At our January meeting, Yanis Smit brought in two very nicely framed prints. The first print depicted the Red Dragon Express at Newport in the late 1950's hauled by Britannia Pacific Lightning . The second print featured an ex-GWR panier tank at Crumlin low level station on a local passenger train. In the background stood the somewhat precarious Crumlin viaduct, which carried the Vale of Neath line over the valley. The valley line route is now a freight only line and Crumlin Viaduct was dismantled shortly after the route closed in the summer of 1964.
A number of Buffers members have met the artist who painted the original paintings, Mr Eric Bottomley a member of the Guild Of Railway Artists. Eric has attended at least two of the Great British Train Show's where his prints, greeting cards and postcards are available for sale. Mostly nostalgic in nature, the prints depict many scenes from the steam age as well as other vintage traction and pastoral scenes. Anyone interested iin these products can contact Tony Potter by email; Britannia2@home.com
Thanks to Roy Hopkins for his slide and video presentation providing more updates to the current liveries on the British railway system. Roy will soon be off to South Africa on vacation. He plans on having a video presentation for a future meeting, but a majority of it will be of the native wildlife with some railway footage.
Richard Hobby brought in two examples of the new Hornby Re-Built Merchant navy class locomotive. "Clan Line" in green Livery and "Canadian Pacific" in blue. These are superb models and some members will be keen to obtain the "Atlantic Coast Express" set, complete with coach and locomotive headboards. The locomotive in this set will be "Holland America Line".
Pat Foster assures us that David has returned to full health after suffering an asthma attack over the Christmas / New Year period. Apparently scented candles caused the attack, not the familly cat as was initally suspected by some members !
We welcome a new member, William Bickley of Stratford.
Les Norris is expected to return from Florida in early March, with the hope of attending the March meeting.
The Road Ahead
Grant Miles will be hosting our February meeting as his home at 80 Nathaniel Court, in London. This meeting will be held on the 17th of the month from 1300-1630.
Please note that our March meeting has been re-scheduled for the 10th as not to intefere with the Toronto Model Train show held on the weekend of March 17th-18th.
While John Riley has not renewed his membership in the Buffers club, he advised us that the group in Sarnia will likely organise a tour of the area for our May meeting.
The Lickey Bank
Members are invited to submit material that can be easily adapted to the newsletter format.
The first in this series is presented here. It includes pictures taken by Geoff Chandler on the Lickey Bank on a long ago, dull summer's day in 1955. The pictures were taken with a "cheap" camera by a very modest photographer.
Click here to see the picture page.
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Bachmann:
Southern "N" Class Mogul
Southern Queen Mary Brake
Hornby:
Southern Terrier "Freshwater"
SR Brake 3rd R169
SR Compo R4059
SR Bogie Luggage van R04056
Southern 4 wheel coach R4121 x 2
These items are boxed in nr mint condition and have been very rarely run if at all.
Contact Geoff by email gvchandler@odyssey.on.ca
