| THE BUFFER |
| November, 2003 |
| Issue No. 210 |
| Thanks to Roy Hopkins for his topical slide presentation featuring rail traffic in various parts of Britain. A considerable variety of locomotives and trains were featured, together with the seemingly endless changes and modifications to liveries. Allan Mearns video, "Getting Up Steam" produced by the BBC, featured railway preservation in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. It was pleasing to note that so much enthusiasm exists among those responsible for preservation and the passengers that their trains carry. Reference was made to The Great British Train Show. Geoff Chandler reported that he had been in touch with the Show's organizers, Gerry Taylor and Tony Ross, to advise that it was the intention of our membership to have the new module/layout displayed and operating at the show, April 24 and 25 next year. Certain information was required by Tony, some of which will be provided shortly with the balance being made available at a later date. At the request of your writer Richard Hobby had contacted the LMRC. It was confirmed that their Open House/ Layout Tour was scheduled for April 24 next year. As this date is in conflict with the GBTS weekend, we will not be involved in the LMRC 2004 Open House/Layout Tour. Andrew Hopkins delivered a report regarding development of the modules. Some ‘head scratching' had taken place during a recent meeting of the construction committee with respect to electrical problems but progress continues to be made. Andrew noted The British Connection's contribution to the layout is likely to be in the form of track. Our Treasurer, John Mason, reported that he had been discussing next year's meeting arrangements with our contact at the Optimist Club of Carling Heights. Due to increased insurance costs, the service club is now obliged to charge us $20.00 per meeting, effective January 2004 (up from the present $15.00 that has been in effect for a number of years). The Treasurer saw no reason to increase membership fees for next year. Referring back to the Ken Payne video "The Last Great Project" that was presented by Allan Mearns at our September meeting, Andrew Hopkins emailed your writer with further information, unfortunately too late for the October edition of The Buffer. Apparently Ken came into the modeling news in the late 1950s with the Tyling Branch. This was expanded into a large 00 loft layout, which Andrew (thinks) was called Castle Coombe. Ken Payne later moved into 0-gauge and started The Last Great Project, which was a feature of the video members watched. This layout originally included some outdoor sections but was later rebuilt entirely indoors. Peco published a book by Ken Payne some years ago entitled "One Man's Railway." Carlos Simoes noted that he had recently traveled to Montreal by VIA Rail. The journey took place in ‘classic' VIA Rail stock, however, en route he noted in service Nightstar stock that had been built in Britain and purchased by VIA from Britain about three years ago. A detailed report of this transaction, with illustrations, appeared in our January 2001 newsletter. MEMBERSHIP MATTERS: Andrew Larson is the most recent addition to our membership. Andrew was a visitor at our September meeting and subsequently decided to join the group. His interests are in British railways' prototype and 00-scale modeling. DEMOGRAPHICS at the time of writing are: • Membership: 40 - an additional copy of The Buffer is mailed to Philip Insull, our contact at The Platelayers Society • On-line Members: 30 • Seventeen of our members live outside the limits of the City of London. A revised Membership List will be made available to members either in this or December's issue of The Buffer. We were pleased to see Les Norris at our October meeting. Les is at present a resident at Parkwood Hospital but hopes to return home at the end of the month. David Edwards has contacted your writer to advise that, because of a new employment opportunity, that he may not be able to attend Buffers meetings as regularly as in the past. TORRENS VALE - this layout was sold for $250.00 to the benefit of The Buffers. NOVEMBER MEETING: Will be held on the 15th at the usual time and location. Please bring any new models and other items for discussion. |
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| Going...going ....... Virgin Trains commenced the standing down of its Class87 fleet at the end of September. 87022 is shown at Crewe September 11th,2003. G.Chandler photo. |
| B.R. STANDARD CLASS PACIFICS Introduced in 1951, 1952 and 1954 respectively, the following pictures by W.H. Whitworth, from John Mason's collection feature: 1. Britannia 70006 Robert Burns. Fifty-five of the Class were constructed; two survived into preservation. 2. Clan 72002 Clan Campbell. Ten of this Class were constructed. A plan for later construction of ten more for Scotland was never proceeded with. Similarly, a Southern Region order for an additional five never materialized. As a matter of interest, the Southern's choice of names was to be Hengist, Horsa, Canute, Wildfire and Firebrand. These were names connected to the early days of the Southern Railway's constituent companies. No representatives of the Clan Class were preserved. 3. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, the most powerful of the three Classes, was a one-of and survives in active preservation. |
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| THEY'RE STILL AROUND! The Brush Type 4 or Class 47 diesel locomotive has a long and checkered history. Built between 1963 and 1967 by Brush Traction at Loughborough and British Railways at Crewe, they served in many capacities with British Railways and now with a number of train operating companies. Considering the number of withdrawals and some conversions to Class 57, it is surprising that so many are still to be seen. At Crewe September 10 2003, 47773 The Queen Mother in English Welsh & Scottish Railway livery with Inspection Coach Amanda attached (built Swindon 1957). At the rear was 47488 operated by Fragonset Railways. The locomotive body, in two-tone British Railways green was a little grubby, but, below the body-line, immaculate. Photographs: by Geoff Chandler. |
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| NEW LAYOUT: Click here for new pictures of progress so far of the new layout. |