| THE BUFFER |
| March/April 2003 |
| Issue No. 204/5 |
| FUN AND GAMES |
| See here for a British Rail "Cryptic Quiz" This was created by member Dennis Littler. Let us know how you did. |
| THANKS: Many thanks to David and Pat Foster of The British Connection for their generous contribution to The Buffers of eighty postage stamps which will cover our mailing costs for at least two months. A letter of thanks has been sent on behalf of our membership. THE ROAD AHEAD: Our March 15 meeting will be held at the usual Elliot Street location 13:00 to 16:30. A report with slides is expected from Dennis Littler in connection with his recent visit to Britain. Members are asked to bring to the meeting new models they may have recently acquired for display and discussion. Buffers member, Dave Watson, recently emailed your writer to provide information on a Double Header Layout Tour in his area on March 29. Registration at Hespeler Arena on Ellis Drive will be from 09:00-15:00. Directions: leave #401 at Exit 286 (Towne Road). Dave advises that forty layouts are expected to be open up to 18:00, some to 21:00. For more information phone Dave Watson at (519) 571.7853 or email on flyscot@attcanada.ca. London Model Railroad Club is arranging its annual Layout Tour for Saturday, April 12. Buffers member Richard Hobby will NOT be accepting registrations on the day at his Broughdale Hobbies store. At the time of writing, a majority of our membership has submitted fees for 2003. As indicated in the February Newsletter those who have not renewed will not be considered members after March 1. A small number of March Newsletters will be retained, however, for late renewers. |
| MARCH MEETING: A well-attended March meeting heard considerable discussion with respect to arrangements for the Buffers' April 12 open house and matters related to exhibits and our modules. Arrangements have been made for those members involved in the assembly and set-up of the modules to have access to the Elliott Street location on Friday evening. The key will be left at the office of Joe Belecky nearer the time. Work will continue on Saturday morning in preparation for the opening from 1300 to 1700. Those involved include Joe, Richard Hobby, Andrew Hopkins, William Bickley and Brian Tustin. John Mason and Ed Spencer are making arrangements between themselves for an exhibition of their live-steam models. David Thoms has advised that his 4 feet by 3 feet module ‘Brewery Sidings' will be on display and operating. Peter Finnegan has agreed to arrange for additional copies of the April edition of The Buffer to be available. This, together with a form we have used in the past to encourage new membership, will be on display. Andrew Hopkins and William Bickley discussed issues related to the condition of our modules. Generally speaking, they are not considered to be in good condition having been hurriedly constructed some years ago for one of The Great British Train Shows. Some damage has also been sustained in the past during transportation and storage. This has been/can be repaired. Both Andrew and William noted that reconstruction and/or renovation is required in all areas. As shown in the 2002 Financial Statement, a Layout Allowance Credit (proceeds from the St. George's Society and Great British Train Show in 2002) in the amount of $242.00 has been earmarked for this purpose. William advised that he was willing to use some of his own resources in the reconstruction. Our Treasurer noted that he will consider the release of additional funds for this purpose. Due to a delay in the postal system, Dennis Littler was unable to give his slide presentation. This has now been scheduled for our May meeting, together with any material that Roy Hopkins will have obtained during his recent visit to Britain. Dennis noted that he had used his BritRail Pass to good effect while on holiday in February. It is hoped that some of Dennis's prints will be available for reproduction in The Buffer at a later date. We welcome back Les Norris from his extended holiday in Florida. Copies of the newsletter were mailed to him at his Florida address. Thank you to Allan Mearns for presenting the video ‘West Coast Mainline - Carlisle to Glasgow'. The video featured steam, diesel and electric operations on this busy and historic route. HORNBY CATALOGUE 2003 The 2003 and 49th edition of this catalogue has been available locally for a while. Some of the more interesting additions to the range include: • a Stanier (semi) Pacific City of Glasgow in immediate postwar LMS livery • a super-detailed King (Stephen) • a Bullied Q 1 0-6-0 in three different liveries (photographs of the prototype only in the catalogue) and • three versions of the classic LMS Black 5, one of which sports a snow plough. For the modern image enthusiast Hornby has included in their range: • a Class 466 EMU in Connex livery (pictures only of the prototype in the catalogue) and • three versions of a super-detailed Diesel electric Class 50 (pictures only of the prototype in the catalogue) As in previous years, there are a number of variations on past themes and a move to ‘weather' existing and new models. In the passenger rolling stock range for the Pullman enthusiast there are five to scale super-detailed cars. The freight range includes a number of new Private Owner wagons, some of which are ‘weathered' and similarly this has taken place in the modern image range. Last but not least, and for those who perhaps shun card buildings, in what Hornby has called the Skaledale, (a nice place on words), a number of hand-decorated buildings will be introduced in high-density poly resin. The range includes, at present, a cottage, school, farm cottages, hotel, general store and water mill. In addition, single and double stone, as well as single and double brick, tunnel portals will be available. W. H. WHITWORTH: For many months, through John Mason's collection, a number of photographs taken by W. H. Whitworth have been reproduced in the newsletter. Allan Mearns has provided the following pen picture of Mr. Whitworth: "Recent editions of The Buffers' newsletter have carried photographs from the collection of our Treasurer, John Mason. These black and white illustrations were the work of W. H. (Will) Whitworth, a member of the Stevenson Locomotive Society (SLS) who died some 46 years ago. William Whitworth was a member of that group of railway photographers such as R. D. Stephen, H. C. Casserly, S. R. Hebron and others who came into the limelight from the time of the Grouping. Mr. Whitworth's ambition was to photo-graph both sides of every locomotive in the British Isles. The large body of work that he left us suggests he may have succeeded! An acquaintance once recalled the aftermath of an SLS visit to Scotland in the 1930s. Mr. Whitworth had fallen asleep and missed his station. He left the train outside London; a satchel over each shoulder, carrying his tripod camera and in a bad temper as he strode down the platform." THE ROAD AHEAD: As members are well aware, our April 12 meeting will be in the form of an open house in connection with the LMRA annual layout tour. The Elliott Street location will be open to the public from 1300 to 1700 (details of this event were provided in both the March newsletter and under March Meeting details in this edition of The Buffer). As in the past, members are encouraged to bring 00-scale models for running and display. Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon. MAY MEETING: This will be held at the usual Elliott Street location on the 17th from 1300 to 1630. It is anticipated that slide and/or video presentations from both Dennis Littler and Roy Hopkins will be available. PLATELAYERS MEETING: It has been proposed that The Buffers have a joint meeting with the above-noted on July 27 at the home of Brian Fayle, beginning at noon. Brian lives west of Guelph, fairly close to Highway 401. Nearer the time, a map will be provided to interested members. |
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| PHOTO ALBUM - PADDINGTON. |
| At the west end of the terminus, Feb 25th 2003, two First Great Western HST's showing the New "Barbie" livery in comparison with the earlier corporate image. |
| At platform 3, February 27th 2003, FGW Adelante 180114 prepares to leave for Cardiff. |
| At Platform 1, Thames Trains Networker Express 166210 prepares to leave for Hereford. |
| Feb.25th 2003, arriving at Paddington is the Heathrow Express. EMU Class 332 is shown in Royal Bank of Scotland livery. |