Member Norman Lorton sends news of his NZ adventure....
I have just crossed the alpine spine of South Island New Zealand by 5 hour rail journey. The track is 3’6” gauge and the train around 10 coaches long. The surprise is the descent gradient to the west coast at a small section called Arthur’s Pass being 1 in 33 in parts. To manage this, as well as the 2 locomotives on the front, they have attached 4 to the rear to assist descent and enable a safe reverse in case of trouble. Steam used to power the railway either side of the Pass and connections were made by horse drawn cart. This was finally joined by a steep tunnel and overhead electric locomotives when completed in 1924. Today it is 88 tonne 2450 hp diesels making the whole journey and the very long tunnel is fan purged between the small number of crossings each day.

For those who missed the Manchester Model engineering Exhibition, (MMEX2019) at Oldham, LMS4767 has produced another video Here

"The Transport Sale" was at Dreweatts Auction in Newbury on Tuesday 120319.

 Catalogue with prices achieved Here.

Another Stolen Loco

Anyone with any info on Tich please contact webmaster

A good turn-out and despite the cold and a delayed start the Clan Line talk on Tuesday 120319 was OK

Poor weather for the first boiler testing day of the year on Sunday 100319.

David Fieldhouse sends more news of his antipodean friends Here.

The refurbished and modified ground level point adjacent to the Delapre Carriageworks was completed and re-fitted on Tuesday 260219. Possibly the first steam loco over them on Thursday 280219. The team are now directing their attention to the first of the two points adjacent to the platform.

Some pictures of the Northern Association of Model Engineers (NAME) Manchester Engineering Exhibition, in Oldham, on February 23/24. Pictures cribbed from the web - for your delight Here. Many thanks to Mr.Swarf (Paul). I toldum Oldham!

Sunday rest day only for some as Garth, Kelvin and photographer Geoff get fired up.

Alan Bell has sent more photos which have been added to the "Archive 1" album which already has photos from Keith Nichols Here. Many thanks to you both.

So that's where they got the idea for the banana turntable on the raised track Here

The following 5in. gauge locomotives have been stolen from Gravesend Model Marine & Engineering Society - Simplex, Electric Metropolitan No. 9, Springbok B1 and Speedy

The NSME AGM arrived on time on Tuesday 120219. Only the handsome ones appear twice, chairman missing (taking a picture) and deal, the King is Dead, Long Live the King!

The Model Tractor Plant & Construction Show at the Warwickshire Event Centre on Sunday 100219, was much smaller than the Model Engineering Exhibitions. Some full-size tractors (5 little grey Fergies), but very few scratch-built models - the Massey Ferguson and threshing drum were 2 of the 3 scratch-built exhibits on show. There were many exhibits like the first photo - which was thought the best. Many trade stands selling what looked like overgrown dinky toys - good models but mass-produced and available everywhere.

As always, the radio-controlled models were popular....

Peter Squire works on one of the ground level points in the station building on Tuesday 050219

Mr. David Jones, without shorts, finds a train in Portugal.

More projects - Peter King and his mates over at Norwich have been busy building a new hydraulic loco lift. They purchased the lift and then Peter designed and made the side move rails. Life is now much easier. Video on Youtube Here.

David Fieldhouse sends news of his antipodean friends Here.

The raised track signals project photo album and raised track carriage shed project album have been updated in the main website under Photos/Work in Progress Here.

Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers attracted much attention both on the web and at the show with their stand at Alexandra Palace and R/C lorries were popular.

Pictures by Geoff Watts.

More web pictures of models from the blogs Here, and Here

A short video of the first test of the Raised track point from Mr David Jones Here.

Tuesday 150119 and part of the GL points team meets up, Mr. Jones assists Kelvin with the carriage shed access, the new growler undergoes acceptance testing, edging towards success and work starts on replacing some of the raised track bearer sleepers.

We checked out the 7¼in. gauge Class 37 at Knaresborough, had a test drive at Gilling (Ryedale SME) and brought the loco home to add to our fleet yesterday.

Standing room only for what was a very entertaining evening on Tuesday 090119, the secretary adopts a casual pose whilst introducing Christine Sanderson for the talk on Bassett-Lowke and 78 Derngate. Later, members perused books available on the subject.

Nostalgia is what it used to be - most of the pictures featured in "Latest News" during 2018 in an album Here - all 244 of them.

Breaking into the raised track to install the carriage shed access on Sunday 060119

Pictures from Kelvin Naylor

During his visit to us from Brisbane, Keith Nichols presented Webmaster with some archive photographs. These have been scanned and placed in an album Here. Do not miss the background! Many thanks Keith.

As Wallace and Gromit said - a grand day out at NSME on New Years Day

Pictures from Tony Kendall and Jackie Kneeshaw Here

  The 'Member Models' album has been updated in 'Photo' on the main website Here

If you have a model which is not included and would like it to be, please email a photo to webmaster@nsme.co.uk or send an email if you would like yours removed.

Someone is building one of these to fit to a steam car - would be nice to have pictures of your stuff - we are seeing too much of him! webmaster@nsme.co.uk

  An erection takes place as the first column goes on trial at signal 5 on the raised track on Friday 281218. Awaiting correct number - and vertical adjustments! Note the optimistic one.

Peter King and Wendy wish all their friends at Delapre Park a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

As seen, Pete's new loco and driving truck are now completed and he says they are working well and looks forward to visiting  in 2019.

  Everyone tucking in at the Christmas Social - and a visitor from the antipodes.

Pictures by Tony Kendall.

 SFed newsletter available Here

The club Simplex loco makes it back onto the track at last - and that just might be Pete Bayley at the regulator?

Picture from David Jones.

 Members were well entertained at the talk by Andrew Lounds on Tuesday 111218 Pictures by Geoff Watts.

Kelvin Naylor and Peter Loveland have been working on the raised track carriage shed approach. Can you see what it is yet? Pictures by Kelvin Naylor.

Linda runs on air and gets a boiler in Geoff's workshop, and the sack barrow donated by Graham Jones, gets put into use. Pictures by Tony Kendall.

The 16mm track normally has cool people but just a little cool for running on Tuesday 271118. Some were keeping warm by working. Pictures by Tony Kendall.

John gets his first ride out with his newly built Polly called "Caroline" and Geoff and Tony start work again on the raised track signals extension on Wednesday 211118.

The First Kids on the Block

Picture from Mr. D. Jones

Working day on Tuesday 271018. Photos from Leslie Spikings.

NSME member David Viewing entertained us with a presentation on his experiences in the USA, both at club level and full size, on Tuesday evening 131118

The bonfire gets underway just before dark on Monday November 5, 2018

NSME member Peter King brings news of Norwich club's entry in the Aviva Community Fund competition in which they could win a grant to enable them to buy a wheelchair-friendly coach.

If you think it a worthy cause, you can vote for them Here

Sad to report the death of member Roy Whateley. Roy joined NSME in 2010.

Roy's funeral is at Northampton Crematorium on Monday November 12, 2018 at 11.45

David gets to grips with his Britannia regulator, while Bernard starts a steamy affair with Gert, on Tuesday 301018

Showery, cold and damp for the night run on Saturday 271018

The upper gate was completed on Friday 261018 - keys are scarce at present so, for the short term, big boys and girls will have to be let in.

No sign of Robin Hood, but the Peterborough folks have a Raglan lathe for sale Here

Construction of the new gates to restrict the height of vehicles freely entering the archery field and the field opposite, gets underway as posts are erected on both sides of the abbey access road.

Junior Drivers get in some good experience on Thursday 251018

All smiles (nearly) at the presentation ceremony at the Warwickshire Event Centre MMEE2018 event, as members collect their awards and Andy Warhol fulfils a promise.

An album Here of our part in the show, which includes a small a tribute to Gordon Smith, a model engineer who designed safety valves, regulators and clacks. Gordon often presented at the recent shows.

Pictures by Tony Kendall

Another good video from LMS4767 (Jason from Manchester), of MMEE2018 Here

Look out for a few well-known faces, but somehow, something missing?

Malcolm's Lissajous figures seem to be getting some attention.

Well done and a big thank-you to Leslie and Maureen Spikings for organising our stand at the Midlands Exhibition this year.

Norman Johnston gets first prize in category 5 (Stationary Engines).

New member Malcolm Green is very highly commended for his Stirling Hot Air Engine in category 16.

David Viewing is awarded second prize in class 4 for his Gauge 1 London & Birmingham Railway "Bury" locomotive and rolling stock.

NSME gets second prize for the stand

Not quite the Countryfile calendar, but an album of the photographs selected for enlargement and use on the stand at MMEE2018 Here. Video used on the stand Here

Well done to Leslie and Maureen Spikings for organising our stand at the Midlands Exhibition this year. They send pictures taken at the end of set-up day.

Set-up day (171018) at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre for MMEE2018.

Lucky for some with the weather on Saturday 131018 for Andy's party.

Cool but fine and very busy for the last public run day of the 2018 season (071018)

It was all parties at NSME this weekend as, on Sunday 300918, Wallace and Gromit arrived by train to help out at Noah's third birthday party and left again by train ....

....And the Northants Foster Carers Association on Saturday 290918.

Forceps, scalpel, OK, stitch it up!

As forecast, the weather did a George Formby for the last daylight club run of 2018.

Not the Aintree iron, probably the Delapre High-un, but the scaffold nonetheless!....

Norman Johnston's beam engine is ready for MMEE2018. Video Here

Rain just about stayed away for the party on Tuesday 110918. Part of the crew, a baby, a 20 and Kevin helps out with some steam whilst on test.

Sunshine for the September public run day. Album Here

Our little stand at the Delapre Abbey Country Fair attracts attention and all smiles (nearly!) at the NSME August club run on Sunday, 270818 - in the promised sunshine

A tree falls and the ground track is used for the party on Tuesday 210818

Progress with the shed turntable take-off points....

Colleagues at Peterborough have a GWR 14XX for sale on their website Here

The rain just about stayed away for "Alfe's Cause" on Sunday 120818. Alfe appears in the first picture (second from left)

Now, once upon a time, and two posers - at the NSME August public run.

Pictures from Leslie Spikings. Album Here

A party for Evie on Saturday 040818