Following the agreement of CN members that we proceed with the purchase of new HO layout modules the current situation is as follows.
Competitive quotations have been obtained from potential suppliers and it is the intention to place an order imminently with White Rose Modelworks at Bedale, Nth Yorkshire.
Many of you will know Harold Cabourn from his demonstrations of his products at Hampstwaite. The boards will be of moisture-proof Mdf with engineering dowels and snap-lock buckles for joining boards together.
We do not envisage there will be too much taking down and re-erecting of boards once we move to our new location at Crewe Heritage Centre as the layouts, unless of course we are taking it to an exhibition or show, will be permanently erected in the new facility. That is both the HO and N layouts.
The new layout will be wired for both DC and DCC operation. However, if members wish we could just have the new layout DCC only and be able to use the old (existing HO layout) in the Crewe Heritage Centre Exhibition Hall as our DC layout at any time whilst on the site.
Orders on White Rose Modelworks will be placed as soon as we have agreement on funding from the NMRA British Region Board of Directors. A detailed submission has been made and we are currently awaiting their deliberations.
A summary of anticipated costs are:-
Baseboards, adjustable legs, backboards & delivery £1006.20
Track & points £ 340.00
Scenery and buildings £ 250.00
Total £1596.20
We are able to meet £700 of the cost ourselves from our reserves and plus we note a £100 donation from one of our members. With the 30% funding allowance from the BoD of approx £480 we will still be some £300 short of the full cost.
There will of course be an additional expenditure in the future to buy DCC equipment but this is in discussion at the moment. Whilst the tracklaying and scenery of the layout will be undertaken over a period this £300 can be raised during that time.
Our Division funds are not particularly high and in an effort to improve funds of the Division the committee discussed options of how best that could be achieved. It came to our attention that the current meeting dues of £2 per member have been in existence for over 10 years. From this £2 per attendance the member has free tea and/or coffee (unrestricted amount) and biscuits, the benefits of the hire of the room and associated costs. Last year alone the tea, coffee 7 biscuits amounted to well over £100 !
So, after much deliberation we have decided to increase the meet dues from January 2007 to £3 per member and £4 for a non-member. However if increased membership attendance and more regular meets than the usual monthly ones become the norm then this amount will be reconsidered.
Another option discussed was to ask members for a one-off donation of (say) £10, which will, based on usual monthly meeting attendance, raise the shortfall in one go. However if all the members of the Division (those who attend or not) were to donate then, that figure reduces to £5 each. Not a large amount, when we do not blink an eye these days, at a freight car @£20 or a loco @ £60-70.
Donations will be gratefully received from all those wishing to do so and perhaps it might be a more acceptable option for you just to buy an extra £5 or £10 worth of raffle tickets at the Christmas meeting (our last) at Broadheath.
For those of you who were not at the last Broadheath meeting on 14 October a motion to move to Crewe and to raise the meet dues to £3 was put to the members present. A show hands produced a 100% approval for the proposals.
Information for those who have not been to the Crewe Railway Age.
This site is alongside a Tesco Store (food available in the cafeteria), with fish & chip shop, pubs serving food and Crewe Town Centre shops all within or less than 8 minutes walking time.
The Centre has many ex BR facilities including 3 working signal boxes. Crewe A Box, Exeter Middle Box, and Crewe North Junction Signal Box where beneath this Box our meeting/layout room is located. We have seating in front of a full size picture window looking out onto the track only 10 feet from the junction of the Chester and Liverpool main lines.
In the exhibition hall currently is an ex-LNWR Postal Van and the loco ‘Great Marquis’ undergoing restoration work. Other locomotives regularly attend the site for maintenance or when working steam specials, Waterman Railways also share the site.
The Trust responsible for running the Railway Age hopes that we all will become more involved with the site and be able to input ideas to improve and expand the exhibition hall displays. The exhibition hall also has the old Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council debating chamber semi-circular seating, which is ideal for seminar, clinic presentations. This area could be well used for showing videos or for modelling demonstrations.
As you have read the BR Region Spring Meet is to be held at Crewe on 1 April 2007 and consideration is being given to hold the BR Canadian Modellers Meet here during 2007.
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