Gauge 1 Model Railway Association

A poor weather forecast is perhaps what we should expect in January, but it turned out that the rain departed before most of us arrived, and a good run was had by twelve or so folk. Peter Kybert opened up Sutton for us at 11.30 and by the time Elizabeth and I arrived some time later Ken Lowes was almost ready to run his Aster Standard 5MT (7050), seen here with plenty of pressure on the dial and an open safety valve, just getting a fresh charge of meths.

Richard Burkett was also pretty much ready to go with his Aster Pannier (GWR 5764). The Pannier, as is their wont, was rather frisky, so she was loaded up with some high-inertia coaches but was still eager.

 

 

 

 

I fired up my Chingford Express and pottered around happily with the club's set of trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having used 90cc of meths (the engine has no chicken feed - just a sump - and is very thirsty) I made way for Elizabeth Scott's newly (partially) painted Barrett Engineering J38 which is now running beautifully.

 

 

 

 

Michael Wrottesley brought his North Eastern Railway four cylinder compound Atlantic No 731. It is a beautiful machine which runs rather majestically. Mike pointed out to me that the boiler has no wrapper on this engine, with the paint being applied directly to the boiler shell.

 

 

 

The green NER paint does show some discolouration, though Mike has a similarly constructed engine in Midland crimson lake which has withstood the heat.

 

 

Peter Jackman had his gas fired 8F as well as a Class 66 with a fully featured sound chip. The 8F was the subject of a recent NL&J article in which Peter described the fairly extensive fettling he has applied to the engine. The engine is extremely reliable and runs smoothly and quietly.

 

 

Mike Bland's Aster Flying Scotsman put in a late appearance and is seen here overhauling Ken's 5MT which had taken to the track again as the light started to fade.

Tony Alderman, Stan Holwill and Paul Harding also attended along with new member Steve Webb who provided all the photographs and the video on this page. Steve has been a member of SMEC for about six years, and joined G1MRA recently.