Leander

Alan Austin of Ambis Engineering has contacted us to say that unfortunately he will be unable to attend expoEM Spring this year due to ‘logistical and medical issues’. Post#1 has been amended accordingly.

The OP (#1) has been amended in the light of the addition or deletion of various exhibits.

The last time I looked at the old overflow car park was four years ago, it was gated and chained up. The office block was disused and had possibly changed ownership, I can't exactly recall after so much time. From looking at Google maps, 'L'avenir Apartments' occupies the site now, "a selection of luxury one and two bedroom apartments for sale and to rent".

A new thread will be set up for expoEM Summer shortly, just as soon as most of the exhibitors, donstrators, Society stands and traders have confirmed their attendance. The dates are 20th & 21st August, at Kettlethorpe High School, Wakefield, all being well. Unfortunately, the Crocodile Sisters have given word that they are unable to do the catering.

Sorry about that Mike. I've amended the OP (#1) by adding Judith Edge Models. The owner of 'Brixham' has given notice that it has had to be withdrawn. A replacement layout will be booked and added to the list in due course.

expoEM Spring 2022 - a Showcase of the Best in 4mm Railway Modelling The flagship event of the EM Gauge Society is back for 2022 and will take place over the weekend of May 14th/15th at the now well-established venue of Bracknell Leisure Centre. On display will be at least eight finescale layouts representing the best in 4mm scale modelling. In addition there will also be an opportunity to view the winning entries in the ‘Chairman’s Challenge EMGS Track Competition’. Plus we still have our guest layout feature, this year in the form of Foston Mills in 7mm scale. As usual there will be plenty of opportunity to stock up on modelling supplies with a good range of specialist traders in attendance. In addition there will be a variety of ‘Show you how’ demonstrations and other special interest society stands. There will also be the EM and P4 test track, the EMGS trade stand - selling amongst other things, the Society’s range of EM track and points, in addition to the ever popular members’ second hand sales. Venue: Opening times: Bracknell Leisure Centre Saturday 14th May: 10.30am to 5.30pm Bagshot Road Sunday 15th May: 10.00am to 4.30pm Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE Layouts Dewerstone (EM) – GWR 1930s – Steve Sims Dunelm (EM) - Mike Fishwick Kirkmellington (EM) – Scottish Colliery Branch 1970s – Graham Bucknell Plumpton Green (P4) – LSBR c. 1910 - Barry Luck Pwllheli (P4) - Privatisation era 2000-2012 N. Wales - Ian & Jonathan Buckie Sidmouth (P4) – BR (S) 1950s East Devon – Richard Harper South Pelaw (EM) – BR North Eastern 1950s - South Pelaw Group Westcliff (EM) – GWR ‘what might have been’ 1920s – Richard Butler Whitewater (EM) - 1950s/1960s Southern Region, North Cornwall - Mike Fishwick Plus - six of the Chairman's Challenge competition layouts will also be featured (all EM gauge). Chitterne - Richard Simpson Lochty - Andrew Cundy Quarry Lane - Gwynne Chivers Severn Lane - Alan Jones Stonehouse St James - Andrew Ullyott West End Drift - Graham Hudson Guest Layout – Foston Mills – NER East Yorkshire (7mm scale) Plus the EMGS test track with three EM circuits and one P4. Trade 247 Developments, Alan Gibson, Bill Hudson Transport Books, Branchlines, Brassmasters, C&L Finescale Track Building Systems Ltd., Dingo Servo Mounts, Eileen's Emporium, High Level Kits, Isinglass Models, Judith Edge Models, London Road Models, Mike King (Southern drawings), Model Railway Developments, Prickley Pear Products, Roger Carpenter Photographs, Roxey Mouldings, Steam Age, Stoneybridge Structures & Model Sounds, Sutton Locomotive Works, Transport Treasury Publishing, Wild Swan Books Ltd. Demonstrators and other displays Karl Crowther - Signal Construction. Tony Gee - EM the Manchester Way (Featuring Some of Sid Stubbs Rolling Stock). Vernon Harrod - Kit and Scratch-Built Coaches and Other Rolling Stock. Chris Hewitt - Resin Casting and Molding. Ray Hodson - Resistance Soldering. Mick Moore - Wagons and Their Loads (See MRJ 238/39/241). Ian Rathbone - Painting & Lining. Roger Sawyer - Soldering For Beginners. Phil Tattershall - Bull-Head Trackwork Construction. Graham Vickery - Architectural Modelling. Geoff Kent - Modelling in Plasticard. Great Western Study Group LSWR Circle MERG (Model Electronic Railway Group) Missenden Railway Modellers Pendon Museum Location: Within easy reach of both the M3 (Junction 3) and M4 (Junction 10). Follow the brown signs for Bracknell Leisure Centre. SAT NAV - RG12 9SE Bracknell Railway Station is ¾ mile away. Free on-site parking, Catering and Level Access Admission Prices (valid for both days): 2-Day visitor ticket £10.00 EMGS Members £8.00 Contact: Email: expoem@emgs.org Website: www.emgs.org N.B. Information correct at time of preparation; all exhibits subject to final confirmation.

Karl Crowther has emailed me the following about the Hornby A3 which he has converted, detailed, changed the loco's identity, and weathered: "Conversion used the Brassmasters A3 Easichas, with Markits wheels. I did use the replacement coupling rods as part of the Brassmasters kit. No clearance issues under the running plate. Took me around 45hrs, including the conversion, fitting the DCC and weathering. The original model has flangeless wheels on the pony truck, though you replace these with flanged ones in the conversion. But when John (TheLaird) ran it on the layout, it was derailing on his tightest curves. Once he’d reinstated the flangeless pony wheels, it than ran fine."

Plus 'Lytham St Annes', for some reson that doesn't seem at all obvious now.

I've always known him as Fairburn.

In view of the current situation with regards to the latest variant of Covid-19, the Board has taken the painful decision to cancel the face-to-face AGM due to take place in Thirsk on January 22nd and the Modellers' Day event which was planned to coincide with it.. The AGM will now be a virtual AGM using Zoom and available only to EMGS members. As there is a limitation of the numbers that can be hosted at a Zoom meeting thus it will be necessary for members to express an interest in attending this meeting. To do this an e-mail address has been set up, virtualagm@emgs.org. If you wish to attend the meeting, please send an e-mail to this address and the joining instructions will be sent back to you. Note that the response will be on a first come first served basis and once the numbers reach the limit for the Zoom meeting no further expressions of interest will be accepted. All expressions of interest must be made by Wednesday 19th January.

I'd heard of 'Ince Wagon Works' and especially recall seeing photographs of their loco scrapping activities. I didn't realise that 'Wigan Wagon Works' referred to the self-same place however. I did wonder whether Apollo 15 ever saw the Earlestown - Lostock Hall (and return) working a few miles further south of where I observed it?

I didn't know there was a 'Wigan Wagon Works' but there one at Earlestown certainly which despatched a train of newly overhauled wagons down the WCLM as far as Farington Junction, then to Lostock Hall for inspection. Whilst that was going on, the loco (usually a Sutton Oak Standard 4MT 2-6-0) would go onto Lostock hall shed for water and to be turned. The train, which usually ran with a brake van at each end, returned up the WCLM after an hour or so. I think that the purpose was solely to test the wagons fitness to be returned to traffic.The train ran in the late 50s/early 60s when I observed it, until 1964 when Earlestown Works closed and much of its overhaul work transferred to Horwich, along with many of its machine tools. Sorry for the distraction!

The 4F utilises ancient Airfix loco and tender bodies, with Comet loco and tender chassis running on Markits EM gauge wheels and powered by a Mashima motor with a High Level Kits gearbox. It was a one-time OO loco (again using a Comet chassis) and many moons ago featured on the Clay Cross MRS 'Ashford-in-the-Water' exhibition layout. This one and a Midland 2P 4-4-0 are the only two survivors from those days. Karl Crowther produced the updated 4F running gear and a similar job was carried out by John Brighton on the 2P, which has visited Leeds but not joined the roster yet. 44046 seen on Nigel Hopwood's 'Hunslet Road'.

A look back through the thread may be useful.

He's not the only one to have visited. Since restrictions were lifted we've held at least one operating session each month, usually two. We even managed three a month once or twice. Running and reliability continue to be excellent and the operators are improving their 'route knowledge'. The Royal Scot fleet has increased by a further two (46112 & 46145) that Tim E has produced for members of the team.

Here are some more details: Car Parking There a reasonable amount of car parking spaces at the venue but these may fill up quickly. There are car parking spaces available in town and on local streets. Tesco has a large car park but there may be constraints on the length of time allowed. Overnight Accommodation There is a new Premier Inn opened about a mile away. There are a number of B&B type accommodations available so contacting the tourist office will produce a list of venues in town as well as slightly out of Thirsk. Location and directions Access by Road Thirsk is easily accessed by road. Travelling from the south or north via the A1M you should leave at jct49 and take the A168 towards Thirsk and Teesside. After approximately 5 miles take the B1448 towards Thirsk and Sowerby. Stay on this road towards Thirsk town centre and the venue will be on your right just before the Ritz cinema. If travelling from the North-East via the A19 take the third Thirsk exit sign posted Thirsk, Sowerby B1448 then proceed as above. Access by Public Transport Thirsk station is situated on the ECML about 22 miles north of York. It is served by an hourly service from Manchester, York, Middlesbrough and Redcar operated by Trans Pennine Express. (www.tpexpress.co.uk) There are also direct trains from Sunderland and London Kings Cross operated by Grand Central. (www.grandcentral.com). If travelling by LNER from the south then a change at York will be needed. Thirsk Station is approximately 1.5 miles from the venue, if walking follow the road alongside the racecourse, past the Tesco filling station and turn left at the mini roundabout, the venue is on the right just before the Ritz cinema. Dales and District bus service 70 calls at the station en-route to Thirsk Market Place. Layouts Barum West Junction - EM 9’ x 2’ North Devon 1980’s blue period. Kenneth Gibbons Chesters Yard - EM 6’ x 2’ BR Blue diesel period. Robin Coulthard Dunelm - EM 6’ x 1’9” Blue Diesel 1970’s-Classic Diesel (Not Modern Image!). Mick Fishwick Fiddler’s Wharf - EM A shunting game. Paul Gregory Hudson Street - EM 6’6” x 1’ York (BR Period) late 1950’s. Peter Fletcher Kyle of Macallan Locomotive Shed - EM 45” x 18” BR (ScR) September 1966. Adrian Walby Northern Central - EM (Work in progress). 10’ BR(ER) Late 1990’s. Jason Johnson The Depôts, Rosedale East - EM 12’ x 2’6” NER North Yorks Moors. Nicola & Paul Gallon Tanpit Lane - EM 13’ x 2’ North Derbyshire Peak District. Alan Atherley The EMGS Test Track Demonstrations Bob Dawson & Scott Waterfield Card building construction Sue & Andy Battersby Tree construction and electrical modules Norman Pedley - Locomotive and wagon miscellany Simon Howard - DCC Clinic Roger Sawyer - Soldering for beginners Trade Stands The Book House CM3Models, Thirsk Stoneybridge Structures EMGS Trade Officer EMGS Members' Sales Plus The EMGS Membership Secretary There will also be a pop up café serving tea, coffee, cold drinkls, sandwiches, cakes and snacks during the show.

The EM Gauge Society - Modellers Day and Annual General Meeting 2022 Saturday 22nd January 2022 Thirsk Town Hall, Westgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1QR OPENING TIMES: 10.00am-4.00pm ADMISSION: EMGS Members FREE, Non-members - Adults £3.00, Children £3.00 This event is being organised by the EM Gauge Society, with the assistance of members in the Thirsk area, aimed at modellers of all abilities and scales/gauges, as part of the EM Gauge Society Members' Day and AGM. Come and learn, chat and socialise with fellow modellers. The EMGS Trade Officer will be in attendance, plus the ever popular Members' Sames 'Bring and Buy' stand. While EMGS members are admitted free of charge, non-members, upon payment of the admission fee of £3.00, gain Day-Membership (non-voting) of the Society and are thus entitled to make purchases from the EMGS Trade Stand. The AGM is for (Full) EMGS members only and will commence at 2pm sharp. The Town Hall is wheelchair friendly. There is limited on-Site parking, plus more being arranged locally. Further parking is available in town but parking charges are applicable. Light refreshments will be available all day at the Town Hall, with plenty of other eating establishments available in town. For those requiring accommodation in the area, there is a Premier Inn on the outskirts of town, about 3 minutes drive or ten to fifteen minutes walk from the Town Centre. The railway station is about a mile away with at least hourly services from York and Redcar. Buses pass the station and stop in the town square one minute walk from the venue. It is expected that there will be members' model competitions; plus layouts, traders, and demonstrators in attendance. More details will follow.

Neither have I! Well done for deducing what was meant to be written, correctly.

Late crest rather than the early version and with AWS symbols, here's my 47201 in EM gauge, on John Elliott's 'Leeds City North' last Saturday.

What, you mean like this?

They're a mixture of ESU with sound files by South West Digital, and Zimo with mainly YouChoos sound. The DMUs, Peaks and Fairburn tanks are ESU fitted, while the station pilot (Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0), Ivatt 4MT and Black 5s are fitted with Zimo 645s. Stayalives are fitted as standard. Generally, the steam locos have Zimos, but there are exceptions among those that were fitted some time ago. I cannot recall which type is in the Jubilees that John converted and fitted recently, but it's been mentioned earlier in the thread.

Didn't he do well! Handled it like an old pro.

That's the plan Mike. It should all be up again now, plus the Presentations will be going on-line as soon as they've been edited. As a matter of interest, for how long do you think they should made available? (Comments welcome)

At this stage we simply do not know. A show is planned but not fully booked. However much remains out of the control of the EMGS. We'll have a better idea next month.