Stacks of sleepers and logs in the Redbridge works yard, with a steam locomotive shunting behindYellow engineers' crane and Network SouthEast locomotives at the Lockton Lane depot
← Chairman's Chatter

Chairman’s Chatter: July 2020

Published 1 July 2020

This quarter’s newsletter is in a similar format to the last one as no progress has been made at the club with the exception of two items for Redbridge, see below.

Outings

Our next planned exhibition was the GOG open day in Otterbourne on 2nd August. This is cancelled as is the Fareham Railex and Wimborne 7mm show.

Following that we have 2 shows in November featuring Winterley Junction but watch this space!

Club

An inspection by the farm’s insurers have requested that the rubbish stored in the next door room be cleared. Nick will arrange for a small working party to see that through once we resume regular meetings. Fortunately, with our door locked, they could not enter our rooms. Perhaps we should take the opportunity to have yet another tidy-up and clearance of unwanted items.

Dave and Richard S have both been to club on separate occasions and either removed items to work on and returned them or worked at club. The control panel and electronics have been improved and Rich has been relaying the two cross-overs in the yard to ease traffic flow.

Show and Tell in July is cancelled, but please keep your stories coming for the virtual club..

Other Matters

Chris and I will not be going to Telford this year. Various reasons exist for that.

I do hope you all keep well and hope to hear of your modelling progress from time to time to keep us all up to date. If you do visit, be aware of birds using the entrance for shelter and I found an injured and frightened one hanging about in there. Can startle you as you climb the stairs.

With a moving situation, I am sure it will not be long before restrictions will allow us to be together at the club. The 1 metre rule is a step and could allow two in the club to help each other if a task needs two, but we need at least the next Covid-19 stage to be allowed before we can “meet” as such.

Members’ Activities that I am aware of in no particular order:

Since May we have seen much running of trains by Bruce.

Installation of the Dapol water tower my me.

Nick constructing brass coaches in 7mm.

Dave building a big red engine (modern image class 66), repainting, repainting and then weathering to a dusty pink.

Me fitting Winterley Couplings to my Bigbury-on-Sea goods stock and testing.

Voltage drop discussions and remedies.

The do’s and do-nots of spray painting.

Dave’s building his new baseboards for his new 7mm layout – inspiration “Buxton”.

Rich completing the repainting some coaches for Andy Picton of Brockenhurst.

Nick dropping paint, and Rich forgetting about nature as he leaves newly spray painted containers on a 3rd floor balcony – finding them on the ground, dry but suitably battered!

Richard getting on with his buildings for St Holden’s.

Generally, much beer (or similar) when things go wrong!.

There are many more items, well done to all, keep them coming please. We are nearly there.

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