Blog_2025

Tuesday 7th January '25. Our first meeting of the year was quite well attended and Swaleford saw more scenic work carried out. While on Godinton further conductor rail was installed and more track ballasting undertaken. OSP's loco shed welding simulator module was replaced.

Tuesday 14th January '25. OSP had mile and gradient posts installed around the layout and then it was temporarily connected together to test the electrics and all was found to be working correctly. Over on Swaleford, the rear backscene boards were first time installed and the low relief buildings all placed in position. Godinton had the final ballasting completed on one board and another board had full board lengths of conductor rail installed along the two main line tracks.

Tuesday 21st January '25. Ospringe St Peters & Water Lane had the layout examined in preparedness for exhibition this weekend at Thamesmead.

Godinton, Conductor rail was completed on Board 5, Trackwork on board 2 had ballasting through points etc as well as cleaning ballast off of rail flanges.

Member's may be interested know that Godinton has already constructed and ready for installing onto the base board once the track work and conductor rail are fully installed, we have ready scenery for: Church and Churchyard. Allotments. Backboards Board 3 & Board 4. Refurbished BWJ Shops/Houses/Pub. Station Building/Platform Access Stairs/Overbridge. Platforms and Canopies. Goods shed. Cattle Dock. Weighbridge and Office. Ramshackle Building and Road Incline to overbridge.

Godinton work just started or about to commence: Loco-shed. Bus Depot. Low Relief Sloping Shops. Housing Estate. Farm yard - Oast House in planning stage

Plus other items such as a Water Tower, Signal Box, Mess Coach etc all salvaged from BWJ to be used.

Swaleford saw more scenery work continued.

Oare & Uplees had touching up scenery disturbed whilst changing a pair of OO9 points.

NOTE: The Club is arranging a trip to the Alexandra Palace Model Railway Exhibition on Saturday March 15th. Club will pay cost on Coach travel. Entrance Fee is £17.00 See this page

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January '25 saw our Ospringe St Peters and Water Lane N gauge layout taken to the Erith Model Railway Societies Thamesmead Exhibition.

Below are some pictures taken of the layout and club member operators on the Saturday.

Tuesday 28th January '25. It was a running evening with a crowded Club Room. Our OO Thomas was set up and several members ran their Christmas purchases. Swaleford was also put up and ran trains as required. A wiring loom is being made to connect to the houses on the back scene. After a successful weekend at the Erith MR Exhibition Ospringe St Peters came back to the workbench as the only problem was the Turntable did not work. After checking all the wiring etc. at the end of the evening the problem still had not been resolved. On Godinton, Conductor rail continued to be installed on Board 2 on the long curves, this should be completed next week leaving one board to fit. Oare and Uplees was not erected.

The Coach going to Alexandra Palace for the Model Railway Exhibition is filling fast, contact the Peter Newman at club if you wish to purchase a seat.

Thank you Chairman Bob for this weeks Blog text.

Tuesday 4th February '25. Another busy night at our meeting this week. Work was undertaken on the following layouts: Godinton - Installation continued on baseboard two of laying conductor rail and a discussion took place on what is to be put on the farmyard. Swaleford - work continued making the wiring loom for lighting of the houses and shops on the back scene. To improve the stability of the baseboards another trestle is being made making four in all. Work was also undertaken on improving the bank and trees. Ospringe St Peters - following a successful weekend at Erith a repair was done on the big board of a broken wire stopping a pair of points from working, a fault still remains on the turntable. Three members are working on it over the weekend to identify the fault, repair or purchase a new part is allow the turntable to work. Oare and Uplees - It is being exhibited next month and minor faults are being resolved to ensure a faultless Day.

There are still seats available on the coach taking members to Ally Pally, if you wish to go please contact Peter Newman at the club.

Thank you Chairman Bob for this weeks Blog text.

Tuesday 11th February '25. A well attended meeting last night. Work was undertaken on the following layouts:-

Swaleford, the wiring loom for the lighting of buildings next to backboards has been completed and tested. All in working order. Photograph's have been taken and when agreed which ones to use they will be made into 3ft lengths. Oare and Uplees had its baseboard painted grey and we were informed that before Oare goes to Aylesham next month it will also be able to run DCC. Ospringe St Peters, over the weekend several members worked on the turntable fault. It was discovered that two wires had broken these were replaced and is now working order. Godinton, work continued to install conductor rail on Board 2.

The paperwork for the AGM on the 18th March was given to members present, and will be delivered / posted over the next few days. If you wish to stand for the committee, please complete the form and return it to the Club's Secretary by March 11th

Thank you Chairman Bob for this weeks Blog text.

Tuesday 18th February '25. Again, a well-attended meeting. On Godinton, work continued installing the conductor rail on board 2. On Saturday 22/02 members will have a working day on Godinton with the layout being fully erected. Photographs will be taken during the day. Oare and Uplees, a switch and software has been installed to allow full DCC on the layout, and the layout is now in full working order. Swaleford, the layout was put up, clearance alterations have been made to the goods shed to allow a locomotive to run through the shed. A discussion took place on how the on board scenery will be positioned. Ospringe St Peters, No work on the layout, however it is being exhibited at Tenterden this weekend, pictures hopefully will be available after the event.

It was announced that one of our founder members, Brian Lambert has decided to retire. All members wish to thank him for his contribution to the club over the past 13 years and wish him well in the future.

Tuesday 25th February '25. A great response from the membership last night and we had a large number of members present. Last night being the last Tuesday it was running night. Thomas - was set up and members ran various models both as analogue on the inner circuit and DCC on the outer circuit. Swaleford was available to run and and members rain trains, scenery work was also carried out. Oare and Uplees was tested ready for the March 8th Exhibition at Aylesham It ran on DCC okay, but when it was switched to Analogue only the 009 section ran, suspected wiring fault in the Control Panel. Godinton A discussion took place on position of scenery, including raised placing the walkway inside the loco shed. The faults found last Saturday have been logged and recorded for being putting right. Finally, Ospringe returned following a successful weekend at Tenterden. However a serious failure between 2 boards meant only trains pulled by diesels could run, a new clip was fitted.

Tuesday 4th March '25. Another well attended meeting with members working on 3 layouts. Ospringe St Peters - The short on the track discovered last weekend has been rectified on the track, but not electronically tested. The track between 2 boards went out of alignment whilst at Thamesmead, this also has been rectified. Swaleford - A new chalk hill has been made and fitted by the over bridge, it has now been covered with grass. Godinton - Work has starting on rectifying the electrical problems found during the testing on the 22nd February. Point No's 258, 259, and 260 were working off the computer, but not on the control panel. Also some of the route lights were not changing. Work also continued of fitting the walk ways in the loco. A member is scratch building an Oasthouse for Thomas.

On Saturday 8th, 2 layouts namely our Thomas Themed, and Oare and Uplees will be exhibiting at Aylsham on a one day event, put on by EKMRC, three members are also acting as Stewards, we wish them a great day.

Tuesday 11th March '25. A well attended meeting saw members working on 3 layouts. Ospringe St Peters - Was tested electricly and a fault rectified. Train spotters fitted on end of platform, and a fouling telegraph pole repositioned. Swaleford - A new brick wall was erected around the new chalk cliff. Thomas Themed - At the exhibition at Aylsham on Saturday there was movement of new scenery, which was either the new Tunnel or a building construction site, this was worked on and it was found to be the new tunnel was unstable this is being repaired before it's next outing.

The Club hopes those going to Alexandra Palace on Saturday 15th enjoy the day out.

Tuesday 18th March '25. It was the club Annual General Meeting (AGM) evening and was well attended. Club Secretary Colin Hudson opened the meeting by welcoming all present and took note of any apologies of absence of which there were two, after last year’s minutes were accepted, Chairman Bob Bushell presented his report on the past year’s activities. Club Treasurer Kelvin Inge gave two reports to the membership, one showing the 2024 Exhibition cost and income, and then a general club report for the year 2024.

We then came down to election of Officers for 2025/26 The current Chairperson Bob Bushell, Secretary Colin Hudson, and Treasurer Kelvin Inge were re-elected unopposed. As there were 2 nominees for the position of Vice Chairperson this resulted in a secret ballot. The nominees were Graham Church and Carole Inge. The result of the ballot that Carole Inge was elected as Vice Chair.

During the tea break a second secret ballot took place to elect 3 Committee Members from 4 nominees, these were Peter Newman, Graham Church, Derek Waldron, and Glen Baldock, the result of the second secret ballot was that Peter Newman, Derek Waldron, and Glen Baldock were elected to serve on the committee for the coming year.

In any other Business Bill Robertson had sent an email asking various questions raising various points about Swaleford, its readiness, and suitability for this year’s exhibition, many of these points had been answered in the Chairpersons report. A discussion took place, that it was pointed out that Swaleford is in a better state than some of the layouts at Ally Pally last weekend, rolling stock would be available from the club. There is still over 20 Tuesdays before the end of August and members were reminded that the layout is for all, and on running nights ask how the panel works and have a go. A suggestion from member that we should alternate running nights so we would always have a layout running each week. Doug Attwood raised a point that did we need a Vice Chairperson. This will be discussed at a Management Committee meeting before next year’s AGM. Finally, the Chairman advised the meeting that we may be asked to assist in building a simple model layout at a new care home being built by Avante Care and Support who advertise in our exhibition programme. Many of the residents are likely to retired railway staff from Margate and Ramsgate.

A sincere vote of thanks came from the floor to Brian Lambert for his service to the club being a founder member, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Exhibition Manager and Web Administrator was carried unanimously.

Tuesday 25th March '25. It was a running night and the meeting was well attended, members were able to run loco's and other stock on Ospringe St Peters, Thomas themed, and Swaleford although this was marred by electrical problems with 2 pairs of points intermittently not making connection.

Over on Godinton, the building of the Bus garage continued, and further scenery work has been allocated to members to build.

The crates that hold Godinton were measured by the layout captain, to ascertain the space needed to transport the layout to venues when ready.

The club's test track was being tested and all worked well except the OO gauge DCC controller failed to stop a loco when it was given the command STOP. Other members discussed matters of interest including two steam hauled trains in Kent this week.