Updated January 24, 2022.
 

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240122

Eagle-eyed member Peter King spotted this picture amongst the publicity for Hemsby Week in May 2022, showing the Parklands Miniature Railway at Blue Riband Holiday Park. The definition could be better but you should just be able to see one of our NSME members relaxing on the far bench.

220122

Ground level windmill curve track renewal project - the track assembly jig comes into use on Friday 210122.

Pictures from Kelvin Naylor

120122

Kelvin makes a permanent datum point for the windmill curve project and Andy tries out his newly fixed wrist whilst assisting Mr. Jones on the raised coaches on Tuesday 110122.

110122

NSME Member David Whelan gets Lima home from Echills Wood (EWR) for some winter maintenance. There is a fair amount of work to do. All the wheels need re-profiling and the motion work needs re-bushing, ready for next season.

David and Lima covered well over 400mls passenger-hauling at EWR last year.

040122

Party dates for 2022 now released.

Albums updated in Photo Centre - Past Events 2021 completed, Past Events 2022 added.

010122

Not much happened at NSME in 2021?

An album of the 383 pictures featured in Latest News during 2021 Here.

May take a while to load.

010122

A family day out at the NSME New Years Day run.

Album Here More pictures added 020122

241221
Andrew Waller, although having a broken wrist, is building a 5in. gauge coach - we saw pictures of the seats earlier and the main frame was being built.The next job is the bogies and Kelvin has made some 3D-printed axleboxes. All they will need is a metal sleeve for the sliding faces and a metal bearing in the axle hole.

211221

Richard Folwell sends pictures and commentary on his latest project. More Here

Why not send yours to webmaster@nsme.co.uk

181221

The action on site on Tuesday last afternoon (141221).

Pictures from Jackie Kneeshaw. Album Here

Wake-up call - if you are a member - photos are needed from YOU.

111221
The NSME 2021 Christmas social was held on Tuesday evening. Attendance was down on normal, but we were grateful for a nice spread constructed by Kate and Lesley (many thanks!).

Pictures by Tony/Brenda Kendall. Album Here

111221
Brian Parker creates a steamy affair for one of Norwich Society's Christmas Specials last weekend.
 

071221
Sadly, Richard Drake has died. Richard is pictured here, working on the edgings on the ground track on June 6 of this year.

Our heartfelt condolences to the family.

071221

Well, it's Christmas with a model engineering theme down at the Wakefield household.

Pictures from Howard Wakefield.

291121

Barbara takes to the tracks again on Sunday after workshop attention from David Byrne and the twins.

Video from David Jones Here

171121

Barbara takes a dive in the workshop and the Richard/Alan duo set off to align the raised track on Tuesday. Are they on the level - it's certainly all in the right spirit?

Pictures from David Jones.

151121

Peter King's "Elidir" was in action at Norwich yesterday.

Click/Dab on picture to see video (MP4)

141121
The Bulleid double-decker coach is moving from Hunsbury Hill, to be restored with the other surviving coach in Sellindge, Kent. I travelled on it from Barnehurst to Bexleyheath in 1959, an 8 coach train (2x4), at the tender age of 12.

Not a great success - more people entering via the same door space resulted in delays. Solution adopted was to extend platforms to allow 10 coach trains.

Video Here

061121
Sad to report the death of Brian Reeve, erstwhile NSME chairman and member.

101121
Video of Riley's contribution Here

061121
Some of you will have been watching the Hornby programme on the Yesterday channel (Freeview 26, Freesat 159) on Monday evenings at 21.00.

The next episode includes a piece by Riley, one of our Junior members.

Pictures from Geoff Watts

At the abbey, the stand takes shape this morning. The Community Fun and Volunteering Day, from 10.00-14.00, was organised to allow people to find out about local volunteering opportunities.

Pictures by David Jones

281021

Working with leaves all day is good fun, but it can make you tired!

Picture from Mr. David Jones.

191021

Some of you will have seen the articles in ME of Norm Norton's restoration of his 5in gauge Modelworks Britannia, which Norm purchased from NSME, it having a history of being a club loco, originally gifted by Geoff Watts.

Pictures by Norm, a member of NSME. Click or dab on each picture for a larger file.

161021

Sunbeams pre-school visited us yesterday for fun, and everyone had a great time - even I was caught smiling - twice!

Pictured by Jackie Kneeshaw.

161021

Well, out of sweetness came forth the strong (apologies to Tate & Lyle), the leaves have come round again.

131021 

Norman Johnston progresses from Running-On-Air to Running-On-Steam.

121021

Dragging coaches backwards on Sunday last - picture from Mr. David Jones.

111021

This is doing the rounds, but because it's the end of the season, perhaps you have time for some other stuff.

Most get it wrong by maths, but engineers into epicyclic gears get it correct - and no doubt others who are just clever.
Me, well I can see why I was wrong - from the practical, but have trouble with the why.

Video Here

101021 

Run Day One-pager is now updated for 2022 - always available from the homepage.

101021

A great day out at Andy Waller's private event yesterday, Note the new gloves, but very much outshone by Mr. Jones's smile!
 

081021 More John Routledge pictures added to the album (182-230)

051021

Fine weather for the October PRD on Sunday last, in contrast to Saturday. Those attending may have seen someone in a dayglow jacket taking pictures. He was John Routledge, seen here in orange, who presented us with some excellent photos - 180 in all. These include some of the ambience which we often take for granted and which often passes un-noticed.

Regular contributor Jackie Kneeshaw arranged the above and her own pictures, to her usual standard, are included in the same album, for convenience later.

Album Here - the photo names indicate the photographer.

041021 

If you have information please contact local Police, to then contact Staffordshire Police.

Pictures from Tony Kendall

Video of September public run

011021

Although not normally considered good practice to blow off steam in the station, the club Simplex produces plenty of steam on Friday October 1, 2021

Picture from David Jones

110921

Club calendar updated. Note in particular our intention to appear with a small stand at Delapré Abbey on Thursday October 28, 2021 (will be asking for bodies), and the visit by "Sunbeams" pre-school on Friday October 15, 2021.

A heads-up for Kevin West's Bassett-Lowke Rally, which we are holding at NSME on Saturday May 14, 2022.

230921

Fridays are usually a mix of working and pleasure, or perhaps a combination of both.

Pictures of this on Friday September 12, 2021, by Jackie kneeshaw.

Album Here

Pictures from Brian Parker.

130921

Knaresborough - no sign of Blind Jack as, taken from the castle, what I call a diddy-bonk passes over the viaduct on the River Nidd.

Got a picture of one going in the other direction - but realised, afterwards, it looks the same!

Hair by Mecini, Hunsbury Hill.

110921

Pictures taken by Jackie Kneeshaw at David Byrne's private function on Saturday September 4, 2021.

Regret, there are no pictures of the PRD the following day.

090921

New member Paul Garfield sends pictures of his kit....

070921

Sadly, Robert Hart died recently. Robert was a building contractor we used on many occasions, including for the blockwork on the revised ground track steaming bay.

Pictures by Doreen Coles and Peter Squire.

070921

August 2021 committee meeting minutes added.

020921

Now with prettier pipework, Norman Johnston's stationary engine is now running on air

A good turnout for the Summer Bank Holiday Club Run yesterday.

Pictures from Jackie Kneeshaw. Album Here

280821

Yesterday, Friday 270821, the first steaming of Tony's GWR Pannier Tank - LBSC called it a Pansy, but that does not seem quite right now. However, it does look a little like "Duck" - but that is coincidental. The loco was originally owned by a club member, the late John Harrison. It was scratch-built way back in the 80s by an employee of Midland Red, Birmingham. It now has a new boiler from Southern Boiler Works (I know, it's cheque-book but it is a beautiful boiler without stuff like backhead fittings screwing directly into copper like the original). A Gordon Smith type regulator has been added and two single top clacks rather than the original dual ones built into the block, to aid maintenance. One injector, crosshead pump and hand pump - the latter positioned in the bunker now - originally on the truck (safer methinks). Lubrication is prototypical - hydrostatic, but not mechanically connected to the regulator.

The test went well, with more items working than expected. Issues centred mainly around the safety valve which caused a bit of a scuttle when it stuck! The injector feed is on the truck, so a Tupperware container was adapted for the purpose.
As you can see, on one side the Great Western is a bit flaky, but then, weren't they always? Oh dear - just couldn't resist it!

The big-boys 5764, presumed similar, is preserved by the Severn Valley Railway.

A short video of running on air and steam Here

250821

A club run night in 2016 Here

Video quality not to modern standards but what was available to me at the time - a Sony video camera, recording on cassette tape for which I paid £25.
I wonder where "The Cheeky boys" are now!

250821
Every now and then I publish the website statistics - number of people visiting and number of pages viewed both per month and per day.
So here goes - for the last month....

Pages viewed/month 5820 = average 190/day

No. of visits/month 2353 = average 78/day
Daily visits double prior to public run days

Interesting (perhaps), the countries of origin
Europe, including UK, 81%
USA 18%
Asia 0.3%
Africa 0.2%

36% of visitors arrive directly i.e. not via search engine.
Those who do, nearly all arrive via Google.

250821
Picture from Tony Kendall of a little of the action in the 16mm track area yesterday - Tuesday 240821.
 

Specially for our viewer(s) in New Zealand - Hi!

230821

NSME feature in "What's-on" in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo

230821
Pictures from Tony Kendall of the action yesterday - Sunday 220821

230821
Pictures from Jackie Kneeshaw taken at the Grange Park Brownies event on Tuesday 170721 and at the birthday party on Saturday 140721.

190821

July 2021 committee meeting minutes added.

150821

First part of a Hunslet build on the Peterborough SME website. Those into anagrams may be able to work out who it is.

110821

David Calvert brought his 3½in. gauge Heisler to site yesterday. He was too shy to appear in the Photos supplied by Geoff Watts.

070821

Member Thomas Hoy has constructed an O gauge layout which he has called Whaplode. Thomas emphasises - it is loosely based on Whaplode station on the M&GN - he liked the name. That said, Whaplode was one station up from Webmaster's home station - Moulton. When going to the seaside, turn left at Kings Lynn onto GE to Hunstanton or continue straight on to Yarmouth Beach station, via Melton constable. All this, having had a push-chair ride of 4 miles, mostly through fields, to get to Moulton station. Look out for Whaplode on the way back - next stop home. Just another 4 miles walk/push for parents. Long Day - but worth it!
Album of Thomas's layout Here

The August public run day was the first for some time owing to Covid. Although at first the weather looked poor, this improved to give a pleasant and enjoyable afternoon

Pictures by:
Jackie Kneeshaw (whilst guarding).

Album Here

290721
The Veteran Car Club visited Delapré today, as planned, for a mid-day picnic.

Pictures from Geoff Watts

280721

Something slightly different - Andy Waller is making seats for a 5in. gauge model of an  LNWR Observation Car. Note: the reverse type. Making one - interesting. Making the other 35 - less so?

Album Here

260721
Congratulations to Member David Jones who has a special birthday today.

David started off the celebrations at the club yesterday

Pictures by Jackie Kneeshaw

250721
The Harrison mill has been replaced by a mill-drill. Nicholas Bird tries his hand at modifying axle boxes.

240721

Love Parks Week open studio for us turned out to be visitors taking train rides, so it was treated mainly like a club run day. Nevertheless, the Harrison mill was removed and readied for dispatch. We were pleased to see Peter Brough down at the site for the first time in a while.

220721

NSME is taking part in Northampton's "Love Parks Week" as a stakeholder in Delapré Park. Our day is tomorrow, Friday, when anyone can visit our site and be shown around - an open studio.

220721
Back in 2012, TVNorthants made a video to help publicise our public running activities.

190721
Meridienne Exhibitions have informed us they have cancelled the 2021 Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition (MMEE2021) at Warwickshire Event Centre, planned for October.
They have also cancelled the London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace, planned for January 2022.

190721
Norman Johnston sends pictures from the workbench of his boiler/steam engine under development. Starting with an acquired 3½in. gauge locomotive boiler, he has added fittings and piping and is now developing the engine.
The wheel is cast from his own pattern.
Norman hopes this will eventually drive a saw mill, cutting sleepers.

150721
The second version of the video promoting NSME, starring those people you may know, with the addition of an explanation by Norman. 

120721
Norm sends a picture and video of Glenfinnan viaduct taken on "The Jacobite" in June behind a Black 5. No sign of a blue Anglia 105E.

050721
The Guildford MES Gala was staged this weekend. It is much smaller than a few years ago, not just because of Covid, but by design.

Nevertheless, there were excellent models and some good running.

Pictures from Tony Kendall.
Album Here

Pictures from Howard Wakefield.

280621
Maybe you can see a member you know steaming up at Echills Wood on Sunday?

280621
The first opportunity for a while for opening up a little, with a private function, as Jackie Kneeshaw celebrated her birthday.

230621
Not the Ladykillers - but the Weedkillers aboard the Kneeshaw Express on Tuesday.

Picture from Lesley Loveland.

More photos of Sunday and Tuesday Here

160621
A better turnout for the NSME members club run day on Sunday 130621.

Pictures by Jackie Kneeshaw
Album Here

150621
The Geoff Watts steamcar got its first road test yesterday.

Video by Lesley Loveland Here
 

Pictures from David Jones.

We are sure you will want to congratulate him when you see him.

080621

Tuesday working party today - edgings being laid, youthful energy preparing for the concrete base at the R/T point - and a bit of a squeeze around a tree for the new fence.

Robert Schofield brought along his Maxitrak Dixie locomotive for a successful steam test which was followed by a run.

Some pictures in an album Here of Eric Hudson at NSME, taken by photographers various, over recent years.
More photos of Eric in the "50 Years at Delapre" presentation in 2015 - Here

The webcast for Eric's funeral, Friday June 4, 2021 at 1.15pm, should still be available Here for a short time at least (better quality this time).
Login/Order ID: 96843
Password: abxjwyyk

030621
 

Erstwhile NSME member Howard Bowling poses whilst driving at Bala Lake Railway this week.
 

230521
A poor turnout for the first NSME members club run day for a long time, on Saturday 220521.

Only one engine came along.

Nevertheless, I had a good run, sharing the driving with David Jones. Better next time perhaps?