Volume 21 Issue 2 April 2019 -...

Volume 21 Issue 2 April 2019

Newsletter of The Leeds Society of Model and Experimental Engineers

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In this Issue

From the Chair 3

Portable Track 4

Tony Wall 5

Workshop Insulation 8

26th National Model Engineering Exhibition 9

Working Party Update 10

Society Officers 11

LSMEE Diary Dates Back Cover

Front Cover

Josh Watson takes advantage of a short break in

some otherwise dismal March weather.

Photo Jack Salter - First running Day of 2019

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From The Chair Jack Salter

Eggborough Site

Rumours are abounding on the future of the Eggborough Power Station

site, we all know that demolition of the old power station has commenced

and that planning has been granted for the construction of a new power

station elsewhere on the site.

We don’t yet know much, but I will share what we do know.

The only fact is that the tenants running the Sports and Social Club have

been told that their tenancy will not be renewed, and will need to vacate

the S&SC the first week in June; fortunately this is after our winter pro-

gramme of speakers comes to an end. The S&SC tenants appear to be on

a recently agreed commercial short term lease and they have been given

notice by those responsible for the demolition of the power station.

Other than this we are relying on word of mouth, we are told that the

potential purchasers of the site have, understandably, said they want a

cleared site. As this could impact on us we (Geoff Shackleton and I repre-

senting LSMEE) have, via the demolition director, asked for a meeting

with the new owners, this has been agreed in principle, but as yet, no

date has been forthcoming and we are getting a ‘no response yet’ mes-

sage; this may be because as yet no sale has been agreed.

At any such meeting we would firstly argue that we should be allowed to

stay (corner of site, community benefit), secondly we should be helped to

move (physical assistance, new site). However this is all speculation.

As I hope members would anticipate, your Committee is working hard on

contingency plans

We have already been offered an alternative venue for our midweek

meetings, a site to relocate the track to (if that is what members decide

we want to do), which may or may not be suitable, and temporary storage

for the track (Nigel has calculated 50 tons), in addition organisations

whose events at which we operate our portable track have offered their

support – all this is without asking!

LSMEEs agreement with the Power Station states a 6 months notice pe-

riod and a copy of this has been sent to the power station, again without

response.

As I say, nothing official yet, we have a strong club, whatever happens

need not impact on our meeting nights nor portable track activity.

We will keep members informed as we learn more, if we are asked to

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Portable Track Events 2019

If you can help out at one or more of these events please contact John or put

your name on the form in the clubhouse. Volunteers capable of towing the club

trailer with their vehicle are in short supply

Sat. 4th May Selby Model Railway Show

Sat. 18th May Brayton Chapel

Sun. 2nd June Goole picnic in the park

Sat. 8th June Wistow Scarecrow Gala

Sat. 8th June Askern Gala

Sun. 2nd June Goole picnic in the park

Sat. 22nd June Goole RSPCA Show

Sat. 22nd June Strensall Gala

Sun. 23rd June Collingham Gala

Fri. 28th June (afternoon event) Barkston Ash School

Fri. 28th June (afternoon event) Leeds University Staff Fair

Sun. 30th June Camblesforth School Fair

Fri July Date to be confirmed Hensall School Fair

Sat July Date to be confirmed Shadwell School Gala

Sun July Date to be confirmed Carlton School Fair

Sat. 27th July Selby Abbey Food Fair

Sun. 4th August Hensall Gala

Sat Aug Date to be confirmed Rodley Nature Reserve

Sat. 14th September (evening event) Wheldrake Whelfest Gala

leave the site there will need to be an Extraordinary General Meeting for

members to decide on the future shape of our Society.

Looking forward to a good summer of activities, I see we have the busiest

portable track programme of events ever and there is a visit to another

societies track in planning, something that we have not done for a few

years.

I have no double that members will rally around during these worrying

times.

PS In case it has not been mentioned elsewhere look out for the current

issue of Model Engineer Magazine Leeds SMEE on the cover and inside.

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Tony Wall 1937 —2019 AHB

Sadly, Tony died on 8th February after a few years of poor health. He had

continued to come to club functions with a wheelchair and bringing a

portable supply of oxygen.

Tony lived in the Pontefract area all his life and went to Doncaster Tech-

nical College. He loved to tell the tale about train spotting during breaks

always having his book of engine numbers with him. He also talked about

touring the area on a bicycle before graduating to motor cycles which in-

cluded scrambling. Tony started work in the local colliery but left and

found employment at Huddersfield Power Station gaining promotion to

Drax Power Station when it opened. He was there until he transferred to

the Ferrybridge workshop and retired from there.

Tony Wall and Alan Macdonald with Tony’s King

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Tony had his own workshop at home

and together with Les Davis, each

built a Hunslet locomotive to ¾”

Scale (I think) from drawings in a

magazine.

Now working at Drax, he met David

Beale who introduced him to the

Leeds Club. This was about the time

that the Eggborough Track was be-

ing constructed. He, his two daugh-

ters with their tiny wellingtons and

others came on Sunday mornings

laying concrete and track sections.

In total he built 13 engines, some on

contract for others and some to run

himself. Perhaps the best known

was Peregrine, an A4 pacific which

he ran on the Eggborough track and

at other clubs whenever he heard of

an `Open Day`.

Tony was not only well known at

Leeds but was a popular character

around the country too, as he and

Elaine would travel to many rallies

and IMLEC competitions with their

caravan. Tony was well known for

his engineering knowledge and

opinions on such matters, whether

you agreed with him or not, you al-

ways learnt something as a result of

the conversation.

Tony’s other interests were his dogs

and horses. All the time I knew him

he had a dog, initially a collie and

then a sheepdog, neither of these

could be trusted they snapped at

strangers—and I was always a

stranger. Later on he had spaniels,

a much friendlier breed.

‘Venus’

‘Royal Sovereign’

Tony with ‘Orville’

Peregrine

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His other interest was horses, not

any old horses but those owned by

his daughter Penny. In his last few

years he went and let the horses out

of their overnight stable and

cleaned etc then took his dogs to-

gether with his daughter’s dogs for

their morning exercise before com-

ing home to breakfast.

His funeral was at Pontefract

Crematorium and was marked by

the exceptional number of mourn-

ers, about half the Leeds club being

there.

Tony will be sadly missed by all

who knew him but we are fortunate

that his memory will continue as

many of his engines are now owned

and run by club members.

Tony with Peregrine at Eggborough

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Workshop Insulation Jack Salter

Having realised that I used £500 worth of

heating oil in the 15kw space heater in my

workshop last winter, I thought I ought to

do something about heat insulation before

the worst of the weather, especially now

that I am retired and will hopefully spend-

ing even more time in the workshop.

I suspect that many members will have,

like me, built or converted their workshops

many years ago, since when new insula-

tion materials and sources of supply have

become available.

My workshop was once the farm’s milking

parlour, the main heat loss being through

the corrugated asbestos roof and crum-

bling single glazed window.

Second hand double glazed upvc windows

are regularly advertised on eBay, I

searched “nearest first” and found a suita-

ble window at a second-hand window shop

(yes, really!) in Doncaster. In as new condi-

tion, the correct size and with the latest 1”

thick sealed unit all for £40, a direct re-

placement and held in place with expand-

ing foam from an aerosol can. Jill says it is

the best window in the house (quite right

too!). An instant improvement, when is

used to walk past my workshop I could

hear the radio, no longer.

Next to be tackled was the roof, modern

rigid foil-backed insulation boards such as

Celotex and Kingspan, available from Wickes or the internet, are twice as

effective as Rockwool, so I bought sufficient 75mm thick sheets for £300,

and held them in place with treated timber battens.

Result - workshop feels warmer and takes about 1/3rd of the heating, pay-

back should be in a little over a year, members might want to review in-

sulation in their workshops too.

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26th National Model Engineering Exhibition

10th, 11th and 12th May 2019 - Doncaster Race Course

Delivery of Exhibits Thursday 9th May.

Arrive after 12-30 pm please. If you will be later than 6 pm please let

Geoff know.

You must register your exhibit at the organisers desk and obtain a white

display card attached to which is your entry ticket for all three days.

The white display card must be left with and be visible with your exhibit.

Collection of Exhibits - Sunday 12th May.

On Sunday pm Geoff will collect up all the white display cards and get

them signed en-bloc by an exhibition organiser.

Removal of exhibits from the stand is only possible after the Exhibition

closes at 16-30 hrs. To exit the exhibition with your model you must be in

possession of the relevant signed display card.

Leeds S.M.E. Stand - Stewards.

A steward’s rota will be drawn up so please let Geoff know on which

day(s) you can help with this. The exhibition is open from 1000 until 1700

hrs on Friday and Saturday and 1000 until 1630 hrs on Sunday.

Early/late stewards should be at the stand before morning opening and

remain at the stand until the public have cleared the venue.

Last year there was ‘early entry at 9-30 am’ for members of the public

who bought their tickets on- line. If you are a Steward but not exhibiting

a model you may have been allocated an entry ticket for the day on which

you are a Steward.

Only two non-exhibiting Stewards are allowed per day and Hon. Secre-

tary will advise if you have been allocated a ticket.

If that is the case collect your ticket from the Organisers Desk at the

main entrance.

As the organisers don’t issue specific instructions until nearer the date I

will contact exhibitors if there is any surprise change to parking and of-

floading of exhibits which could be a problem.

Geoff Shackleton

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Working Party Update March 2019

Traversers:

The traversers run on six rollers and it was

found that there was a lot of friction in some of

them. They have been dismantled and rusting

was found to be causing binding where the cen-

tral shafts in the rollers passes through the end

caps. A lubrication regime should stop the prob-

lem occurring again.

Buildings:

A number of flags have been levelled to remove a

potential tripping hazard.

Track Infrastructure:

A number of rotten fence posts have been re-

moved and the fence repaired using ‘Metaposts’

Toilet Door and Window:

The door has now been painted and a sealing

strip/draught excluder fitted.

Moles and Leaves:

Still occupying much time for our man with his

barrow.

Geoff Shackleton

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Society Officers and Committee

President: Arthur Bellamy

Chairman: Jack Salter

Secretary: Geoff Shackleton

Treasurer: Nigel Bennett*

Committee: John Hunt

Steve Russell*

Peter Smith

Nick Morley

Geoff Midgley

Newsletter Editor Geoff Botterill

* Denotes Boiler Inspectors plus

Martyn Chapman

E-Newsletter

Articles from members are always welcome and can be sent to me by email

[email protected]

To ensure continued delivery of the newsletter and announcements please let me

know if you change your email address.

If you currently receive a printed copy of the newsletter and would like to save

the society printing and distribution costs, while at the same time doing a little

to preserve some of the planets resources, simply email me using the above link

and a PDF version will be sent to your inbox.

The Society web page can be found at

http://www.leedssmee.btck.co.uk/

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY

THE VIEWS OF THE COMMITTEE

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.leedssmee.btck.co.uk/

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LSMEE - Dates for Your Diary – April 2019

3rd April Meeting Night 19:30 - 21:45

Trophy Night -One Off and Wanless

Trophies, and Presidents Cup

14th April Public Running Day

Awarding of the Leeds Trophy

Eggborough track - 10:00 to 16:00

17th April Meeting Night 19:30 - 21:45

‘' Gas Turbines -Large and Small'

Talk by Nick Haworth

1st May Meeting Night 19:30 - 21:45

' P2 Prince of Wales Re-Visited'

Talk by Keith Crabtree

5th May Public Running Day

‘Eggborough track - 10:00 to 16:00

10th - 12th May National Model Engineering Exhibition,

15th May Meeting Night 19:30 - 21:45

Members Hints and Tips

9th June Public Running Day


19th June Mid-Summer Steam Up


14th July Public Running Day


The speakers for the talks listed above are sometimes travelling

considerable distances so do please try to attend at least some of

our Speaker Evenings

Working Party

Working Parties continue every Monday

Excluding Bank Holidays

Volume 21 Issue 2 April 2019 -...

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