Tag: Train Orders

Hi everyone,

First I have to report that just over a week ago Derek Milby suffered a stroke and I understand from the latest current information is that he is making good progress. I have mailed a get well card to him on behalf of all members wishing him best wishes for a speedy recovery. Derek is in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (Ward 23) but when he will be released is as yet unknown.
Derek had been travelling on a train with a friend with the intention of going to do some work on a locomotive on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. His friend had said something to Derek in conversation and Derek did not reply which prompted the friend to turn toward Derek only to see that some facial paralysis had occurred. The guy immediately phoned emergency services and the train was met at Lancaster Station and Derek moved to the RLI. The actions of his friend must certainly have aided Derek as the sooner treatment begins the better the chances of recovery.

Calder Northern Division’s next monthly meeting is our Christmas Meet on Sunday 11th December. Do come along for the usual Mince pie gathering and of course our club Christmas Raffle. If you can bring/donate a something for the raffle to help make it a bumper prize draw then so much the better. A bottle, something railroad related or an item which will be appreciated by wives or partners will be much appreciated.

Through the good offices of Derek Frith we are very pleased to have received a donation of buildings and some freight and passenger car models courtesy of Ian Allen Bookshop in Manchester. I will be writing to thank them shortly. Members will be welcome to look at the models and make a bid for those items which we consider surplus to club use – Please note there are no locomotives.

Advance notice – Next year is the 25th Anniversary of Crewe Heritage Centre and also importantly the 175th Anniversary of Crewe. So there will be some special events taking place at the Heritage Centre. We may be asked to participate and if so we will look to members to help in some way. A full calendar of events will be published in the New Year. I t is also possible that some of our meet dates will need to be altered once we know more about the celebrations.

Mike Lenz has drawn up our meet dates for 2012 – the dates will also appear in Roundhouse and on the British Region website and hopefully will not clash with Black Diamonds or Red Dragon groups as we do have members who also attend their meets. Dates as follows –

SATURDAY JANUARY 14TH
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12TH (Valentine Special for the ladies)
SATURDAY MARCH 10TH
SUNDAY APRIL 15TH
SATURDAY MAY 12TH
SUNDAY JUNE 10TH
SATURDAY JULY 7TH
SUNDAY AUGUST 12TH
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7TH
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17TH
SUNDAY DECEMBER 9TH

Well that’s all for now folks, except to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous 2012.

Terry Wynne, Chairman

Hello everyone,

I am extremely pleased to say that our “Western Roads” themed meet was a great success. All those who volunteered in response to the September Train Orders can give themselves a hefty pat on the back. You were all so helpful and as a result the event passed off very smoothly. Thank you everyone who came along to sweep, vacuum and mop floors on Friday prior to assisting layout operators and traders unload and set up their stands. Then on Saturday to man car parking duties, look after stands whilst owners took a well deserved break, to deal with pay desk duties in the pay hut at the entrance to the site was really appreciated. Very special thanks are due here to Christine Lushman (Rory’s wife) who spent virtually all day at this task; you really are a star Christine! Sunday was covered in a similar way with different members undertaking these duties with assistance being given to those packing their stands away before leaving the site at the end of the show. As ‘old Mr Grace used to say whilst waving his walking stick’ – “you have all done very well” – so a big thank you, to you all.

The disposal of the late Bill Burke collection in the APT was very successful thanks to Les Herriot and Ray Elwin who managed to sell all the items raising a good figure to send to his widow. Additional thanks are due here to Geoff Poulter who kindly paid to take off our hands all the remaining items unsold at the end of our event. In total we raised £1200 after selling all the items Mike Lenz and I brought from Bill’s home earlier this year.

The whole show and the now expected evening meal on Saturday at these special themed meets has drawn only positive comments from the many members attending. It is amazing that 30 rooms were booked in hotels around Crewe and that close to 50 people sat down to dinner Saturday evening.
Our guests from abroad Tom Griffiths from New Jersey, USA and Patrick Bopp and friends from Luxemburg were made most welcome and they all seemed to enjoy their stay with us.
Special thanks must go to Tom for his help throughout the weekend. We have photos of his heroic efforts with broom and mop on Friday, helping man North Western Mills layout on Saturday and Sunday and we appreciate his many other small moments of help to others during the weekend. During the visits to the event by first The Mayor of Crewe and then by Edward Timpson MP (Member for Crewe & Nantwich) we were able to ask Edward to present Tom with certificate and Calder Northern Division baseball cap granting him honorary membership of our group.

My final vote of thanks must first go to Mike Lenz for all the background work he undertook with the Crewe Heritage Centre Trust and liaison with the Friends of the Heritage Centre in organising the extra activities available for our visitors to enjoy. Then secondly grateful thanks to all of the Volunteers who manned the miniature railway, the refreshment counter, book shop in the Signal Box and the Class 03 loco giving rides. It is these attractions being available that helps to make our events such a success – Thank you guys.

As you all know the aim of this event was to raise funds for our group and to use some of any surplus to finance the purchase of Perspex to provide cover over the Devils Creek layout so that it can be permanently on display and for ‘anti- little fingers’ protection for the front of the North Western Mills layout.
Well I can happily announce we can achieve these planned tasks. Our takings for the whole event amounted to £2198.50 and once expenses are taken away we are left with a surplus of roundly £800. It was agreed by committee members that we also give £250 to the Crewe Heritage Centre and £250 to the Friends of Crewe Heritage Centre for their assistance and kind efforts over the whole weekend. We see this as part of a partnership in maintaining good relations and common interest on the site and being able to work together toward improving the attractions for the public.

Finally, considering our event clashed with the Manchester Model Railway Club 75th Anniversary Train Show and Crewe Fire Station Open Day we did well to have just over 100 NMRA members attending and 300 paying members of the public (400 including the free entry for children). A grand total of 500 persons was not bad considering! Thanks again to you all!

Terry Wynne, Chairman

Well everyone, our “Western Roads” Themed Train Show event is almost upon us. I sincerely hope that we are going to see you all at Crewe on Saturday 1st and/or Sunday 2nd October because as a group we have so much to do to make the event a success. Don’t forget the prime reason for this event is to raise funds for you Calder Northern Division members, so you can all enjoy the facilities and layouts we have at our disposal without the need to increase our dues significantly.
In the last Train Orders and at recent monthly meetings I have asked for people to volunteer just a half hour or one hour to be a car park steward or to sit on the pay desk at the entrance to the site but guess what, only one member has come forward offering to help. I am sorry but if this is the attitude members are happy to adopt, with a distinct lack of offers to help, then this is the last major venture of this kind I will involve myself in for the group. I feel very let down with the whole situation. This Train show has involved a large amount of work in getting layouts, traders, other attractions agreed with the Heritage Centre, printing and distributing publicity material, arranging website information and circulating local model shops only to meet a brick wall from the people it is meant to help. All of this has taken place whilst Sue & I are committed to full time care of our grandchild and really have little spare time these days. I am certainly not asking for praise from anyone but I would just like some members to come forward and say I volunteer to help for an hour on …….day!

That said and off my chest, I am stepping down off my soapbox!

I need now to advise you all of the arrangements that will be needed for the weekend. The order I list these may not be in correct chronological order so please forgive me if it is a little mixed up.

First the information about the Train Show – we have 12 layouts including our own 2 HO layouts and Mike Lenz layout. There are 3 N scale layouts including a 200’ run on the Black Diamonds/Snake Bend group modules. There will be 5 HO scale layouts including two layouts from Luxemburg courtesy of Patrick Bopp, also there is Roger Nicholls new layout with sound/DCC and one Lionel O scale layout. With regards to Traders we have LSWR, Contikits, ABC Modelsport (airbrush & weathering), Sunningwell Command Control (DCC equipment), Dagfields Books plus Richard Maxwell with his brass models.
Chris Leigh (ModelRail) will be giving his presentations (only on Saturday) in the middle room of the North Junction Signal Box (NJSB) and Crewe Railroaders American Football team will be located in the main hall with their display table. The Tombola table will be near the door of the Exhibition Hall and we would welcome any donated gifts for the table to make this a bumper prize event. We will have sales tables in the APT selling the items from the late Bill Burke collection. We did advertise B&B tables @ £5 per table but as yet no takers!
The Heritage Centre miniature railway will be operating; the two other signal boxes will be open and the “be a driver for a fiver” will be available on the Class 03 shunting loco. We are fortunate also to have a GM London Ontario built Class 66 loco on site as well.
Refreshments will be available in the form of a hot food van outside the Exhibition Hall as well teas etc in the NJSB.
As you can see there is much to offer the public and members at our show.
We understand that the Mayor of Crewe may well be coming along as well as the Crewe & Nantwich Member of Parliament, Edward Timpson and his family.

Please ensure you arrive early as traders and a few layouts will be setting up from 8am with the gates open to visitors from 10am. However, many of these will have arrived before 10am and get first use of the Centre’s car parking spaces.

For those of you who attended Kegworth last year might remember Tom Griffiths from New Jersey who helped on the Calder Northern layout that weekend. Well Tom is coming again and staying in the area for 3 weeks but will join us for all 3 days to help out as required – great guy!.
We know of at least 25 hotel rooms booked locally and of course the Saturday evening drinks & meal at Crewe Arms looks to have about 40-50 people attending which will be very good. Please let Nobby Clarke or myself know if you wish to join us for the meal but please do it before the Saturday so the hotel can deal with any increase in numbers.

Now to the next bit –

The Heritage Centre will be open all day on the Friday 30th September so we must first make sure all is clean and swept before we can mark out on the Exhibition Hall floor where layouts etc will be positioned. Tables will be delivered by the Hire Centre for traders and others to use. There will be a need to discuss parking arrangements and sort out who is to be allowed on site to park, what happens to traders vehicles once offloaded and how we deal with the overflow of member and public visitor cars during the event as well as reserving some disabled spaces just inside the gates or alongside the APT.
Obviously we are going to see some layouts and traders arriving Friday and some may need assistance to help set up a table or two. One of the last things needed on Friday is to position the banner signs outside the premises and attach the metal arrow direction signs on lamp posts at agreed points on the approach roads around Crewe. I have drawn up a map for this and maybe this could be dealt with by more than one person.

Saturday and Sunday –

Apart from the pay desk in the Pay cabin just inside the main gates which we need to have covered all day we will need stewards to deal with cars arriving for most of the opening hours – well until 3pm I think.
We are aiming to try and get as many cars as possible on site and intend to try park cars along the access road facing the railway, inside the main gates to the right before you reach the miniature railway crossing. After that we want to park cars alongside the APT but some of these must be for disabled users. The grass area at the front of the APT at the end of the site can take about 8 cars parked facing the main line but they will have to ride up over the sleeper frontage. Obviously we hope many people will share cars to ease the situation as once our spaces are full we will have to direct cars to the public car parks across the roundabout from Tesco. Dunelm Mill car park is limited to 3 hours (£75 fine if breached) so this should be pointed out to visitors, however, alongside Dunelm just a little further up that roadway is the Council public carking which is a pay & display (Saturday only – Sunday being FREE). Walking from that car park, visitors can use the pedestrian bridge over the road before walking down the driveway. Unfortunately Tesco’s rebuild is still far from finished and we had hoped some spaces could have been made available to us. This is still an ongoing issue and hopefully we may manage to agree something in the interim.
The hot food van will be in front of the Exhibition Hall and they will probably have a support vehicle as well. We must ensure they park close to the electrical source and leave space for other car access to the Hall. We hope to park cars on this grass space as well (although Crewe Railroaders might want to use some of this space if the weather is fine!) plus as many vehicles as possible alongside the L&NWR scrap metal outside the hall near the tracks. Mike Lenz car and a couple of other cars will be parked down at the NJSB.
I expect we will have to leave a space for our M.P.’s car on Saturday as well and this should be by the corner of the Exhibition Hall.
Some traders and those who arrive early will be asked if they will park across on the public car parks after unloading to help us out.
The late Bill Burke’s collection of models is to be sold over the weekend and we need some members to assist with this role. His widow has generously agreed Calder Northern Division should keep 10% of all the sales for club funds. John Hey spent last Wednesday pricing all the items so there is no need for anyone to have any concerns about what items should sell for, although if anyone makes an offer for an item very close to the marked value I would suggest it be accepted to ensure we do not have stuff unsold at the end of the weekend..
After the event closes on Sunday afternoon a little help to fold down tables, clear any rubbish from the exhibition hall floor will be appreciated. Oh yes, direction signs from the surrounding roads will need collecting as well.
This being a 2 day Train Show the expenses payments are going to be very high this year so we all should do what we can to encourage as many people as possible to come along and boost the income for the event. Posters and leaflets have been placed at local model shops and small posters placed in Supermarkets, Library, Petrol stations and on some company notice boards to this end.

Please e-mail me (T_WYNNE (at) sky.com) or telephone (strictly before 8pm any evening) on 01270 567050 if you can help with any task over the weekend be it setting up on Friday, pay desk, car parking, second-hand sales etc.

Terry Wynne, Chairman

Hi there,

This is again a very short Train Orders as I am endeavouring to get this out to everyone before I go on holiday next week. Sorry if you were expecting a lengthy newsletter this time!

Following on from the announcement that member Bill Burke has sadly passed away Mike Lenz and I have at the request of Bill’s wife been and had a look at Bill’s collection of models with a view to disposing of them. Bill did not collect just one particular railroad but there is a predominance of UP and SP items. We have in conjunction with his wife said that we will offer the items first to Calder Northern members at our next meet on 14th August and after that the items will go on sale on a B&B stall at the October Themed Meet on 1st & 2nd October. Bill’s wife has also agreed that Calder Northern take a 10% commission on all items sold for which we are very grateful.

At our July monthly meet Terry Wynne presented his clinic on installing a DCC decoder into a Blue-box Athearn locomotive and since then two members have successfully run their locos at the clubroom. Terry still has a few Digitrax DH123AT decoders for sale if anyone still requires one of these to experiment with – the cost of each decoder is £18
The clinic with the Airbrushing demonstration by CN member Paul Brickles from ABC Model Sport will take place on Sunday 14th August from approx 11am. Paul says he will be bringing along a small number of airbrushes for members to have a go. He will take time to oversee what each is doing and provide help and advice on the best approach. Hopefully all those who wish to have a go will be able to use the airbrush to gain some knowledge and experience of handling one – bring along a model and of course you may need your chequebook or credit card as you might want to buy an airbrush once you have used one!

The request in the last Train Orders asking if any members had any Walthers small houses building kits they have not made up yet, or maybe built but not needed, drew a complete silence. Will you guys have another look in those little corners of your cupboards or storage boxes and see what you have closeted away!

The presentation at our last meeting, on behalf of CN members, to Brenda Porter and Mike Wynn was much appreciated by them both and we have received thank you’s from each of them saying that they were very pleased and grateful for the plaques and kind words. Mike did say he wishes now he had come to Crewe on other occasions but rest assured he will be with us in October. Brenda intends to keep coming along with Les Herriot or Tony Hayselden whenever possible to our meetings.

Work on the wiring on the DCC layout is progressing well with tremendous efforts particularly by John Baggaley in sorting out the questions we had with the electronic control of the switches. Thanks also to Mike Bolton for a quick repair and advice. Three of the diagrammatic control panels are now working and the fourth is close to being complete. The next task is to finish wiring all the frog polarity connections where required as all switch motors are in place. We are looking for volunteers at our next meet or on a Wednesday to join the working group to paint the baseboard area between the tracks ready for the eventual task of applying ballast and scenic materials. Each of these kinds of tasks may only be small but it shows progress and gives members a boost to carry on and complete another stage of the development of the layout. Do come along and lend a hand.

For the Themed Meet in October we have secured 10 layouts (N, HO & American Flyer) plus our own 2 HO layouts; there will also be 3 traders, a bookseller, B&B tables, Chris leigh’s presentation (on Saturday only), Heritage Centre attractions and Crewe Railroaders Gridiron players! 2 HO layouts are even coming from Luxembourg courtesy of Patrick Bopp. There will be a hot food van available – see Roundhouse or the Region Yahoo Group for further details. Volunteers for stewarding would be appreciated for the car parking and pay desk – it will only be for an hour if we spread the role around amongst ourselves. Let me know if you are available.
On the Saturday evening we will like the two previous October events in 2007 and 2009 be organising a meal at the Crewe Arms Hotel. Last time 36 people sat down to the meal and a great evening of laughter and conviviality – we hope to better that number this time. Nobby Clarke has arranged a special deal at the hotel for those wanting to stay overnight – £45 for a twin bedded room including breakfast. So fix up and share with a friend for £22.50 each!

Finally any ideas for future clinics will be appreciated. Let me know what you think is needed and we will try to accommodate your wishes.

Terry Wynne Chairman

Hi there,

This is a very short on content Train Orders as I am trying to include just the main items without any detailed explanations. Hope you don’t mind?

First I must advise that Calder Northern member Bill Burke has sadly passed away. Bill who lived in Cadishead was an attendee at Broadheath but only got over to Crewe a couple of times in the past. We only learnt of his death recently when Les Herriot was following up information on those members who had not renewed their membership for this next year.

Two further presentations/clinics have been arranged. The first is on Sunday June 12th when Terry Wynne will show how to install a DCC decoder into a Blue-box Athearn locomotive. This is a simple task and Terry will have a few Digitrax DH123AT decoders for sale on the day. Ideally it would be great if members who have locos they want to convert will let Terry know to reserve a decoder. The cost of each decoder is £18 and although the decoder instructions say “no soldering – clip fit” Terry will be showing an extra little task by soldering one of the wires to the side of the truck framing. Bring along your loco and see how easy it is!
The second clinic is the follow up Airbrushing demonstration clinic with CN member Paul Brickles from ABC Model sport. This will take place on Sunday 14th August from 11am. Paul will be letting anyone with a freight car of his or her own to have a go at spraying it and if time permits adding weathering. Hopefully all those who wish to have a go will be able to use the airbrush to gain some knowledge and experience of handling one. Bring your chequebook or credit card as you might want to buy an airbrush once you have used one!

Do any members have any Walthers small houses building kits they have not made up yet or if they have been built but are not needed we are interested in buying them from you at a reasonable price. Better still you might like to donate them for use on the HO DCC layout.

We are looking for some help to run trains on our layouts at the Bank Holiday weekend. The Crewe Heritage Centre has a Model & Miniature event planned and ideally would like our layouts to be working on those 3 days. Do try and come along to help. Andrew Wicks and Bob Bevan have generously been at the Centre almost every weekend to keep our trains running. A big thank you guys for your kind help.
A list of other CHC events is available if you want a copy.

For those of you who still receive “snail mail” copies of Train Orders can you please advise if you still want to receive a copy? A number of you we do not see at Crewe meetings and it is difficult to know whether the information is of use or not. Please give me a ring on 01270 567050 (before 8pm as we have a small child sleeping at home) if you do not want your Train orders as with postal costs as high as they are we don’t want to send unnecessary copies. If you have e-mail or access to someone who has e-mail then let us know the e-mail address for future mailings. At the AGM in April the issue of postal copies was discussed and it was agreed there we may have to ask for mailings costs from those who still receive copies this way.

Finally we hope to make a small presentation at our next meeting, on behalf of CN members, to Brenda Porter and Mike Wynn in appreciation of their generous and continued support over many years at our meets and events.

Terry Wynne
Chairman

Dear Members,

First of all this is a further reminder that our next monthly meet on Sunday April 17th is the Calder Northern Division Annual General Meeting, the AGM will start promptly at 1.30pm.
This year the only committee position to be voted on is that of Secretary. As you are aware nominations for this position should have been sent to Les Herriot before 31st March 2011. Les currently holds this position and is willing to be nominated for a further term should members so wish.

In order to keep our costs down we will not be posting to you a copy of the minutes of last years AGM meeting. However, members wishing to read a copy can do so in advance of the AGM on 17th April in the “Clubroom” or they can request a copy by e-mail or phone to Les Herriot on 01204 305457 or leslieherriot@talktalk.net

For those of you who will be unable to attend the meeting I will also append below a draft of the agenda items in case you wish to contact the Secretary to request your comments be heard at the meeting on the issues where you have any concerns.
This year I intend only to make a short Chairman’s speech giving a minor overview of the year’s activities and thereafter deal with each element as part of the agenda as appropriate. That way it is hoped to speed up the meeting to allow members to do what they enjoy most by running trains and talking about them.
The Treasurer will be giving his explanation of the Divisions finances during the meeting.

Please do come along, as after all, it is your Division and it is the membership, which is ultimately responsible for the success or failures of our activities and even our existence. As we have emphasised many times in the past– we use it or we lose it!

Terry Wynne
Chairman

Calder Northern Division
Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held at 1.30pm
At Crewe Heritage Centre – Sunday 17th April 2011.

Agenda

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of last AGM (members should read these before the AGM)

3. Matters arising

4. Chairman’s report

5. Treasurer’s report

6. Secretary – Nominations for Committee

7. Voting

8. British Region Annual Convention Kegworth 2010 and Bournemouth 2011

9. CN organised “Western Roads” Themed Meet 1st & 2nd October

10. Calder Northern Meets & Clinics –
Past years clinics
Future clinics
Options for future (members wishes & ideas)

11. Grant application for DCC equipment

12. Donation received from Reading Group

13. Donation of models to Seaboard Southern Group following the fire

14. Calder Northern Layouts –
Devils Creek
North Western Mills
Old HO layout scenic boards
N scale layouts (both)

15. Any Other Business –
New members
E-mail addresses for Train orders

A very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to you and your family – I also hope you had a great Christmas and that all your presents came with wheels on!

First a reminder that the date advised in “Roundhouse” for our January meet has changed. In order to avoid a clash with the British Region Meet at Benson on 15th January, we have moved our January meeting to Saturday January 22nd. A full list of our 2011 meet dates is included in this Train Orders.

A second reminder is for you all to note that the Calder Northern Annual General Meeting is to be held on Sunday April 17th commencing at 1.30pm. This year the only position to be voted on is that of Secretary. Nominations for this position should be sent to Les Herriot before 31st March 2011 – details at the end of this mailing. As you are aware Les currently holds this position and is happy to be nominated for a further term should members so wish.

A third reminder – please note that our “Western Roads” Themed Meet will be a 2 day event held on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October – 10am till 4pm each day. Like the previous themed meet we will be arranging an evening meal at a local hotel on the Saturday and hope as many of you as possible will come along; cost will be advised at a later date. Last time 36 people enjoyed dinner and most stayed overnight in the hotel. Local rates range from £29 per room per night in Travelodge / Premier Inn (early booking essential) to £49 at other hotels in the area. A number of traders and layouts are already booked and further details will appear in Roundhouse as we progress with the organisation of the event. ABC Modelsport of Crewe will be demonstrating airbrushing & weathering techniques on their stand. Chris Leigh (editor of Model Rail) will be giving a presentation on “The White Pass & Yukon RR” and maybe an update on ‘Kinsol Trestle’ for those of you who attended his presentation at the Canadian themed meet in 2007. The usual Heritage Centre attractions will be operating (Signal Boxes, Miniature railway and “be a driver for a fiver” on the Class 03 shunter) and hopefully a steam loco will be on site as well.
Don’t forget we will need assistance in the kitchen, with stewarding and car park attendants for the event.

Crewe Heritage Centre Trust has advised us that the rent we pay for use of the facilities in the North Junction Signal Box is to increase by £50 to £450 per annum with immediate effect. They also advise that due to planned significant expenditure on improving the NJSB (security and heating) we are also likely to see a further increase of £50 to £500 per annum for 2012. The rate of £400 has been maintained since we moved to Crewe from Broadheath in 2006 and your committee feel the increase/s is acceptable.

Following two successful clinics during the past year we are planning to continue with these for your enjoyment. Paul Brickles from ABC Model sport has promised to conduct another airbrushing clinic, this time with you having hands on experience on a model of your choice. Paul Doggett has also offered his services again and we are hoping to finalise a topic very soon. Terry Wynne has suggested that a ‘hands-on’ clinic on wiring an Athearn ‘Blue-Box Loco’ for DCC. Terry will show how easy it is to do and everyone attending can wire their own loco on the day. If there are sufficient numbers (we will ask for numbers later) we could perhaps approach one of the suppliers to see what discounts are offered. You then could buy decoders not just for the clinic but to take home for other locos you own for fitting at a later stage. A recent cost for the chip specific for Blue Box locos is around £17 (basic item). If you are interested then please tell your committee members as soon as you can.

We are looking for help with doing some rewiring and a small amount of track laying on the old DC scenic boards. The boards are now in position along the right hand wall of the clubroom and plans are in place to make a joining board so interchange of freight cars can be made when running sessions begin. An additional scenic board is planned which will have a rail ferry berth and float bridge. n.b. The DC scenic boards will continue to be solely DC powered. The connecting board however, will allow access from both the DC and DCC layouts for interchanging cars – a protected dead section ensuring no locos ‘get fried’.

Remember also the ‘Devils Creek’ layout is available to run your DC locomotives. Thanks to Steve Scott information for this layout is being prepared so members will be fully aware of all the little details for enjoyable operation of trains. If you want to run trains on this DC layout please remember it has #4 or #5 switches and so long wheelbase locos (i.e. 2-12-2’s) might find them rather tight!

Finally, for this notice, the Heritage Centre is holding a Model Railway show which is planned for Sat/Sun 19th/20th February when we need volunteers to operate all our layouts on both days. Please advise Mike Lenz, Terry Wynne or see one of the committee members at the January meet to say if you are able to operate on either or both of those days. Thank you.

2011 MEET DATES

Saturday January 22nd

Sunday February 13th

Saturday March 12th

Sunday April 17th – Annual General Meeting

Saturday May 14th

Sunday June 12th

Saturday July 16th

Sunday August 14th

Saturday September 10th

Saturday & Sunday October 1st & 2nd – Themed meet

Saturday November 12th

Sunday December 11th

Terry Wynne e-mail – T_WYNNE@sky.com
Mike Lenz e-mail – mlenz20284@aol.com

Your Committee – Les Herriot, Tony Hayselden, John Hey, Gordon Nelhams, Mike Lenz and Terry Wynne

Hello friends,
Our November meeting on Saturday 13th November saw Paul Doggett giving us a very enlightening clinic on “Building Resin Kits”. 14 members enjoying Paul’s clear and helpful details on how to tackle one of these interesting kits. The model will be made available for airbrushing and weathering at Paul Brickles (ABC Modelsport, Crewe) clinic in the New Year when we will have the opportunity to get some hands on experience of airbrushing.
It was also very good to see Keith Webb, our new Vice President, join us for our meeting to sit in on the clinic and talk with members. This is something we raised some time ago when we said that BoD members should be seen around the Divisions to speak with and gain insight into the thoughts of members at local level. I know we are fortunate to have Steve Scott join us at Crewe on a regular basis but this move by Keith is a positive one and hopefully others will journey to join us in the future.

Plans for the DC section modules are underway and hopefully in the next few weeks we can erect those boards for members to start making minor alterations to the track to allow a connection to the DCC layout.

Another reminder that we need some help on 27th/28th November when the Heritage Centre is hosting an event over the weekend and we have been asked if we will operate our layouts in the clubroom on those days. Will you please advise Mike Lenz or Terry Wynne when you can assist – just an hour or two on one of the days would be most helpful.

I have been asked to be a member of the Heritage Centre Management Committee and last Saturday we held our first meeting to set some guidelines. The prime aim is to make sure all the different groups on site – Miniature Railway Group; APT Group; Class 47 Group; Signal Box Group; Exeter West SB Group and ourselves, are aware of each others activities and to co-ordinate help for each event each group is hosting. It is also the aim to show a united front to both the Trustees and to Cheshire East Council that the activities of the Heritage Centre are thriving and should be supported. It should be noted that Pete Waterman has lost his funding for the apprentice scheme and has been reminded that the Trust are responsible for all the site and what goes on therein.
The Management Group confirmed at the meeting they will be helping Calder Northern when we hold our “Western Roads” Meet in October next year by stewarding the site with us, helping with the pay desk, operating the miniature railway, plus the planned cab rides and “be a driver for a fiver” on the Class 3 diesel shunter loco. In turn they hope we will assist each group at their events during the year by operating our model layouts for the benefit of the visiting public. This of course is a good opportunity for working on the layout, recruiting new members and promoting NMRA (BR).

A further reminder – our “Western Roads” Themed Meet in October 2011 will be a 2-day show. Like the last event we held in 2009 people are invited to have a meal together at the hotel on Saturday evening. Setting up can be Friday pm or on Saturday morning with an opening time of 1pm till 5pm on Saturday (unless we decide to start at 10am on Saturday) and 10am till 4pm on Sunday – more on this in future newsletters.
We already have a number of layouts pencilled in and confirmation from a number of traders. We also have confirmed that Chris Leigh (editor of Model Rail) will give an illustrated talk on the “White Pass & Yukon Railroad” and may also provide an update on the “Kinsol Trestle” which he was building (remember the Canadian Meet in 2007). The real trestle on Vancouver Island has almost been rebuilt and is likely to be opened early in the New Year. Chris may have pictures of that to show as well.

Brian Leighton has also been in hospital for triple by-pass heart surgery and unfortunately Brian has had to return to hospital due to some complications – He is home again now.
Les Herriot has just had a cataract removed and is taking things easy for a while.
We wish both a speedy recovery and hope to see them at Crewe in the near future.

Don’t forget guys – we need prizes for the December Meet Christmas raffle. Please help!

Terry Wynne

Hello friends,

This is just a short note to advise that the planned clinic by Paul Doggett at our next Calder Northern Division meeting on 15th August titled “Building Resin Kits” has had to be postponed to a later date. Paul advises that he is unfortunately unable to attend but will be agreeing with us an alternative date very soon.

Do try and come along to the next meeting, as we need to discuss how we deal with getting the DCC wired HO scale layout to Kegworth for the forthcoming Convention and who is available to operate whilst we are there. I am sure we all realise that the layout will still be in its raw state but it is a good opportunity for others to see what goes into building a layout of this size and the amount of tasks involved. Late hours running will be a feature of our layout each evening and hopefully it will perform well enough to satisfy that demand.

The new addition – the “Devils Creek” layout is now in place and working which will add to the facilities to enjoy at our group meetings. Steve Scott and Les Herriot will be there to give those who want to operate a run-through of the operational details.

For those of you who are not connected to the NMRA (BR) yahoo chat group I must inform you that the Seaboard Southern Group have sadly lost their club facilities in an arson attack along with many members private models. No further information is available so we do not know the full extent of the matter at this time. I have sent a message to the group wishing them well in reforming the group when they can.

Having been away for almost a month I have not been up with all the news but heard that Andrew Wicks had been in hospital. I understand Andrew is now at home and making progress. We wish him well and hope to see him at Crewe very soon.

Do make the effort to come along to Crewe next weekend if you can.

Terry Wynne
Chairman

Geoff Meek 1935-2010
Many of you will know or have heard that sadly Geoff Meek died of a massive stroke on 31st January aged 74 years. Geoff was a great friend to many Calder Northern members and held office over a long period in our Division. He was Chairman of CN for many years as well as being Vice President, President, then Meets Officer of NMRA British Region. I am sure many will remember Geoff for his friendly, helpful and encouraging manner, the generous way he organised and fostered this group and for his modelling skills in his beloved G scale – he will be sorely missed.

It has been recently proposed Calder Northern Division send a donation to “The Stroke Society” in memory of Geoff and at the February 14th Division meeting it was agreed we send a group donation of £50. Geoff’s son David told us that he would leave the charity to be of our own choice but it was considered that following Geoff suffering a number of strokes before he died that this charity was most appropriate. This proposal was later re-considered and further agreement reached asking that we place a box on the table at Crewe on the day of our AGM for members to make individual donations in addition to the group donation.

Annual General Meeting – 18th April 2010
Please note the date of the AGM and do please try to attend. If you have any items you wish to be raised at the AGM and placed on the Agenda then please advise Les Herriot by March 31st at the latest. AoB items can be dealt with on the day as long as they are advised before the meeting commences at 1.30pm.

Nominations are required for two committee member positions following the term of office expiring for the following people – Terry Wynne (current Chairman) and Mike Sheridan (Treasurer). We must report that Mike Sheridan is relinquishing his post as Treasurer at the AGM. Mike has carried out this role since before we moved to Crewe and we are most grateful for his efforts on our behalf as treasurer and for his role in the design of the electrics for the new DCC layout. A very big thank you Mike!
You will appreciate that with Mike Sheridan vacating the Treasurer’s position we needed to have someone in place to ease the hand-over of the Treasurer’s activities and as a result existing committee member Tony Hayselden volunteered to take on this role. A quick request for approval from the membership at the Christmas Meet helped to smooth this transition.

Will you please send your nominations for the 2 vacant positions via e-mail or telephone to Les Herriot (Secretary), before the17th April 2010.
Please note that (in the event of more than one candidate for each of the 2 vacant positions) voting will be by show of hands at the AGM – n.b. there will not be a postal vote so please do come along on the 18th.
It must also be noted that only when the positions have been filled, will the elected committee recommend to the members their proposals for Chairman and Secretary.

Terry Wynne has agreed that he is prepared to serve again on the committee if proposed and elected.

Welcome to New Members-
We welcome new members Brian Leighton and Colin Reed and hope they will enjoy our groups’ activities.

Clinics and demonstrations of modelling techniques & skills –
We are starting our session of clinics and it is likely that the first clinic/demonstration will be on the Sunday 18th April prior to the AGM. We intend this to be on Weathering of Freight Cars using both powders and chalks but also airbrushing. The presentation will be by Paul Brickles of ABC ModelSports of Nantwich Road, Crewe. Paul hopes to be able to provide the opportunity for members to try their hand at airbrushing with a view to holding subsequent sessions to gain some experience of using this medium. He will also bring along items for sale offering small discounts to members. It is intended the session will start at 11am and take approx 90 minutes.
It might be useful to bring along a model of your own on which you may wish to try doing some weathering.

Ardenrail and re-arranged Benson Winter Meet
Please note that Ardenrail has been cancelled and the new date for the previously cancelled Winter Meet is now 26th June at Benson. This will be called the “Not the Winter Meet” See RH for details.

February 14th Meet at Crewe
With this meet falling on Valentine’s Day the group were pleased to provide a glass of champagne and chocolates for “the ladies”. This was a big thank you for all the help they give and it was a day when they should be pampered!. It was a surprise for them and they decided to close the kitchen whilst they enjoyed the moment. A few flushed cheeks were seen afterwards!

Donations of Books and Models
We have recently been given some books and also about 20 HO locomotives and 20 freight /passenger cars. It is intended to hold a silent auction for these items on the day of the AGM.
The auction will be managed as follows – those wishing to participate will be given a raffle ticket number to which he/she will endorse on the appropriate list alongside the item in question along with the amount he is prepared to bid. During the day he can increase his/her bid should others have also placed their bids on that item. You will be advised of the closing time for bids on the day.
For your information the locomotives we have been given include Athearn, Bachmann Spectrum, Proto 2000, Model Power and IHC/Mehano with rolling stock from Athearn, Bachmann and Walthers. A near full list of items is included with this mailing – (on the reverse of the formal notice of the AGM)

A big thank you to Norman Davies and others (non-members) in the Crewe & Chester area for these items.

Please note that any items not sold on the day will be offered for sale through Roundhouse to other British Region members.

New HO layout (DCC powered)
Following our acceptance to take the new layout to the Kegworth 2010 Convention John Hey has asked us for a name by which the layout will be known. At our meeting on February 14th we decided (subject to approval at AGM) that it be called “North Western Mills”. This suggestion by Terry Wynne was discussed and agreed for the layout, which has the large grain facility as its main focus and the fact that the premises of Mornflake Limited in Crewe are named North Western Mills. When the layout is complete the grain facility will have the majority of the industry switching and whilst there is a station and yard on the opposite side of the layout there is no reason why this cannot take another name as yet to be decided. If members wish to raise this issue at AGM then please advise Les Herriot. For Convention publicity purposes this year the layout will have this name.

If any members have some spare time and would like to help with the wiring and other tasks on the new layout then please come along on meet days, on each Wednesday morning or speak with Terry Wynne if other days are more convenient. We need to keep this project going steadily to have the wiring done for the Convention in October. We are not so worried about other requirements at this stage as we can quite happily show the layout under construction.

Current events at Crewe Heritage Centre –
The Exhibition Hall is currently being prepared for a Railwayana Auction in March and therefore the HO DC layout and the N scale layout are unable to be used for the time being. Following the Auction the N scale layout will be erected and the HO scale will be set up but for time being without the scenic boards. The scenic boards will be kept in the North Junction “clubroom” until a decision is reached on whether the HO Devils Creek layout will be coming to Crewe (with the kind courtesy of Vanessa Howells & Mike Rimes of Red Dragon Division) for display and use by members. If we do not secure the Devils Creek layout then it is intended that the HO scenic (DC) boards will be mounted along the opposite wall to the DCC layout as a permanently located switching layout.
As the Heritage Centre opens to the public again at Easter the intention is to have both HO (DC) and N scale layouts in situ and operating after that time. We hope that with the large N scale layout back in use that our N scale members will be able to come along at meet days and other events to assist in operating the layout.

It seems more and more of Calder Northern members are purchasing DCC locomotives with the aim of running them on the new layout despite them finding it too expensive or time consuming to convert their other locos at home. We see this change of interest lessening the need for the DC layout to play as important a role in future club activities, more on this in the months to come.

Calder Northern Division – Web Page
We are looking for someone to take charge of our web page. To create it and keep it up to date, posting news and other information as advised by members. Please speak to Terry Wynne if you are able to help
or know of someone who may be interested to help.

Terry Wynne (Chairman) & Les Herriot (Secretary)