25 years ago, the NSME chairman Dennis Billington, produced a summer edition of "The Blower" club magazine.
Hot topics were the start of building the original ground level track, "Barbara" locomotive, coaches and portable track were donated to the club, and a donation of floor tiles from a display kitchen at Travis Perkins.
The original GLT was modified in 2010/11, but there is a video in the main website of the original.
Is 25 years long enough for the expected life of second-hand gifted floor tiles?
"Blower" Here.

More progress on Richard's 3in. scale Simplicity Road Roller project Here

Date: Sunday 050720

The raised track is out of use in two places - at the station and at the lift-out section. This is expected to be so until Tuesday next 070720.

Thursday 020720 and Nick Burton's locomotive arrives for a boiler test.

Picture from David Jones

July came in with not the best of weather on Wednesday 010720. David Whelan ran his Feldbahn, Jon-Luc James tried it for size and gave us a thumbs-up and also whilst running his own loco on the raised track.
Pictures from David Jones.

Norman Johnston has made lamps for his scratch-built, 5in. gauge LMS brake van.
More pictures of the evolution of the brake van Here.

Site work was being done on Friday 260620 - who said haircutting was not available?
Note - our own little fire engine. Needs painting red?

Photos by Tony Kendall

Date: 240620. The raised track is complete again but subject to interruption, after work on the bearer sleepers in the bridge area to level the track and station approach work.

For clarity - both tracks are currently complete.

The funeral of Ken Markie was on Thursday June 25. The webcast is no longer available.

David Whelan had a very successful first run this year on Wednesday 170620 on the newly re-instated ground level track.
David Packer and helpers have introduced new levels just before the reverse curves on the station approach. David W also recorded a video for Facebook Here. Not sure everyone will be able to see it.

 
A family day out as Chris Atkins, Rachel and James take delivery of a new General Gordon locomotive. The loco is named "Helen Louise" after Chris's sister.
The number is James's birthday. Pictures from the Atkins family and David Jones.

Arrangements are being made for an interim boiler testing regime during the lockdown from Monday June 15, 2020. This will mean it is necessary to book a slot with the Vice Chairman (vicechairman@nsme.co.uk), observing distancing rules and restrictions.
More details on the noticeboard in the Members' area of this website, or directly Here

Polly Models exhibited - "Molly-Ann" at the Midlands exhibition last October.
She is a 5in. gauge saddle tank - from a distance has GWR 1361 class tendencies.
Peter Revitt was tempted and is assembling in stages as kits arrive.

1363 - reported to be the oldest genuine GWR engine at Didcot

Molly-Ann - a picture from the Polly Models website.

Sad to report the death of retired member Ken Markie. Ken, who had the share no. 003, was instrumental, along with Ernest Tebbutt, in acquiring the Delapré site for us in 1963/4.

The picture shows Ken at the 2016 Christmas Social.
 

Andy Waller makes progress building the boiler for his Q1 locomotive.

Andy Waller made a pump trolley - the real thing Here.
An alternative is a pump truck - the real thing Here (Recognise someone?)
Then there is the Handcar or pump car in the USA
As always, Thomas has the answer Here

Some of you will remember David Whelan's Royal Scot as opposite at the June 2017 PRD (Picture L. R. Spikings).
David took the engine out of traffic for a quick winter overhaul and a splash of paint. This developed into a full overhaul lasting 2 years and many refurbished parts. The loco is nearly ready for firing and then, after replacing the tinware and final touches, ready for a run.
A transition from 6170 to 46170 and from black to green. David is looking forward to his first run.
 

Mick Pearson has parts for two 3½in. gauge locos (LBSC P V Baker) available from his roof-less shed as in photos....
2 unused copper boilers tested 22-4-79  180 psi
2 sets wheels finished. Axle box castings. NO CYLINDER CASTINGS.
Lots of castings. Drawings
SENSIBLE OFFER - MORE THAN SCRAP PLEASE
Contact either direct or via webmaster@nsme.co.uk
Advert will be in the "For Sale" section in Members' Area in 7 days
Reminder - there are still bogies for sale there.

The ground level track is complete again and ready for use.

The raised track is now complete at the station approach.

The Passenger Carrying Miniature Railways Safety Group (PCMRSG) has been working with HSE on a replacement for HS216. This is HS2020, "Managing Health and Safety at Passenger-Carrying Miniature Railways" - guidance for operators of passenger-carrying miniature railways, and has gone to press.
It is available on the PCMRSG website Here

Some of you may have visited Bressingham gardens in the past, for its railways or to run your traction engine. A programme featuring Bressingham is broadcast on C5 Thursday next 280520, at 19.00 - episode 1 of 5. Trendies call this a heads-up! Here
Will there be a Norfolk Piglet?

Reminder: Dreweatts Auction too on Thursday 280520. Details Below
 

Guidance on Heritage railway recovery plans - response to Covid-19, issued Here

Maybe suitable for the NSME post-lockdown barbecue? Here

Member Peter King points out, this time, the Dreweatts auction "The Transport Sale" is taking place on-line on Thursday May 28, 2020. Some good entries in the catalogue on their website Here

Webmaster comment - I regret no mention in the credits of Hornby or our soldier but the kitchen porter was! I think I saw the train Waller's hands at the end of the table?
Member Andrew Waller has been involved in the British Banquet part of the series "Great British Menu" recently. He was volunteered by his prospective son in law, to set up and run a model railway at the start of the banquet. It was recorded at Exeter College in Oxford in early February.

The trains (00 gauge including Hogwarts Castle), with support from Hornby Hobbies Ltd., were used to deliver the first course (believed to be the `amuse bouche`), so it should not be too far into the programme when you can see the the railway bit. The programme is showing this Friday evening, May 15, BBC2, 8pm. 

Perhaps a truck like this might be needed?

Many model engineers were sad to hear of the death of Don Ashton over the Easter holiday. Don was an acknowledged expert in steam locomotive valve gear and timing - his website Here

It all looks very pleasant - note the duck in the background.

Best be careful not to go backwards?

Latest news is a rolling format, items are added to the top and others deleted from the end as the file grows, otherwise it would take hours to download and not live up to its name. Occasionally the file is saved as a record.
One such file allows us to look back to Latest News June 2016 to remind us of more active times Here. Please do not forget to come back to 2020 - no matter how tempting it is to stay in 2016!
The passage of time means some of the external links will not work, but most of the internal links, e.g. photo albums, should work - with the exception of calendars

All dressed up - nowhere to go!

Pictures from David Jones on Sunday 030520

More pictures Here

The picture shows the 3D printed motion brackets, ready to go into the sand mould for casting in gunmetal next week.
 

Peter Squire sends an update on his "Tom Rolt" project.

There were no buffer castings readily available and, being complex to fabricate, a more modern technique was used for producing them.

1. Started with a 3D model and sent to be 3D printed.

2. Gun metal castings arrived.

3. Machined and fitted to buffer beam.

Motion bracket next - awaiting delivery of castings
 

lf you are having Delapré withdrawal syndrome - there are always plenty of pictures, including the Latest News pictures from 2019, Here

Richard Folwell, is up to his arms in it and makes it snappy in this week's installment.

More progress on Richard's 3in. scale Simplicity Road Roller project Here

Life is tough as a webmaster. Low pay, etc.

However, at Peterborough the webmaster has a particular problem to solve Here

We have seen pictures previously of the loco Andy Waller is building. Andy seems to feel the need to apologise but no need - and why so modest?....
"After all the recent beautifully made examples of metalwork and woodwork on the website, I`m afraid all I`ve got to offer are some very crudely made wooden formers made from bits of scrap timber and the inner and outer copper wrappers for the firebox on my 3½in. gauge Q1, I`ve bashed out on them. Hopefully they will look a bit neater when everything comes together"

So many of us are looking in our workshop drawers at the moment - even if we are only clearing them out.

Member Mick Pearson was burrowing and found these two, which, after repair and cleaning, have scrubbed up very nicely.

Members George and Doreen Coles, report that, after several years, when they have been visiting other railways with their 7¼in. gauge locos, their 10¼in. gauge Tri-ang Minic Geodor Railway has been neglected - very pretty, but not conducive to running.  (Especially as this is an electrified track).
So the GeoDor Railway Restoration Society is taking advantage of the enforced isolation in these strange times, to ‘do what it says on the tin’ and get the railway running again. 
Some way to go yet. Hopefully, more pictures as they progress.

Does this need a 10¼in. gauge train to take the spoil away?

The diesel engine that turns me on the most is the Deltic engine – no surprise to some perhaps.

However, what comes second for me is the Field Marshall tractor.

This is a single cylinder diesel with manual start, which was manufactured between 1945 and 1967 in Gainsborough, Lincs. They were produced both as wheeled and crawler versions, the crawler being much rarer.

The glowplug takes the form of a piece of lighted cartridge paper screwed into the cylinder at the front of the tractor. There are then two options – a starting handle, or rotating to a flywheel mark then placing a blank 12 bore cartridge in the front and detonating it with a hammer. They were widely used for threshing because of their even beat.

Some are preserved in England, and many more in the USA.

There is no accounting for taste, but the sound of one ticking over is music to me.
Tick-over video Here. On the road video Here. Starting by hand video Here
Starting with cartridge Here 1/3 scale Model Here

Peter Spikings relates how he bought a load of rusty castings for a 7¼in. gauge locomotive, not knowing what they were. He later did some research and found them to be for a Schools class and is now in the process of rebuilding it.

As he says - going back to schools!

A schools class in action Here

NSME member Simon Cook has been busy building a mechanical hacksaw.

"A project that I've just finished. I was going to bring it along to bits and pieces night but...... I turned it into a YouTube video because I had some spare time!! 

It's a "Hemingway Kits" kit of their mechanical hacksaw. You get quite a few castings in aluminium and cast iron, with drawings and a build guide. The whole thing was built using just an ML7 and hand tools. 

It has an auto-off, adjustable stroke, oil damper and adjustable weight that changes cut pressure. The video ends with it cutting 1" X 1/2" steel."

Video Here

The detail pictures show lots of pipework from two axle pumps for water feed and bypass, the inverter and hand pump, the diesel burner for the boiler and the pressure switch.
 

Member Kevin West has moved house and sends an update on progress so far.

"I moved to Hinckley at the end of February, so does that make me a country member? The house can be described as a wonderful workshop with a nice house attached! After years of trying to work in cramped outhouses and cold sheds I now have a lovely dry space to work, with separate fitting bench, machining area and a separate soldering area.

I have been putting this to good use by getting on with the assembly of a Keith Cousin's kit for a Gauge 1 Great Central A5 class 4-6-2T.  Although most of the machining has been done there is still quite a bit of fitting work and minor machining to do, plus all the drilling and tapping.

I have spent about 10 days on it so far and have an almost complete running chassis, plus loads of fittings assembled ready to fit later. I will start on the Bunker and water tanks later today (090420)."

Webmaster comment - yes it would qualify for country membership - if there was such a thing! Wish you all the best - is it a biscuit tin in the right bottom corner?

Sometimes simple things work - sometimes they do not. Leave you to decide, but has a chance?

This includes re-writing the original content, again, to make it more reader-friendly.

There is Carlton and maybe King Alfred, although no Cheerfulness, but plenty of cheer to lift the heart of anyone able to see the splendour.

Peter sends photos of the fruits of his labour.

Sadly, not so many of us will see all this - unless it is included in our morning walk of course.

Well  done Peter - and thank you.

New Gate installed - nice job. Awaiting lock to be welded on.
Photo from Geoff Watts

Probably the best of the bunch of videos popular at the moment Here

Just a quick glimpse of TIM - the Tony Isolation Module or iPod. The door to the left opens into the transfer tunnel to the command module which is equipped with all the life support functions required and the Live Entertainment Module (LEM) further on. It is also where the Controller is, working out and delivering the support strategy needed and ensuring the robustness of the supply chain.

Only one downside - the view from the window could be better - possibly a view of the rolling hills of South Lincolnshire.
 

The work is on the replacement control box for phase 3 of the signals project.
 

The entertainment is "13 Minutes to the Moon" - highly recommended.

(From an original idea on the Peterborough site - but my module is not nearly as tidy!)

Despite the gloom - someone enjoying life  - Jon Luc with his loco....

There are no pictures of Sunday, but Tuesday brought more boiler testing, dredging and discussion.

Pictures from David Jones

Our next boiler testing day is Tuesday March 17, 2020 between 10 and 4

Tuesday 030320 and Henry passed possibly the first steam test at NSME this year. Colleagues came along to assist and to lay hands on Henry just in case anything became marginal. Present were driver, fireman, tester, witness, technical adviser, safety officer and security agent.

Elsewhere, real work was evident with the reinstatement of slabs at the station after cable laying.

Maybe you can see it on catch-up - S6, E2.

The Pacer Units are being phased out from the big boy railway this year. They were a cheap and not-so-cheerful joint project between BREL and Leyland and based on the Leyland bus/lorry. They can probably take the prize for low-quality, uncomfortable riding. Because they are going, they are getting cult status and many pictures and videos are being taken of them in their last days of service.
That said, in a country far away (Burma), they produced another lorry-based unit but, sadly, not Leyland Here

However, they do have a Kerr Stewart loco (No.13!) built in England in 1914 - with adaptive sanding Here

The first visible signs of the final stage (phase 3) of the raised track signals project which completes the circle and the replacement of the Jarman system, was started on Friday 210220. A new duct was installed from the station building to carry the clockwise cable for the west end. The components are being made and groundwork done, ready for installation starting October 28, 2020.

The NSME AGM took place during the evening of Tuesday 180220. Member David Viewing delivered a presentation on "Big Boy" afterwards. Pictures from David Jones.

The track now has "proceed with caution" status.
 

Smiles in the cold at Delapré

 
Two new locomotives were on test on the 7¼in. GLT at NSME on Sunday 020220.

Photos by Mr. David Jones, including a short video Here

The Geoff Watts Hunslet "Linda" arrived on site at Delapré for the first time on Sunday last 260120. Steam, movement and great joy were achieved.

A quickly produced, very short video Here

Why not send your pictures to webmaster@nsme.co.uk

Regret, no member pictures available.

Album Here.

Report from the papers Here

YouTube Video Here - 2 NSME members at 2min 50

Consideration is being given to providing a replacement bus service.
 

Good to see member Steve Winter back at the club on New Years Day. Steve has been busy and brought his models for us to see. Pictures by Geoff Watts

Pictures of the New Years Day Club Run from David Jones/Leslie Spikings

Album Here.