Today’s theme was 0-6-0 tender engines; well, that was the theory anyway. However, Martin kicked off proceedings by running a Class 117 3 Car DMU and then a Class 121 single car DMU. John P then ran a BR Class 45xx 2-6-2 Prairie and explained that this was really a 0-6-0 tender engine but with extra wheels and coal in the wagon behind the engine! Rob also going off piste ran his Terrier “Fishbourne” with a wagon and a brake van. Later on, to redress the balance I ran my SECR C Class pulling a goods train with an early six-wheel guard’s van. Later on, when the crew got tired, I had the same train being pulled by my SECR O1 Class. Initially this last engine failed to communicate with the DCC controller until Barry our resident DCC guru established that the problem resided with a faulty connecter on the DCC lead. Identifying this problem was particularly fortunate as we would have been relying on the lead at Alexandra Palace when we take Queen Charlotte Dock there in two weeks’ time.
Elsewhere Geoff did have a very nice-looking ancient Midland 0-6-0 tender engine, but it stayed on the table, so we didn’t see it running.
David L and the rest of the QCD team carried on with fine tuning the layout and upgrading the dock side surfaces while on the big table John D was fettling some ingenious couplings for his garden railway stock. Sadly, they would be too large for 7mm stock so the rest of us are left fiddling about with screw link and 3 link couplings. (Ed: Dingham revenge!) Over lunch Geoff reported that he had, as promised at the AGM, contacted some caterers with regard to catering for our fortieth anniversary celebration later this year. Unfortunately, the caterers had declined to quote as they felt that the facilities at the hall would be inadequate for their purposes. Geoff had also discovered that he will be away on the proposed date and that accordingly it would be better if someone else took on the role and with Tim and Martin both offering to help out it was left to them to explore our options and report back
At the AGM at the weekend Tim had talked about the future of the club and the need to plan for the future. Geoff had agreed to Chair a steering committee of David G, Tim, Bill and Martin. However, anybody else who wishes to be involved would be welcome to take part. As usual David Ho kept us all provided with teas and coffees (although somebody keeps nicking mine!) until we packed everything away and headed off home. Chris
