It has been two years, 120 tons of ballast and many metres probably 1000 metres of gravel boards, nearly 1000 very heavy blocks and some 6500 hours of work done, by, well almost everyone in the club at one time or another, but really by a dedicated work force of a few.

So, Saturday is our play day, so it was decided to have a few engines running and we would have cake instead of biscuits with our tea.

Wives once again stepped up to the plate and provided us with three delicious cakes, all in the general theme of work and railways.

Members started to arrive, and engines started to be steamed up, airplanes started to fly, boats started to make waves in the boating pool, Chris H had a ball.

Two “Sweet peas” came into steam and “wow” Geoff E engine “Sherpa” has been totally transformed, looking very Indian. Ken W pulled a rake of waggons bought in by Kevin B and this look very good and sounded even better. Ralph R who had tested his new acquisition the day before went around very sedately even though there was still a bit of a squeak, a giant of an engine which will pull a very large load, we will see. Off to the paint shop now.

Our new junior member Sam H enjoyed driving his electric loco round, this is what BDSME needs, youngsters who are as keen as he is.

Jason C, drove the club electric round also, he bought along a friend from The Kings Lynn club, together they seem to have a super time, especially as they were all tied to the inside circuit, not because the outside circuit was not working, it was because Peter and Dave T had bought an engine they had been working on for a client along for a road test. It was a 7 ¼” gauge Bullied Pacific. A superb model and I imagine a delight to drive. Peter and Dave were pleased after the run, so were we, an absolute superb model steam engine.

Ray R bought along a stationary i/c engine, it ran well and was very nice.

It was also great that Mike S had spoken the Roy Butcher and Roy had agreed to come along, it was nice to speak to this former member of our club and to take cake with both Roy and Rodney Clarke who was also at the celebration.

OK it was time for cake, three different models, by three different people but none the less each was delicious, not much was left, and nobodies arm was twisted to have another piece. Thank you, ladies, very much, it made the day.

Thanks also for all the people who attended even at such short notice. I do hope I have not left anyone out who had a loco, but if I did please put it down to age and forgetfulness.

A very pleasant day, lucky with the weather, and a fitting way to mark the two years of hard graft that we have all put into this project.

Mike W

Your Chairman's Report

Hello everyone to the February 2018 Newsletter. Well it does not seem that long ago since Christmas, but here we are, and we have had our second meeting of the New Year 2018, so time does fly.

Well, looking forward, we have two anniversaries to celebrate this year, The 50th for The WEETING Rally, and also our own 40th in September, plus the little shows in between, so it looks like being a busy year.

One thing, I must congratulate the members working on the track, they are out there in all weathers and to have members of a club like this must be the envy of clubs around us. “WELL DONE LADS”. The sun will soon be shining and you will get a tan, and the heat will be too much.

Well as I have said before, there are several new loco’s heading our way, and also some new traction engines and hopefully, my own loco will be up and running.

We need ideas for both Weeting and our own anniversary, so please put you thinking caps on and let’s make these dates something to remember. So bye for now. Dave, your Chairman.

Your Secretary's Report

Well a happy New year to you all. Christmas came and went, and another year beckons. This year is our RUBY Anniversary so I would like to say that if we start organising now we will come up with a wonderful anniversary.

We are getting on with the track, and when you come to see it I hope you will approve, because it is looking good, well great.

Just a small reminder, there are still a couple of members who have not paid their subscriptions, so please let Mike S have the necessary.

We have gained a new member, Jason C and a new Junior member Sam H, welcome to our Club.

We have also this last week had another new member Brian R and another Junior Peter M, so welcome to you also.

We have also lost a member Allen W who has moved away from the area. Sorry to see you go.

The calendar is getting filled in so if you have any dates you want to see in the calendar then please let me know.

WE ARE FORTY THIS YEAR!

"Let's together make it a weekend to remember, and have a whale of a time, come on lets do it"

Our Club Lunch

The 14th January was our club lunch, a three course meal at the Olde Windmill Inn at Cressingham, 24 members with wives /partners, attended and it was a meal to remember, I do not think any one could have gone home thinking, I could have done with more of that. A very pleasant meal with very pleasant company. I look forward to next year, but I might have to change my choice of soup next year.

Track Report

It seems impossible for these two pictures to be taken on the same day. We all arrived in what was a flurry of snow, and said what do you think and but tea time the sun had come out ,a bit hazy but things started to thaw out, and by going home time this was the picture from the other end.

Things have come on a pace , we are now working Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday we are some times working but could also be testing our workshop work. But in a couple of weeks we will have finished the track from the tunnel too the straight in front of the big Finnish loco.

We have laid nearly 700 blocks so far, we have arranged then both side of the cutting on the inside and outside track from the loco shed Tunnel end round to the level earth at the end of the long straight.

The track here was laid on original concrete blocks and these have been left in situ, with breeze block laid between these blocks, broken pieces have finished the track , where we have re-laid the ballast up to the under side of the track, you can see this from the picture.

It has been pretty cold recently, but we have had a regular work crew and things have gone very well.

There has been some trolley testing and we have replaced two pieces of track on the outside circuit, just on the bend after the crossover. We were derailing here and when we cut the pieces out ,you could see why this was happening. All is well so if one wants to brave the weather Saturdays can be a running day.

We are still there Tuesdays and Saturdays and have restarted Thursdays so watch this space