Events/Trips in 2020.
WMR&ES Christmas Show
12th & 13th December 2020
The WMR&ES had another successful show over 2 days. There were 12 layouts on show (including the clubs permanent set ups), a working model engineering display and they even had a visiting live steam miniature traction engine out front on display on the Sunday. Keegan and I both had our layouts on display at this event. Keegan had his small Thomas Branch Line layout and I had my Back Country NZ (NZ120) layout. Photos were taken by Blair (including cover photo).
SteamRail Wanganui Inc.
Open Day To the Public
26th October 2020
I had one of my motor trolleys at SteamRail Wanganui's recent open day. They had another great open day with motor trolley (jigger) rides. Their first open day since January due to Covid. This event was well supported by the public with 156 going for a ride. Keith Hancock brought along his rubber tired trolley for display and a couple of Waitara members came along with him for the day. We thank them for their support. A big thank you to everyone that visited us on this day, to SRW members for all their help and of course KiwiRail for letting us operate in the rail yard.
Security At SteamRail Wanganui Inc
19th & 20th October 2020
Skyla and myself were part of the SteamRail Wanganui team that was hired to do the night security of the Glenbrook Vintage Railways Train when it visited town for two nights. We had the meanest guard dog ever to help keep us and the train safe. (Thanks Skyla) DBR 1254 has been lovingly restored by the GVR to mainline running condition. It was here in town for 2 nights as part of their North Island tour. A big thank you to all SRW members who helped over these nights. Tim Kerwin (General Manager or the GVR) and the team at GVR send out their thanks also for the Wanganui groups help. There are talks they will be back in town next April, with the possibility of us joining force’s with them for a fund raising run somewhere.
Blair’s Photos show the train parked up outside the SRW shed in the Taupo Quay rail yard.
Blair’s Photos show the train parked up outside the SRW shed in the Taupo Quay rail yard.
Wanganui Model Railway & Engineering Society Inc.
The Small Train Show
3rd & 4th October 2020
Both my nephew Keegan and myself had our Thomas layouts on display at the WMR&ES Small Train show, over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of October. This was the first show that I had been to with my Thomas layout since November last year. Covid 19 had a big part of the reason I hadn't displayed for a while. During the Covid lockdown and with no shows happening I took the opportunity to start the rebuild/extension of my big Thomas layout. My layout has now gone from 3 sections to 4 (it used to measure 4m long x 1.1 wide but now measures 6m long by 1.2m wide) and now includes the Tidmouth Engine Sheds and Turntable, along with 4 running tracks instead of 3. I am also redoing all the scenery. I also had my 5" gauge loco on display. We really enjoyed the weekend and had over 400 visit through. There was a lot of great comments about both our layouts.
The Wanganui Chronicle
(newspaper write up about the show)
More than 400 people rolled through the Carlton School Hall over the weekend to check out 13 model railway sets.
The Wanganui Model Railway and Engineering Society held their first event in a number of months over the weekend, with President Paul Mallett impressed and surprised by the number of people who attended.
"With Covid-19 and everything we weren't sure if we would be run it. Once it became clear that we could have something, we started planning.
"It seemed to be quite popular. But we were utterly surprised, it was brilliant."
Mallet said it was nice to have an event together after not being able to meet up because of Covid-19.
"Our main club headquarters in Alma Rd has been quite neglected this year. It was quite good just to be able to run an event and good to get something done."
Mallet said it has been a hobby of his on and off over since he was about 12 years old.
"It's a multi faceted hobby. You've got to be builder, an artist, an electrician and a mechanic. It's a busy hobby.
"I just want to thank everyone for coming through. Really appreciate the public support, it was surprising and much appreciated."
The Wanganui Model Railway and Engineering Society held their first event in a number of months over the weekend, with President Paul Mallett impressed and surprised by the number of people who attended.
"With Covid-19 and everything we weren't sure if we would be run it. Once it became clear that we could have something, we started planning.
"It seemed to be quite popular. But we were utterly surprised, it was brilliant."
Mallet said it was nice to have an event together after not being able to meet up because of Covid-19.
"Our main club headquarters in Alma Rd has been quite neglected this year. It was quite good just to be able to run an event and good to get something done."
Mallet said it has been a hobby of his on and off over since he was about 12 years old.
"It's a multi faceted hobby. You've got to be builder, an artist, an electrician and a mechanic. It's a busy hobby.
"I just want to thank everyone for coming through. Really appreciate the public support, it was surprising and much appreciated."
WMR&ES Open Day
14th March 2020
We took along Keegan's Thomas layout to this open day, along with some of my narrow gauge Thomas trains to run on the clubs N gauge layout.
Locomotion 2020
8th February 2020
Once a year the P Nth model Engineering Club hold their Locomotion event. This event attracts visiting Locomotives and Traction Engines from other NZ Model Engineering Clubs. This year I was allowed to take along my 5 Inch Hercules Traveller loco.
After setting up the loco it was inspected by one of the P nth members and given the all clear to run on their track. The group was kind enough to loan me one of their ride trolleys and off I went, around the track with Keegan running alongside. After two trips around I added another rides trolley, so Keegan could come too. After my third trip we swapped places and Keegan drove for his first trip around the track. Once this was done we took the rear trolley off again and left Keegan to do it all by himself, while I took the opportunity to walk the dogs and get photos of the event. Part of the rules is Keegan could drive but is not allowed to take passengers because of his age.
The loco didn’t stop for next 3 hours with Keegan going around and around until the Batteries went flat at about 2.30pm. This was another great test for my loco with this being its only second run I have done with it. I would like to thank the P Nth club for all their help. It was a great day out and Keegan and I will be looking at becoming a members. Most of the Photos were taken taken by myself and a few by Jack Still, Stuart Anderson and David Bell.
After setting up the loco it was inspected by one of the P nth members and given the all clear to run on their track. The group was kind enough to loan me one of their ride trolleys and off I went, around the track with Keegan running alongside. After two trips around I added another rides trolley, so Keegan could come too. After my third trip we swapped places and Keegan drove for his first trip around the track. Once this was done we took the rear trolley off again and left Keegan to do it all by himself, while I took the opportunity to walk the dogs and get photos of the event. Part of the rules is Keegan could drive but is not allowed to take passengers because of his age.
The loco didn’t stop for next 3 hours with Keegan going around and around until the Batteries went flat at about 2.30pm. This was another great test for my loco with this being its only second run I have done with it. I would like to thank the P Nth club for all their help. It was a great day out and Keegan and I will be looking at becoming a members. Most of the Photos were taken taken by myself and a few by Jack Still, Stuart Anderson and David Bell.
Wanganui Vintage Weekend 2020
18th, 19th & 20th January 2020
SRW was once again involved with the Wanganui Vintage weekend. We again had our doors open to the public on the Saturday and Sunday and on the Monday we gave Jigger rides. This included my Loco and Motor Trolley being on show along with the Motor Trolley giving rides on the Monday. Pahiatua Railcar Soceity were in town also offering short shuttle runs to East Town, and up the Westmere Bank with railcar RM 31 on the first 2 days. We had a lot of visitors over the weekend through the shed who were all really impressed with the restoration work done. We also gave approx. 267 people rides on the jiggers on the Monday. Overall we are rapped at how the weekend went. We thank all members who helped out over the weekend. Some of these photos were taken by myself, some by Ewan Pound and the rest by Mark Brimblecombe who was the official photographer for vintage weekend.