TRAIN ORDERS September 2018
Despite the request in last month’s Train Orders on the handling and storage of throttles on the North Western Mills layout, members are still wrapping up throttles in their cables and placing them in the Store Room. I therefore, repeat the message again. Please note that after operating the layout at weekends etc those members on duty are requested NOT to put the throttles away in the Store Room, thank you. Now that the ‘club room’ is locked at all times, except for Heritage Centre open days when we are present for operating the layout, plus Wednesdays when we have our working day, it has been agreed that throttles can be left in situ in the throttle pockets around the layout. Can I also remind everyone again that when using throttles not to stretch the cables as this is causing damage to the small plugs that are inserted into the UTP’s? Please unplug very carefully and move your throttle to the next UTP along the layout if required, as appropriate.
In respect of the request for those members to renew their NMRA subscription I have to report that a few of our members have declined to renew. I have passed their reasons to Peter Bowen, Membership Director of the British Region.
Your committee again is asking for a member to volunteer to take over the Weekend Rota for 2019 following Brian Burke’s decision to step down from the role. If anyone wishes to deal with this matter on behalf of members then please contact Terry and we can make arrangements with you regarding preparation for next year.
You will remember some while ago Stuart Wood loaned some of his trains to Calder Northern as he felt his illness might prevent him being able to be continue to enjoy his models. He had been given health warnings and so let us have the use of a BCR train and a couple of steam locos, along with giving us some other items for sale or disposal. Stuart decided around 6-8 months ago that he hoped to go back to Canada (he once had a model shop near Vancouver) where he still had family and took back his models. When the time came he unfortunately was too ill to return to Canada and has thus remained in the local area.
About two Saturdays ago Stuart contacted me to say he was going into a care home on the following Monday and he wanted to surrender what models he still had left. I decided to visit him and with Steve’s help to assess what if any of the items had any value and might be of use to our Group. We collected all of the items Stuart could lay his hands to and these are now at Crewe. It was decided with Stuart’s agreement that we would offer Calder Northern member’s first look at the items and ask for an appropriate offer for each. Stuart whilst realising some had little value some were of a better nature and should not be met with silly offers. He still had the two steam locos and we have decided the Group should purchase those for club use. There is also some N scale track which we could also use on the new N scale layout. We have not made a list of the collection yet but it does include tool items such as a compressor and airbrush, a circular saw, jig saw and 3 or 4 Gaugemaster transformers which are all 220-240v. There are also a few 110v items if anyone is interested?
The collection mainly contains a small number of HO freight cars, log cars, scenic materials and good number of boxes of Preiser figures and some paint, glues and such.
With Stuart going into the home he no doubt will have to pay towards his care and therefore I would hope that any offers for items are made with this fact in their minds and that we try and gain the best level of funds for him as possible.
Hopefully it will be possible to mark up the items with a price so members can see what is available. Once members have had the opportunity to make any purchases, any items remaining will either be offered to Sophie at Anoraks Anonymous or disposed by other means.
The visit by Ellesmere (Shropshire) Model Railway Club last Wednesday was a resounding success thanks to Len & David. Thanks also to Roy and Tony for their help in making it a welcoming atmosphere. After a general introduction to the site their 15 members were split into three groups and escorted around the Heritage Centre to give them a feel of what was on offer. A number of them had some time on a throttle on our HO layout and enjoyed both looking at and discussing our activities. They have taken away some membership forms and at least one of their team intends to join us in the future.
Flying Scotsman locomotive:-
Please note the above locomotive will be arriving on site late on Saturday 15th September (the Beer Festival weekend) and will be on site till the 22nd. The Heritage Centre is opening the site every day whilst the loco is here and has asked for Calder Northern to provide operation on our layout during that week. Our club meet is on the 15th so we need not arrange member cover for the Saturday. The Sunday is also covered as they kindly operate both days when we have our club meets. However, we will need to have at least one member on site for each of the weekdays Monday to Friday. The weekend of the 22nd will also be manned as those who are rostered for that weekend will provide the layout operation. Please contact Terry or Mike Lenz to offer your services. The Heritage Centre will be manned by volunteers in the pay hut, cafe, shop etc and are hoping for a bumper attendance. Based on the last visit by the loco, albeit only over two nights, it was a great financial success.
Sorry but I will not be at our next club meeting, but I will be riding a train!
Terry Wynne,
Secretary
Leave a Reply