This being our first Train Orders for 2007 we wish everyone a very belated Happy New Year.
There have now been two Calder Northern Division Group Meetings at “The Railway Age” at Crewe Railway Heritage Centre. The first meet on 27th January was an informal get-together, rather than a formal one, due to the need to push back the meet to the end of the month so as to fit in with Black Diamonds and the Regional Winter meets.
32 attendees made this first gathering a very enjoyable opportunity to view and tour the new premises. From the positive comments received on the day and since, we can safely say the premises are a great hit with everyone. In fact the consensus was that we have much more than a place to have our Group Meets and that with good member support everything can only get better and better. The newly purchased HO modules were in place in the new “clubroom” and everyone conclusively agreed that we now have a wonderful opportunity to make a success of creating an exhibition layout for which both Calder Northern and NMRA can be proud.
This new layout will be fully DCC only and will be planned around a single track mainline. Plans are for switching facilities on both sides of the rectangular shaped layout, an island station and yards on one side and the opposite side allowing for some ‘Street Running’ via a ‘short line’. This will give us the opportunity to prototypically operate the layout with a dispatcher and several operators.
It is hoped to have plans on show for everyone to see at the next meeting on 10th March.
Help with the track laying; scenery and buildings in the coming months will be appreciated. Offers of help to Terry Wynne or Mike Lenz at the next meet or if you prefer by e-mail.
February 11th was our second Group Meet. Whilst this one did not draw as many members as the initial meet in January, we can only assume this was due to the uncertain weather around that time and the previous meet being only two weeks before. However, despite the numbers, everyone was just as enthusiastic and more accolades were received for us taking the bold step with the move to Crewe.
So you guys who have not seen the new premises yet, do make the effort and come along and see for yourselves your new “clubroom” facilities.
Just to refresh you of our new facilities, here is a list of what you are now able to enjoy at each meet –
The North Junction Signal Box –
• The area known as the ‘Waiting Room’ is where tea/coffee & biscuits are served. Close by in this area is Big John’s Trains as well as Calder Northern’s sales table.
• The Signal Display Room is where Porter Wynn’s sales tables will be situated.
• The “Clubroom”, our meeting room is a 40’ x 20’ space, with our new HO layout in position along one side of the room ready for the start of construction. Mike Lenz’s ‘San Andreas’ Diesel depot is on display just inside the doorway. We have a TV with DVD/Video facility. Then of course we have the huge floor to ceiling picture window with appropriate seating in front where you can watch the trains run into and out of Crewe Station.
• There are also toilets in this building.
• Behind the ‘Waiting Room area is the Signal Box Relay Room and Upstairs is the actual signal box panel. The panel and levers can be observed and on certain days operated by the Heritage Centre staff, using computer driven sequences. We have access to this room for viewing the panel, plus there is also an outside terrace with seating to enjoy viewing trains. What a bonus in the sunny days ahead!
The Exhibition Hall –
This building is the main display area for the Heritage Centre. However, due to lack of input over a number of years it is a shadow of its former self. The Trustees of the site have thus allowed part of the building to be used by Pete Waterman Railways & L.& N.W.R. Co to refurbish railway equipment and therefore the original displays have deteriorated or disintegrated. Little display material is to be seen currently. The Trustees are now working very hard to correct this situation and Calder Northern has been invited to join in the management team working to promote the Centre. Hopes for the future include getting interested parties such as NRM at York and local groups to help create a suitable and meaningful display appropriate to Crewe and its railway history.
The Calder Northern HO layout moved from Bardsley Hall is located in this Hall and it is the intention to update this layout by re-wiring the switching area, adding more buildings and adding scenic baseboards to the curved ends to allow the addition of a turntable and half-roundhouse at one end, plus extra switching at the other. In due course this layout will be wired to provide for either DC or DCC operation. The Railway Age opens to the public at Easter and as the HO layout is now on permanent display, it would be helpful if those who can come along will do so and operate the layout during public viewing hours – weekdays and/or weekends. A good opportunity to ‘run-in’ those new locos you have bought
Currently the Calder Northern N gauge layout is also located in the Hall. This is only a temporary arrangement to help the Trustees to fill up some of the empty space, which would normally contain exhibits. Once again help to run trains on public open days would be welcome. Do come along please!
Your committee are to make contact with the N & W Museum at Crewe, Virginia as the US town and the one here in Cheshire owe their very existence to the railway. We are hoping the US Museum may provide us with some pictures and suitable words for us to mount a display showing the comparison between the two locations.
The Hall benefits from the installation of the old Crewe Council Chamber seating in one corner, which makes an ideal area for clinics and talks. We hope to use this facility in the future.
Exhibits –
In the Hall currently is an L&NWR TPO being hand painted and finished inside and out, ready for a Post Office display with old road vehicles; a class 9F loco is also undergoing rebuild.
On the rest of the Site –
Apart from the North Junction Signal Box there are two more signal boxes – Crewe ‘A’ Box and Exeter West Box, both are open on occasions for viewing (with a guide).
The most visual external exhibit is the APT standing alongside the main line.
Other current items on site include a class 87 electric loco; GWR Castle class ‘Thornbury Castle’; BR class 7P #70000 ‘Britannia’; LNER A4 ‘Union of South Africa’; LNER ‘Great Marquis’; Swiss built Gas-Turbine loco #18000 for the GWR; plus a couple of other frames and boilers. Who knows what will arrive on site during this year! The Trustees are hoping planning permission will be given for a 2 road Running Shed for servicing visiting steam locos. A veritable plethora of railway interest!
British Region Spring Meet April 1st 2007 –
At the February 11th meet the committee called members together to discuss arrangements for the British Region Spring Meeting to be held at “The Railway Age” at Crewe Heritage Centre on 1st April.
This time the Spring Meet will also be open to the public in the hope we may attract new members to our Group. For your information ‘The Railway Age’ has recently suffered from a number of attempts of theft from the Centre, therefore, we must ask that all members be especially vigilant to ensure the Heritage Centre is kept secure and that any adverse behaviour of any sort is notified to committee members immediately. We are therefore asking all members to keep a watchful eye on and prevent people wandering into unauthorised areas away from the normal walking routes between the Exhibition Hall and the North Junction Signal Box. Where possible ‘hazard tape’ will be in place to indicate restricted zones. Please remember Calder Northern Division is a guest on this site and we do not want to jeopardise our future use of these excellent facilities.
For the day of the Spring Meet only, the signing in desk will be situated in the Exhibition Hall entrance. Everyone will be directed to this entrance on arrival, where after payment (£3 for members & £4 for non-members and public) they will be given a coloured sticker to display on their clothing so it will be easy to spot those people who have not paid. Two colours of sticker will be used, one colour for members and a second colour for all others. This use of stickers will allow anyone to go off site (say to Tesco) for food and be able to return without further charge.
Car Parking on the day will be as follows. Traders in the North Junction Box will park at the front of that site facing the railway. Those in the Exhibition Hall will park close to the Class 87 Electric Loco. Members and others should park as directed by the Steward on duty. We will use “The Railway Age” car park (just inside the main gate) spaces first, before requesting drivers to use the parking area outside the main gates. Everyone should be directed to park nose-in toward the railway lines and as close together as possible with minimum gaps between cars. Should this area become full, the Car Park Steward will direct cars to other spaces on the site.
It is also pointed out that the Tesco car park does allow a strict stay of 3 hours before any penalty (£70) or wheel clamping takes place.
On 1st April the following traders are currently confirming they will be displaying their wares. Big John’s Trains; Porter Wynn; MG Sharp; and LSWR Models (Penguin).
The first two traders will be located inside the North Junction Box area (Waiting Room and Signal Display Room) and the other two traders in the Exhibition Hall.
Each trader will have an area of 3 tables; max length 18’ x 2’. Traders will be able to set up from 8am.
We are hoping Calvin Everitt can bring along some of the NMRA Library. If it is possible then this will be located in the North Junction Signal Box.
So far the following layouts to be on show include our own group HO and N gauge layouts; Mike Lenz’s ‘San Andreas’ Diesel Facility; Andy Gautrey’s “Yakima Valley” HO layout; Geoff Meek’s
G scale layout, Chris Marrable’s ‘Ontario Street’ Canadian HO layout and Don Westerman’s N gauge layout. Hopefully one other additional layout may be available but as of this moment we are awaiting verbal confirmation. All layouts other than those of Mike Lenz and Geoff Meek will be in the Exhibition Hall, these two being located in the North Junction Box clubroom. Setting up will be available from 8am.
Bring/Buy tables (£5 each) can be booked in advance and these will be located in the Exhibition Hall. However depending on the requirement for these, a number may have to be located in the ‘Clubroom’ in the Signal box.
As is the usual format there will be a “Raffle” during the day. Please buy more tickets than you need, to help us boost club funds! The committee welcomes donated prizes and these should be handed in when paying the entrance charge. The Prize Draw will take place at 3pm it the Council Chamber seating area in the Exhibition Hall where prizes will also be displayed before the draw.
It is the intention to include the “Popular Vote” contest at the Spring Meet. Do bring along a model you have ‘made’, ’kitbashed’, ‘modified’ and/or ‘painted’ etc and let your fellow modellers show their approval of your efforts. Voting slips will be given to all members at the entrance desk on signing in. The location of the ‘Popular Vote’ secure display area will be advised on the day.
Tea & Coffee (with a biscuit) will be available free from the counter in the Waiting Room in the North Junction Signal Box. A number of soft drinks (cartons/cans) will be available but these will be subject to a small charge.
We regret that we cannot serve any other food.
Please note – It should be strictly observed that food must not be taken into the ‘Clubroom’
In the interest of hygiene, all food must be consumed within the Waiting Room area or outside the building.
Please note- Toilet facilities will be available close to the Exhibition Hall and just off the Waiting Room in the North Junction Box.
Now guys this is the tricky bit:- Volunteers wanted?
We are asking for volunteers to help steward the site during the Spring Meet on April 1st.
Whilst we understand everyone wants to enjoy his or her day by looking at the layouts and be able to make purchases from the traders, there is however, still a need to manage and organise the event so everyone enjoys the day.
If you can help by offering your services for one or more hours during the day to steward one of the different locations, then your kind offer will be much appreciated. Maybe your wife might also like to assist in some way? We cannot put on an event like this without your help.
Detailed below are some of the tasks to be undertaken and the initial start times
• Main Gate and Car Park Steward (7.45am to assist with directions to traders and those with layouts – this location needs stewarding until approx 2pm)
• Steward to direct people to the Exhibition Hall entrance (i.e. to deter people from going straight to the North Junction Box without paying!) (9.45am till 1pm and then this steward’s tasks can be incorporated with the Main Gate steward tasks)
• Main entrance desk – at least 2 people required from 9.45am for most of the day. (To take money, check membership cards, give coloured stickers and voting papers only to members)
• It would also be useful to have at least one patrolling steward in both the Exhibition Hall and North Junction Box to help people find exhibits and other points of interest. The person in the Exhibition Hall can also monitor the Raffle prizes on display.
• Tea/Coffee Bar – at least 2 people required from 9.15am (with a relief during part of the day)
• Sale of Raffle Tickets – at least 2 people to sell tickets and fold sold stubs ready for the draw
• Raffle assistant to John Hey during the prize draw.
We are grateful that a number of people have already volunteered their services but we do need more members to come forward to help. We hope to have a brief meeting of stewards at 10th March meeting.
Can you please let Mike Lenz or Terry Wynne know if you are able to assist? Word of mouth or e-mail is fine!
Please note below the Calder Northern Division Group Meet dates –
We are reprinting these, as we understand a few people have been confused by the Roundhouse editor’s error in not deleting all reference to Bardsley Hall meetings in the last issue.
Terry Wynne, Chairman
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