Hawksworth 94XX Pannier 8469 at Walnut Tree Junction, Taff’s Well, in early 1964.
A Radyr loco, she was withdrawn months after this shot was taken and had a working life of just 13 years. In the background, spanning the Taff Gorge, is the Barry Railway’s magnificent Walnut Tree Viaduct. Photo shown with kind permission of Robert Masterman.
Comment
After the hectic activity around the recent show and the finishing-off of the Test Tracks, the last few weeks have been pretty quiet, so a shortish edition this month, but some news of our next private owner wagon commission, updates on coming events and suggestions for next year.
Reminders and confirmation about imminent events for members and friends
23rd. November – our next stock sale. This will take place in the ground floor main hall and will commence at 6.30pm, closing at 8.30pm. Note that this sale takes place on a Friday.
The sale will include a wide variety of interesting die-cast vehicles alongside an amount of sensibly priced railway stock, including a number of Dean Goods locos [priced to reflect their shop-soiled condition], some recent Mk3 coaches, a limited- edition Hornby ‘City of Liverpool’ in BR crimson [certificate number 1 of 1500], two cheap starter sets [passenger], some very cheap trucks and various buildings and other oddments. There is also a good copy of that magnificent book ‘The Red Dragon and Friends’ included in the sale. A card reader will be available to encourage impulse buying!!!
► By the way, it is a long time since members have organised their own stock sale. If sufficient of you wish to sell on some of your own stock early in the New Year, please let me know and we will try to arrange a convenient date. I am prepared to undertake the room booking, etc., but would play no other part in the event.
30th. November – our next Open Night for members, families, friends and other visitors. Refreshments gratis!!! Club open from 6.30pm with food available on the First Floor from 7.00pm. It is planned to formally open the new Test Tracks at this event and hoped that John Rogers’ sister, Claire Rogers, will be able to attend to present the Club with a plaque in John’s memory. Note again that this event takes place on a Friday.
15th. December – the Club’s Christmas evening meal at Morriston Golf Club. Remember to both sign the form on the notice board and pay your deposit asap to confirm your attendance. Speak to either John Allnutt or Steve G for further information.
► It has also been a long time since we had a Club curry night. One has been suggested for mid-January and further information will be circulated in due course.
The Club’s next wagon commission
You’ll know from our website that the ‘Tirdonkin Trio’ set has now almost completely sold out, with just a few in each gauge left. This was our third successful enterprise and, consequently, thoughts have been given towards our next commission. Discussions with Dapol are already in hand. It is proposed to produce just a single wagon this time, in all three gauges as before, with 25 in ‘O’, 100 in ‘OO’ and 100 in ‘N’.
The wagon will be lettered for the firm of F&E Poole & Co of Swansea, will carry the running number 202 and be coloured Arctic [light] Blue with white, black-shaded lettering and black ironwork. Poole had a strong relationship with the Rhiwlas Colliery at Bury Port amongst other concerns.
A photograph of one of Poole’s wagons appears below and further information, including an example of the agreed artwork and information on pre-ordering, will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
No intention of breaching copyright has been taken in using this photo for illustrative purposes only. We acknowledge that the photograph has been published before by both the Lightmoor Press and the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company and thank both for its use.
The Modelling Room
Complaints from members have been received once again concerning the state of the modelling room. As well as tools and equipment being left across the entire working area, sawdust and off-cuts have been left for others to clear up. Please take responsibility for any mess you make and ensure that you leave the room in the condition in which you would choose to begin using it.
We have also started acquiring large numbers of old magazines, etc., again. There is no room within the club to store them and they inevitably end up in the recycling bin. Thanks, but no more, please!!
Finally, locking-up arrangements to the end of December
November 15th – Scott Rhodes
November 22nd – Richard Grigg
November 29th – Bob James
December 6th – Gwyn Harwood
December 13th – Ken Lewis
December 20th – to be announced
Supplement to November 2018 Update
It was not possible to include this item in the main November newsletter as it only became known on Wednesday, so....
Proposed trip to the West Somerset Railway’s Winter Steam Special
Phil Skinner is interested in gauging members’ interest in attending the above gala event on Sunday the 30th. December 2018. Depending on numbers, it’ll either be a car [or two] or a mini-bus but, before any serious planning can take place, the likely numbers wishing to travel must first be ascertained.
Phil will shortly put up a notice on the notice-board for members who would like to attend to sign. Look out for the form to put your names on. Further information will become available soon, but in the meantime:
You could travel in a steam heated railway carriage built in the 1950’s or early 1960’s and enjoy 20 miles of Somerset countryside in winter passing by the windows at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. If you need a hot drink – or something stronger - hot and cold snacks or even sweets, then the trains have a licensed buffet and there are cafes at Bishops Lydeard and Minehead stations.
Ticket prices [not including transport] -
Adult all-day Rover - £18.00 Senior’s all-day Rover - £16.20 Young person’s day Rover - £9.00
Locos running –
GWR 6960 ‘Raveningham Hall’ S&D 53808 Class 7F BR 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor’
Watch this space for more.
.....and finally
The recent excursion to Llandrindod Wells was a great success with 18 attending. Lunch at the Metropole was excellent with a couple of hours left afterwards for wandering or shopping. Of course though, for some, it was a long day and all just a bit too much......
Oh, if you have not yet booked your place at the Club’s Christmas Dinner, please do so quickly as places have to be confirmed at the Golf Club. Deposits are also due.
Best wishes all