Our focus today was on tank engines, and we had over thirty items present in all shapes and sizes. These included side tanks, saddle tanks, pannier tanks and others although Steve might have been stretching the definition of tank engines a bit far when he claimed that his BR Class 40 diesel was a tank engine on the basis that it had a water tank (probably only for the driver’s tea I think!). Geoff had a collection of mainly industrial small tank engines including one that he had built the chassis for and sold in the 1970s. Some fifty years later it had turned up for sale at a show and recognising an old friend Geoff had snapped it up. Dave B had his LSWR Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0WT and Paul W his B&MR Keir Stewart 0-6-0T. Bill had an ex-LSWR G Class 0-6-0T and a GWR Prairie 2-6-2T. Fred also had a fine display of tank engines ranging from his LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T down to a couple of tiny tank engines on postcard sized dioramas. Not to be outdone Roger had a selection of mainly ex-SECR locomotives including a rarely seen J Class 0-6-4T.
On the big table Roger was busy carrying out a cut and shut operation on a North Eastern wagon that he had bought from Geoff for a fiver converting it to an SECR 10-ton 6 plank wagon. I used to know somebody who did something similar with cars but probably the least said about that the better. On the other side of the table Paul W was changing over the couplings on some Gresley teak coaches to magnetic couplings and Bill was doing something fiddly with rail chairs for Queen Charlotte Dock. Other than that, the principal activities seemed to reading magazines and admiring the many fine tank engines on display.
Over by the windows David L and Barry carried on fine tuning and testing the electrics on Queen Charlotte Dock preparatory to documenting it all for posterity. Over lunch we discussed two forthcoming shows, namely one at Maidstone on the 29/30 December and one at Elham on 11 April. We won’t be at Maidstone this year, but Geoff will be taking a small diorama and our banner to the Elham show. As previously discussed, we will be having our Christmas Meal this year at the Gunpowder Mill in Faversham and will take the opportunity to assess the venue as a possibility for our 40th Anniversary Meal in February.
Once again David Ho kept us all provided with teas and coffees until close of play although as I write this cricket references are probably not such a good idea. Chris
