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Romney Marsh Model Engineering Society Company Limited |
Recent News of the Society
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The first February meeting saw a
return visit from Andy Probyn who showed pictures
of developments at Maxitrak over the past 40 years. At the end of the month, Jeff Gibson gave
details of his home-made milling/engraving machine and Dave Draycott showed members what could be done with his
kit-built 3D printing machine. The last meeting of the winter saw
nearly 50 members enjoy an evening with John Wimble showing pictures of the
last 50 years of the Society. The Tuesday track meetings have
started with good attendances most weeks although not many people turned up
for the Easter Track Meeting. The 50th Anniversary
celebrations for the Society started in early May with a charter train on the
RH&DR from New Romney to Hythe and back.
Hurricane was the loco and club
member Stewart Christensen was the driver.
Around 90 members and family enjoyed the trip with a buffet laid on at
Hythe station. President Bobby Jones
gave a short speech and welcomed Yvonne Carter, widow of Cyril who started
the club and Tony Crowhurst, one of the original founder members. The aim for the Open Weekend a week
later was to have 50 locos either running or on display for the 50
years. As it happened, over 60 engines
were to be seen and over 200 people turned up over the two days of which
around 90 were club members. 24 locos
run on the main track with the garden railway also busy. Visitors came from the Oxford, Worthing,
Canterbury, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Gravesend and the Oignies club in France.
The Mayor of New Romney, Councillor Paul Thomas, opened the event on
the Saturday morning. One of the
highlights to be seen was a ‘G’ scale ‘Big Boy’ with 25 freight cars in the
garden railway. However, a very poor attendance for
the Small Locomotive Rally at the beginning of June with only two locos and
three visitors! The following week, over 40 members
and friends went to the Boatyard Railway for the annual steam-up. Despite some rain in the morning, after an
excellent early lunch provided by the RMMES ladies, around ten locos were run
on the track during the afternoon. A
very enjoyable day. During the month, members had a very
interesting visit to ‘Maxitrak’ at Staplehurst and
at the end of June on a very hot day, the Midsummer BBQ was held with nearly
100 sausages and burgers consumed. The Wednesday Gang still meet on a regular
basis. The new loading ramp/traverser
for the steaming bay is virtually finished and is in place in the steaming
bays. It was in operation for the Open
Weekend in May. The hydraulics for the
future operation of the swing bridge which should make it far easier to
operate, is now finished and has been working well. Peter Gallon and Tony Bartlett have been
renovating some of the seats and giving them a new coat of paint and also on
Wednesdays when it has been wet, some members have been busy with the ‘Ellie’
Steam Tram project. A 56-page book to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Society has recently been
published. Containing lots of pictures
and details of the club since its formation in 1969, it is a most interesting
read and copies are available from the Newsletter Editor, John Wimble. Contact John on 01797-362295 or email johnwimble@aol.com if you would like a
copy. Our President, Bobby Jones, was interviewed some time ago about his
involvement with railways, full-size and miniature and also the RMMES, on the
local radio station Romney Marsh FM. You can hear a recording of the
interview if you click here (might take a
minute to load). |
Some recent activity at Rolfe Lane.
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5" gauge 0-4-2
'Gladstone'. |
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'G' scale |
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2½" gauge LNER
2-8-2 'P2'. |
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5" gauge 'Class
59' at the Open Day. |
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