COMMENT

A bumper colour special this month! We have the much awaited announcement about our next wagon commission, an update on the 2023 show [with, potentially, some great news there], an update on the 2023 modelling competition as well as information about the 2022 AGM and advice on voting for Committee posts. It’s also the New Year, and belatedly on behalf of the Committee, have a happy one!

THE ANNUAL DAPOL PRIVATE OWNER COAL WAGON COMMISSION

After a short delay we have at last received the artwork for our 2023 private owner wagon commission, the 9th. that we have now produced. The illustration below [from a works photograph] shows the wagon in the striking early colours of the Gwendraeth Anthracite Collieries Ltd. It’s artwork only at this stage, but it has been signed off for production and we have been advised that the strapping will be painted in a slightly darker shade of red than that shown below. It’s a fair bet that the livery would not have remained so bright after months in use! The wagon was constructed by Hurst, Nelson of Motherwell, making a change from the more usual Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Works or Chas Roberts.

Gwendraeth Anthracite Collieries could, one way or another, trace its history back to 1860 and had offices in Cambrian Place, Swansea. It had two collieries – Gwendraeth and Plasbach – both very near Pontyates and, in the mid-1920’s, combined with a number of other small companies to become part of Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd.

Whilst little evidence remains of either colliery now, Plasbach Colliery had a well-developed internal railway system with transfer sidings close to Pontyates station on the late Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway section of the GWR. Gwendraeth Colliery, connected to Plasbach both by a surface tramway and underground tunnels, was also the site of a considerable tragedy in May 1852, when water burst through into the workings during a night shift: there was only one survivor from the shift, with 26 men and boys being drowned. It took a year-and-a-half to recover all of the bodies. Both collieries closed in the mid-1920s.

Incidentally, our first ever Dapol commission – Harry D Evans and Rogers – had an association with Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd also, the firm having the sole agency for the not too distant Pontyclerc colliery until it was purchased by AAC [but only for its storage sidings].

Once again, we have produced this wagon in all three gauges and the prices are as follows:

N gauge - £16, OO gauge - £18 and O gauge - £50. Postage, for those who will not be able to collect in person, will be £5 for up to 4 N or OO gauge wagons and £7 per single O gauge wagon [postage costs for UK delivery only, for overseas please contact Noel Blows].

The commission should be with us for distribution during March and orders are now being taken. Interested parties should contact Noel Blows via noelblows@btinternet.com or telephone him at 07775 895054.

Finally, please note we still have a small selection of last year’s Thomas Pascoe wagons left in N and 0 Gauges. N is priced at £16 and 0 at £48. The postage rates above apply.

2023 MODELLING COMPETITION

As announced in the December newsletter, 2023 will see a return to our modelling competition, with cash prizes once again. The categories are:

Kit built,
Scratch-built or extensively modified r-t-r [ie. a complete change of model - just adding lamps or crew to an engine, or coal to a wagon, will not qualify!],
Dioramas [an absolute maximum of 3ft by 2ft or, in new money, 90 by 60 cm].
Junior section for those under 16

As ever, all submissions must be the modeller’s own work and in the event of any winner /runner-up tie, the Chairman will nominate a Committee member not in the competition to give a deciding vote. Members may only submit one model in any category [but may enter as many categories as they wish]. Finally, the essence of the event is competition and, particularly, achievement. Consequently, it is hoped that none of the categories will receive just a single entry. In the event of a single entry being submitted, the Committee may consider whether that category can proceed for judging.

The prizes will be £20 for the first place and £10 for the second place. The competition will be judged on Thursday 27th. April 2023.

Get modelling – you’ve got just over three months!

THE 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This is the first full AGM that we have been able to hold ‘in person’ for some time and it will take place on the 23rd. February at 7.30pm. This year’s event will be particularly important as, with the Chair standing down, his replacement will need electing.

The AGM agenda will be sent out a week before the meeting. A nomination form for proposing Committee members is attached separately to the e-mail sending this newsletter and whilst a number of Committee members will be seeking relection, all posts may be contested. There will need to be an election for any post in which there has been more than one nomination. Should only one person be nominated for any post however, they will be chosen by a simple show of hands. Only bona fide Club members may nominate, stand for election or vote.

The Committee posts [8] are:

Officers – Chair, Deputy Chair, Tresurer and Secretary.

Ordinary Members – four positions.

Nominations should be placed in the nominations box which will shortly be placed in the Club library, and they should be received no later than close-of-play on Thursday 16th. February 2023.

2023 SHOW UPDATE

The position with regard to the show has moved on a little since last month. Pentrehafod School did not want to commit to a booking because its weekend activities had increased and they could not guarantee their halls in September. Enquiries made at the LC however have been far more positive and whilst an absolute confirmation that the show will return to its old home in September cannot yet be given, we are 95% certain that we will be there. On that basis, Gwion Davies, the Show Organiser, is identifying possible exhibitors and Noel Blows is liaising with potential traders. We should know within a couple of days what the final costs will be and then be able to commit to a deposit. We have indicated to the LC that if an acceptable fee can be negotiated, we would be prepared to return for a further two years.

In the meantime, remember the dates – September the 9th and 10th 2023.

FINALLY, THE RECENT CHRISTMAS ‘DO’ AND MINI-COMPETITION

A quick note to acknowledge the success of the event on the 15th. December. Thanks to Simon Durrer for organising the competition and to Mrs. Grigg for arranging the catering. Thanks, too, to those who helped set-up and clear-away!

The competition was extremely well supported and some excellent entries were submitted. Congratulations to Alfie Davies for winning however, against very strong competition. Unfortunately, I was involved with the [successful!] stocksale and so was not able to photograph any of the entries. Photos of them will appear on the Club’s Facebook page in due course however.

Best wishes all.

Tony.