19 attended our December meting (pic001&2).
John Walker made a welcome return to the group. He has been out of circulation due to health issues which have meant his move into a care home. Despite rapidly approaching his 97th Birthday John is still active in 009. He recently added a set of the new Peco FR Bow-side coaches to his collection, and ran these with his FR bug boxes behind one of his sound equipped double Fairlies.(Pic003)
Also running on John’s DCC test track was Julien Webb’s Billard A 80 D, a REE Models example fitted with DCC sound.
Dick Johnson brought along ‘Tren Bach’ with the latest addition to his stock. These were some customised Minitrains tankers and a Dundas kit built brake van in Purple Moose livery to match his Peco van, hauled by a Bachmann ‘Holy War’ quarry Hunslet(pic004) .
Andy Foster had one of his Bachmann Baldwins running on Dick’s ‘Tren Bach’ (pic005). Its train included an Ashover coach fresh from Bachmann (pic006). This was a TLO sample brought along by Ben Powell that looked very smart in its Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway livery (pic007).
Andy Foster had also brought along ‘Hartland’ for a further delve into its electrical issues. Ian Willetts (pic008) and Ben Powell gave the layout a good going over. It seems to be a bit more involved that was first thought at the November meeting so a return visit to carry out some wiring work was arranged.
Peter Hardy brought along his test track and ran his extended Colin Asby coaches behind the Mosskito / Meridian Models O&K 0-4-2T that appeared part built at the November meeting (pic009). If only I could work so quickly!
Alec Matthews like Peter had also been busy. New off the 3d printer was a 5 tonne Decauville 0-4-0T to fit the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet chassis. This looked rather nice heading a rake of Alec’s DHR open wagons (pic010). Also new were a pair of 4 wheel steel vans. Based on Leeds Forge designs with options for either fixed or adjustable ventilators (pic011). Alec had also printed a small snowplough (pic012). There was also Alec’s a bogie brake van based on Vale of Rheidol parts (Pic013) and a rather nice clerestory bogie coach (pic014).
With the longer meeting a few members had brought along some projects to work on (pic015). Paul Atkin was painting up a pair of Colin Ashby coaches. Matthew Tozer was working on some more 3D printed good stock for his Fox Valley Light Railway (pic016). Charlie Forbes was putting the finishing touches to the railcar trailer. He had built this at the recent Warley National exhibition as part of the groups 009 modelling demonstration (pic017). Charlie used parts from pair of Modelscene Maudsley bus kits. Also ‘working’ was Dave Marriott, who was building some MERG servo driver circuit boards (pic018).
Steve Mann brought along some of his latest projects. First was a bogie break van based on Dundas Vale of Rheidol parts (pic019). This joined a Permanent Way vehicle made from some more V of R brake van parts on a V of R coach chassis. It is due to have a Hiab crane added (pic020). Steve also had some tank wagons using Road Transport Images cast resin tanks he had bought at the Warley show. he had mounted these on War Department chassis (Pic021). Also running on Steve’s test track was Ian Willetts’ Kerr Stuart diesels. First was a Meridian white metal body on a Farish 03 chassis (pic 022). It joined a Chivers Hudson Hunslet diesel on a sweet-running Farish motor bogie (pic023).
A few things avoided the photographers lens but worthy of a mention. Charlie Forbes’ brought a collection of railcars and one of the ANE Model Ali-shan Forest Railway bogie diesel locomotives. Neil Davies had a selection of Fourdees locos including a ‘St George’ Peckett 0-6-0T, Hudswell ‘Bacillus 0-4-0T, Peckett “Jubilee” 0-4-0ST and Hunslet “Windle” 0-4-2T.
