Keeping the spirit of the past alive and looking to the future.
Stop Press
Horwich Crab
Alex Ellin's beautifully CAD produced plans are now available - contact Peter Shaw to buy a set.
All the patterns have been made, and castings are available from Christopher Cruichshank.
His prototype loco and tender are nearly complete, but a recent change of job has slowed things down.
Hopefully, we will see it in action in 2010.
Lynton & Barnstaple Manning Wardle 2-6-2T
Owing to pressure of other work, Clive Young has not been progressing the drawings as fast as
some would like. However, at the recent Surbiton Get-Together, he showed his chassis, and the 5 drawings
so far drawn. It is a big loco for 2½ inch gauge, but quite manageable.
BR Class 66 Diesel-Electric
Des has recently recommenced work on this project, and one should on show at the Sandwon exhibition in December.
However, a problem has arisen in that the gearbox originally chosen is no longer available in this
country, so alternatives are being researched.
Baddesley Colliery Garratt
Some years ago Peter Wardle produced drawings for the KUR Beyer Garratt - a huge and very powerful
loco - which were published in Engineering in Miniature magazine. Unfortunately, it is not possible
for us to supply photocopies of the construction series, but we do have Peter's original set of drawings.
Peter also produced drawings for a much smaller - and more managebale - 0-4-4-0 Garratt type that was
used by the Baddesley Colliery. The Association has undertaken the task of updating these drawings and
producing the necessary patterns for castings. At this time, several prototypes are being built by
members to check the drawings, and one has been shown at recent exhibitions. Bruce Ellis very kindly
made a boiler and donated it to the project, so you may well see one undergoing steam trials in 2010.
New Projects for 2010
Discussions have been carried out to determine what the next Association "project" should be, and
it was felt that a modern powerful express loco was needed. Bulleid's Merchant Navy pacific in
rebuilt form appears to fit the bill nicely. Consequently, plans are being formulated to get
this project started, headed up by Doug Rundle, who knows a thing or two about Bulleid pacifics as
he has been working on one for the last few years. It is the intention that modern techniques
will be made full use of in this design. All the drawings will be produced using CAD, allowing
all assemblies to be checked in 3-D before metal is machined !