Updated April 12, 2021. Calendar (pdf) Here Calendar (Word) Here
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Announcement from the organisers of the National Model Engineering and Modelling Exhibition (Doncaster)...
"After much consideration we
have decided that the next show will take place in May 2022. We look forward
to seeing you all then!" |
120421 Jackie Kneeshaw sends pictures of the first real running this year. Album Here
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Pictures stolen from Jackie Kneeshaw. |
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Whilst
replacing raised track bearer sleepers yesterday, Chris Atkins and David
Jones had a little helper. He really worked hard and wore himself out. |
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A trip to Peterborough from Northampton takes about 50 minutes by road - let's be kind and say 1 hour. By train via Birmingham it takes about 3hrs 35min. By train via London it takes at least 2hrs 30mins with a sprightly walk from Euston to Kx. By bus it takes 2hrs 40 mins at best. There was once another option by rail. Take a trip on the ghost train to refresh your memories Here Best seen in full-screen. |
After fitting the final two labels supplied by Kelvin Naylor, the signals project is now complete, and the opportunity is taken for some trackswitch maintenance. Hat by master brewers Timothy Taylor (other hats are available), haircut by Dave Jones (unconfirmed). |
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After a very long lead-time, Tony's Pansy (that's not a place in Wales!), runs on air Here |
300321
From this.... |
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280321
Richard Folwell posts his final contribution, for the present at least. Richard's 3in. scale Simplicity Road Roller project Here |
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When a dead tree root undermines your ground level track, it takes some real hard work from a man and his shovel to rectify the situation. |
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230321 Norm finishes the gauge layout to the Hewson design
for his Britannia. |
"Your Committee" document (Members' area) - updating completed to reflect quasi-AGM If that's not exciting enough - the Dilbert view of engineering Here |
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Pictures from Tony Kendall |
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"That familiar blue locomotive, so tenderly cared for by Tony Kendall,
was originally conceived in the late 1970s as a club locomotive by the then
chairman Ken Harris, who had the objective of parts being made by members
with assembly at the Northampton College Model Engineering evening classes
that he then ran. This part of the project stalled and in due course the two
Simplex chassis were finished by Len Gillett; the boilers were made by Fred
Winsall. |
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A more youthful Tony with the club Simplex on the erstwhile raised track approaching the tunnel. |
During the winter of 1995/6
it was decided to sell these running chassis and boilers for completion by
others, in order to fund the construction of the ground level track.
Fortunately both remained in the club, one being bought by Peter Jarman, the
other by Dennis Franklin. Andy Waller completed Dennis’s engine, and at his
request, it has been used as a club locomotive specifically to introduce our
newer members to the joys of miniature steam locomotive driving. |
190221 |
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Family Flowers only please – donations can be made to the ITU Department of Northampton General Hospital using the JustGiving link on the funeral notice below.
Attendance is limited but there will be a "blue shirt" presence.
Live streaming will be available Here
Login/Order ID:
78186 Instructions Here
Funeral notice and more information Here
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160221 David Whelan makes good progress with his cylinders and valve chests |
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100221 Details Here (Pictures taken pre-Covid) |
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250121 |
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200121 |
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160121 |
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050121 |
020121 |
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This allows them to roll off the end of this page but are not lost. Pictures
of some events are not available - mainly because they did not happen!
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291220 David Whelan was doing some pre-Christmas running at Echills Wood
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241220
The rains came on Wednesday, and the damage on site is revealed on Christmas
Eve. Pictures from Geoff (The Waders) Watts. |
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Short Video Here |
Britannia 70039 "Sir Christopher Wren" modifications - stainless steel gas valve regulator and stainless steel superheater are completed. Norman helps with lighting up for what was a successful steam test and, between the showers, there is time for a run at last. |
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071220 Pictures taken by Jackie Kneeshaw of good times on site on Sunday 061220 |
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041220
Phase 3 of the raised track
signals project moves on as the signals are put back into use with just
a few outstanding items - operation unaffected. Need some mileage now. |
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Just as recompense for the fact that Northampton did not get the 2020 UK
"Bah Humbug!" award, here is a picture of the loco at that oh-so-important
railway centre - Spalding Town. |
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301120 Have you got one of these - for sale on the Peterborough website.
While you are there, maybe
take a look at the Garratt copper boiler - and someone else is building
a traction engine. |
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231120 David Whelan, Mr. Swarf, gets down to making the wheels for Maggie.... |
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221120
Have you got one of
these
in your workshop? |
191120 David Whelan has taken delivery of the laser-cut frames for the start of his Maggie build.
Maggie is a Romulus variant - an
0-6-0 in 7¼in. gauge. |
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161120 NSME member Donald Oliver was featured in an article in Northamptonshire Telegraph recently, having become a station adopter at Corby Railway Station. Article Here
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151120 George Davis's funeral is at Deanshanger Church tomorrow (Monday November 16) at 1pm. Regret members cannot attend and there is not a web camera covering the event - maybe you might want to think of George at the time. |
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131120 It might be difficult now to imagine we ever did this kind of thing, but it's reprise time - take a look at Latest News September 2016 HereNote: amazingly, most of the links still work - just the odd one has gone to the great worldwide web in the sky.
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131120 Member Steve Cook has a 5 plank wagon kit for sale.
Now Sold!
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NSME and Norwich member Peter King is busy with wheels. Not sure whether his cha-cha days are over, but he will surely make a weally good job of them. I'll get my coat! |
051120 "Knock Knock" "Who's there?" "Earwig" "Earwig O, Earwig O again" Down in Norman Johnston's workshop, a stationary steam plant is in the making. The boiler is that of a 3½in. gauge locomotive and the grate a tilting rosebud. |
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041120 Probably it does not matter for the present, but signals 8 and 9 are out of use while works are carried out on phase 3 of the signals replacement project. This in itself should not affect the track use. Work commenced at the steaming bay yesterday with the fitting of a new wall box which will be connected to the new control box. At the same time, Kelvin was fixing a microswitch to the point which will be used for the point interlock.
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311020 The Gauge O Guild's Virtual Show starts today. Jackie Kneeshaw and their events team have been working hard on this and, even if not an O gauge fan, there is something to interest most. This is open to members and non-members alike and should be available on-line for 2 weeks Here |
291020 |
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281020 Latest edition of the blower. Picture from David Jones |
271020 |
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251020 Britannia Update: Norm has progressed slowly with the ex-NSME and Geoff Watts Britannia. His dear wife Jenny has made him a small helper called Henry, to see if this speeds things along. The cleading and cab are on and all the steam fittings with pipework are next. His rebuild story has just started publication in Model Engineer Magazine, so he doesn’t think it necessary to repeat the story here. However, progress photos will appear on this News page with Henry’s help. |
Webmaster Comment.... Any similarity between Henry's cap and hairstyle to other caps/hairstyles appearing previously in Latest News, or previous owners of the locomotive is purely coincidental and not by design. |
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241020 An enquiry to the Peterborough society as to whether anyone is selling a lathe or milling machine Here |
Andrew Waller's Q1 is taking shape in his workshop, having moved on from the previous reports. The Q1 was an austerity locomotive, known affectionally as the ugly duckling, but was a very good, reliable worker and relatively easy to maintain (it says here!). |
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16mm railway in action on Sunday 181020 |
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Geoff and Kelvin are too shy to appear in the pictures, but they are at the spade, doing preparation work for re-siting signal 8 (next to point) in phase 3 of the signals project. |
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James and the Giant Truck? James seems just a little unsure about his new independent means of travel
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Mr. President tries out the blower ready for the assault on leaves, and much ado about the mower.
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As promised, John fixed us up with one signal switch. |
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The skip, for the disposal of metal, has arrived. You can retrieve metal from it of course, providing you take it all home. It is a little like throwing children's toys away - they suddenly find their way back! Perhaps we should have one of our own - it will never need emptying. |
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What's this
under wraps then?
No, it's John's new loco ...... |
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There's always a warm welcome at NSME! |
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It's that time again. Turning over a new leaf .... |
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David Byrne was caught on camera having a rest.
But, look closer to see what
David has been doing. He has adapted and lengthened the erstwhile club 5in.
gauge Britannia lift for use with the 7¼in. gauge battery/electric
locomotives. Well done David - or is it Noah? |
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Signal testing on Friday 161020. |
The raised track pre-station isolated track section is now on trial in the
signalling system. This operates signal 10 near the steaming bay. Any train
in the section switches signal 10 to red. A picture
below of layout in station building. Needs some serious use in all weathers
now. Caveats....
Regret, for the time being at least, you will have to switch two switches
instead of 1 - single switch planned. |
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Tuesday October 6, 2020 was a working day at NSME, although John brought his new locomotive for a run.
Album Here |
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Album Here |
Farewell to Scotland's oldest miniature railway (in a nice setting, shame about the diesel "thing" - does anyone else think of Bernie Clifton when seeing these gems?). Article Here |
Peter King sends mirth from North Norfolk. There are times when the benefits of raised track just shine through! |
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Out of order but.... Album Here |
Tuesday September 22, 2020 was a working day at NSME, although there was some running.
Album Here |
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Sunday Fun on 200920 Album Here |
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Barbara rides again as David Byrne and David Rosier re-assemble after boiler testing. Photos from David Jones. The number of Davids (10) in the club is fast approaching the number of Peters (11) |
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Noah demonstrates how you can get the Class 59 onto the track using the
Peter Bayley modified Raised Adjustable Transition (RAT). You could say it
is childsplay? Pictures from Tony Kendall. |
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John Tomlinson and David Jones continue working on improving the doors on the erstwhile committee wagon, now 99% completed on Tuesday 220920. Time for a new name? Nobody asleep on this job. Photos from David Jones. |
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Long ago, in a land far away, in 2005, NSME hosted IMLEC. George Winsall posted a video of the event on YouTube Day One Day Two |
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Webmaster takes a break at ![]() |
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⅛ ⅞ ⅝ ⅜ ⅕ ⅖ ⅗ ⅘ ⅙ ⅚ ⅟ ⅓ ⅓ ̸ |