160121
Really sorry to have to report Graham Jones died in hospital this morning. Graham had been in intensive care with COVID for about 10 days.

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

020121
Members Lesley and Peter Loveland have been constructing an OO gauge layout. So many of us have done it, paying great attention to the technical side, but faltering with the ambience. I am sure you will agree the detail shown in the photographs is outstanding and a real credit to them.

231220
Yesterday, Tuesday, advantage was taken of the last work-day before Christmas to complete some jobs. Fingers crossed for next week.
Merry Christmas everyone!

161220

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.

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.
Social distancing was observed.

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.
The loco was on the twice daily service Cleethorpes to King's Cross and was on 40B shed (Immingham).

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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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David Whelan, Mr. Swarf, gets down to making the wheels for Maggie....

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Have you got one of these in your workshop?
 

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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.
David has plans to build it with piston valves, a superheated boiler and Walschaerts valve gear.

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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.

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  Here

Note: 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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Member Steve Cook has a 5 plank wagon kit for sale.

Now Sold! 

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"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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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.

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
Some photos of the Tony Kendall Britannia regulator replacement project. Fitting a gas valve with both boiler and smokebox in situ - not so straightforward with banana hands.  The gas valve needs more rotation to operate than the original - new regulator handle by Norman Johnston, with greater rod-operating distance from pivot, fits snugly under the cab roof. Modifications to the steam collection tube and extending outwards forms the support for the stainless valve and whistle connection.
Several attempts to get the angles right for the operating mechanism - helped by information from Norm Norton on his Britannia regulator.
Stainless transition piece fitted to valve with circular connection to newly-acquired stainless superheater (s/h).
Two pipes still to be made to connect s/h to cylinders instead of the original s/h tails - should make it easier to block off for boiler + s/h hydraulic testing. Other connections are to snifter at front and blower. Drive soon? Hope so!

Picture from David Jones

271020
Photos from Jackie Kneeshaw of some of the running at NSME on Sunday 251020.
A pleasant day which eventually turned damp.

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.

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!).

16mm railway in action on Sunday 181020

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.

James and the Giant Truck?

James seems just a little unsure about his new independent means of travel

As promised, John fixed us up with one signal switch.

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.

What's this under wraps then?
Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?

No, it's John's new loco ......

There's always a warm welcome at NSME!

 It's that time again. Turning over a new leaf ....

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.
Using the lift, they can now be stowed on the shelves, above any waterline experienced so far.

Well done David - or is it Noah?

Signal testing on Friday 161020.

Regret, for the time being at least, you will have to switch two switches instead of 1 - single switch planned.
Noted, our mains wires could be tidier.
My wireman seriously in need of a haircut, or is the hair fixed to the cap? AJK.

Details Here

(Pictures taken pre-Covid)

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

Details Here

Sunday Fun on 200920
Photos from Jackie Kneeshaw.

Album Here

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)

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?
Not sure about the coat - he was not keen on having it on and it looked like rain - a compromise.

Pictures from Tony Kendall.

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.

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