Today on the circuit we were looking at Vans. The circuit was quickly put up and we soon got cracking. Roger having run a long train two meetings ago repeated the trick this time, running his Class 47 diesel with a long train of vans. Rather more modestly I ran my ex- SECR R Class with several vans, a horse box (a van for today’s purposes) and a brake van. Ross ran his Manning Wardle tank with a short train of vans including one with a detachable roof and Rob ran his Class 02 0-4-2T also with a short train. Geoff gave his veteran GWR railcar a spin round the circuit pulling a small horse box. My spies tell me the
railcar was the winner many years ago of an EKOGG competition to build a loco for less than £15. Incroyable! as they say in France.
Fred had a very fine display of GWR vans on the big table. They looked like they would run well but we will never know as they stayed on the big table. Finally, John B ran his terrier “Fenchurch” on the circuit with a selection of vans.
David L, Barry K, Bill and Tim carried on getting Queen Charlotte Dock ready for the Maidstone show at Christmas. Meanwhile on the big table David Gr was carrying on fettling his LSWR coach kit but had also as it was “Van Day” brought in a selection of road vans. Roger was working on a wagon and Geoff on a brake van. Graham hobbled in on a crutch after a serious leg break, so it was good to see him back. Fred had brought in the spare copies of his book on Folkestone Fossils, referred at a previous meeting, for members to take away on making a small donation to club funds.
Over lunch we discussed the suggestions for next year’s programme of a workshop on air brushing and a session on wagon tarpaulins and wagon loads. Fred kindly agreed to lead the session on air brushing in the summer and the session on tarpaulins and loads will be one where we each share our thoughts, knowledge and experiences on this often
overlooked subject.
Ross informed us that a suitable model of a Southern Railway Class E1/R 0-6-2T was now in the process of being obtained by the K&ESR museum at Tenterden and thanked anyone who had helped in that.
Once again David Ho kept us all supplied with teas and coffees until it was time to head off home. Chris
