A run-down Swansea Victoria during the last days of steam before its closure in June 1964.
With thanks to Jeff Stewart for another superb colourisation.
COMMENT
A big edition, but the newsletter is little late this month as I was holding back until we had received the artwork from Dapol for our 2023 commission. Sadly, this has yet to materialise however and we may not see it until the early New Year. There’s more on the commission below but, first, I need to comment on a recent incident which occurred within the club.
Most will know that one of the recent Open Day raffle prizes was stolen from the club room whilst awaiting collection. I say ‘stolen’ rather than ‘misplaced’ because that is precisely what happened. The prize was a new £100 locomotive which the club has subsequently had to replace. Thefts from the club are incredibly rare and I’m struggling to remember when this last happened. When they do however, it creates an unpleasant climate of suspicion and mistrust, something which we simply do not wish to see. I write this knowing that it is highly probable that the person responsible will be reading it: I’d simply ask them to dwell on these comments and consider the impact which their actions have had.
Given the above, it’s probably timely to advise all not to leave expensive models, tools or other items completely unattended for any length of time. And it’s such a shame to have to say this.
THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR
Absolutely at the time of writing, Noel Blows, the Club’s long-serving Chair, has decided that his term in office must now draw to a close. Noel has been Chair for well-over a decade and oversaw so many of the changes and developments that resulted in the Club being what it is today: successful, busy, well-supported, solvent and the largest Club of its type in Wales. It’s difficult to highlight any one thing that has contributed to this as there have been so many factors: an extremely popular annual three-gauge wagon commission, the investment in constantly improving the quality of our premises, a number of successful shows, a welcoming atmosphere for new members, the support given to Club layout builders…..
A number of us can remember a time shortly after Noel became Chair when the membership had dwindled to single figures and the Club’s future seemed unsustainable. Today, however…..
Noel will stay in role until the early New Year AGM, at which time elections will take place for his successor. He will also see through the 2023 wagon commission. There will be plenty of opportunities to thank Noel for his huge contribution, this note simply gets the ball rolling!
THE 2023 SHOW
Planning for this has commenced and we are in touch with a number of potential exhibitors already. Encouragingly, there are more as-yet unbooked layouts available for next year than we had anticipated and so a good mix should be possible.
The date for the exhibition is the 9th & 10th. September 2023 [with set-up, of course, on the 8th]. The venue is likely to be Pentre Hafod School once again, although this has to be confirmed.
Gwion Davies is managing the event and he will be looking for club members to assist as usual. Look out for regular updates from now on and please be ready to lend a hand!
THE ANNUAL DAPOL PRIVATE OWNER COAL WAGON COMMISSION
It’s a great shame that it has not yet been possible to post the artwork for our next commission as it is truly an eye-opener. The wagon will be decorated in the livery of the Gwendraeth Anthracite Collieries, Swansea, and will be light grey, with black lettering and dark red ironwork! This was, briefly, a genuine builder’s livery.
The artwork will be posted as soon as we have received it. Should it turn up before the date for the next available newsletter, I will send out a one-off ‘extra’ to announce it. The prices for each gauge are as follows: O gauge [50 wagons] £50 each, OO gauge [150 wagons] £18 each and N gauge [150 wagons] £16 each. The prices have been kept as low as possible and, in market terms, remain extremely competitive.
Congestion at the King’s Dock level crossing in 1951.
Many will remember this maze of lines, points and crossings, visible for many years when travelling into town along Fabian Way. The infamous Carbon Black works appear in the top right.
Any thoughts on the identity of that small open-top tourer at the bottom centre? Perhaps a Singer Roadster?
Photograph: origin unknown but used with thanks.
THE CHRISTMAS DO
A reminder that we will be having a Christmas buffett / do in the club on the 15th. December. This date coincides with the judging of the mini-diorama modelling competition organised by Simon Durrer. The diorama may be to any scale but must be railway-themed and fit within the base provided. Simon has put up a notice in the club with details and any queries or expressions of interest to him, please. You’ve 25 days left!
CLUB PARKING
Like the rest of you, I’m looking forward to that day when this matter need never be raised again! Actually, this note is not particularly problematic but just advises that the management of FOYD has determined that from now on, the Thursday rule should apply every day. In other words, only bona-fide Blue Card holders may park directly in front of the building. I’m pleased to say that our adherence to the Thursday rule [which we instituted] has been 100%. It’s a shame that all other building users have not complied similarly. It’s getting better though.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Attached with the newsletter is a brief summary of the Club’s Health and Safety statement. The summary, prepared by David Francis, draws on the full statement prepared earlier by Steve Rodwell, and thanks to both for undertaking the work. The full statement will shortly be placed in the Club’s website by Gwion Davies. In the meantime, all members are asked to look at the summary and be aware of the obligations arising from it.
I’ve featured a number of photos of Weaver’s Mill in recent newsletters, usually showcasing one of the ex-Powelsand and Mason Saddle Tanks. This photo is a little different however, showing the rail-served mill from another angle, alongside the North Dock Basin [now Sainsbury’s car park!].
With many thanks to Jeff Stewart for another breathtaking colourisation.
OTHER CLUBS AND SOCIETIES VISITING SRMG
Following the enormous success of the Club’s recent Open Day, we have decided to arrange another slightly smaller event specifically for regional model railway clubs and allied societies. This will take place on Wednesday the 30th. November and a number of local clubs and organisations [from mid-Wales down] have already indicated their attendance. As with the Open Day, this will provide a further opportunity to showcase the Club as well as cementing relationships with other societies.
It is planned that our visitors will arrive at around 11,00am, meet Committee members and those who have agreed to operate the Club’s layouts for the day or lead on other presentations and be shown around. Those attending will have an opportunity to run any stock which they may have brought with them. A buffet lunch has been arranged for our guests and then, at 2.15pm, Derek Beynon will reprise his earlier, successful lecture on The Mumbles Train. Members of The Mumbles Development Trust and The Mumbles Community Council will also be in attendance.
ALL CLUB MEMBERS ARE MOST WELCOME TO ATTEND THE LECTURE AND THEN SOCIALISE WITH OUR VISITORS
It is also planned to hold a pre-Christmas stock sale on the same day, although the exact timing for this has yet to be determined. Ideally, it will take place to benefit both visitors and club members alike and every effort will be made to ensure that happens.
THE DECEMBER RAILWAY MODELLER
Those of you who have not seen this month’s edition of the RM magazine might like to note that Club member Josh Williams has an article in it. He wrote the December ‘Plan of the Month’, giving his proposition that the railways in the valleys of South Wales offer more scope for modelling and operation than the almost inevitable West Country GWR branch line.
His article on Nant–y-Moel, in the Ogmore Valley north of Bridgend, is well argued and nicely illustrated, and is well worth a read. It would make a real change, too, to see more smaller Valleys modelling projects as they provide scope for both mineral and passenger traffic without over-complicated track plans or the need for a warehouse to site them in.
Nice work, Josh.
AND FINALLY……..
Whilst talking with a new member recently, the possibility of workshops was mentioned. These could include basic loco maintenance, modelling on a budget and easy scenery building. This suggestion deserves further thought and, hopefully, further information will follow in due course.
That’s all for this month.
Best wishes