Milland Valley Railway

Durbridge (Dursley) in wartime

TonyBettger — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:17:29 +0000

Of all the places that would be the desinatination of a Dunkirk troop evacuation train from Dover, one of the least likely must be Dursley.

Friday May 31st 1940 Train no V.162 Departed Dover 10-15am; Arrived Redhill 12.53 pm Departed 1.01pm Route via Reading and Yate (Gloucestershire)

There is no record of its arrival time in Dursley or what facility the troops were accommodated in upon arrival.

This was the 44th evacuation train of 79 operated that day, of which 61 left Dover

An average of 536 troops were accommodated in each of the 560 trains that were operated from 27th May to 3rd June 1940.

In total 300,563 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk and thence by train from south coast ports.

Perhaps a special on the layout…

Durbridge goes to Fareham Show at Wickham

TonyBettger — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:07:14 +0000

G0SH had an enjoyable two days at the show on the first weekend in October.

Despite many “promises” the station building didn’t appear but the layout performed reasonably well on only its second outing. The main problems were on derailments on the pointwork giving access to the Lister sidings.

The layout looked good and attracted some attention, including Salisbury club possible invite for 2009

Thanks to all the crew -David, TonyH, Paul, Stewart, Tony W and Colin (I think he was there!)

Thanks to Fareham MRC for their hospitality and sharing their van - they are doing the show again in 2009

Its just those stairs at Fort Widley-I’m sure that they add a few each year

Cottleston Park at Fareham & District MRC show at Wickham

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:05:35 +0000

It looks certain that the Petersfield Post will cover our attendance at the Wickham show this coming weekend in today’s issue and probably in next weeks as well if we can get photos to them.

UPDATE

Unfortunately the Post didn’t run the story in either issue despite sending a photographer to Wickham! (but did put the picture and a piece in the following week….)

A good time was had by all and the layout attracted a fair amount of attention, with the “DCC with sound ” and “Japanese stock” interludes helping.

The T gauge demo with a circle of track on an A3 sheet of card also created considerable interest.

Our membership leaflet which had been updated to include the wider range of members interests including T gauge was

displayed and about 8 were taken on each day.

The Fareham club put on a good show and it appears we may get an invite for one or other of the club’s or member’s layouts in 2009. Other interest was shown by the Andover club.

22nd August -The smallest gauge comes to the Liphook club

TonyBettger — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:46:20 +0000

With the Japanese theme continuing in the N gauge group, Nick brought along on Friday night, a sample of the latest in Japanese model railway technology T SCALE.

This is considerably smaller than Z with a track gauge of 3mm, that’s about 1/8″. The model of a suburban overhead electric unit runs on about a 150mm (6″) dia circle of track with no points. There is a magnetic device that assists track adhesion. It seems unlikely that it is aimed at the model railway market, more likely an executive toy with the leaflet showing the track in a scale diorama mounted on a small coffee table.

The team expect to show it running above the tunnels sections of Coppleston, when it is at the FarehamMRC show on the 4th/5th October.

Scenic work continues on the 00 layout Weyford on Sea with the goods shed located

Latest happenings at the L&DMRC

TonyBettger — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:39:57 +0000

Coppleston has been undergoing a make-over with Ben taking a one section a week back home and returning it the following Friday. He’s been tidying/tweaking the wiring and refreshing the scenery with his new electrostatic grass applicator. Seems to work a treat!

Lots of Japanese bullet trains of various types have been appearing of late, brought along by John and Nick, together with suburban stock. I think it’s been agreed that Tony will have the Coppleston layout in store, after the Fareham show and that a new layout will be constructed set in Japan!

David G is also bringing along the odd American item and hopes to construct an American module that uses the Japanese layout’s fiddle yard.

Weyford on Sea remains stoutly British - The engine shed area has been receiving some scenic work by Eric and Andrew-walls,fencing etc as has the cutting and embankment leading to the dock and fiddle yard. I’ve started forming an area that includes a road and over-bridge that will lead out of the docks. I’m intending to use Scalescenes warehouses and terraced houses in this area together with a scratch-built bomb site and a Hornby pill-box.

Plans are being hatched to have a flying boat/liner terminal at the dock to enhance the potential rail traffic perhaps including special Pullman trains.

It’s been good to see Alf back at our Friday sessions after a bit of a gap.

Attendance continues to be good, with 9 or 10 most weeks

Return to Cranleigh

TonyBettger — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:35:45 +0000

Back in 2004 we exhibited an N gauge layout at the Cranleigh Rotary Club’s model Railway Exhibition.

This was the first model railway exhibition in the town for 20 years, was extremely successful and raised £1000 for a local charity.

We have received a preliminary invite for a similar event to be organised in 2009.?

Watch this space!

Cottleston Park at Hollycombe Railway Weekend

admin — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:14:39 +0000

As part of the Hollycombe Steam Collection’s Railway Weekend on the 31st May /1st June we were invited to display Cottleston Park in the building within the funfair area.

The layout was transported on the Friday afternoon and erected in the area, ready for operation from 12 noon on Saturday..

The layout performed reasonably during both days to a generally undemanding audience of mums, dads and children. As one of only two layouts displayed (the other a 7mm narrow gauge estate railway from Fareham & District MRC) and with no attention drawn to the area, we got reasonable attention. A TV crew, fronted by Debbie Thrower, studiously avoided us!

We had our club logo and posters on display with some club leaflets.

Martin, Ben, David G, David C, John, Nick, Tony & the writer were in attendance for one or both days and thanks to all for showing the flag.

We received a very friendly “thank you for attending” letter from the organiser with a definite next year invite.

2009 Invite for Vierbrucken

TonyBettger — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:05:44 +0000

Vierbrucken, member Ben Russ’s N gauge German alpine layout has been invited to the 2009 Railway Enthusiasts Club (REC - Farnborough) Annual Show now held in Aldershot.

Annual General Meeting

TonyBettger — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:01:38 +0000

The AGM was held on Friday 2nd May 2008

Main points

Current committee and chairman returned unopposed

Alf Rolph was made the club’s first honorary life member in recognition of his membership and support of the club and it’s activities over many years.

Return to a permanent clubroom adjacent to our former site is still unresolved. It is anticipated that some formal proposals may be available to the committee later in the month. If so a special meeting will be called to discuss.

No change in the subscription is envisaged until the clubroom situation is further advanced. Financial situation is satisfactory.

No open day this year, but yes for 2009 possibly in September or October. Possible venues to be reviewed

New member John welcomed formally.

L&DMRC News of our activities

TonyBettger — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:15:28 +0000

We regularly submit pieces to local newspapers-Petersfield Post, Liphook Herald & Midhurst & Petworth Observer and over the years have achieved a good “hit rate”.

Recently we have used additionally local community papers - Milland News and the Liphook Community Magazine and in the former have virtually a regular column!

Posters in local libraries (Liphook, Grayshott and Midhurst also help to keep our club known, together with the news section of the Liphook community web site.