| The Buffers Club Newsletter Based on the print edition produced by Geoff Chandler |
| November 2002 |
| NEWS: A letter of thanks been sent to Pat Hopkins on behalf of our membership for the outstanding hospitality rendered to The Buffers during their meeting at Roy and Pat's home on October 18. A pleasing number of members enjoyed live steam in the garden provided by Ed Spencer and John Mason. Others took advantage of the proximity of the Hopkins' property to the CNR and were able to bag several photographs during the afternoon. Being rather a cool day, members later adjourned inside and enjoyed Roy's extensive cabinet-displayed 00 scale locomotives, bus collection and to view his layout and videos. During an around-the-room exchange of information, the issue was raised as to members' contributions at our meetings. It was generally accepted by the group that all members have their various areas of expertise, knowledge, and experience. Further, even brief presentations can be of great interest and that these resources should be tapped in future. As members share a variety of interests from trains to buses, ships and aircraft there should be no shortage of subjects to present. Members will have noted that colour was used in the copying of the October Newsletter. This was made possible through the kind assistance of Buffers member Peter Finnigan. It is hoped that colour can continue to be used in future. This will include our logo which did not reproduce well (in colour) for our October Newsletter. Due to the circumstances just described, we have a modest surplus in our photocopying budget. It is planned to produce a larger Newsletter for December (which will incur additional mailing costs) to commemorate our twentieth anniversary. THE ROAD AHEAD: The November meeting will be held on the 16th the at the usual Elliott Street location, 13.00 to 16.30. Part of the programme will include a slide presentation by Richard Hobby with an aircraft theme. Members are asked to bring models, old or new, along for display and discussion. Video and slide equipment will be on hand. MEMBERSHIP NEWS: We welcome Wayne Gray as a new member. Wayne has interests in N gauge, British and North American and was introduced to The Buffers by Bill Wulf. |
| PHOTO GALLERY: OOPS! Three Into One Won't Go! A collection of ex-Midland types which looks as if it includes (from right to left) a 4F, 2F, 3F (Jinty) with a 3F on the extreme left. From the John Mason collection |
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| A SEPTEMBER SUNDAY WITH THE GWR ON THE G&WR Geoff Chandler shot the following three pictures at Toddington on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway September 15, 2002. In the early part of the last century, the Great Western Railway completed this route through Gloucestershire and Warwickshire to tap the substantial amount of fruit and vegetable traffic that was available, and remained so, for many years. A local passenger service was developed and the line subsequently attracted through express passenger trains from Wolverhampton and Birmingham to the Southwest of England via Stratford-on-Avon, Cheltenham and Bristol. According to the G&WR web page, in its heyday The Cornishman express, complete with its chocolate and cream coaches, ran over the line from 1952 until 1962, forming a daily Wolverhampton to Penzance service via Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth. The line closed to local passenger traffic March 5, 1960 but continued in use as a through, long distance passenger route for several more years. Goods services continued until an accident at Winchcombe in August 1976 led to a decision to close the line. Official closure took place January 1977. |
| Great Western Railway 2-8-0 tank engine 4247 arrives at Toddington with a train of ex-British Railways maroon Mark I coaches. A total of 165 were built at Swindon between 1910 and 1940. It has been noted that, in service, these locomotives were considered to be even stronger than the 2-8-0 28XX Class as the weight of water in the tanks was available for adhesion. |
| 64XX Class locomotive 6412 (built 1934) at Toddington prior to the arrival of 4247. This Class, designed for light passenger work, was a variation on the earlier 54XX Class and was introduced in 1932. The locomotive is waiting to back on to a train under the G&WR Elegant Excursions Gourmet Wine and Dine Train Service. |
| 4247 at the north end of Toddington Station |
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| Issue No. 200 |
| HARROW DISASTER: October 8th marks the 50th anniversary of this event. Click here for more details. |