EGM as will no doubt Jonathan Small and Tony Gath.

Please make every effort to come along and make your views and thoughts known.

I will add further that should this event go ahead as some would like there is every likely any financial surplus that the event realises will be shared between the British Region and Calder Northern Group which would certainly help club funds as we go into the next stage of our agreement with the Heritage Trust. We certainly will not lose financially should the event not be as popular as hoped.
The Heritage Centre would also gain financially from this event, apart from the fee for the use of the whole site, they will also take all the receipts from the sale of drinks and food at the kitchen counter and of course the Centre’s shop in the NJSB.

After the EGM –
Jonathan Small and Terry Wynne are hoping that we can also talk to members about the Achievement Programme and what each of you have done in terms of modelling or layout building at home. Many of you/us have made models of buildings or super- detailed items or wired up our layouts etc. Many of these tasks could count towards AP certification. How many of you have a layout more than 4’ x 2’ with freight cars, buildings and track wired up and have trains which can run around the layout? If the answer is yes it may be possible that you could gain the Golden Spike Award which is a stepping stone towards various AP qualifications. It would be ideal if we could talk with each person – not on a one to one basis but openly so others can hear what is discussed and maybe realise what they have done is something similar and we all can learn from what others have accomplished.

Relative to the last note the Wednesday Gang have been very busy lifting the tracks at the south end of the room where the double slip was located. The reason for this is to eliminate the double slip and realign the approach to the platforms as well as making a switching loco spur/lead track. This work is not yet completed and maybe for our February meeting only limited running will be possible. Perhaps it is a good thing with much to discuss on the 16th.
The curve on the short line to the barge slip has been realigned and some further work on the sidings and lead track have been completed and are now working fine. Thanks to Roy, Alan, Steve and Tony for their efforts. Thanks also to Tony for his doubling the track on the signal display layout in the middle room. It now requires the electrical connections for the track and for the signal levers to operate the inner track again. The outer track will have a train running continuously whilst switched on.

You might have been aware that Roy Harris was going to present a clinic on using Arduinos but in view of our EGM etc he has suggested he presents this at a later date – perhaps after the AGM at our March meeting. Further information on this will be forthcoming in the next Train Orders.

Well I think this is as much as I can remember for the time being. Hope you have not dropped off to sleep reading it all.

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday 16th February.

Terry Wynne
Secretary

Hi everyone,

First of all a very Happy Christmas and all the very best wishes for the New Year to you and your loved ones.

Today we held our usual Christmas Meet with the now famous raffle! Bob Bevan did manage to secure a few prizes to put into the special box prepared for him by Alf Milliken – it was printed on all sides “Bob’s Box for raffle prizes” or similar wording. Much hilarity was evident with Bob being the good sport he is giving as good as he received. Very many thanks to those who attended today, who generously donated great prizes and who dug deep in pockets to raise a total of £219 on the raffle. Sixteen members signed in plus 3 visitors and it was particularly pleasing to see Syd Michael, Tony Hayselden with his wife Joan, Carol Gath and also Bill Jackson.

Thanks to Tony Gath and Carol for the sale of the raffle tickets and the job of folding the stubs ready for the draw.

The additional attraction in the yard of both American and Classic British Cars was superb and we are sure the Heritage Centre enjoyed a nice boost of income from sales at the cafe counter.

It had been my intention today to provide copies of the Meet Dates for 2020 but certain pressures resulted in this not being available as planned. However thanks to Mike Lenz his list of dates appears below for your notice.

Paul Mitchell will now be able to draw up a rota for weekend operation when the Centre is open to the public and therefore, please advise Paul immediately if any of the weekend dates have been pre-booked on your 2020 calendar at home. Paul will distribute the new rota when it is completed and a copy will be placed on the Group’s Notice Board in the clubroom.

Dates are as follows :-

• SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY
• SUNDAY 16TH FEBRUARY (VALENTINE’S MEET)
• SATURDAY 21ST MARCH (AGM)
• SUNDAY 19TH APRIL
• SATURDAY 9TH MAY
• SUNDAY 14TH JUNE
• SATURDAY 18TH JULY
• SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST
• SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
• SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER
• SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
• SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER (CHRISTMAS MEET)

Many of you will have learnt that Dorothy Flude who was the Chairman of Crewe Heritage Trust has died. Dorothy very much encouraged Calder Northern Group in our role supporting the activities of the Heritage Centre and she will be sorely missed by everyone associated with the Heritage Centre. Dorothy’s funeral will take place at St. Andrew’s Church, Bedford Street, Crewe at 12.30pm on Friday 20^th December followed by a private family service at Crewe Crematorium. There will be a representative of the Trust at the Church, however, the hearse and family funeral cars will coming onto the Heritage Centre site to process and stop for a short moment en route to the Crematorium. Members of the Trust welcomes anyone who wishes to come along to pay their respects at around 1pm. It is understood Dorothy’s family have been asked to agree to the Heritage Centre’s Class 47 to be named in her memory, which is a great and fitting proposal.

Will Wednesday Gang members please note that we will not be meeting this coming Wednesday and that we will meet again on 8^th January 2020.

Terry Wynne

Secretary

 

TRAIN ORDERS – SPECIAL

 Hi there,

You will know that Sunday 15^th December is our Group Christmas Meeting and Raffle. We do hope you will manage to come along, enjoy the company of fellow modellers and participate in the raffle to raise funds for Group projects.

I spoke with Mike Lenz this morning and he advises me that a late arrangement with the local American Car Group means this Group will be bringing cars onto the site to display them. One of the effects on us and our meeting is that we will be required to park vehicles on the car park inside the main gates but ask members not to drive beyond the miniature railway level crossing gates. The exception to this is those who wish to drop a passenger or bring large numbers of raffle prizes can drive to the North Junction Signal Box deliver their passenger/gifts or models before returning their car to the car park. Please do take extra care if you drive onto the site as pedestrians could be walking around and we do not wish for accidents to happen – please take extra care.

The cafe will be operating for everyone including the American Car people so please try and wear your name badge or some indication that you are a member of Calder Northern to obtain your free tea/coffee at the counter. We will have mince pies and cake or biscuits for your festive enjoyment in the clubroom.

The meet dates for 2020 meetings will be announced on Sunday after Mike Lenz has completed the details.

Last but not least any donated gifts for the raffle will be greatly appreciated as well your generosity in buying as many raffle tickets as you can.

For those not able to attend we can arrange for you to nominate someone to hold tickets for you and also any subsequent prizes gained if you advise me by Saturday at the latest, stating what value of tickets you wish to buy. Monies can be handed over at the January Meet.

Terry

CALDER NORTHERN GROUP

                                          X-tra TRAIN ORDERS June 2019

 

 

 

 

Start-up instructions when operating North Western Mills layout.

 

 

 

Hi there,

 

Alan Wyatt has kindly set out a start-up procedure when switching on the North Western Mills HO scale layout in the clubroom. These instructions are for members to follow in sequence to ensure the layout powers up correctly and in the right order.

When you are scheduled to operate at weekends according to the rota then these instructions should be followed to make sure no hiccups occur and you can have a trouble-free session.

 

A copy of these instructions will also be placed on the clubroom notice board.

 

 

Terry Wynne

Secretary

 

 

 

 

CREWE DIGITRAX START-UP & SHUT DOWN

START UP

Number	ITEM	Check
1	Check position of switches on the DCS210 Command Station, the mode switch should be set to RUN, and the scale switch should be set to HO.
2	Check position of switches on the DB210 Booster, the mode switch should be set to RUN, the scale switch should be set to HO, the AUTO REV switch should be set to OFF and the AMPS switch should be set to 5.
3	Turn the power for the layout on at the wall. Switch on the Digitrax equipment by switching on the things plugged into the 6 way extension one at a time.   Start with switch 1 the Loconet power supply, switch it on.  The UR92 on top of the pole should show a steady red light and a blinking green light.   Using switch 2 switch on the Booster, the lights on the DB210 should show- PWR – red light that flashes about every 3-4 secs TRACK STATUS – steady white light NET – steady red light that will flash when instructions are sent across Loconet.   Using switch 3 switch on the Command Station, the lights on the DCS210 should show- PWR – green light that flashes about every 3-4 secs TRACK STATUS – steady white light NET – steady red light that will flash when instructions are sent across Loconet.  IMPORTANT – If this light is not on and the command station looks like the lower photo then the voltage on the Loconet is low and engines may behave erratically.  If the light is not on then switch off sockets 1 to 3 on the extension lead, pause and then switch on again..   The red light should have gone out on the UR92 to be replaced by a blinking green light showing that the wireless transmitter is talking to the control station.   The circuit breakers should all show a steady red light on each breaker.  If they don’t and the track indicator lights are off on the Command Station and the Booster then find a DT500 controller, put a charged battery into it and then plug it into the layout.  Press the PWR switch to turn on the controller and see the following screen display.   Press the Y/+ key for a couple of seconds.  The lights on the breakers and the track status lights on the Command Station and the Booster should illuminate to show that the track power is on.   Switch 4 controls the power to the points system.   Switch 5 is for the battery charger.   Switch 6 is for Mikes’ layout  For normal operation check,–   See also the pictures below,
4	Select the controllers you want to use and using a batteries from the fully charged section of the battery tub fit batteries into the controllers.   Then, if it is a wireless throttle, plug it into the layout to enable it to join the duplex group ready for wireless operation.  After about 10 seconds unplug it from the layout.
5	At this point if the breakers are all showing a red light there should be power to the tracks, so put a loco on the layout, select it and see if it responds to the controller.  If it doesn’t plug the controller into the layout, reselect the loco and see if it responds to the controller.  If it now responds unplug the controller and check that the train can now be controlled wirelessly.
6	If a UT4D controller does not appear to be working properly then plug it into the layout, if it now works correctly then unplug it and change the battery for a fully charged one.
7	A DT500D must have a 9-volt battery installed for tetherless oper­ations. When you install the battery press and hold the PWR key to turn your throttle on, the throttle will report the battery voltage then display the last screen displayed before the throttle was powered off.  If the voltage shown is less than 6.5Volts then the battery must be changed or the controller plugged into the layout.  NB this will not charge a flat battery.

 

 

CHARGING BATTERIES

Number	ITEM	Check
1	Plug a battery into any of the 10 bays in the charger unit.  A red light alongside the battery slot shows that the battery is charging.  When the red light turns green then the battery is fully charged and can be removed and placed in the tub for charged batteries.   Charging batteries will take up to 4 hours for a totally flat battery.

 

SHUT DOWN

Number	ITEM	Check
1	At the end of a session despatch any locos from the controllers to avoid problems on start up at the next session, see controller manual for how to do this.  Turn off the power to the layout by turning off the switches on the extension lead and then turn of power at the wall.
2	Remove the batteries from the controllers, they should then be put in the “used” part of the battery container and every Wednesday used batteries should be charged and put into the charged section of the battery box.  This should ensure sufficient charged batteries to begin a weekend running session.

 

 

 

 

CREWE DIGITRAX START V4