General

Members’ holidays and other summer activities continue to result in slightly smaller Thursday attendances with modelling action lighter in June as a result.

Ted Hylton and his team are occupied with the organisation of the NWM October Show.

The Club has accepted a very nice addition to the Library. The History of the GWR is one of a limited edition of 3000 copies and contains a fascinating description of the early life of the GWR. It has been loaned to the Club and is available for reading. Please do not take it home as it’s quite difficult to come by and isn’t cheap to replace.

Membership

Lawrence McCarthy from West Cross has now joined the Club and David Edwards from Caswell has visited on 2 occasions. Jeremy Davies of Dragon G-Scale is unable to visit the Club and has cancelled his membership.

Roger Collyer, Alan Cosker, Peter Fowler and Ieuan Morgan are either in hospital or have just come home. This is a longer list of members experiencing health issues than usual. We wish all of them a good recovery, where possible, and would like them to know that their absence is noted, and that they have been missed at the Club.

We were sorry to learn of the death of former member, Jim Macey, who passed away on 21 June. Our condolences go to his wife and family who have been through a difficult time in recent months.

Layouts

Progress continues on most of the layouts. Ted is busy on South Dock with a watchful eye on the NWM deadline but otherwise there’s nothing material to report.

Open Day / Running Night

West Wales 0 Gauge Model Railway Society are having an Open Day at the Church Hall, Pencader SA39 9ES on Saturday 22 August from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Model trains running will be ‘0’ gauge and ‘00’ gauge in both DC and DCC. Admission is free and you are encouraged to bring your own stock to run. Tea & Coffee are available at a nominal cost but I suggest you take some food if you are planning to spend a lengthy time there.

Peter Thurston is having a further running session for 0 Gauge enthusiasts at Pantyffynon Social Club & Institute, 42 Pantyffynon Road, Ammanford SA18 3HL on Wednesday 29 July at 7.30pm. SRMG attended his first session and reported excellent sectional electrical track bonding enabling good running at slow speeds.

Swansea Exhibition at The National Waterfront Museum

The October event is the first one run by SRMG. Please also ensure you have your models ready in time and organise support over the 2day period to ensure your layout is covered when you take a break – essential over 2 days. If you are not personally involved note that the Club will need all the support it can muster to man our information desk, sell programmes, operate South Dock or generally help out. The Club wants to make a good impression and needs to support Ted and his team who have put in so much hard work in the show’s preparation.

Please note that the 2015 Cardiff Show has been cancelled because it coincides with the Quarter Final of the Rugby World Cup. This prohibitively increases Cardiff accommodation costs and leads to heavily congested roads in the 40 miles from Cardiff City Centre. This will affect traders, guest layouts as well as diminishing the likely footfall.

Building’s Fire Policy & Evacuation Procedures and new FOYD improvements

Peter Ryan, assisted by Phil Crayford – a retired Divisional Fire Brigade Commander – are in the process of finalising fire procedures with FOYD. 2 luminous fire marshal jackets have been given to SRMG with others going to the remaining user groups within FOYD. Evacuation drills will be practiced in the autumn.

FOYD has now passed over the cupboard space at the Club entrance for SRMG use. The Committee will decide whether to be rent it out to members, as originally planned, or let it be used for Club storage. SRMG can now empty what is left in the cupboard but it all has to be stored in the better basement section.

FOYD has also agreed that the Club may use all the outbuildings. These are considerable, include the greenhouse area but are in a poor state. The greenhouse skin is badly ripped although a second unused one is on offer if it can be found! There is a lot of Japanese Knotweed requiring treatment and all the greenhouse pots need to be cleared. We may yet be asked to clear the area for FOYD in appreciation of the low cost of the use of their top floor premises. The Committee has yet to debate this possible request.

Website / Internet

Members are asked to continue to offer articles and contributions for inclusion on the site.

Welsh Railway Research Circle

John Gray and Ted Hylton attended the 2015 AGM. The relevant papers are available in the Library.

Retailers

R&R Hobbies has advised that the business will be moving to larger premises at 3 Shoppers Walk, Swansea in Mid-September. The present discount arrangements for members will change from 1 July 2015.

I quote “ Peco track will already be discounted and members will not receive a discount on the “SALE” and “REDUCED” ticket prices. A minimum purchase of £10.00 will be required for a discretionary 10% discount on all other products. Now we have brought our Peco points and track prices down to the “HATTON” price area we feel that all our customers will benefit from the new price structure.”

Diary

29 July – 0 Gauge Running Evening at Pantyffynon Social Club and Insitute from 7.30pm
22 August – 0 and 00 Gauges Open Day at Pencader Church Hall from 10.30am to 4.30pm
11 September – Open Evening – more details later.
15 September – Lecture - The Gower Railway given by Rob Hulme at 7.30pm.
3 / 4 October – Swansea Exhibition at The National Waterfront Museum from 10 - 4.00pm
27 October – Lecture – White Rock Copper Works, Swansea by John Ashley with Rob Hulme & Tudor Price.