Oldham Goup

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 8th January, 2024 cont/d.

Paul had completed another building on his 009 layout 'Melton Market' which is due to be exhibited at Narrow Gauge North on the 8th March. It'll be the last exhibition before some sort of completion ... (?). He'd had to use Buff Titanium as the base for the stonework as the DecoArt Sandstone is no longer available.

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He'd also started building the level crossing gates for Clogher. The road that crossed the road on a skew was narrowish and spanned both tracks. There is only partial evidence for the gates and their configuration is something of a conundrum. There was some discussion and it is most likely that they will be set up as seen in the photo – unless further evidence comes to light (which is doubtful).

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He'd exhibited 'Wood Brook' at the Tyne-Tees group open day in November. There were many excellent layouts present. The photo shows a coal mine inspired by that at Beamish Museum which was part of the groups modular layout.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 8th January, 2024 cont/d.

The next meeting will be held on Zoom. This will be on Wednesday 12th February, starting at 8.00pm (confirmed). Joining details will be circulated nearer the time.                        

s.p.t. 16-1-25.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025.

Twelve group members attended the meeting on Zoom on Wednesday 12th February – Alan, Andrew, Bob, Charlie, Darryl, David E., David H., Hugh, Paul M., Stuart, Tony and Paul T.
There were apologies from Ian, Peter and Philip.

Alan has now completed his model of the Ballymena Cushendall and Red Bay 0-4-2 saddle tank. He gave a short video clip of the locomotive running on his Ballyshannon layout.  He still is not totally happy with the running of the model as it pitches forward when running. It was suggested that springing fitted to the rear wheels may eliminate this. The locomotive will feature in a future article on the Cavan and Leitrim Railway to be published in the 009 News.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.

Darryl had given his clockwork Hornby 0 gauge set, now 70 years old, a successful try out. We saw various items of stock – all still in fine condition - as well as photos of a young Darryl with the trainset back in his childhood.

Charlie had been busy with several loco projects since the October meeting of the group.
The following is a snapshot of just four of the projects:

• A Langley WD Hunslet with Minitrix chassis adapted to become a Mallet for use on St-Etienne-en-Caux.

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• He'd also converted and adapted a Lilliput 0-6-2T to create a very passable SACM Mallet, also primarily intended for St Etienne.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.

• From Fourdees there were examples of 'Whiting' and 'Groby' locomotives.

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Whiting


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Groby

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.

David H. In the last meeting Hugh had been able to report on a new loco from Model Engine Works that used the chassis of the N gauge 'Emily' (Thomas & Friends) for versions of a tender and tank engine. David showed us updated photos of the various models including the tender loco in completed condition.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.


Hugh showed us photos from the Doncaster MRE. Two 009 layouts were present - David and Robert Waller's Dduallt and Andy Cundick's Llanfair Caereinion, 1937. The Society was represented by the South Yorkshire Group stand with small layout and test track.

Paul M. was working on a couple of buildings. That shown in the photo is a Fair Price Models laser cut kit, and has been covered with Scalescenes brick paper.

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He'd also been working on rolling stock including a van made from an Airfix Interfrigo van, with the doors from a Dapol gunpowder wagon. It runs on PECO L&B bogies.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.


Stuart was contacted by Pete Mills to rescue some PMW Darjeeling coaches and to get a couple of NDM-6 diesels painted and working.

Plus he also finished off a 3D printed body for a Darjeeling Sharp Stewart 'B' class loco. He had to make adjustments to get the Arnold 0-6-0 chassis (centre wheels removed) to fit.
The photo shows Stuart's "Guida" and Martin's Collin's "Myfanwy" at Statfold, in remembrance of Martin (a frequent contributor to the 009 News and a member of the Sussex Downs group) who passed away suddenly a few weeks ago.

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He also has a new CDU from Amazon for £7.99 delivered, which he will try and write up for Ben (the Society trade officer).

Tony had built a 3D printed Model Engine Works Peckett that he had received at the October meeting of the group.

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The livery is RAF blue and the loco runs sweetly on a Kato England chassis. Just couplings and a driver/fireman to add.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th February, 2025. cont/d.


Paul T. had been working on the north light factory for Melton Market. It had been roofless for a number of years but he'd finally had an idea on how to complete the northlight face of the roof. Technically not correct but hopefully fairly passable. The slate side of the roof is removable to enable repairs and the addition of any machinery when time allows.

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He had, at long last, also completed the outstanding windows on the chapel, courtesy of window frames from York Modelmaking.

The gates for Clogher level crossing were now complete. These were mixed media incorporating brass and cardboard. They are probably not entirely correct, decent photographic evidence being had to come by.

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Similarly to Tony, Paul had completed a Peckett from Model Engine Works and this new addition to the 009 fleet will be running on Melton Market at Narrow Gauge North.


Date for your diary: Narrow Gauge North, 8th March at Pudsey Civic Hall. Doors open 10.30am.
Tony will be present with Grimbledon Down Light Railway (009); Charlie and Rob with El Tortuga (H0e) and Paul T. with Melton Market (009 - it is progressing ...!)


The next meeting will be held on Zoom. This will be on Wednesday 12th March, starting at 8.00pm (confirmed). Joining details will be circulated nearer the time.

The following meeting will be held in Grasscroft on April 9th, also starting at 8.00pm.

I am trying to organise a meeting on a Saturday at the Methodist Church in Greenfield but finding a suitable date that doesn't conflict with other events is proving problematic at the moment.

s.p.t. 19-2-25

[MickT]

Thanks Hugh & Paul - A splendid illustrated report and a great selection of imaginative modelling! Cracking Job Gents!

Mick

[Hugh Norwood]

Thank you, Mick, but Paul Titmuss deserves the credit, as he compiles it; I just put his words onto the forum!

[MickT]

Thanks for the update Hugh, I have amended my congratulatory posting below!

Mick

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th March, 2025.

Twelve group members attended the meeting on Zoom on Wednesday 12th March – Alan, Andrew, Bob, Charlie, Darryl, Hugh, Ian, Peter, Rob, Stuart, Tony and Paul T.

There were apologies from David H. and Paul M.

Alan showed a Clogher Valley Railway tractor chassis he had made for the  Worsley Works brass cab body and storage compartment. Mike Chinnery used to supply a motor bogie to fit into the CVR 'Unit' to power the model. This is now no longer available. Alan used identical components to Mike that he'd purchased from Branch Lines to make an equivalent motor bogie to power his model.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th March, 2025 cont/d.

Bob talked through the challenges of using an inexpensive TomyTec tram chassis as a motor bogie, and showed modifications to his 1/100 scale Billard A80 railcar (which is tiny, so space inside is tight).  Power pickups had been added from split-axle wheelsets on the trailing bogie, via wire wipers to the vehicle underframe, and from there to the motor bogie top pivot plate.  The final challenge was to get power from this pivot plate to the motor itself, as the electrical connections are totally hidden within the chassis.  The solution was to add further wire wipers to transfer power to the power bogie wheel treads (which are already connected to the motor).  Running trials are still in progress...

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Bob had also joined a French NG modelling forum, and was enjoying engaging with other members in French (with help from Google Translate!).

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham/NW Groups meeting 12th March, 2025 cont/d.

Charlie had been busy with several projects, especially stocking Don Sibley's 'El Tortuga' H0e layout. There are now steam locos, railcars, coaches and wagons. A recent build is the smartly completed little Onda-Castellon Krauss (this railway ran in Southern Spain).

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