We were treated to a wide variety of photographs and videos from eight members of the Association. Many thanks to those who contributed and made it such an interesting evening, combining trips down memory lane with new scenes, new places, and new ideas. Keep sorting through and saving up your films and photographs because this could perhaps become an enjoyable evening once a year?
Mike Bennett - 1m gauge French cogwheel tramway (Tramway du Mont Blanc)
Mike provided us with some excellent photographs and an informative description of the tramway which runs for 7.7 miles (80% on cog) at an average gradient of 24% through spectacular alpine scenery. Line construction started in 1904, initially powered by steam engines, but the current stock is three spotlessly maintained electric units, Jeanne, Anne and Marie.
Chris Cox – Models by Tom Foster and Brian McCulloch of Braeside Models
Ranging from Scottish crofters’ cottages to large hotels, built from Das clay on Foamex Board and mostly in 4mm scale, the modelling was so good in the photographs that in many cases it was difficult to tell that we were not looking at the real thing. Apparently Braeside Models will do commissions - but think carefully, because one of these on your layout will make all your earlier buildings look inadequate!
Dave York
Dave gave us a varied selection of photographs, ranging from memory stirring views of Broad Street, Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street and Paddington; the Dumfries and Galloway; and then nearer to home with the Welsh Marches, the Tal-y-Llyn, and Shrewsbury itself. He ended with some shots of the handsome OO locos that he has built and adapted/improved from kits.
Eric Challoner - 'All Our Yesterdays' ; narrow gauge, standard gauge, broad gauge and perhaps a trolleybus/paddle steamer
From his wide personal experience of different railway lines - and other means of transport - Eric certainly gave us a very broad and enjoyable overview of ‘All His Yesterdays’, and it was fascinating to see scenes, to name but a few, from the Lynton/Lynmouth cliff railway, through a handsome and apparently highly profitable horse-drawn tramway in Northern Island, via Snailbeach, to Fort William. And, as promised, we were indeed treated to a trolley bus in the Black Country and a paddle steamer on the Dart.
Mike Wakefield – Building a steam loco
This was a very interesting talk, instructively illustrated with photographs and videos, of Mike’s attempt to build a radio-controlled live-steam loco, after his discovery of how much it would cost him to buy one (I think we have all been there!). He took us candidly through his false starts and initially unsuccessful efforts to get the motor to produce the power necessary, and it was great to see the highly successful end product of his engineering expertise, now finally using a marine engine, steaming powerfully on his garden layout.
Stephen Duffell - A ride to the Devil’s Nose in Ecuador in 2002
This should have started with a warning to those of a sensitive disposition. A trip to Ecuador, which began in a country covered in ash from a recent volcanic eruption, then proceeded to a vertigo inducing ride on the railway taking the precipitous route to the Devil’s Nose. The photograph of the local train, with everyone sitting on the roof - in the rain - was not encouraging, so it was a relief to us to see that Stephen was travelling on a comparatively smart-looking railbus. The relief was short lived. The railbus had a luggage rack on the roof onto which he, of course, could not resist climbing (clinging?). Sitting up there, his photographs vertically downwards into the gorge and the switch-backing line below were breathtaking.
Nick Coppin – Train Ride to Suffolk
Nick gave us a commentary and photographic record of the trains travelled on during his recent rail trip to Suffolk, which involved a train to Birmingham New Street, shanks’ pony to Moor Street, train to Paddington, tube to Liverpool Street, train to Ipswich, and, finally, train to Woodbridge. That is a real rail enthusiast’s trip. I forgot to ask him how long it took, but you can see why many would have chosen (boringly of course) to go by car! He finished with shots of the Garrett works at Leiston and a Y7 on the Mid-Suffolk Railway.
Ian Perrin – 4 video clips of layout Lydgate
Ian showed us four videos of his layout, Lydgate, set in the Forest of Dean. This 4mm model previously belonged to a friend and had been on the exhibition circuit for some time, but Ian has modified it to fit into his basement. The videos showed us a coal train through Lydgate; Lydgate Colliery; Lydgate; and a Pullman Special in a night scene. They were beautifully filmed with a musical accompaniment which, unlike that so often on the BBC and ITV was appropriate and in no way obtrusive!
Peter Cox
