At our December meeting, John Riley presented a video on George Selio's "Franklin and Mander" HO Scale railroad. A feature of this railroad is many of the structures and other trackside features are made from scrap material. For example, advertising hoardings and other decals are taken from old magazine advertisements.
John also refered to the Telford 2000 model railway exhibition at which award-winning exhibits included Brian Daniels' scratch built O-scale GP-40 in Wisconsin Central livery. Other award winning O scale items of interest were a scratch built model of Swanage Station by Ken Stansfield and a "USA-class" tank engine by Brain Small. The US Army Transportaion Corps. introduced the protoype in 1942. The Southern Railway purchased 14 examples in 1946 for use in the Southampton docks. Many of these locomotives were still in use in the mid 1960's and records indicate that the whole class was shedded at Southampton docks for much of its service.
Club Business
Membership dues in the amount of $20.00 are now due.If you are unable to be at the next meeting, please submit your cheque to club President Geoff Chandler or Treasurer Joe Belecky.
We are now in the position where we have to purchase a new VCR. Approval for this purchase was obtained from members last winter.
New Members
We welcomed to the Buffers, new member, Tony Winter who is a resident of St Mary's. Tony is interested in Hornby Dublo among other things, and brought along with him a boxed "Canadianized" model of Duchess of Atholl that was marketed by Hornby in the 1940's and early 1950's under the Dublo range. Also on display from the same range was an early British Railways diesel D8000 series later TOPS class 20 that was prepard for the Canadian market by removal of the buffers. Of recent interest is the fact that a number of these models were recently exported back to the UK from Canada for auction.
Some of the members will recall when the Duchess of Atholl set was introduced after the second world war, a set which included the locomotive and tender and three LMS coaches with the prescribed circle of track and controller, all for five pounds. This was way beyond the resources of most youngsters at the time!
Model Railway Shows
David Foster of the British Connection, has provided flyers concerning upcoming shows this winter. The first is the Calgary model railway show, SuperTrain on February 17th and 18th. Full details can be checked out at www.calgarymodelrailway.org and secondly, exactly one month later on March 17th and 18th the Toronto Model Railway show to be held at the Congress centre, 650 Dixon Road.
Many members will be aware that Via Rail Canada is making its first major investment in rolling stock in almost 20 years. What was described as an "incredible deal" by the federal minister of transport includes 139 passenger cars bought from England. The equipment is estimated to be costing $135, 000, 000.00. This amount includes purchase, refurbishment of 47 coaches, 20 service cars including lounge and restaurant and 72 sleeper cars. The report further indicated that Via Rail will use the equipment as well as new coaches in the Quebec City - Windsor corridor from which the railway receives 85% of its revenues. The sleping cars will be used for overnight trips to the Maritimes. Click here for more information.
Ready to run
Already, information is coming to hand regarding production of 00 scale locomotives in 2001. Hornby has announced it will produce a super detailed "King" class locomotive, 6029 King Stephen, in GWR livery tht the locomotive carried until it was renamed King Edward VIII in May 1936. A "Castle" with stepped tender can also be expected.
Secondly, on the modified "Merchant Navy" chassis, Hornby is introducing two versions of its' light pacific. West Country , Sidmouth; Battle of Britain, Tangmere in the original Spam can version amongst other numbers.
Finally super detailed versions of Hornby's "Princess Royal" and "Princess Coronation" class can be expected.
Bachmann is to introduce its A-1 pacific, "Tornado" and two other names as yet, not announced. Also the Class 25 diesel is expected early in the new year. The pre-production sample having recently arrived in the UK for inspection. The recently introduced cl08 diesel has received rave reviews from diesel era modellers, with the possible exception of the connecting rods on the forst batch, being on the wrong way around. Bachmann were quick to remedy the situation and repaired the "wrong way" ones if returned by the customer.
Described as its most detailed model yet, Bachmann are planning to introduce the BR standard 2-6-4 cl4 tank.
For more details see the MREMAG site or the Manufacturers official site. See our links page.
Final Note
Finally, an email was received recently from a reader of the "on line" version of the newsletter who resides in the Phillipines. The writer expressed an interest in some of the unmade kits from Les Torrens.
Our next meeting will be at the usual location on Elliot St fon January 20th from 13:00 - 16:30. Roy Hopkins will have a slide show presentaion featuring the recent livery changes on the privatized railway system.
