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Our Last Quarry Hunslet
| Originally I worked on this loco for
myself. It is the first one to use the new motors and the
iDrive unit. Extra detailing included and rivets to cab
sides, brake and reverser rodding, brake lever and the
curved handrail around the chimney.
The customer also asked us to fit a chuffer unit and
steam whistle.
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 With a loco of this size,
this one was shipped on a crate. I think this is one of
the problems with a loco of such a large scale. It is
definately a two person lift which limits its appeal.
It is a shame but we cannot build these commercially
due to the amount of time it takes to build one, coupled
together with the increased cost of steel.
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Merstham Show
This years show was a nice relaxing weekend away with the
family.
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| Friday on the way to Merstham we saw one of the new
Croydon trams stuck in the queue for the Darford Bridge. |
Clark with Ron Manning sitting on Ron's single
Fairlee. This engine worked all weekend on the Merstham
Valley Railway. |
| We took a trailer load of bits and then used the
trailer for our stand. We also managed to get the tram
engine on the Merstham Valley Railway. 
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 Having bumped in to Colin Stevens at
Harrogate I suggested if he comes to Merstham he should
bring one of his locos. This one even has a model of
himself in the cab. This 7 1/4" gauge petrol
hydraulic loco is simply amazing. Thanks Colin for
showing this off and doing a lot of public hauling.
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Middleton Garden Railway
As I am writing this we have just
had our September open day. I think May's open day catches the
railway best + I didn't take many photos last Saturday. There is
also a Youtube Video of the day.
Beacon Hill Railway
We were very kindly invited to a
private 7 1/4" gauge railway. Unlike others this railway is
really all about the signalling. The line has three full sized
signal boxes complete with full token equipment.
Chingford Club Day - Ride on Railways/ Station
Road Steam/ Local Club members
Quite a few people cancelled but
after an early lunch the weather cleared and we managed to get
trains running.
Bradly going over the controls of the
"Stafford"
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One of the visiting 7 1/4" gauge
locos was this shay loco.
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 It was nice to see the
5" being used on the ground. tony Walker with his
coaches and Hercules.
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 Mike Palmer driving his
Stafford No. 1
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Barry and his German 101 loco.
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Big thanks to all those that came. Hopefully the
weather will be better next year. July 2013 is already on
the books. Will confirm soon. |
Harrow - Friends and Family Day
Long haul for us but a great day
out. If you get a chance to run at this track then grab it.
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| To go with his German electric loco Barry
built himself three coaches to go with it. This set like
the real thing could also be driven with the engine
pushing the coaches. |
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| Temporary boating pool with Metropolitian loco in the
distance. |
Class 47. The body is made from timber. just shows
what can be done. |
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| With the weather warming and the club hut full we had
a picnic on the grass. |
Mick from Canterbury club - now also a Harrow member.
Nice to see colourful locos. |
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Many thanks to the club for the invite. Sorry I missed your
other days. Will try harder next year.
Bressingham - Garden Railway Show
A one day show at Bressingham
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| Once again we took the trainler and made up a stand
in the entrance to the loco shed. |
George Sholto on the nursery line.
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Above - the Nursery
Line is slowly being relaid. They have yet to finish the
loop but what they have done is good. The real shame is
seeing the old Alan Bloom empire laying around the site
in tatters. The trust have vastly improved the site since
my last visit and staff were very pleasant.
£5 for a foot plate ride on a quarry
hunslet - That really made my day although totally lost
on Andrena.
Left - AnDel model. I like this and think
it captures great industrial style. Thanks to AnDel who
let me borrow it to take outside. I think there may be
milage in doing a 5" gauge version.
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| Under my "Narrow Gauge" section
I was a bit harsh about the site and one voluntee even
contacted me and accused me of lies. It has improved
greatly since then. A nice new ticket office, tarmac
around the gallopers, a new 7 1/4" gauge railway
being laid on the site of the long gone woodland railway,
and new attractions. It still has a long way to go and
you get a feeling they are fire fighting to survive but
it has improved. It is a unique site and worth visiting
but I can't help feel that it struggles with its identity
and target market. I wouldn't like to look after such a
large site so I wish them all good luck and go see their
improvements. |
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Finally Thanks to Hornby Magazine Ever
seen those compititions in magazines? Well Clark finished
a word search and asked Grandad to send it in. Well they
did send it in and wow.
Clark won a brand new streamlined Duchess.
Must get him to pick the lottery tickets next.
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Next update - Braked 5" gauge bogies, vacuum pumps and
upgraded 7 1/4" gauge bogies.
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