16

Judy Bullock The Rally dinner is served

Can I have a ride please? Judy Bullock

1

The

Coupling Volume 16 Issue 5 September/October 2013

The Official Newsletter of The Bedford Model Engineering Society

Visitors enjoying breakfast Judy Bullock

Chairman Chef Judy Bullock

2

OFFICERS and COMMITTEE

of the Bedford Model Engineering Society

President: Jim Bassett

Vice President: John Saunders

Chairman: Alan Gildersleve

20 Walton Road, Caldecote, Milton Keynes, MK7 8AE

(Tel: 01908 646711); e-mail: alan-gildersleve@sky.com

Vice Chairman: Andy Warren

7 Sundon Park Road, Luton, Beds. LU3 3AA

(Tel: 01582 536305) e-mail: andywarren2@googlemail.com

Secretary and Membership Secretary:

Alan Beard

2 Brambles, Wilstead, Bedford, MK45 3ED

(Tel: 01234-743062); email: alan.beard1916@btinternet.com

Treasurer: David Boyde

21 Arun Close, Bedford, MK41 7AD

(Tel: 01234-406757); email: david.boyde@ntlworld.com

Committee: Peter Chapman Martin Cusden John Lawson

Shaun O’Hare Terry White

Coupling Editor: Tony Bullock

67 Coates Lane, High Wycombe, HP13 5ET

(Tel: 01494 439098); e-mail bullockt@aol.com

Boiler Test Co-ordinator: Dick Billington29 Ampthill Road, Maulden, Bedford, MK45 2DA

(Tel: 01525 750914); email: dick.billington@ntlworld.com

Boiler Tester: Nigel Freestone

Trainee Boiler Inspectors:Martin Cusden, Shaun O’Hare, Mark Bray

All appointments for boiler testing to be made only via Dick Billington.

Traction Engines and Road Steam: George Lee

145 Wingfield, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5UY

(Tel: 07910 421625); email: stephen.lee503@ntlworld.com

Website contact Alan Beard

2 Brambles, Wilstead, Bedford, MK45 3ED

(Tel: 01234-743062); email: alan.beard1916@btinternet.com

RAILWAY SUB-COMMITTEE

John Lawson (Chairman), Tony Bullock, Alan Gildersleve, Gordon Mead, Phil Wright, Mark

Leeson and Tom Fuller.

The Coupling is printed and distributed/posted by Alan Beard (01234-743062). Readers are reminded that any views expressed in The Coupling are solely those of the individual

contributors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or of the BMES

committee. They should therefore not be regarded as being part of Society policy. © Bedford Model Engineering Society

Bedford Model Engineering Society is a company limited by guarantee and having no share capital;

Company Reg. No. 4087828, Registered Office: 2 Brambles, Wilstead, Bedford, MK45 3ED

15

USEFUL TO KNOW—CLUB MATTERS

BMES WEB SITE

www.bedfordmes.co.uk

www.summerfieldsmr.co.uk

www.summerfieldmr.co.uk

Website—Alan Beard—Contact details on inside front cover

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Held on the third Monday of the month in the Clubhouse.

CLUB MEETINGS

Held on second Monday of the month—check in The Coupling.

WORKING PARTIES

Wednesdays from 10am. Workshop and Library open.

Sundays from 9.30am—check if aiming to attend.

‘The COUPLING’ PUBLICATION DATES

Next copy deadline is 13th November 2013 please!

SOCIETY SALES

The following items ate available in the Clubhouse

Toys, Drivers’ Hats etc.

BMES Fridge Magnets—BR Totem design

Books—Still Steaming, Little Puffers and Tiny Trains

Club Clothing available to order—contact Tony Bullock 01494 439098

14

MYFORD ITEMS FOR SALE

VERTICAL MILL/DRILL (MOUNTS ON LATHE BED) IN EXCELLENT

CONDITION WITH NEW 2” MACHINE VICE.

£240.

DIVIDING ATTACHMENT WITH TWO DIVISION PLATES UNUSED.

£180.

BOX OF 15 COLLETS METRIC AND IMPERIAL.

£195.

BRAND NEW ML7 SHORT TOP SLIDE £25.

DEWHURST DRUM REVERSING SWITCH £25.

John Parmenter 01234 381 449

WANTED

A CARAVAN MOVER

PICKS UP ON THE BALL HITCH

TWIN WHEEL UNIT

Dick Billington 01525 750 914

dick.billington@ntlworld.com

WANTED

The 2013 Exhibition was unfortunately cancelled when Vikki was un-

well.

An organiser is needed if the tradition of an annual exhibition is to be

maintained. The exhibition provides the opportunity to show what is

being done by members in their workshops, particularly those whose

skills lie in constructing models other than locomotives and traction en-

gines.

Those who have fulfilled the task in past years say that it is a tiring but

very rewarding exercise. How about it? YOU are needed.

3

EDITORIAL

So summer appears to be over at last and this is the last issue of The Coupling

during our running season. Discussions are already taking place to arrange the

programme for next year. No doubt as soon as it is published some will

complain about the content and dates. To avoid this all you have to do is to talk

to someone on the committee with your views and suggestions. They may not

be taken up but at least you will know why. If everyone added to the discussion

the support for things would improve. If you get what you want from the club

you are more likely to take part. It is no use grumbling to yourself about

anything—talk to those who can help.

Make a date in your diary now for the Christmas Quiz before December

becomes full. An evening of fun for all with a chat over refreshments as well.

Several of our club family members attend, particularly the ladies, so why not

bring one of your family with you so that you can enjoy the evening together?

Maybe this will fall on deaf ears but it is worth a try. At least the farm track

had a mention at committee after my last editorial. I did not know that we had a

Civil Engineering Group but you live and learn.

All hands on deck for winter maintenance then. Enjoy.

.Tony Bullock

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Something for The Coupling

There are a lot of members complaining about too much public running and not

enough club running.

Well I’ve just returned home from the club after a day’s running on our second

of the club running days

With a total of TWO members running attending (me being one, Phil being the

other).

It’s not as if we didn’t have enough notification

What’s the point of organising an event and you don’t turn up

So, in the words of the prophet ,”stop complaining and support the club “

Gordon Mead

4

COMMITTEE MEETING NEWS

A copy of the minutes is placed in the crew room and a second copy is normally

available at each Monday meeting.

July Meeting

The Hertfordshire Education Authority has transferred the ownership of the

Maid of Kent loco to BMES.

The bridge is now complete with no outstanding invoices on the project.

The committee visited the site to view the front barns and new workshop

complex in preparation for vacating the barns by the end of August. All the

heavy machines were in the new workshop, their final positioning still remained

to be decided.

Paul Crabtree presented a model of the Haynes End area of the site, from the

station across to the compound, as an aid to future planning for the new

clubroom at Haynes End. Ted said that from current experience he thought it

unlikely that funding for any replacement building would be available for some

time.

The society financial position is healthy. The total overspend on the Awards for

All projects is £1840

The incident at Winterfield on Wednesday 10th June, was caused by a

combination of several factors. Proposals to prevent such an occurrence in

future warning signs and a rule that all electric locomotives fitted with only

regenerative braking must have a train with separate braking. These were

approved and will be included in the new railway operating guidelines. The

requirement for spark arresters will also be included.

Now that the new bridge at Winterfield is in use, there is a need for direction

signs to show that the Winterfield site has three railways on it, not just one.

Use of the new bridge at Winterfield has caused confusion amongst passengers

and the ticket office needs relocating at a cost in the order of £200. A proposal

to proceed was agreed and will be conducted through the RSC.

Mary was concerned that non-committee approved expenditure had taken place

at Winterfield to build a fence around the old carriage shed. In reply Alan G

stated that this area had become very unsightly and the fence tidied up the site

considerably. This point was agreed by most of the committee. Costs would

not be refunded until committee approval had been given and passed via the

RSC.

Gates will be fitted at the level crossing to improve safety.

Ted said that the passenger survey continued satisfactorily. He stated that

Meppershall Mother and Toddler Group had confirmed a visit on 30th July with

some 30 persons coming. This visit was a direct result of donating a bundle of

tickets for use as raffle prizes to the group earlier in the year.

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT

My how the season has flown by!

We’ve now had all our summer activities and have just had our annual Visitors’

Invitation Rally.

The weather has been exceptionally good to us over this season with only a few

days affected by rain. All our running days, so far have turned out really nice

following a dismal cancellation back at Easter.

This year’s rally had the best weather I can remember with three full days of

sun! I’m not sure about the statistics but it struck me that we had the most

standard gauge, large, locomotives. What a site to see all our steaming bays full

with two large locos in each!

Public running was a great success, again, with the visiting locos running the

service for us, and enjoying it too!

Once again Mat and Gilly organised the rally and they did us proud. The

format was the tried and tested routine which suits everyone with breakfasts,

lunches and dinners provided from Friday evening.

Many of us were introduced to some new beers at the bar with a cask from the

Tring Brewery and bottled beers from the Purple Moose Brewery in

Porthmadoc. (I’m definitely a convert to the “Dark Side of the Moose”)

The evening dinner was again provided by the regular outside caterers and as

usual the quantity and quality were excellent. So much so I know of three new

customers they have gained for rally attendees! Perhaps we should have asked

for commission!

On the Saturday evening we had the usual raffle and our thanks to all those that

provided the prizes. We did formally thank several stalwarts of our society for

their continued good efforts but with all votes of thanks there are lots that do

their bit and don’t get the public recognition so to all and everyone that helped

in any way with any of our activities a big thank you.

Alan Gildersleve

13

MF135 is a great looking vehicle that drives just like the DBR due to having the

same running gear. The only differences are the body shape and design and the

foot plates are slightly larger on the MF135; both of them are great tractors.

All day everybody was driving their vehicles around in great spirit. During the

day, we took all of the Toylanders up to the end of the train line for a photo

shoot. This went well in that we got some good shots of the Toylanders with

the great background of the hills looking over Bedford and the Cardington han-

gars! After this we lined up all of the engines and Toylanders for a photo! The

driving continued… By 5pm the 25degree heat faded and the heavens opened

but by this time most people were packing up anyway. In great spirit the fire

boys unravelled the hoses and started up the pump providing a unexpected but

amazing display of 1940s’ firefighting!

So altogether the Bedford Model Engineering Society annual miniature steam

event was a great summer day out with lots to do and I hope to have just as

much fun next year at this event, as I did this year.

JackMay

Bottom Gear

SUMMERFIELDS TRACK

With problems caused by the weather, derailments and point failures our main

line track has had its fair share of difficulties over recent months. The work

making repairs and the effort put in to keep the track available for all our events

has been first class. Thanks are mainly due to our younger members for all that

they have done. over the recent weeks. Well done Mark, Tom and Ash.

.

View looking towards Badgers

Holt during our summer heat.

12

Bedford Model Engineering Society steam event 2013

(Sent by e-mail to the Editor)

On Sunday the 23rd and 24th June 2013 at Summerfields Railways in Haynes,

the annual miniature steam event was held. At this event I could only attend the

Sunday but never the less I took my Ford GPA with accompanying trailer.

Also at this event there was an electric sentinel steam lorry built and owned by

my friend Louis Bradshaw, a custom Willy’s jeep and a electric Burrell show-

man’s engine named ‘Amy’ owned by Dave Warner of Northampton. As well

as Richard’s MB34, DBR and new MF135 tractors.

There were many miniature steam engines driving around and a variety of loco-

motives on the tracks.

At this great event there was plenty to do including looking around at the array

of miniature steam engines, have a ride on a half scale Foden bus, ride on many

different miniature trains on the Bedford Model Engineering Society’s own

railway line, running through Haynes End, Badgers Holt and Hammer Hill,

have a bite to eat and a drink in the Station buffet café/BMES clubhouse, look

around the World War two fire service tent ,also their fire engine and pump

trailer!

Or you could just sit outside on the grass in the boiling hot sun and watch the

vehicles go by…

What is Bedford Model Engineering Society you may ask?

Well it is a club for all people interested in model engineering; many members

own a ride-on locomotive which they run on the club miniature railway lines.

Some members have miniature traction engines, others own and build electric

powered ride on vehicles.

Throughout the day I mainly drove my Ford G.P.A but I also I got the chance to

drive the other five electric vehicles around the show. Me being used to my

Ford GPA, driving the other vehicles felt strange in that the Sentinel had a cen-

tral steering column, also it felt a lot taller and bigger; on the other hand the

mobility scooter based Willy’s jeep felt smaller and lower to the ground than

the others. Richard’s MB43 demo model felt very alike to my GPA in that the

size, speed and handling were very similar even though the MB43 is left hand

drive. Also I got to drive both of Richard’s demo tractors. The DBR looks

great and is fun to drive and very well designed; also the newly released

5

COMMITTEE MEETING NEWS

July Meeting

Two members of the Merit installation team visited the Clubhouse on Friday 5th

July and agreed that work was necessary. An attempt was made to correct one

window but they did not have suitable tools and left promising to return on

Monday 8th. Nothing further heard from Merit. Having seen what work was

required Alan B suggested that it could be done by club members and Merit

should be abandoned. There was general agreement and suitable members will

be asked to assist.

Once more David stressed the need to keep expenditure to a minimum. It re-

mains the intention to repay as much of the loans as possible. He is in the proc-

ess of speaking to members regarding possible deferment of repayment.

John reported that the work on the Springfield line was essentially complete

with just a few pockets to be filled with ballast. Work has been suspended on

the raised track while completing the Springfield line but all available steelwork

has been painted. Next instalment of agreed funding requested so that painting

can take place in good weather. The uprights of the Haynes End canopy have

been erected and some further welding will be necessary. This will fall within

budget.

The Railway Master Data books are almost complete with just two documents

still needed. John is proposing to put the books onto disc for safekeeping.

Mowing has been going well but collection and disposal of cuttings is a prob-

lem and Shaun requested help in this respect. Stuart S has been very active with

the strimmer.

Catering sales remain good with income above last year. A useful sum was

made at the Preschool visit when the buffet was opened to see what happened.

There were no expenses claimed for this so all income was for the club.

All stored toys not in the wall cabinet taken home for safe keeping whilst the

new floor is put down.

The meeting agreed that no contribution will be expected for coffee and tea

consumed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

For Santa Specials Martin will undertake the work previously done by Dick at

Winterfield. Peter will handle train departures at Haynes End. Assistance with

painting/erection of the grotto is in hand.

It is hoped that public running days can be advertised at the Shuttleworth Fete

on 14th September. David will collate suggestions.

The woodcarvers’ shed is now in position.

Work has started on the new flooring.

6

August Meeting Potential visitors have been entering Northwood End Farm, North Lane, Haynes in order to access the railway. The fault lies with a programming error on TOM TOM sat navs using the postcode. As there are hundreds of leaflets in circula-tion Alan B suggested that a notice be placed at the entrance to North Lane on running days alerting visitors and giving route instructions to find us. Work on the raised track is expected to restart immediately. Work on the can-opy is currently suspended. The roof supports adjacent to Northwood End Farm are deliberately longer than intended and will be cut to size as the installa-tion proceeds. Rainwater run-off will ideally go into the adjacent ditch. Alan B will speak to A. Phillips at the farm to request permission to use the ditch. The Railway Master Data books are now in place and a CD containing the data is available. The pond was used during the last running day by a potential new member. It remains unsightly with a lot of floating vegetation. Alan B agreed to weed kill the pool area as a one-off but pointed out that he has undertaken to keep the permanent way and steaming bays clear of weeds and that for areas outside that he will need an assistant. Mowing has been going well but there remains a mountain of cuttings at Win-terfield to be moved to the bonfire. Catering Sales continue to be encouraging and many favourable comments are made. Stocks of toys are now good with the popular affordable items replen-ished. Any overstocks will be used as part of the Santa gifts. One of the urns has failed and purchase of a replacement was approved. Offers of help have been welcomed for the September running day when all our regular ladies are unavailable so a full service will operate. It was agreed that the patio should be extended towards the Clubhouse in place of the overgrown garden area and that a further four tiles be placed horizontally near to the engine shed for placement of the barbeque. There are adequate numbers of tiles on site. The key press has been tidied and Shaun will prepare a list of the keys and their numbers to improve ease of use. John presented a first draft of the events dates for 2014. A number of amend-ments were suggested and they will be incorporated in a second draft. An ap-peal for a volunteer to maintain cleanliness of the toilets, obtain toilet rolls etc. will be placed in The Coupling. A request has been received from Barton Mill for advice on constructing a rail-way. Alan B had received a similar request some weeks earlier, had responded, but no follow-up had occurred. Roadway repair. No action has taken place and none is likely in the near future as the civil engineering group are already overloaded with tasks. BBQ night. John was very disappointed by the apathy shown by the member-ship in regard to the Stirling Engine challenge. Ten kits had been taken away but only two appeared on the evening.

11

Santa

Specials

Saturday 7th. & Sunday 8th. December 2013

Catch the train to see Santa in his den

All child passengers will receive a gift from Santa

Adult passengers will receive a Mince Pie and a glass of Mulled Wine or a Soft Drink

Available for Advanced Bookings only

Book by 25th November 2013

Contact 01494 439098for a booking form Or on Public Running Days at

Summerfields Miniature Railways

Haynes (on the A600 between Bedford & Shefford)

BMES Members must pre-book

10

CLUB EVENTS 2013

September

Sunday 22nd Public Running

October

Monday 14th Wind Tunnels in Aircraft Design—Robin Webb

Monday 21st Committee Meeting

Sunday 27th Public Running—Last of Season

November

Monday 11th Winter work programme—RSC

Natter /Bring and Buy night.

Monday 18th Committee Meeting

December

Saturday 7th Santa Specials-Pre-booked

Sunday 8th Santa Specials- Pre-booked

Monday 16th Christmas Quiz

2014 Event

Next year there will be a small loco day called Small Loco & Diesel/Electric

Day on Sunday 29th June. Details from Huw Williams 07901 561913

mailto:hwilliamsltg@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIRMAN

As you will know, a start has been made on the canopy over the station at

Haynes End. Some of the steel work which we had in stock has been erected

and this work is ongoing. However, with other priorities for the use of available

funds little further progress can be made. Following a chat with another mem-

ber we decided to advertise sponsorship of the required roof panels at £25 per

panel. This has been very well supported by many members and funds are well

on the way to achieving our objective. Please support us in this effort and send

a donation to me to add to the fund.

Note that if we receive sufficient funding it may be cheaper to purchase larger

sections of roof panel than to use smaller panels. In this case although there

will not be individual panels your donations will be recognised as a contribution

to the roof.

My thanks to all for your support.

Andy Warren

7

COMMITTEE MEETING NEWS (Continued)

Currently a total of 68 people booked in for the rally weekend , of which 30

require Fish & Chips on the Friday and 54 are attending the evening meal on

Saturday. 16 locos are booked in and 18 people who will be camping or in a

caravan.

NARROW GAUGE ROLLING STOCK

Matt Rainer and Mark Leeson have repaired the damaged stock and all NG

coaches are now available for use. Thanks chaps.

WANTED

There is a vacancy on the committee. Please give thought to offering yourself

for cooption. Your Society needs you!

GEOFFREY C BRANDON DECEASED

Geoff was a past President and a member for many years until failing health

forced him into care.

He donated a chunk of his library to BMES and a number of tools. His skill

was in ornamental turning and most of his workshop went to specialists in that

field. I understand that he was for nearly 30 years the President of the Society

of Ornamental Turners.

Geoff sadly passed away just before midnight on Sunday 1st September.

The service and his cremation took place at the Bedford Crematorium on

Wednesday 18th September .

Donations to the British Heart Foundation in memory of Geoff would be gladly

accepted

Geoff was a kindly, well respected person and will be sadly missed.

Alan Beard

8

VISITOR INVITATION RALLY

30th August – 1st September 2013

In spite of the published dates the rally seems to get underway earlier each year.

This year several of our own members were already set up with their caravans

by the Wednesday. On Thursday morning the first of our visitors arrived and

after settling in began to unload their engines on the steaming bays. In the eve-

ning we enjoyed a social get together with a coffee in the Clubhouse.

Friday saw more visitors arriving and unloading a good variety of locomotives.

Steam was raised, batteries charged and tanks fuelled so that track running com-

menced. During the day the new urn remained in constant use supplying copi-

ous quantities of tea and coffee for all. Around 6pm all eyes turned towards the

road awaiting the arrival of the fish and chips which were pre-ordered on the

booking form. These duly arrived and were despatched in short order. Once

the remains of this meal were removed everyone settled down for a presentation

by Peter Woods. This was followed by more social chat and discussion.

Saturday dawned bright and clear and once again locomotives were prepared

for running. More visitors arrived and the steaming bays were soon full and

smoke and steam gushed into the Haynes air. A fine variety of stock was soon

travelling the tracks of Summerfields and Springfield from rakes of coaches to

demonstration goods. Some visiting coaches had some excellent padding on

them making them more comfortable for passengers and guards. Maybe our

own Aristocraft coaches could receive the same treatment! Due to a mistake in

press advertising some public turned up expecting the railway to be open. Not

everyone wanted this but all passengers were accommodated and received their

rides. By late afternoon the Clubhouse had been transformed into a restaurant

and the bar opened which was well patronised. Our caterers arrived and it was

time to sit down for our meal. Everyone enjoyed the food they had ordered

which arrived hot and on time. Once everything was cleared away a night run

was proposed and a train was made ready. The two ladies from the caterers

were the first to board as one of them had been before and insisted that it was

one of the perks of the job. A packed train departed and soon the rear red light

disappeared over the bridge towards Hammer Hill. The social atmosphere con-

tinued throughout the evening as people enjoyed a chat over a beer or coffee.

With public running officially on Sunday it was great that, once again, the

weather co-operated with no rain in the forecast. Most trains were operated by

our visitors which was much appreciated by our regular customers. Thanks to

all who made the day successful and memorable.

BMES would like to thank all who made the rally a success – our visitors, our

organisers, our members and we look forward to doing it all again in 2014.

9

MONDAY EVENING MEETINGS

The October meeting will be a talk by a guest speaker on the subject of the use

of Wind Tunnels in aircraft design. The speaker, Robin Webb, was head of

Wind Tunnel facilities at De Havillands, Hatfield until it closed.

Robin has a passion for all things De Havilland. He started at the com-

pany as an apprentice and except for a short period in the RAF spent his whole

working life there. His hobbies include building models in 1/72 scale of De

Havilland aircraft. To date he has finished 14.

Other interests include Windmill restoration. He is the custodian of the

only working Windmill in Hertfordshire at Cromer near Stevenage and his fee

will go to its restoration fund.

It will be a good talk by an excellent speaker so it will be worth the ef-

fort to come along on the 14th October.

The November meeting will kick off with a short presentation by a member of

the Railway Sub-Committee who will explain what is planned for the winter

work programme in preparation for next year’s running. The remainder of the

evening will be a natter/bring and buy night happening. The date is the 11th

November.

Information required.

It’s that time of the year when thoughts turn to the planning of the Monday

nights’ programme for 2014. Among the subjects being thought about is a talk

by a guest speaker on the Railways preferably from the steam era. Does anyone

know of a speaker or has the contact address of an organization that could sup-

ply a speaker? Please pass any information to John Parmenter.

While on the subject of next year’s programme, if anyone has a burning desire

to give a talk or organize a Monday night event then please contact JohnP.

There are a couple talks already lined up but additions would be most welcome.

John Parmenter

Clubby Transformed

Huw Williams