TRAIN ORDERS July/Aug 2017
First of all apologies to those who normally receive their train orders by post, I really messed up big time with those as I have just recently found your copies inside the addressed envelopes under a pile of other papers hidden one day when visitors arrived suddenly. Sorry for that and I am including what relevant information is still appropriate in your version being mailed.
Second – this is a request from the Region BoD to those who may not yet have paid their NMRA British Region membership for 2017. If you have forgotten to do this then the Membership Secretary will be pleased to hear from you along with receipt of your payment – £25 for Region services including Roundhouse magazine & £69 for Region services and both Roundhouse and the NMRA Magazine from the USA.
This past weekend the 30th Anniversary of Crewe Heritage Centre was a reasonable success. It would have been a much different matter had Hornby turned up to display their new Class 87 and Duchess models as promised! It was especially disappointing since our Class 87 (87035 Robbie Burns) had been especially repainted during the past three weeks in readiness to match the new Hornby model livery – Loco 46233 Duchess of Sutherland was also on site on Sunday so Hornby threw away a major publicity opportunity to promote both of their models, potentially in front of the actual locomotives! Virgin Trains and Network Rail also failed to attend which was again was a disappointment. Members of the public had come along, in some cases especially, to see these displays. The HS2 displays enabled the public to learn more about the recent Government announcements on the route through and around the Crewe area. A number of modern image layouts were on show plus some heritage railway and charity tables. The miniature railway seemed to be doing a roaring business with lots of children enjoying the rides with their parents.
Now to Calder Northern matters – once I am home from my holiday later in August I will draw up a list of people who have offered to host a clinic or a short presentation. It is hoped to arrange these clinics over the winter group meetings when the Heritage Centre is closed to the public after the end of September. In addition to those who have offered to help with these events we are still open to further suggestions.
Mike Lenz tells me that Dave Jones of DJ Models has offered to come and give a presentation relating to the subject of a manufacturer bringing a model to the market. Dave’s business is of course producing British outline models but the process is very much the same no matter what the scale or nature of the model. Further information to follow on this subject.
Work on the Devil’s Creek return loop extension is progressing thanks to Steve Scott, Alan Wyatt, Roy Harris, Phil Vaughan and Bob Bevan (I hope I have listed everyone involved here?) with wiring and track being fixed into position. Next I think ballast and final checking of the wiring will be seen next and we hope all will be up and running later this year.
North Western Mills now has the connection to the traverser board wired and hopefully in the next week or so we will be able to run a loco onto the traverser itself. The first section has had ballast laid and the next job is to make final track adjustment up to the traverser itself before ballast can be laid to that section too. Once this is finished the next task will be the new link line between the track exiting the station and wayfreight yard and the transfer track on the front of the layout. This is so that we can operate two trains together with only a short section near the big window where they will use the same rails. An operator will just need to throw two switches to keep the two trains running simultaneously around the layout. They will not need to walk the length of the layout between the control panels to keep trains apart.
Alan Wyatt is also busy with the new N scale layout and he can update anyone interested in this project, perhaps you might like to offer some help to Alan with the construction etc.
Like many others Terry is a “squirrel” hoarding all sorts of things that might come in handy at some time! Therefore, with too much stuff lying about which could affect his starting a layout in his garage he has been having a clear out and has come across a box with all sorts of paperwork which he is going through. Most may have come from the late Jim Burghall’s collection of Canadian magazines etc but one item found, is most interesting – It is a package containing a number of plans for the many different types of structures for Canadian National Railway published by CN SIG Publications and in some cases using O-Sho-Me plans. These plans are in the main printed to 3.5mm to 1 foot but there is also the odd N scale plan. I am sure all of these could be deemed sufficiently generic to be used for structures for other railroads. A list of these plans is shown below and Terry is proposing these be available for Group members to borrow on the strict agreement they will be returned quickly for other members to have use of them as well. Perhaps a competition for the best model using these plans could be agreed in the future.
All CN Plans unless stated
- 300 Ton Coaling Plant
- Standard Ice House
- Standard Stockyard
- Standard Timber Trestles
- Standard 40’ Wide Freight Shed
- Standard 18 Lever Tower
- Standard Dwelling No. 4
- Third Class Station (N/S/E/W elevations & floor plans)
- Fourth Class Station (N/S/E/W elevations & main floor plans)
- G.T.R.S. Main Line Six Pile Trestle
- G.T.R.S. Bulletin Board, CNR Signs & Switch Tool Racks
- Portable Express Building
- Portable Section Bunkhouse
- Bunkhouse & Speeder Shed
- Snow Fence & Water Tank Pedestals
- Miscellaneous Railway Signs
- Standard Level Crossings (main line, secondary line & farm crossing)
- Standard Sections of Car Lumber
- Standard Doors
- Standard Windows & Sash
- Standard Full Size Details – Mouldings & Millwork
- Standard Clearance Diagram
- Standard Enclosed Tank (Wood Type – 60,000 galls)
- CN/O-Sho-Me Station drawings – Madoc, Ontario
- ————-ditto———————– – Fenelon Falls, Ontario
- ————-ditto———————– – Milton, Ontario
- Dahlgren Residence – Dauphin, Manitoba (N/S/E/W elevations & both floor / roof plans)
- Empire Hotel – Winnipeg (N/S/E/W elevations)
- Utility Building – Winnipeg (N/E elevations)
- Princess St. Block – Winnipeg (E elevation) – Benson/Bawlf/Harris Buildings
- Exchange Building – Winnipeg (E elevation / Section)
- Bate Building – Winnipeg (S/W elevation / Section)
- Telegram Building – Winnipeg (N/E elevation)
- Sylvester & Wilson Building – Winnipeg (N/W elevation)
Thanks to Len and David Ford we now have a miniature camera which is to be fitted inside the nose of one of the group’s locomotives. Roy Harris is helping with this task so thanks are due here too. In due course we hope to have a TV screen positioned in the clubroom so people can see the action and it will also open up the chance for the public to see the station and yard which is currently only visible from the layout ends.
I am pleased to report that the Heritage Centre has received a package from Crewe in Virginia following some recent communications. The Crewe Town Mayor has been kept advised of these matters and along with a suggestion that some kind of friendship/twinning arrangements should be considered by the Council. Calder Northern Group might like to consider what we could send the Crewe, Va, Railroad Museum for them to display as part of our Group involvement here in the Heritage Centre. Terry has the contact with their guy at the Museum. If you Google their Railroad Museum you can see what they have on display. You may remember Crewe Virginia was built by the N&W Railway Co with the help of engineers from Crewe in Cheshire and so named in 1888.
For Sale –
Terry has decided to sell his CN GMD-1 (large CN Noodle scheme #1101) which is currently on the layout. This is a Rapido Trains DCC sound fitted locomotive. The reason for the sale is that he wants to buy one of the new 6 axle CN stripe versions to match the new one he bought a couple of weeks ago (#1444) and the model for sale does not match that stripe colour scheme. Price is £180 (Current new price is $325 / £250) and for you there is no import VAT charges to pay!
He is also selling his Amtrak Train (again on the layout) which comprises 2 P40/P42 Athearn (Ready to Roll) locomotives (#31 with DCC and sound & #11 which is DCC only) plus 1 Materials Handling Car, 3 Coach Cars, 1 Coach/Baggage Car, 1 Diner, 2 Sleeper Cars, 2 Sightseer Lounge Cars. Terry wishes to sell this train at £220.
If there are no takers from our members then first an entry in ‘Beanery’ section of Roundhouse before listing on E-Bay.
To other matters – I have been approached by Peter Bowen, the new Roundhouse producer for an article and pictures about Calder Northern Group, our news and activities, plus if any member wishes to submit stories about their modelling or layouts he would be pleased to publish these in the magazine. Peter Bowen is hoping to include more regular information from each Division/Group about their activities and local events which can become regular features of the magazine especially if pictures are included.
A vote of thanks to all of you who have operated trains at the weekends so far this season. It is much appreciated and is recognised by some members of the Heritage Centre Trust. Thanks also to Bob Bevan and Andrew Wicks who have covered the full weekend when we have had our Group meet.
Terry Wynne
Secretary
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