Week 5 already but at least the exterior brickwork is going up at a pace.
I would like to hear your wishes for the uses the workshop should be used for; not just the maintenance of the railway; but for what you would like it to include. It must be available to all members for all types of engineering. My e-mail on the members list or through the web site, or just collar one of the Committee.
More progress photos attached.
Polly has arrived – doesn’t it look great.
The Club’s Polly arrived at Ashton Court today. It is intended to have it boiler tested at the Fun Day on Sunday 6th October. Following this members will be allowed to drive it with great care and provided they clean it and put it away when they have finished. No doubt the queue to drive it will be very long – much longer than the queue to clean it!
Our Polly has been erected and painted by Mike Keighley with much help and assistance, especially in the painting, repainting and re-repainting, from Arthur Clark. With the experience Arthur has gained on this project I suggest if you want a model painted ask Arthur but stand well back.
Go away for a week and you certainly notice the progress. The steel frames for the doors have been made and delivered by Tim Hims, and the trusses delivered by the supplier.
Some photos attached for work up to Friday 27th. September.
The events are coming thick and fast at Ashton Court. Last week the Polly Rally, this week the Bream steamers. This is a group of enthusiasts who each year spend a week visiting the local societies and running their locomotives. This year we had an excellent turnout with nine locomotives and they were treated to Joan’s culinary hospitality and a good session on the track. Because we caused some slight interruption to the building of the new workshop they also had to work moving the roof trusses across the track – their efforts were much appreciated and a great day was had by all. Don’t forget if you want to count the rivets you can click on a photo to see it in greater detail.
Colin Ball has taken a few pictures of the very successful Polly Owners Rally which he organised on Saturday 14th September. !2 locomotives present with 9 in steam. Engines look good, food looks even better!
Second week finished and only 1 day of rain.
Progress has been rapid. Soakaway dug and piped, blockwork to slab level laid, and some brickwork rising. Am on holiday for a week so not sure when the next update will be. Photos attached.
Alan Hooper
Work started on-site on 2nd September and due to the good weather has progressed rapidly in the first week. The site has been cleared, foundations dug, checked by the building inspector and filled with concrete. One set back has been that the original soakaway is under the proposed building, requiring more excavation and longer pipework. A selection of photos will hopefully be attached.
Alan Hooper
THREE WISE MEN
Three stalwarts of the club spotted taking a well earned rest at our exhibition. Each is an excellent model engineer and the club owes much to these gentlemen for the enormous contribution they have made over the years.
Running Day – Bank Holiday Monday
A lovely sunny day produced a splendid turn out of members, public and locomotives.
With three steamers on the ground level and three steamers on the raised rack there was plenty of choice for the public. The steamers were supported by Thomas Telford and Pegasus on ground level and so many battery locos on the raised track that running was rationed to 1 1/2 hour spells to allow all a fair run. Yes it is Graham Hawkins taking the tickets. He spent Sunday driving his loco then turned up on Monday to help on the station – that’s dedication. Don’t forget you can click on the picture to get a better view.
The New Workshop
Work is due to start shortly so I thought I would take a picture of the space as it is before we start. Members were busy on Friday clearing the site. Follow the progress on the Blog.
Cluedo Day
This annual event has been running for 26 years and came about following a conversation between a member of the church in Gordano, who run the Cluedo club, and his neighbour Arthur Howard who was a very active club member many will remember. The club runs an event for children for a week each summer with most activities taking place at Gordano school. The highlight of their week is when coaches turn up and they travel to the railway at Ashton Court for a fun afternoon. This year a fleet of coaches turned up with nearly 300 children and helpers.
With six trains on the ground level track and five on the raised track they were quickly loaded and dispatched. Because there are no tickets to take and children are very sprightly and quick, loading is rapidly carried out and the drivers get very little time to draw breath. With full loads each time a lot a hard work and concentration is required to keep things moving but everybody has a great time and we even had sunshine to celebrate.
The Chairman of North Somerset Council, Alan Mcmuuray came along with his wife together with two District Councillors and the Head of Planning from Long Ashton. With the help of the Societies ladies we were able to entertain them in true BSMEE fashion and introduce them to the railway, it’s activities and facilities. They had a busy time talking to Society members and the organisers of the Cluedo Group who do such a splendid job each year looking after their flock.
Kill or Cure
I am not encouraged to carry out model engineering activities in the kitchen or use any domestic appliances for engineering purposes. However having just painted my smoke box and chimney with high temperature resistant paint I needed to cure this at a high temperature for 60 mins. As my wife was going out on Tuesday I thought this a good opportunity and the curing process was duly carried out in the oven. However when I later came to turn the cooker on it had “blown up” – no lights, no fans, no heat, etc. A simple check found that the supply to the cooker was ok, so nothing for it but take the cooker out of it’s housing. Then the front door opened. I leave the rest to your imagination.
The good news was that I later managed to mend the cooker but my wife had to help me put it back.
EGM 7:30pm on Wednesday 31st July at Ashton Court
Please try and get along on Wednesday to give your views. We need at least 30 members present for a quorum.
Just a little job for Frank
Frank Gribben is one the unsung heroes of the Society. When something needs tidying up with a bit of woodwork we give it to the ever willing Frank. As in the case of the signal box some of these little jobs turn into a big job and Frank has been working hard over the last few weeks, often staying behind when everybody else has left, to do the woodwork following the raising of the signal box. The door has been a particular challenge as the old one had to be removed and replaced with a new door and frame whilst maintaing security between working sessions. He has also tidied up the inside of the signal box fitting a neat cover over the wiring and cabling as you can see below. Well done Frank.
Simplex Superheater
Can anybody help Andy Nicholls who is replacing the burnt out superheater on the clubs Simplex locomotive. In order to improve the heat transfer Andy has designed a new superheater which requires a piece of 7/16″ diameter 24 gauge stainless steel tube approximately 18″ long. If anybody can help please contact Andy on 0117 944 6276.
In the meantime he is considering replacing it with a conventional spear type superheater as we need to get the locomotive in operation for the use of members.