Scotland Area ScOONs meeting 20 September

[Ian McAulay]

Ahoy ScOONers!

Time for our second meeting in September. It will be at 8pm (UK time) as usual, details below. The host tis time will be Sara Marshall.

Ian

Ian McAulay is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: 009 Society ScOONs online meeting
Time: Sep 20, 2021 20:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81576666354?pwd=SS9jeVQzazlxYTVNNHFNZE9XRm91UT09

Meeting ID: 815 7666 6354
Passcode: scoons20th

[Sara Marshall]

Hi all,

Another lively and informative discussion last week, with attendance starting to pick up from the quiet of the summer.

For myself, it was good to get back onto home-turf after my travels to North Wales. This was a good segway for me talk about the Corris Railway; a little about the history of this important line, the future plans to rebuild the station building with its iconic overall roof (creatively needing a traverser, just like a model fiddle yard, to save space) and the current work on the southern extension. I recommend a glance at the railway's news pages on their website, in particular https://www.corris.co.uk/news/photographs/page/5/ for photos of the installation of the hand-filled gabions.

Still in the holiday mood, Ian treated us to a tour of Dutch preserved railways and museums, comparing the types and range of preserved locos, showing similarities in style to contemporary British ones (unsurprising, really, as many of them were imported). Of particular interest was the use of combined side-buffers and a centre buffler on the preserved line he visited.

Garry was able to give some more information about Hornby's Skaledale range, showing that "Blinkbonny" house has a possible prototype in Plockton. He is also working on David Hurst coaches, will show in a future meeting. Graeme illustrated a method for using coffee stirrers and card for a footbridge for his pizza layout, while Paul was persuaded to give us a transatlantic "roving camera" broadcast, allowing us to admire his hand painted backscene cloud effect.

Exhibitions were another hot topic, and whilst Aberdeen seems to be going ahead, with John updating us on the stand and the exhibition layout, with its first application of static grass, Glasgow is still hanging in the balance.

Quite a treat IMHO was Malcolm's presentation of the Cockenzie Waggonway, showing its excavation and fascinating history. I would encourage a visit in person if possible, or at least a click on https://www.1722waggonway.co.uk/

Finally, Phil told us all about mud kitchens, and how he builds them (and boats) for the local schools. I'm sure the kids have immense fun, but I'm happy with my real one!

With that in mind, it's time to put the kettle on; another brilliant gathering, and I look forward to our next one on the 5th Oct  :)
Keep safe, folks  :-*