Happy New Year
After a turbulent 2012 let us hope the New Year brings stability to the British Region and that we can all settle to our models and club activities throughout the year with great enthusiasm.
First I want to advise you all of that the October Meet at which we are hoping to organise our bi-annual train show was originally scheduled for the first weekend in October has now been put back until the second weekend. We need to decide whether we opt for a one or two day event along with a Dinner at Crewe Arms Hotel or some other venue. This Themed Event needs to be discussed in more detail and therefore I will talk about this on Saturday. We need to confirm both who is going to take charge of organising the event and who will be the helpers. I have spoken to a few layout owners and these people will need to be contacted in the next few weeks to confirm. The theme for this event will be “Fallen Flags” which gives plenty of scope for a variety of layouts and displays. Please have your thinking caps on with ideas for the event.
The reason for the date change is that the Heritage Centre Trust has agreed that the Railwayana Auction which has been advertised for the 5th October would conflict with our event and so they asked if we would move our date one week later. I agreed on the understanding that this would not happen in any subsequent years and was assured it would not. There is also an earlier advertised auction as well on April 18th, the day before our AGM but the organisers of the auction have promised to vacate the clubroom and the Signal Display Room in readiness for our use on the Sunday 19th. However, we will still need to reposition the “North Western Mills” HO layout and “Devils Creek” back to their normal locations on the Sunday before our meeting commences. Layouts will be moved to facilitate the auction during our Wednesday working group session prior to that weekend.
A note for your diaries – Crewe Heritage Centre are putting on a Train Show & Miniature Railway (7.25” gauge) Event on the weekend of 2nd/3rd March. We have been invited to have all our layouts operational and so we ask for volunteers to be available on those dates. Bring models to run and if you can models to display on the layout or on a table we will make available.
I have been asked by one of our members for a couple of the decal packs and some detail parts from the Eric White collection. You will remember Brian Neville brought these along and said members could take any of the items on the basis of a donation towards Eric’s favourite charity – the RNLI. These items have been kept in a cardboard box under the HO layout at the end nearest the big window. Currently we cannot locate this box and if any member has borrowed the items to look through in the peace of their home can they let me know by phone before our next meeting on Saturday 26th. Call 01270 567050 before 8pm please any day.
Our December meet was a great success. 28 members attending which saw the clubroom busy amid much conversation and good humour much like the old days of Calder Northern. The second month running we have had 28 members through the door, keep it up guys as this is what makes the meets so enjoyable. It was good to see those who normally are unable to make most meetings and I have been assured they did not come along just for the mince pies! The Christmas raffle was amazing – we had 80 prizes and thanks must go to those who kindly donated the gifts which I am sure we well received following the draw. Thanks once again to John & Mary Hey for their great efforts in persuading you to buy your tickets and for calling the numbers/prizes. The sale of tickets almost broke the Calder Northern record with £214 taken, only £2 short of the record.
Thank you to all who took part. This amount plus the extra dues taken at the last two meets helps tremendously in building up a reserve of funds for Calder Northern. Our rent for 2013 has been paid and we can hopefully look forward to a year without any major financial concerns.
The Christmas meet also allowed us to conduct a special presentation. As previously advised the Region President Award of The Golden Spike was made to Derek Milby at the Kegworth Convention in October. As Derek was unable to attend that event we were asked to give him the award at our next meet and so Steve Park duly had the honour of making the presentation. Derek has done so much for the Region members over many years as well as for this Division so this was a most deserved award to a great guy. Well done Derek we are as proud as you are!
Now for anyone interested in the marine side of modelling or railroads that had barge movements Tom Griffiths has a write up and photos in the December edition of Model Railroad Craftsman magazine. Very good it is too, up to Tom’s usual great modelling skills!
Last weekend was the Benson Show – which was most enjoyable with a good turn out by members. A Team Phoenix meeting was held during the show and Steve Scott will give a brief update on this project at our meeting on Saturday.
Now an appeal – Does anyone have a spare HO scale Propane gas cylinder (3 inches or longer) or a spare Propane Tank car that they might like to donate for use on the North Western Mills layout? We have used a Walthers Surge Tower kit alongside the grain facility with a Grain Dryer and it would seem suitable to have a propane gas cylinder as an additional part of the scene.
Work on the HO layout has been slow because of the cold weather, however, we need to finish the last of the ballasting and add some more detail to the buildings along the front of the layout. We can then finalise the photo shoot to provide Mornflake with a photo of the facility bearing their branding, which is to be placed in the entrance foyer of the company’s offices in Crewe.
John Baggaley has been working on the N scale layout along with Alan Wyatt and Doug Sayles. Those who have seen the layout must agree it is looking good and will definitely be a source of interest in the coming months both on display at our meets and the model events at the Heritage Centre during the year. Thank you guys for all your efforts.
Just a reminder to those interested – the Wednesday working group has started up again and we welcome anyone who would like to come along to help or even just a chat over a cuppa!
Finally a further reminder to you to send in your nominations to Les Herriot for the vacant Chairman’s position following the April AGM. As you know Terry Wynne is stepping down but Mike Lenz has made it known he is prepared to be considered for the position.
Look forward to seeing you at the weekend.
Terry Wynne
Chairman
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