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Sutton Col dfiel d Model Engin eerin g Society

March 2010

Steaming Ahead

Sutton Coldfield Model Engineering Society

www.scmes.freeserve.co.uk

A photo from the past new drive & clubhouse under construction

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President Neil Harrison 0121-378-3992 Chairman Alan Leary 01827-892503 Secretary Bill Betts 01543-683729 Treasurer Chris Greene 0121-351-3509 Directors Mike Brophy 0121-353-6233 David Smith 0121-351-7876 David Moseley 01543-258939 Peter Robinson 01543-253343 Gary Tyso 0121-354-9178 Steve Whitson 01543-675852 Co-opt to board Eric Davies 0121-308-6886 Ron Freeman 01922-632180

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Dates for Your Diary: Sun 04 April 2010 Steam Up Mon 05 April 2010 Easter Monday Steam Up Thurs 08 April 2010 Meeting Shenstone Hall Sun 11 April 2010 Birthday Party-Private Function Sat 17 April 2010 Steam Up 24 –25April 2010 Sutton Coldfield Railway Society’s Annual Exhibition

Events This Month- 04 March 2010 Steam Up 11 March 2010 Building a 4” McLaren Traction Engine

Progress so far By Les Riley - Shenstone Hall 7.30pm 20 March 2010 Steam Up 21 March 2010 Birthday Party-Private Function

Editor : Steve Whitson Phone 01543 675852 Mobile 07976944171 email steve@casprint.co.uk Copy Date is the last Tuesday of the month

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Chairman’s Chunter. With luck the long, generally miserable winter is showing signs of being overtaken by a very welcome spring. Over the last few months, despite the conditions, a great deal of work has been done around the site. Much of this work has been related to the ground level track extension. The range of this effort is vast, from heavy spade work, to developing electronics to dipping wooden sleepers into preservative. Recently we have suffered setbacks requiring some difficult decisions to be made. Many months ago, after long debate, it was decided that all of the new design points which were to be laid as facing points should be constructed so that they could be used in a floating condition, similar to the existing facing points. Unfortunately, due to the larger, heavier rail being used it has been discovered the point blades cannot be guaranteed to move (float)

especially for 5” gauge locos. After considerable consideration the board decided that all points of the new design will be motorised and as such, when in use, all of these must be set to the preferred route. All safety issues will be addressed and drivers will be trained to ensure they have a clear understanding of renewed running procedures. For some time there have been discussions, mainly at the signalling committee meetings, regarding the best way forward for the signal system. There are members who have been developing and constructing many aspects related to signalling but it appeared the biggest decision to be taken was that of the actual control system. Bill Coleman researched the possibilities at great length and submitted a comprehensive proposal to the board which included himself as owning and managing the installation of a PLC system. The proposal was given due consideration resulting in unanimous approval. Last month two very enjoyable

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events took place, the first was an evening at Shenstone Hall when a great video show, including archive footage of the history of the societies site at Little Hay, was appreciated by all present. Unfortunately only five members were there to enjoy the evening. None the less my thanks goes to Steve Whitson for organising the evening. The second was the birthday party of junior member Jack. Due to overnight snow a great deal of effort by those present was needed to make the track runable, but as usual the trains did run and a super afternoon was had. My sincere thanks to everyone who turned out to give Jack and his friends such a memorable time particularly Betty Wincott and David Mosely who suffered the cold conditions driving all afternoon. Best wishes to all and enjoy the spring. Allan Leary.

Birthday Party thank you. Thank you for letting my friends come to Little Hay for my party. All of my friends had a really good time. The trains ran really well and I enjoyed clearing the snow off the track. A special thank you to Betty for driving her engine and to Kath for helping to make tea for the men. A big thank you to all the men who helped run the railway. I hope you all enjoyed the bacon or sausage sandwiches. Junior Member Jack Webb. *************************************

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Meeting Thursday 11

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March At Shenstone

Hall 7.30pm

Building a 4” McLaren

Traction Engine Progress so far

By Les Riley

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Membership Reminder Membership fees are held at last years price for 2010 may we remind you that they are due by 31st March. *************************************

FEBRUARY 2010 --- GROUNDS

MAINTENAINCE DIARY AND MISC NOTES

TUESDAY 2nd The frost and snow had gone but it was raining and very wet until late in the morning. I tried half a gallon of diesel on the bonfire but although it started well the rain soon put an end to it. Grenville and I made a start digging out the tunnel section trench ready for dropping in the communications ducting and were joined by Roger. By coffee break we had the ducting laid about half way through; by lunch time we had reached the club house end of the tunnel where it has to be linked into a junction box. In the rain there was little else to do so we tidied up and made sure the ballast was tamped down in the tunnel. Elsewhere Mark, Bill and Ossy discussed the signalling system which I understand has been agreed by the team and diagram 12 ready for approval at tonight’s board meeting. Garry and his team worked on the new point and point lever leading to the station while Allan (L), David (S), Allan (D) and Dave (M) worked on the point

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blades in the maintenance store. Stuart and John concentrated on the electrics of Betty’s loco and found an absence of fuses; it appears there is a need to fit a number of fuses; not only in Betty’s but in all of the battery type locos. TUESDAY 9th A nice still dry morning with even a little sunshine. I had to meet Chris at the RBS Bank to collect our Deed Box as requested by the board in order to check the contents and find alternative safe storage because of the costs. So when I arrived at BG, about 10.00 am, the usual team were doing very well laying the communications ducting and pleased to have Vic back working with us on the team. A junction box was installed by the tunnel entrance and Grenville drilled a large hole through the siding retaining slab to enable the ducting to be feed though below ground level. Vic, Roger and Bill had commenced digging out at the side of the siding and that set the standard for the morning. After coffee with Vic, Grenville, Roger and myself working together things went very well. By lunch we had cleared the ballast and sub

soil, dug the trench, laid the ducting and made good all the way to the large junction box by the platform. A very good mornings work and even the ‘Boss’ said ‘You lot don’t hang around do you’ which I’ve taken as a compliment – hopefully!!!!!!!!!!! After lunch Roger and I discussed the positions for the junction boxes and final section with Mark, Bill, Vic and Allan (L) in readiness for next week. Down in the maintenance store Dave and Allan (D) continued work machining the point blades, five to each point – you work it out. Steve (W) with a group of other regulars took down and put away the marquee while other regulars busied themselves around the site – see Steaming Ahead for other reports. TUESDAY 16th A beautiful cold morning with the sun lighting up the site when I unlocked at around twenty to nine – I took four photo’s trying to capture it for Steve’s ‘WHY’ (What Happened Yesterday) on the web site. Grenville joined me and we got out spades, rakes, barrows etc., and made a start on digging out ready

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to lay the final section of communications ducting between the tunnel exit and signal S2 junction box. We were joined by Roger, Mike (Bentley), Bill and Vic and with six of us the work progressed well. A junction box was inserted at the far end of the tunnel, the bank cut back and a retaining slab repositioned to provide a safe area for the above ground connection boxe(s). The final section between there and the S1 signal junction box was dug out, the ducting inserted and the soil and grass replaced. All that was then left to do was to dig out a large hole next to the S1 box so another hole could be drilled to allow the ducting to be feed into it. While we were enjoying the fresh air and sunshine Dave (M) and his group were milling point blades, Stuart and John doing electrical things in the warm maintenance store rapped in a blue hazel from the milling machine. TUESDAY 23rd Having finished laying the ducting last week it’s back to grounds work this week. Dave (M) has put boarding down the new inner track alignment as an edging for the ballast and bank by the pool.

This is necessary because the new track alignment will be 4” inches or so higher than the current track level at that point. Consequently the bank needed to be built up to support it and not least to make the mowing easier. So today Bill, Grenville, Roger and I commenced the job; taking soil from the hump behind the dog kennel and spreading it along the length on the new alignment. And if your wondering, we did dig up the clumps of daffodils, in large clumps and reset them in new positions. By lunch time the cold had got to the four of us, so having completed most of the work we called it a day and headed for the hot soup in the club house, courtesy of Mike (Brop). Cocooned in the warmth of the heated bays in the maintenance Allan’s team worked on the new curved point and Dave (M) and his team on the blades --- but see elsewhere for their reports.

Eric Davies 2Eric Davies 2Eric Davies 2Eric Davies 2ndndndnd March March March March

2010201020102010

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Wanted For the signaling department 120 Engineering bricks or block pavers to put round the base of the signal posts. Many of the originals are ordinary bricks and have broken down due to the frost. There will be 20 signals with 6 bricks each, but as they are not used in the same place they do not have to match so small quantities are welcome. Mark Bradley

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Treasurer’s Reminder The end of our financial year is now less than a month away. Would any members with outstanding claims for expenses please let me have them by 20

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March at the latest. Any claims received after this date may have to be held over until the start of the next financial year on 1

st April

Chris Greene

S.C.R.S. Model Railway Exhibition Bishop Walsh School, Wylde Green Road, Sutton Coldfield. On 24th & 25th April 2010 Once again we have been invited to display our work at this show. If you have a Railway Locomotive or Rolling Stock, a Road Locomotive, a Stationary Engine or any other objects to do with Model Engineering either complete or under construction that you would like to display please let me know. Stetting up is Friday 23

rd from

6p.m. onwards and the show is on Saturday 24th from 10a.m. Till 5pm and Sunday 25

th. from

10a.m. till 4.30p.m. As well as displaying a model can you let me know if you can spare some time to man our stand on the Saturday and /or Sunday and also to help setup on the Friday evening. Thank you David Smith. Event Organiser Tel 0121 351 7876

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Jacks Birthday in pictures by Stephen Hodgetts

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