Today’s focus on the circuit was 1950’s BR. Roger ran his ex SECR O1 hauling a long goods train. This struggled a bit due to the weight of the several coal wagons in the train but once these were taken out the O1 coped very well. The coal wagons were then made up into another goods train being hauled at various times by Geoff’s Manning Wardle saddle tank, Dave B’s ex LSWR O2, Fred’s pannier tank and lastly Graham’s magnificent ex LNER A2/1.
Dave B’s O2 had started out the day as a non-runner but after David Ho had worked his magic, tweaked the pick-ups and re-soldered the wiring it gained a new lease of life and ran enthusiastically around the circuit. Graham’s A2/1 was a lockdown project he had built mainly from a DJH kit (I think). The particular prototype of Graham’s model had in fact had an A4 tender as the original A4 loco had been destroyed in a Luftwaffe bombing raid and the tender although damaged had been repaired and then re-used for the A2/1. Anyway, Graham’s loco and tender pulled the coal wagons around the circuit with ease and looked like they could have coped with a much longer train.
Over lunch we discussed the line up for this year’s Open Day on 29 June. We hope to have the circuit, Queen Charlotte Dock, the micro-layout and Geoff’s ironing board layout running as well as the usual display stands and demonstration tables. The invitation for Queen Charlotte Dock to be exhibited at the Chatham show on 20 and 21 July has been
confirmed and we will also have a stand there to promote the club. John D is to follow up on our participation at the Gravesend exhibition in November where we hope to show Queen Charlotte Dock. As previously reported, we are also attending the Maidstone show after Christmas again with Queen Charlotte.
Unfortunately, Fred was unable to start painting the dock walls on Queen Charlotte Dock but took himself off into the kitchen instead where the light was better and he busied himself in applying Press-fix transfers to a couple of his locos. Bill again continued preparing the card sub-surface to the dock side on Queen Charlotte Dock while David L discussed the intricacies and subtleties of three way point building and operation.
Once again David Ho ably assisted by David B and others kept us all supplied with teas and coffees. Chris
