| The Buffers Club Newsletter Based on the print edition produced by Geoff Chandler |
| February 2003 |
| Issue No. 203 |
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| News |
| Fun and Games |
| See here for a British Rail "Cryptic Quiz" This was created by member Dennis Littler. Let us know how you did. |
| A large number of the membership enjoyed a full program at our last meeting. As members are aware, The Buffers has its own web site administered by Andrew Hopkins. In the past, a number of pictures have been set up on our web site that have not been featured in the Newsletter. Taking into consideration the varying use some members make of their computers and the fact that others are not on-line it is your writer's intention to use these pictures in future from time to time. In the January issue, for example, a picture of a Virgin Cross-Country HST at York was used that, two years earlier, had been posted to the web-site but not used in the Newsletter. Certainly there is no risk for the time being of running out of picture material and, with the kind co-operation of John Mason, your writer has had temporary custody of his book of historic photographs taken mainly by W. H. Whitworth. From time to time it seems appropriate that the theme of Trains, Planes and Automobiles be continued as was the case in our December 2002 Newsletter. Since last October, with co-operation of Peter Finnigan, it has been possible to bring new life to the Newsletter with the use of colour. At a recent meeting reference was made by Ernie Williams to the many improvements that have taken place over the years. As an example, Ernie brought along an issue from twelve years ago. In those days the newsletter was typewritten, brief and relied mainly on news- cuttings with an occasional photograph. |
| THE ROAD AHEAD: Our January meeting will be held at the usual Elliott Street location on the 15th 13.00 16.30 Subject to milder weather conditions, John Mason intends to bring for display his 3.5 inch gauge live-steam model of British Railways Standard Pacific Britannia. Video material provided by Lorne Elliott will be available at either our February or March meeting. Both Roy Hopkins and Dennis Littler are planning visits to Britain, Dennis in the not too distant future and Roy in late March or early April and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their visits at a future meeting. Philip Insul of The Platelayers Society has provided The Buffers with a list of model railway events up to April 6. Copies of the list will be provided to members as soon as practicable. The list does not refer to the Woodstock Model Train Show, however those in attendance at our February meeting will recall related discussion. The Show will be held at Oxford Auditorium, Woodstock Fairgrounds, West Avenue, Woodstock, Sunday March 23, 1000 to 1600 hours. More information is available on www.thetoyshow.homestead.com Members will recall that, at our November meeting, Andrew Hopkins brought a model Midland Railway goods shed along for display. Andrew has now decided to build a Midland railway station to complement the goods shed and has chosen Bitton, a rural station on the line from Bath (Green Park) to Mangotsfield. As well as local traffic, this line also gave trains from the north of England access to the Somerset and Dorset line. See this website for more details www.avonvalleyrailway.co.uk |
| MEMBERSHIP NEWS Buffers welcomed Ian Bridgnell as a member to the group. Ian has an interest in three-rail Hornby Dublo. It was a pleasure to see Grant Miles at our meeting. Grant indicated that he and his wife would be leaving the area in May and moving to their new home in Cantley, Quebec. Members will be aware that Grant left the London area to work in Ottawa some months ago. It is Grant's intention to remain a member of The Buffers and he reported on his connections with a number of model railways groups in the Ottawa area. Les Norris left for Florida on January 17 and plans to be back by mid-March. Although Laszlo Molnar has renewed his membership for 2003, he does not anticipate being able to attend meetings due to a new business interest. A high percentage of The Buffers have already renewed their memberships for 2003. Those who have yet to renew should forward cheques payable to The Buffers in the amount of $20.00 to our Treasurer, John Mason at 454 Jellicoe Crescent, London, ON N6K 2M5. Please note: for those not wishing to renew, February will be their last Newsletter mailing. Once the membership has been established for 2003, a new membership list will be circulated to all members. |
| ACTIVITIES AT JANUARY MEETING Considerable round-table discussion took place at our well-attended meeting in January. Richard Hobby accepted nominations for the positions of Secretary and Treasurer for the year 2003-2005. Geoff Chandler, by acclamation, was returned as Secretary. Joe Belecky indicated his wish to stand down as Treasurer and John Mason was appointed to that position. Thanks were given to Joe for services rendered over many years. A financial statement covering the year 2002 was circulated to members. Any member not present at the meeting wishing to review this statement should contact the Secretary. Joe Chiasson brought information from The 0-Gauge Club with respect to a barbecue that they are considering in the summer, to which invitations will be provided to model railway groups in the area. David Foster reported on The British Isles Show scheduled for February 28, March 1 and 2 at the CNE grounds. Further information can be obtained from The British Connection website at www.britishconnection.ca. David also made reference to the Woodstock Model Train Show. William Bickley reported on the extensions he is making to his 1980s theme 00-scale layout. Andrew Hopkins provided plans and pictures of his Bitton Station project. Thanks to Lorne Elliott for presenting a video featuring a number of preserved lines in Britain, including the Bluebell Railway, the Great Central Railway, the East Lancashire Railway and the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. As indicated earlier, Lorne has a number of videos that he will be able to present in future. Finally, thank you to John Mason for sharing reminiscences of his apprenticeship training at Crewe Works in the early 1950s and also long-distance footplate experiences. |
| ACTIVITY AT GROSMONT NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY The pictures below were taken virtually two years apart in very different weather conditions. Ex-British railways 2-6-4 Standard Tank Engine 80135 built Brighton 1956, moves out of Grosmont station towards the tunnel. Steam envelopes the locomotive on a very damp, misty but mild day September 7 2002. Ex-LNER/BR Pacific 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, built 1937 at Doncaster, on a pleasant August 27 2000. Sir Nigel Gresley featured very recently in a dramatic encounter in the popular TVO series Heartbeat. Photographs, Geoff Chandler |
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| GOING BACK A LITTLE A few weeks ago Buffers member Allan Mearns reminded your writer that January 1st of this year was the eightieth anniversary of the grouping of the many British railways that, in 1923, became (an enlarged) Great Western Railway, London Midland and Scottish Railway, London North Eastern Railway and Southern Railway. To commemorate this event, the following pictures show pre-grouping locomotives from John Mason's collection: Firstly: ex-Highland locomotive No. 59 at Inverness as LMS No. 14693 Foulis Castle, withdrawn April 1935; Secondly: ex-Midland Railway locomotive No. 25 at an unknown location, built 1887, became LMS No. 600, withdrawn 1928; Thirdly: London & North Western locomotive No. 2096 leaving Crewe. |
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