This month’s header photo comes again, with thanks, from the remarkable Bob Masterman archive. It shows the South Wales Pullman, en route to Paddington, arriving at Platform 2, Cardiff General, on the 12th. September 1969.
In the background another iconic feature, the Grade ll listed ex-GWR water tower dating from 1932.
COMMENT
Not a huge amount of news this month, but lots of dates for your diaries and confirmation of this year’s club outings.
THIS YEAR’S CLUB OUTINGS
The January newsletter hinted at this year’s excursions but we can now put some flesh on those bones and let you know what is being planned. For the major outings, the club will again
subsidise coach travel with members only having to pay for their entry tickets. The Dapol visit is being dealt with differently however, and more on that later. This is what is being arranged:
Saturday the 26th July 2025 – The Gloucester Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala
Saturday the 25th. October 2025 – Didcot Railway Centre Steam Day
Further details on the above can be found in their respective websites [once updated] and will be posted fully in a future club newsletter. Both should be excellent days out and expressions of interest in travelling will be sought in due course.
THE SWANSEA BUS MUSEUM
The Swansea Bus Museum held a family day recently at which several members attended and Martin Evans exhibited his Hornby Dublo 3-rail layout to both support the museum and publicise our club.
The Museum is holding another event on the First of March to showcase the only commercially-produced sports car built in Wales, the Gilbern. The details are shown on the poster opposite.
Attendance will help support the museum’s fund-raising, so why not have an afternoon out there?
THE VISIT TO THE DAPOL FACTORY
Sufficient names have been given to book a 12-seater minibus and it is proposed that the trip
will take place during the week commencing the 17th. March with the actual day to be confirmed soon. Please note however that travel will not be subsidised and the cost to each traveller will be in the region of £17 plus fuel. Those who have indicated a wish to travel will be contacted once we have been able to identify two members to drive the minibus.
THE 2025 MODELLING COMPETITION
A reminder once more! Last year’s competition was poorly attended, so let’s make this year’s one to remember. The annual modelling competition will be judged on the 3rd of April 2025.
The previous two newsletters gave all of the details on the categories involved and this will now be the last reminder. Next month’s newsletter will provide details on when and where to produce your entries. Good luck all!
Another flier from Martin Evans’ collection, this time promoting cheap train travel to Brecon, nearly 70 years ago, to visit the County Show.
How many of these leaflets survived one wonders. They were printed on cheap paper and intended to be discarded after use.
In the days before mass car ownership, the railway’s regional publicity departments always promoted events like this to maximise revenue and then, of course, the lines still existed.
Increasing car ownership and, of course, Beeching, was to change all of that….
At least the County Show still exists and this year it will be held at the showground on the 2nd. August.
PLANNED RUNNING AND SOCIAL DAY
As mentioned before, we will be holding another club open day for South and West Wales model railway clubs to visit on Sunday the 18th. May. This will be similar in format to the 2023 event, which was very successful and helped to cement contacts with other groups. A simple buffet lunch will be provided, followed by a talk given by Nigel Wassell in the afternoon. We will also hold a small stock sale on the day, probably in the morning, and essentially for visitors as no newly acquired stock will be displayed. Members are, of course, welcome to attend the sale.
Whilst this event is primarily for other clubs to visit, it would be really helpful for those members who can attend to help run the layouts and man the Test Tracks. Further information to follow.
EXTERNAL EVENTS
Bronwydd Toy and Train fair, Bronwydd Arms – 8th. March 2025. The club will be taking two tables at the sale to sell stock.
West Wales Model Railway Show, Bronwydd Arms – 26th. April 2025. This date awaits confirmation. The club will be taking a small layout to exhibit, probably the recently donated 009 layout.
The Swansea Society of Model Engineers 2025 Open Days - 20th/21st April, 4th/5th May, 25th/26th May and the 24th/25th August. Miniature train rides, live steam and more!
From Paul Dally’s archive, the 1500 volt DC EM1 Class 76 Bo-Bo loco, taken in September 1976 at Guide Bridge, Greater Manchester.
These robust locos were designed for use on the now-closed Woodhead line between Manchester and Sheffield. By 1981 all had been withdrawn and scrapping commenced. One remains in preservation in the NRM.
THE SRMG 2025 SHOW
Planning for this September event is at an extremely advanced stage and the website will be updated soon to list the layouts attending. In the meantime, Paul Dally has asked me to put up an urgent plea for help with vehicle management over the event. If you can assist – and it does not have to be for the entire period – please contact Paul directly.
Incidentally, one of the layouts that I am looking forward to seeing is Beijiao [don’t ask me to pronounce it!], a 3.5mm Chinese 21st Century layout. At 30ft long, it has real presence and there’s plenty online to see. Just Google it!
AND FINALLY – THE MUMBLES RAILWAY FESTIVAL
As part of the national ‘Rail 200’ celebrations, on the 22nd. March there will be an event to celebrate the Mumbles Railway. This will take place in a marquee close to the old Blackpill Junction Power Station [now ‘The Junction’ Café] between 10am and 4pm and feature pictures, films and models of the railway together with information about the Mumbles Railway Trail.
That’s it for this month.
Best wishes