Returning once more to historic South Wales viaducts, a fine Ralph McPhlugg photo of a Pontypool to Neath train crossing the Hengoed / Maesycwymmer Viaduct and approaching Hengoed High Level station in the early 1960s. Used with permission.

STOCK SALE

Surprisingly few members attended our recent diecast / model railway stock sale, but in the end almost everything was sold. A small number of genuinely higher-value items were retained by the club for future sale however as offers did not match a reasonable reserve. Having been contacted by a number of potential vendors, I anticipate that further stock will be acquired shortly for the next sale and information on this will follow when appropriate. The next sale will include N gauge stock however and that might be managed by a small N gauge-only event. Further information as soon as I have it……

THE 2022 DAPOL COMMISSION

By now, all should have seen both the photographs of the commission and many will have received the real thing itself! The general view from members is that this commission has exceeded expectations and it is selling well. National adverts have now been placed: the O Gauge Gazette has published a large one for us this month, the Railway Modeller magazine will be following soon and the N Gauge Society Journal will print in July. These adverts have always produced a rush of orders and so, once again [!], if you want one but have yet committed to purchasing, get your skates on!

Once again, many thanks to Noel Blows for his continuing work with the annual commission. It’s no small effort…..

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This took place on the 31st March 2022 and was attended by 26 members: it was therefore quorate. The minutes will be circulated to members and the amended Constitution is available on the about us page under governance. It will be noted that a new post of Deputy Chair has been created to help with the increasing workload that faces the Committee.

The elected Officers and Committee Members for the next year are:

Chair - Noel Blows
Deputy Chair - Gwion Davies
Secretary - Tony Richards
Treasurer - Ted Hylton
C’tee member - Mal Shore
C’tee member - Rob Pendry
C’tee member - Martin Evans
C’tee member - Niel Clements

John Allnutt, Gareth Lewis and Steve Rodwell remain as co-opted members, and David Williams has agreed to continue auditing the Club’s accounts.

Thanks to all of the above for their service and thanks, too, to all members who attended and contributed to the discussion..

BUILDING WORK – AN UPDATE

This is becoming something of a regular item unfortunately, but members will have probably noticed that whilst all of the new skylights have been fitted, one, in the modelling room, is leaking very badly and ingress of water continues to cause damage. Considerable discussions have taken place with FOYD [who placed the contract] in an attempt to remedy the situation, which must be brought to a satisfactory conclusion before further damage is caused. This has become quite trying but your patience is appreciated.

On a more positive note however, tenders are being sought for the installation of retractable blinds for the skylights to reduce the effect of sunlight and heat within the club.

THE ANNUAL DINNER

Remember this?! Friday the 10th of June sees our long-delayed 2021 [or was it 2020?] Christmas dinner taking place at Norton House. This is always a great event and, this year, entertainment will be provided by the Swansea Ukulele Band. A couple of points for you:

If anyone has yet to pay, please get your payments in to Ted Hylton by the 12th of May. Members attend free, their partner at half-price.
If anyone has yet to return their menu choice, please ensure that John Allnutt has it by the 12th. of May also.
Arranging tables is always a little tricky [because of numbers,] but should any member have a particular wish to sit with another [rather than just being allocated a seat], let John Allnutt know ASAP. He will try to meet member’s wishes but cannot guarantee to do so in every case.

NB: whilst members attend free of charge and their partners at half-price, refreshments are not included in this offer and remain the responsibility of the purchasers!

**I found this fascinating photo of Swansea in the late ‘50s online recently but, unfortunately, do not know who took the original and so cannot acknowledge it.**
**1151 was a well-known Danygraig Shed loco, an ex-GWR and Powlesland and Mason Peckett saddle tank which travelled all over the docks lines in Swansea and features in many photographs.**
**As at Weymouth Quay, and also Welshpool, careless parking near the running lines was an endless source of concern for engine drivers. The Morris Oxford might just avoid requiring a new rear wing….**
**The van being moved is a Shocvan, as indicated by the three white vertical bars on its side, and will be carrying fragile merchandise.**

THE TEST TRACKS AND KINGSTON

Now that Club life has more-or-less returned to normal and Test Tracks are again in full-swing, some though has been given to improvements. The provision of a Swansea-scene back-scene has already been mentioned but some electrical changes are planned also. To make life more convenient for users, the O gauge control unit will be moved to a more central position and that corner then set up for programming digital stock. The main board switches, currently located underneath the tracks and for which access requires some scrambling, will be moved to a more convenient position, too.

On Kingston, Mal Shore has advised that all work on the tracks should be completed during June and members will then be welcome to run their O gauge stock on the layout. OO or On30 may also be run on the upper level. Talk to Mal if you have any questions about using Kingston, you’ll be most welcome down there.

THE LIBRARY

Some help please. If any member has borrowed the two-volume set of ‘A Pictorial Record of Great Western Engines’ [JH Russell], could they please return it. It has been missing for a considerable time and whilst we were recently donated a second set of this important publication, the original needs to be back with us. Many thanks.

AND FINALLY……

Many will have noticed of late that Mal Rowe [now the longest standing member of the club and who joined two buildings back!] has been absent for some time. Normally a regular attender who has contributed a great deal to the Club in so many ways, he will not be with us on the same basis for the foreseeable future. Sadly, Mal’s wife, Julie, is extremely unwell and is in hospital. Mal has assumed the role of sole-carer for a number of his grandchildren and, understandably, they are now his priority. He will, I am sure, drop in from time-to-time but this will only be occasional. It goes without saying that we all wish Julie a return to better health and the Club sends Mal its best wishes.

That’s it for this month!

Best wishes all.