Hampshire Area Garden Railway Group
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Hampshire Area Garden Railway Group (incorporating the Hampshire area of the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers and the Southdown Railway Co.) Associate members of Fareham & District Model Railway Club June 2012 Welcome to the Jubilee Edition of the Newsletter Let’s start with some non-model news from France, the Chemin de fer du Vivarais or Le Mastrou. This was a metre gauge line in the Ardeche region of France, once part of an extensive network of lines it opened in 1891. Le Mastrou faded away as road transport became more economical than rail, des- pite the introduction of railcars, finally closing in 1968 but reopening as a tourist line in 1969. It ran for 21 miles between Tournon and Lamastre using Billiard railcars and SLM mallets, the journey taking two hours each way with an extended turnaround time for lunch. Unfortunately in 2008, outgoings for the repairs to track and stock became more than could be sustained by income and the line was closed. After much discussion and collaboration, in February 2011 a package was put together by local and nation- al institutions amounting to some 13 million Euros to enable the restarting of the line. One year on, and ef- forts have resulted in a new engine shed being com- pleted, much of the line reballasted and stonework re- paired or remade. Stock that was of heritage interest had been moved to other lines in France and has now begun to return allowing a railcar service on some days per week. A new station is programmed to be built at Tournon-St.John with work starting now. Plans to reintroduce steam remain firm for the 2013 tourist season, but only over half of the line. Model Engineering The suite of photos here shows several concepts. The first could be the use of proven power equipment in modern outline stock, the second could be the desire to introduce efficient forms of motive power in the face or rising fuel costs and the third could be amalgamation of re- dundant parts to produce a use- ful device. However you look at it, Michael Cooper has taken the clock- work mechanism from a somewhat battered Hornby O-gauge tank loco and fitted it to a new wooden body, retaining the fuel and control systems of the former and benefitting the driver with the comfort of an enclosed cab and no doubt comfortable seating arrangement. Railcar no.6 This time from the workshop of Ken Warren, the pictures are of a very fine railcar as used by the manager of the Tralee & Dingle Railway as an inspection vehicle. The prototype was built on a Baguley chassis with a Ford Model T motor in 1922, finally being scrapped in 1961. Ken has finished the model in prototypical colours and numbering and included the correct door handles - less the one on the drivers side as that one required a key - brass window surrounds and representation of the electric lamps within their housings. The manager is seen at the controls, hurrying his charge about the current inspection and hoping no one has half-inched the track, again. Roundhouse Since launching the Ffestiniog Railway Mountaineer, Roundhouse have had so many requests for the loco- motive in its original WD form that they have decided to offer such a version and it will be available later this year. Looks good (oh, that’s a real one…)! Winifred, Ogwen and Glyder Three narrow gauge locos in the news recently have been triumphantly repatriated to the UK from many years languishing across the pond. All of the locos were operated on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway were sold around 50 years ago for export to the USA. The locos were transported but never used in the 'states and are remarkable in that their condition remains as it was when they were shipped, even down to the Penrhyn liv- ery visible on Winifred. Winifred (Hunslet 0-4-0ST #364 of 1885) has been moved to Penrhyn for examination and estimation for res- toration, Ogwen (Avonside 0-4-0ST #2066 of 1933 - originally "Durham") and Glyder (Andrew Barclay 0-4- 0WT #1994 of 1931 - originally "Grey") are presently stored at Beamish until further decisions on their future can be made. These two locos were originally part of the Durham County Water Board Burnhope Reservoir railway fleet and so Beamish is closer to their natural home as they were second hand to Penrhyn. The Burnhope Reservoir railway was the original owner of a surprising number of locomotives we see in preser- vation today - wikipedia has the full list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnhope_Reservoir_railway Narrow Gauge Olympians The Olympic torch is making good use of the Great Little Trains of Wales. Both the Ffestiniog and Snowdon Mountain Railway have taken part to date, as well as the Aberystwyth fu- nicular (which is narrow gauge of a sort). First (in true reporter style), "Crowds lined the streets of Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd to get a glimpse of the Olympic flame as it made its way through Wales. There it was taken on a train to Porthmadog with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands railway company, which claims to be the oldest in the world still operating trains". Student Elin Owen is shown on board David Lloyd George as the torch is carried to Porthmadog. Later, Sir Chris Bonnington was charged with holding the lamp as No.4 Snowdon powered the train up to the summit station on Snowdon Mountain. Guildford Model Engineering Society In the interests of journalism (and that it's 5 minutes from where I work!), I visited the GMES 16mm club one night last week. The 16mm fraternity shares the premises with much larger railway interests of 3 1/2", 5" and 7 1/4" gauges, plus a fine clubhouse with catering facilities and 4mm scale contingent. 16mm is catered for by a portable layout "Mwch Grumblyn" and a permanent external track, both of which boast dual gauge sec- tions. Present works on the outdoor line will almost double the running length for both gauges. I was warmly welcomed and although the construction works took precedence over running, I did take a ride behind a GWR 4-6-4 tank loco on the 3 1/2" line and came away with my lungs (and shirt) suitably full of smoke. Their 16mm group meets every Monday eve from 7pm (ish) onwards. If you want to contact me, my email is [email protected] STEAM-UP There are no steam-ups advised for this month. Let me know if you’re planning any meetings and would like them publicised. Portchester Meetings will be June 8th and July 13th, as ever the second Friday of each month from around 8pm. Southdown is due at Amberley for the weekend 14th/15th July: http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/ Please contact myself or William in advance if you need 16mm Association boiler testing..