| For some reason the 9th of May was a particularly popular one in the narrow gauge calendar, with the NG Railway Society and the 7mm NGA also having their AGM's. However about 100 009 Society members put these distractions to one side and found their way to the outskirts of Doncaster and enjoyed a really splendid informal, very well organised and friendly event - despite having to stop the main business of the day for 90 minutes whilst the formal proceedings of the AGM took place.
After several years of 009 Society AGM's not making it further north than Birmingham, it was a pleasure to be back in the north this year (and I remembered to pack an extra jumper and snow chains just in case.....). I noticed that I was not the only lunatic to have vacated my warm bed in Dorset at 3 AM in order to be there, as I spotted fellow members from Exeter, Bristol, Somerset and Croydon as well as those from north of the Watford Gap who had easier journeys and didn't have to worry about having their visas validated at M1 junction 15A "gateway to the frozen north". 10 layouts were assembled by the co-hosting South Yorkshire and Lampoons (Leeds & Morley) Groups, from east and west of the Pennines and Tyneside, plus a special guest appearance of Ted Polet and his brother Marcel, who had brought the Rae Bridge module of Ted's famous Craigcorrie & Dunalistair Railway across from Leiden in Holland. It was very fitting that at the AGM, Ted was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the 009 Society in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the 009 Society and narrow gauge modelling in general over many years. A very worthy and popular accolade. The only problem encountered on the day, besides the little one of staying awake on the homeward drive, was the bright sunlight coming through the large windows of the school hall venue, causing some challenges to photography - well that was my excuse for some of the very grainy and washed out images that were the best that I could achieve from the almost silhouette starkness of the originals! Nevertheless, I hope that I have managed to salvage a reasonable selection here to give a fair impression of what was a really grand day. |
I normally show a photo of the 009 Society sales table early in a report, and it is normally buried under a sea of customers! This time I took an early shot, before anyone got into the door, just so you can see the extent of the goodies on offer - and this represents what Brian Guilmant described as "a very low stock level"! Bill Luty is in the far distance preparing himself for a day of heavy trading 800x600 01_DSCF1002s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Meanwhile, just around the corner, Andrew Hastie was already hard at it with the Parkside Dundas stand, all the way from Kirkcaldy in Fife. Where would the hobby be without dedicated people such as Andrew who will travel the length of the country to provide specialist trade support. Note how fast his hand is moving as his in-built cash detecting radar picks up some movement from David Gander's wallet.... 800x600 02_DSCF1017cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Are you in the photo? If you are a member of the 009 Society, why aren't you in the photo if you're not?! The AGM gathers just before the meeting was called to order and whilst most were still awake. 800x601 03_DSCF1178cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The rogues gallery. The committee prepares for action. L to R: Brian Guilmant (Sales Officer); Geoff Bowyer (Treasurer); Garry Whiting (Archivist); Charles Insley (Secretary); Simon Coward (Chairman); Mark Howe (Editor 009 News); David Gander (Trade Liaison). Missing from the photo: Alan Rolfe, who could not be present and Bill Luty who forgot that he is Publicity Officer and sat down amongst the proletariat! 800x599 04_DSCF1180cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
First presentation of the day went to David Burleigh in recognition of his 6 years as Society Chairman 2002-8 800x599 05_DSCF1182cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Graham Hand poses proudly in the stark backlight coming through the large hall windows with his HOe Burgdorf 800x601 13_DSCF1005cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A typical Austrian scene at Graham Hand's Burgdorf 800x600 14_DSCF1125s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The goods yard at Burgdorf, by Graham Hand 800x601 15_DSCF1127cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A view showing the station area and boating lake at Burgdorf 800x600 16_DSCF1134cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Gary Marsh was sited in a very difficult lighting environment with Camberwick South which he showed with David Hall representing the Tyneside Group 800x601 17_DSCF1014cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A Windle-built 2-6-2T at Gary Marsh and David Hall's Camberwick South 800x600 18_DSCF1023cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A very nicely done Knightwing diesel kitbash on an unknown chassis. Can anybody enlighten me please? Camberwick South by Gary Marsh and David Hall 800x600 19_DSCF1024cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A view through Camberwick South station showing a nice rake of scratchbuilt open cattle wagons in the foreground 800x600 20_DSCF1029cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Gary Marsh and David Hall's Camberwick South 800x599 21_DSCF1031cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Darren Hedges receives a certificate of commendation for his modified Roco diesel that was fully described in 009 News January 2008. Doesn't time fly! 800x600 22a_DSCF1185cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
And here is Darren's Roco diesel - a very nicely done modification from the original 800x601 22_DSCF1037cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Draig Goch by Darren Hedges 800x600 23_DSCF1038cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
An England 0-4-0ST loco at Darren Hedges' Draig Goch 800x600 24_DSCF1091s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
More modern motive power in the form of one of the very popular Roco 0-6-0T locos at Draig Goch, by Darren Hedges 800x600 25_DSCF1092s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Brian Haynes was a popular winner of the Chairman's Challenge ("Build something on a Kato tram chassis") with a paraffin fuelled steam loco, which regrettably I did not get a photo of - but more of Brian's imaginative stock follows...... 800x599 26a_DSCF1191cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A second award in the form of a certificate of commendation was won by Brian Haynes for his "Jolly Boys Outing" real ale special train as seen here! 800x601 26b_DSCF1078cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Brian Haynes layout, Drakes End, acts as a platform for Brian to display a whole range of esoteric and imaginative freelance stock. 800x599 26_DSCF1060cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A glimpse behind the scenes at Brian Haynes fiddle yard at Drakes End revealed a range of interesting freelance stock 800x600 27_DSCF1064s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
No 009 event would be complete without at least one "pugbash" and here is Brian Haynes simple little version built onto a Bachman dock tank chassis 800x601 28_DSCF1066cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Brian Haynes built this little ambulance "speeder" from a toy jeep found in Tesco's mounted on a Japanese Caramel 4-wheel chassis 800x600 29_DSCF1087cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The Whitehouse brothers stand guard over John Varley's Ghylldale 800x601 30_DSCF1021cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
John Varley's freelance slice of the North Yorkshire Moors coastline "somewhere near Scarborough", Ghylldale 800x601 31_DSCF1093cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A busy scene at Ghylldale, by John Varley 800x601 32_DSCF1095cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
This end of Ghylldale is often overlooked by photographers. Here is my attempt to redress this omission! 800x599 33_DSCF1097cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A familiar scene of the attractive quayside at John Varley's Ghylldale 800x600 34_DSCF1100cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
One of my favourite layouts from a photogenic point of view is Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine 800x601 35_DSCF1115cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Scenic excellence in a small space in Gilderdale Mine by Peter Hogarth 800x600 36_DSCF1116cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Gilderdale Mine - Peter Hogarth 800x601 37_DSCF1119cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A busy scene at Gilderdale Mine 800x600 38_DSCF1121s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Annother of the almost obligatory Roco diesel locos at Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine 800x599 39_DSCF1122cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Just about the whole layout in view showing the excellent design and scenic work on Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine 800x599 40_DSCF1123cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
It was good to catch up with Paul Davies again after a gap of a few years. Paul was editor of 009 News during 2003-5. Paul is seen here with Jonathan Stockwell's HOe layout: Zerlos 800x601 41_DSCF1020cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Jonathan Stockwell's Zerlos is inspired by the Austrian Zillertalbahn, with some additional East German influences 800x599 42_DSCF1105cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
And here is one of the East German influences at Jonathan Stockwell's Zerlos in the form of a giant Hartz Camel loco, created in prototype form by converting a standard gauge Deutsche Reichsbahn diesel loco to metre gauge. In HOe, the loco dwarfs all other narrow gauge stock 800x601 43_DSCF1112cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Paul Titmuss (left) with Stan Williams and Paul's Grange Road layout 800x600 44_DSCF1004cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Grange Road by Paul Titmuss is a very well designed and attractive compact layout that is small enough to find a place in almost any home 800x600 45_DSCF1139s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A view across the goods yard at Paul Titmuss' Grange Road 800x601 46_DSCF1142cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Grange Road by Paul Titmuss 800x601 47_DSCF1144cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The whole 3ft x 2ft of Grange Road - the presentation of this layout is truly outstanding. 800x600 48_DSCF1145s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Another overhead view showing the whole of Grange Road by Paul Titmuss, highlighting the attractive all-round design 800x600 49_DSCF1176s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
David Burleigh presents Paul Windle with the Paul Morris Trophy for his Moorton Bottom Yard, which will go nicely with the Reinier Hendriksen Trophy that Paul was awarded at a previous Expo NG 800x599 50a_DSCF1193cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Paul Windle with his assistant operator, Malcolm Scrimshaw and Moorton Bottom Yard, which was fully described in Railway Modeller May 2007 800x600 50_DSCF1011cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Another container load from the Regent warehouse is transported along the low level line at Moorton Bottom Yard 800x601 51_DSCF1040cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Another award for Paul Windle! This time Simon Coward presents Paul with the Peter Bayly award for innovative modelling - for the hydraulic wagon lift on Moorton Bottom Yard 800x599 52a_DSCF1188cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A view across the dump siding to the loco graveyard at Moorton Bottom Yard, which also catches a glimpse of Paul Windle's prizewinning hydraulic wagon lift 800x600 52_DSCF1043cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Another view along the canalside at Moorton Bottom Yard 800x601 53_DSCF1045cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Roger Christian at the "sharp end" of Stan Williams Rothampton 800x601 54_DSCF1012cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A very attractive little Peckett at Rothampton. My research reveals that this is one of a pair of Furzebrook locos built by Paul Windle for Stan Williams that use rare MBS chassis for the running gear. (Thanks for the information, Charlie!) 800x599 55_DSCF1048cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A Paul Windle-built Hunslet 0-6-2T based on a class of locos built for service in Nepal at Stan Williams and Roger Christian's Rothampton 800x599 56_DSCF1049cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A goods train hauled by Roger Christian's very nicely executed Knightwing diesel kitbash arrives at Rothampton 800x600 57_DSCF1056s.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Roger Christian receives a certificate of commendation for his County Donegal inspired railcar pair 800x599 58a_DSCF1192cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Roger Christian's County Donegal inspired railcar set, built using Worsely scratch aid etched components and powered by Kato tram chassis 800x600 58_DSCF1090cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet's Rae Bridge at a rare peaceful moment early morning , before it spent the rest of the day behind a screen of eager viewers 800x599 59_DSCF1018cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet's railcar set at Rae Bridge 800x600 60_DSCF1088cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The Craigcorrie & Dunalistair breakdown train pauses at the ruined winding house on the high level line above Ted Polet's Rae Bridge 800x600 61_DSCF1146cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A rare viewing angle from behind the carriage shed across the works siding and workshop at Rae Bridge 800x601 62_DSCF1148cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Rae Bridge is just one small part of a large and complete Scottish Highlands narrow gauge railway that lives in Ted Polet's home in Leiden, Netherlands 800x601 63_DSCF1150cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet's very popular Victorian loco "old number 6" "Inveraray" brings an up mixed train from Dunalistair into Rae Bridge 800x599 64_DSCF1156cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Rae Bridge - Ted Polet 800x600 65_DSCF1159cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The distillery at Rae Bridge which has its own private siding and shunting locomotive 800x601 66_DSCF1164cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
A busy scene as up and down trains bound respectively for Craigcorrie and Dunalistair cross at Rae Bridge 800x599 67_DSCF1166cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet received a certificate of commendation for his vertical boiler locomotive "Jock". Those with long memories will recall that "Jock" was also the recipient of the Peter Bayly Award at Ted's last visit to a Society AGM - at Redditch in 2000 800x599 68a_DSCF1187cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet's "Jock" poses with what may be his grandad, Mike Sharman's famous "HalfaShay" locomotive that was built nearly 40 years ago for Paul Towers' Wunce Onli layout that was described in Railway Modeller as long ago as 1970. This model is now part of the 009 Society Heritage Collection 800x600 68_DSCF1199cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Robert the Bruce, an impressive passenger tank loco, at Rae Bridge. Ted built this from a basis of a 1960's vintage Arnold 2-6-4T with an even older Triang TT Jinty body. The final model has a Mashima motor and diode controlled head and tail lights 800x601 69_DSCF1212cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
Ted Polet's latest locomotive on the C&DR is this Hunslet Tralee & Dingle 2-6-0T built from a Chivers whitemetal kit 800x599 70_DSCF1203cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
When Ted told me he was bringing "3D" (D for Dunalistair) to the AGM, I could not resist bringing my own 12-car cattle train to accompany it and create "a hibernian atmosphere" as Charlie Insley described it! 800x599 71_DSCF1205cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
The cattle train awaits the road at Rae Bridge as another of my favourite Irish trains comes in 800x600 72_DSCF1207cs.jpg 2009-05-09 00:00:00 |
