4097 ‘Kenilworth Castle’ being turned on the Landore Shed turntable. The fitting of a double chimney puts the date of the photograph between June 1958 and May 1960, when she was scrapped. Landore was her last shed.
Swansea had four large turntables in steam days: this, above, one at High Street Station [the last photo, below], the Midland Railway ‘table at Upper Bank Shed [the retaining wall for the well was still visible until recently] and the old LNWR ‘table at Paxton Street shed. All history now…
**Photo source unknown.**

COMMENT

August is traditionally a thin month for the newsletter, before COVID so many were away on holiday or otherwise occupied, and there was little news to share. There are a couple of news items to announce this August however and I must start with some rather sad notes…..

I’m sorry to have to announce the recent deaths of two club supporters, Jim Powell and Emrys Fuge. Both passed over the last month or so and the club extends its sincere sympathies to their families and friends. Jim will be remembered by many as the club’s ‘Casey Jones’, with his large collection of G-gauge stock and US-style overalls and cap. Emrys, a relatively new member, hailed from Glyncorrwg initially and was a DCC-OO modellers who enjoyed the Test Tracks as much as his own layout at home. Both will be missed.

A FORTHCOMING STOCK SALE

A further mini-sale will be held on Thursday the 11th August at 7.30pm in the small room adjacent to ‘Pennard Halt’. This sale will involve stock not displayed at our recent event and, as usual, everything will be priced sensibly to sell and a card machine will be available. This’ll be the last opportunity for members to snap-up bargains before the Open Day event which will be accessible to the general public.

THE SEPTEMBER OPEN DAY

Keep your eyes open for a further website update [srmg.org.uk] before the event on the 18th. September. Please do support the Open Day and let your friends know about it as well. The more who attend, the better for the club. If you are able to advertise it anywhere, let Gwion Davies know as soon as you are able [fliers are available – I even saw some recently in Aberystwyth at the VoR station!].

In Swansea, there’s pretty much a prototype for everything! Bulleid Q1 33022 awaiting the cutter’s torch at Swansea East Dock in June 1964. Alongside it, Maunsell ex-SECR ‘N’ Class Mogul 31819. Both were probably moved to Bird’s at Morristion for cutting-up, although an on-line record states that the Q1 was disposed of at Cohen’s of Kettering – this is almost certainly incorrect given its location above.
**With acknowledgement and many thanks to Valdemar Freidenfelds.**

THE SKYLIGHT SAGA

At last, this long-running serial appears to have drawn to a close. Further repair to the unit in the modelling room looks to have fixed the substantial leaks experienced over many months. Recent rain showed no signs of penetration and we are now looking to complete the remedial interior work to tidy-up the frame and ceiling. Hopefully, this item will no longer need to appear in the monthly newsletter!

SECURITY AND TIDINESS ISSUES

A couple of reminders to those for whom ‘if the cap fits’….

• On a couple of recent Thursdays, members have arrived to find both the Library and another skylight window left open overnight. This is obviously a Wednesday-user issue and the risks from both rain and pigeons are very real [pigeons have entered before and caused damage]. Please, if you are the last person to leave the building on any day, ensure that all skylights are secured and the lights are off. It is always the responsibility of the last club user to check this.

• The modelling room was recently cleaned up by John Allnutt [many thanks] following complaints of its woeful condition: junk and abandoned items were scattered across all of the benches, rendering them unusable. If you use the modelling room, please clean up after you have used it. It is not ideal as a location and is small, so clutter becomes a real problem very quickly. We do not want the facility to be withdrawn and so ‘use it responsibly or lose it’ is now the mantra. It just isn’t fair on others otherwise.

FINALLY

Congratulations to club member Dan Thomas on obtaining employment with Rapido Trains, his first position since graduating.

And some advance notice of dates for your diaries:

Small stock sale –11th August at 7.30pm. Friends are welcome to accompany you.
Cardiff Model Railway Show – Cardiff Ice Rink – 20/21 August. See their website for details.
Our own Open Day – 18th September 10am - 4pm.

That’s it for this month [but see over if you view this on-line…..]

Best wishes all.

Tony