Our focus on the circuit today was again on Private Owner Wagons but this time on those from outside of Kent. John D was first out of the blocks with his GWR 14xx pulling a Pickfords container on a GWR container wagon, a Westbury Iron Works 10-ton wagon and an Edward Eastwood 10 ton wagon. John P then ran his 14xx and some wagons and Rob ran a short train with comprising a Walker’s tar wagon, an R Fred Cole 10-ton wagon and a Mellonie of Ipswich wagon. I ran my R class 0-6-0T with three Evan Davies 3 plank 10-ton wagons with stone from their quarry at Penrhiwceiber while Tim had brought in some Green Leaf Brewery narrow gauge wagons and wagons from John J Tims and Gething & Grice.
Bill ran an LNWR coal tank which has some issues that Bill will hope to resolve and Paul ran his BR Class 15 Bobo pulling Bills BR CCT van. Doug brought in a DCC railcar to run but unfortunately his DCC controller refused to co-operate so hopefully we’ll see the railcar running another time. As promised David Ho set up the micro layout for members to view and comment on and will continue to set it up and work on it at future meetings. David told us that we have now acquired two lightweight support tables for this layout, in fact the first pair that arrived were damaged and so a replacement pair had to be sent out. These arrived safely and undamaged leaving us with the two damaged tables which are surplus to requirements until somebody wants to do another micro layout. Over lunch I reported that the additional monthly meetings to work on layouts or members own projects have not been sufficiently supported to make continuing them a viable proposition and so the meeting scheduled for 10 June has been cancelled.
Ross reported that he had been on a “Bird Safari” on the Kent & East Sussex Railway with his family and could thoroughly recommend it. Rob said that another possible day out could be a visit to the engine sheds at the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Apparently, we used to have a contact there who could arrange this and Paul W said he may know somebody who might be willing to help with this. David G had previously asked for comments and suggestions for themes for our running days and reported that he had had an enormous response albeit from one person.
And finally in the major news of the day David Ho informed us that chocolate biscuits were becoming increasingly expensive but that much to our relief and with the Treasurers agreement he would continue to provide them alongside the regular supply of teas and coffees. Chris
