Blog_2026

Tuesday 6th January '26. A very Happy New Year to all our members and lets hope in 2026 we can build on the successes of 2025. On returning from the Christmas and New Year closure, members got back into the routine. Swaleford - The good news was that we now have everything working as it should with the points and track etc however a slight glitch was found that the turntable failed to operate, on investigation of the control panel a wire was not attached to anything, so members started checking where the wire had come from? Ospringe St Peter - An Investigation took place why we have a problem with the isolating sections of the new siding, it is believed that an isolating fishplate has been wrongly installed on the electro frog, a temporary fix will be done so that it can be used at the Canterbury Show. No other work was undertaken, but a few members caught up on their Christmas gifts etc. Next week Ospringe will be tested in readiness for the Canterbury Show and work will continue on both Godinton and Swaleford. We have received various invites which will be discussed at the Full Committee meeting on the 19^th January

Tuesday 13th January '26. A well attended meeting which produced progress on our layouts. Swaleford - The good news was that we now have the turntable working, however a slight glitch was found with one of the new point machines which seemed to have moved slightly and needed adjustment. Ospringe St Peter - The layout was fully erected for final electrical testing, in preparation to be exhibited at the City of Canterbury’s Model Railway exhibition this coming weekend. We hope for a successful weekend. Godinton - Further scenery work was undertaken on board 6.

Saturday and Sunday 17th & 18th January '26. Over the weekend several members along with our N Gauge layout - Ospringe St Peter's & Water Lane attended the 35th annual Model Railway Exhibition of the City of Canterbury MRS at the St Anslem Catholic School. Over the two days it proved to be a popular exhibit, as several times we had a large crowd around the layout, with many asking questions and taking photos. A video was also taken as part of the show's exhibits. A successful weekend.

Tuesday 20th January '26. Godinton - The whole layout was erected for electrical testing; the dead section between the front and back boards was rectified and a loco ran round the inner circuit, For some reason as yet to be investigated, the outer tracks on the fiddle yard had no power. Next week further scenery on boards 2 & 3 will commence. Swaleford - All working electrically, further work on increasing the street lighting. Ospringe St Peter's - Following the layouts successful weekend at Canterbury, two sets of points on the lower section failed to work, an investigation has been started into the cause. No work on Oare and Thomas was undertaken.

Tuesday 27th January '26. A well-attended meeting as it was running night. Swaleford - Swaleford was put up and training began on how to operate the control panel. Ospringe St Peter - The layout was erected and members ran their own stock on the top circuit. It was noticed on viewing the video of the layout while it was at Canterbury, that the station canopy on the lower level had become detached, this was glued and repainted. Godinton - Further scenery work was carried out on board 5. Also a track defect on board 7 was discovered last week and has now been corrected by resoldering the rails. Interest was shown by members on the soldering technique. Oare and Uplees - The layout has at last got a team that will keep it operational and take it to exhibitions. A 009 loco was purchased for the quarry line. Thomas - The layout was set up and members ran their own stock as well as testing loco’s.

Tuesday 3rd February '26. A well-attended meeting despite the weather conditions. Swaleford - was put up and further training continued, with members learning how to operate the control panel. A loco and two of the new coaches from a set of four 57ft ex LNBSC from the clubs stock was used for this purpose. Also work commenced on wiring up the streetlamps. Ospringe St Peter - Each of the boards were erected to check on reports after the show at Canterbury that two sets of points were not working, no defects were found. Two Yew trees were planted in the church yard. A advertising banner has been deigned and displayed to members in preparation for its trip to York over the Easter Weekend (see the Club Layouts page for an image of the banner). Godinton - Further scenery work was undertaken on board 4. Plus a continuation of the yard from board 5. Oare and Uplees - The layout was erected and a new OO9 loco purchased by the club tested over all routes, this operated without problems. A coach from the LBSC set was used to test clearances. Thomas - Was not used last night.

Tuesday 10th February '26. A well-attended meeting despite the weather conditions. Swaleford - Work continued on wiring up the streetlamps and further scenery work including a Station Toilet Block is being built. Ospringe St Peter - Checking of wiring circuits in the control panel in preparation for its visit to York. Godinton - Further scenery work was undertaken on board 5 plus painting of some fencing was carried out. Oare and Uplees -The layout was put up and a new OO loco was tested over all routes, however it found the head shunt siding on the OO9 side was isolated despite the switch being turned on, investigations are ongoing. Thomas - Was not erected last night. Other members had a discussion on modelling.

Tuesday 17th February '26. It was a well-attended meeting with plenty going on. Swaleford - Work continued on wiring up the streetlamps, problems had been found as the lights kept blowing a different sort of lamp was obtained, which proved successful. Ospringe St Peter - Checking of the wiring circuits under the baseboards and tidying up wiring in preparation for its visit to York. Godinton - Further scenery work was undertaken on board 6 - installing fencing and realignment of bridge buttresses’ on the over bridge. During testing a couple of weeks ago it was found that 3 lines were dead, this was checked out last night with no fault found, however the red light on the left-hand controller kept flickering and when out no power was found. Oare and Uplees - The layout was put up and a new OO loco was tested over all routes, however it found the head shunt siding on the OO9 side was isolated despite the switch being turned off, Investigations found a loose fishplate, this was soldered, and now the head shunt is live. Thomas - Was not erected last night. Other members had a discussion on modelling.

Tuesday 24th February '26. A well attended meeting and it was also a running night. Swaleford - Club members brought some stock in to run on the layout, which worked ok and an electrical fault was rectified. Ospringe St Peters - A discussion took place on making new cassettes for the layout as the current ones are life expired. Godinton - Further scenery work was carried out with coping slabs being fitted to a brick wall. Oare and Uplees - A temporary repair was undertaken to one of the support struts that keep the legs from collapsing, new metal ones are being made to give extra support. Thomas - Was erected for members to run and test their rolling stock. Other members had a discussion on modelling.

Tuesday 3rd March '26. A well-attended meeting with members carrying out work on several layouts. Swaleford - Members continued to install street lighting and a toilet block was installed on the platform. Ospringe St Peters - Work commenced on building a small halt platform at the gas works, this will allow workers to travel to and from work. Godinton - Further scenery work was undertaken with the installation of a wall trackside on board 6. A repair to the conductor rail that had become displaced and was off its insulating pot, plus a small fence was refitted.

No other work was carried out, however several groups discussed a variety of subjects on railway modelling.

Next week - It is anticipated that further work on Godinton, Ospringe, Swaleford and Oare & Uplees will be carried out.

Tuesday 10th March '26. A well-attended meeting and members carried out work on various layouts. Swaleford - The layout was put up for members who are attending East Grinstead on the 21/22 March and had some training on the control panel. A new Trestle was made to support the new Fiddle yard. Ospringe St Peters - The layout was put up for members who are attending York over the Easter weekend and had some training on the control panels. Godinton - On board 5 a new footpath from the platform to the signal box was made. An additional Tarmac area was added to board 4. A discussion on scenic work will be taking place over the next few weeks. Oare and Uplees - New support struts were fitted to give extra support to the trestles Thomas - No work was undertaken this week.

Tuesday 17th March '26. It was the club AGM evening. Following an address by the Chairman and a fiscal statement from the Treasurer. All officers and committee stood down and elections for the club officers and committee for 2026/27 proceeded. These were - Chair person Bob Bushell. Vice-Chair Carole Inge. Secretary Colin Hudson and Treasurer Kelvin Inge. The three committee members are - Doug Attwood, Peter Mullard and Glen Baldock.

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd March '26. Over the weekend club members took Swaleford to a model railway show in East Grinstead. The layout was well received by other exhibitors and visitors to the show made positive comments. So we considered it was worthwhile in doing. On Saturday, the drive belt on the turntable motor broke and a new one has been ordered. Also, as the morning progressed the loco’s started to stop suddenly. We recleaned the track, but the problem still existed. Further investigation showed several other layouts were suffering the same problem. We believe this was down to atmospheric conditions Sunday went very well, with members getting used to the point operation box. The layout received several best in show votes, but was unsuccessful this time.

Tuesday 24th March '26. A well-attended meeting and members carried out work on various layouts. Swaleford - A follow up by members on the weekend trip to East Grinstead. Discussions took place on where the new right-handed points were to be allocated to allow an additional lead to the fiddle yard. Ospringe St Peters - The upper-level board was put up to repair the broken window on the partially built bungalows. This was completed. Godinton - On board 6 the new fencing was made more secure. Oare and Uplees -Alterations were made by removing the plastic frontage to increase the viewing area. No work was done on Thomas.
NOTE: Our N gauge Ospringe St Peters layout will not be available for the running night, as it will be loaded up into cars ready for the York Easter weekend.

Tuesday 31st March '26. Another well-attended meeting and it was a running night, which saw various club members stock being run. Swaleford - A repair was carried out to the turntable with the replacement of a drive belt, the rest of the evening members trains were run. Ospringe St Peters - The layout was loaded into members cars in preparation for its journey to York for exhibiting over the Easter weekend, we wish those attending a successful weekend. Godinton - On board 6 the completion of the fencing on board 6 plus other scenery work. Oare and Uplees -The layout was put up and members ran trains on both the OO and OO9 gauges. Thomas - was erected and members ran their own stock. No other work was undertaken during the evening.

Easter weekend 4th, 5th & 6th April '26. Six club members ventured to York with the clubs Ospringe St Peter's N gauge layout. An excelent show and a good time was had, if not a little exhausting. Below are some images taken at the show.

Click on an image to view it larger.

Tuesday 7th April '26. A well-attended meeting saw work undertaken on - Swaleford - Due to the failure of the street lighting, work has started to rewire and attach to copper strips. Ospringe St Peters - The layout was returned to the cupboard following a successful long Easter weekend in York. Godinton - On board 6 there was more scenery work undertaken on the long wall. Thomas - The layout was having a new pod made to hold the Oast House and Hop Garden. No other work was carried out during the evening, as discussions took place with members catching up with Ospringe weekend away.

A reminder was given about booking seats on the coach to the Bluebell Railway on Saturday27^th June 2026.

Tuesday 14th April '26. Due to a lower than usual attendance, unfortunately the cost of the meeting rooms was not covered by membership attendance this week. Godinton - The church and the coal yard were fixed in place on board 2. Minor repairs were carried out on board 6. This Saturday 18th April Godinton is being set up in its entirety to complete hopefully a final check on the wiring. Whilst this is completed there will be the opportunity for more scenic work to be carried out. Members are encouraged to come along and help. Swaleford - Wiring to the street lighting on the elevated street was replaced and copper strips fixed in place. Ospringe St Peters - Attempts were made to repair a loco which had become faulty at York, but it was decided it will need to be sent away for specialist repair. Other layouts were not worked on.
A member discussed DCC with a group of interested members and helped with another faulty loco.

Saturday 18th April '26. A team gathered on Saturday a.m. to errect and test Godinton. Having fixed a few problems, trains were successfully run on all tracks with, and without, wagons and coaches. There are a couple of minor problems still to fix, however the layout is looking good. It was felt that Godinton needs to have an exhibition team that will learn how to setup and operate the layout. All in all, a successful day, and a huge 'thank you' to all the members that gave up their Saturday to come and help.