Barry King

Arriving early on Saturday at Northfleet School for Girls for the Gravesend club annual show we quickly unloaded and set up our stand and Queen Charlotte Dock and had the layout running well in time for the show opening time. This was just as well as with a queue of visitors lining up outside in […]

The much anticipated Annual Modelling Competition took place today with more than twenty entries over all four categories. After placing the entries on the relevant table for each category (a task more difficult than you might imagine) the Secretary handed out the voting slips and we got down to the serious business of considering the

Today’s focus on the circuit was on 0-6-0 engines and a goodly selection was soon seen running round. First on the track was Roger’s ex-SECR O1 hauling a coal train. Although I say hauling, it was double headed with an ex-SECR R1, so I’m not sure who was pulling and who was pushing. During the

With the circuit up we ran a large selection of our favourite freight wagons. Paul and Stuart C both ran a large selection of wagons including several interesting Private Owner wagons. Stuart ran a large train of his wagons pulled around the circuit by his S&DJR Jinty and Paul’s wagons with agricultural machinery loads were

Rob gave his long anticipated talk on his youthful reminiscences of steam in the outhampton area. Rob’s talk was illustrated by his own photos and maps and photos from the Southern Counties Railway Society. Hampshire apparently according to various advertising hoardings is “The Strong Country” and while that may be open to doubt Southampton was

Today our focus was on Southern Green coaches and as is often the case with our focus was more honoured in the breach than the observance. However, we did have Sean running his EMU set, John B running his two recently constructed four wheel coaches, Ross’s parcels van and Rob with a very nice K&ESR

Mike was ably assisted by Ross S and Martin B.

Today’s focus was on problem locos and with plenty in evidence the circuit was quickly set up and running but only after making the astounding discovery that nothing would run on it if we didn’t plug in the electrical connecting loops between the various sections.First up was my SECR E Class 4-4-0 which stuttered a

With our numbers still depleted by people skiving off on holidays etc seven of us spent a very enjoyable afternoon at Badlesmere.Despite the low numbers quite a bit of modelling went on with David Ha working on his LSWR Class 380 4-4-0, Tim with PLA 0-6-0 tank and Bill with his ABS wagon kit while

With at least eight members away on holiday our numbers were necessarily somewhat depleted although Geoff Eaton visiting from the Guildford O Gauge Group and new member Stuart C joining helped to swell the numbers.Geoff came to drop off a print of Battle of Britain Class “Manston” pulling the Kentish Belle up the slope at

After negotiating the closure of the Ashford Road between Faversham and Badlesmere eighteen of us eventually made it through the highways and by-ways of deepest Kent to EKOGG HQ although possibly others got lost never to be seen again. When the circuit was finally set up we were able to concentrate on today’s focus on

Today’s focus on post 1960’s freight quickly melted away as it was decided there wasn’t enough people with trains to run to warrant getting the circuit out. Instead, we settled down to a very pleasant afternoon of modelling and chatting. While we put the world to rights David Ha fettled away on a Ford rail

Arriving early on Saturday morning we drove the cars into the venue to our allotted plot and unloaded the layout before driving off to park up about half a mile away. Returning to the venue we quickly set up Queen Charlotte Dock ready for operation before the public came in. The venue was unusually spacious

Today’s focus on the circuit was on railcars, dmus, demus and emus. All a bit of a mystery to your poor scribe but apparently, they are mainly green and don’t have a steam engine to pull them along. Anyway, there were lots of them in many different shapes and sizes running round the circuit and

After setting up the circuit we ran our latest acquisitions and some not so latest acquisitions. Fred brought along a GWR Collett Goods loco that he had recently acquired.This unfinished kit built loco had been very well constructed and will not need an awful lot more doing to it to finish it off. Once completed

Setting up began early and it soon became apparent that the sales table would have to be set up outside due to lack of space. The theory being, I suppose, to “catch ‘em on the way in and to catch ‘em again on the way out”. Anyway, the weather was kind, unlike last year when

Today was Tank Engine day on the circuit and an incredible number of them were brought along to Badlesmere. Fred probably won first prize for the most locos as he had a good half dozen or more including an LMS Fairburn Tank which trundled quite nicely around the circuit.Amongst the other tank engines seen on

Today on the circuit we were supposedly focusing on pre-1960’s freight stock although in the event it turned out to be mainly pre-1910 freight stock as I had brought in a selection of my SECR wagons and vans. Nevertheless, they made up an interesting if anachronistic train being hauled at various times by members’ locos

Today was the second of our Saturday running sessions on the circuit and was pretty well attended with the circuit being in constant use right from the start.Nearly everybody had brought along something to run. Amongst other things running round the circuit John P had brought in his R1 and ran it pulling a goods

The circuit was quickly set up with today’s focus being on tender engines. Very soon both tracks were fully occupied with trains running round and others waiting for their turn. The predominant motive power was steam with the recent spate of diesels having abated.John D ran a green 4-4-0 tender loco of unknown provenance with