Oldham Goup

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham group meeting 15th April, 2023. cont/d...

A reminder that our next meeting is on Wednesday 10th May in Grasscroft (8.00pm start). Future meetings will be advised.

~ s.p.t. 16-4-23

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Four attended the Wednesday evening meeting; David, Peter, Tony and Paul. There were apologies from Alan C., Alan G., Andrew, Bob, Ron and Stuart.

Tony brought along 4 locos to run on the test track. There was a smartly finished Narrow Planet kit of the loco 'Pamela', named Joan, and formerly owned by Roger Christian. Also a per-owned Chivers Skylark class loco that still had its Ibertren chassis. Running was a bit erratic so Tony was going to look at some basic maintenance before looking to re chassis. On the diesel front there was a Paul Windle built Baldwin and a neatly repainted Liliput V5 loco.

Paul had brought down to the meeting Melton Market prior to its appearance at the Society AGM in Leeds. Progress was being made with some buildings and two, a half timbered house and weavers cottage in 'Saddleworth style' were considered in more detail. On the 00n3 front the Alphagraphix Swilly Cleminson coach was now complete (at last!) and a new 3D print for the CdN van (Fr "wagon couvert") with much better detail was there for inspection.


There was a lot of discussion about rail and model rail related topics.

Several people who are or who have been connected with the Oldham group were exhibiting at the Little Trains in Leeds II (the AGM meeting). I took a few photographs which I hope will be of interest.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

First Melton Market. A work in progress even after its appearance at the 2013 AGM in Rainford. Note 'heritage' mock up, ten years on, on the left!

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Tony Ennis was exhibiting is layout Grimbledon Down which contains a lengthy run over a series of gradients – not a place for an underpowered loco! This shows the station area. Like my layout it is a work in progress, but much better progressed.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Charlie Insley was helping Elizabeth with her layout Winter Overcoats. This has featured in the Railway Modeller.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Philip Lockwood was showing his characterful Lock Wood Wharf.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Stephen Penn attended the meetings frequently several years ago when he was working in the area. He brought along Eastbrook, a layout he now owns.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Richard Pike's terminus layout Lockden. This layout has featured in the Railway Modeller.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Alan Martin's Knottmuch Moor on its final show before the new owner took possession (at the close of play!)

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

Last but not least, Jonathan Stockwell's H0e Dornochbahn - a scottish distillery with a European flavour!

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 10th May, 2023.

The next meeting is pencilled in for 12th July here in Grasscroft, stating at 8.00pm (NO meeting in June).


I will arrange a couple of meetings for August, one live and one on Zoom, and hopefully we'll be able to have a get together at the church hall in Greenfield in the autumn (dodging other 009 ng events.

s.p.t. 24-5-23.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 19th July, 2023.

Three group members were present for the meeting, David, Tony and Paul.
Apologies had been received from Alan, Bob, Garry, Hugh and Philip.

The meeting unusually focused on wagons rather than locos.

David had completed two Hudson steel dropside bogie wagons (Dundas) inspired by a photo showing a Ffestiniog Railway vegetation clearance train at TyB. We tried identifying the other wagons to help with completing the project.

Tony had brought along several Bachmann WD wagons liveried for ICI that he had started lightly weathering and they had a good run around the test track. A Ninelines van also completed a circuit or two – in the manner they so often do ...

Paul had completed a six wagon rake of the Dundas 'Irish Narrow Gauge goods wagons', essentially built for the West Clare Railway. Each had a coal load and most were branded GS. They were wide wagons and seemed very large for 009, much more suitable for 00n3.

Two of the Clogher station boards (00n3) had been put up and were wired for use, a third remains to be completed. When finished they will attach to the Annascaul fiddle yards.

As usual there was useful discussion on construction techniques, developments in 009 and railways in general.

The next meetings are planned as follows:
   August 9th (Grasscroft)
   August 22nd (Zoom – TUESDAY)
   September 30th (Greenfield Methodist Church – Saturday pm)


~ s.p.t.

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham Group meeting 9th August, 2023 at Grasscroft.

Eight group members were present for the meeting, Alan G., Bob, David E., Garry, Hugh, Tony and Paul and we were pleased to welcome Alan S. to his first meeting.

3 apologies had been received from Charlie, David H. & Peter.

Alan G. brought two new locos he'd built to the meeting. Models of the 0-6-0ST 'Countess of Antrim' (Ballycastle Railway) and 2-4-2CT No 110 (Ballymena & Larne Railway). The latter loco was inspired by Derek Naylor's loco built in the '50's (and now in the Society's Heritage Collection). Both ran well up and down the track laid for Clogher station.

Bob had locos, stock and buildings from his St-Trojan station project. He had constructed a 3rd Corpet Louvert which ran on a Roco chassis, the second with the typical cab style of the railway. All the coaches have now been now been widened to reflect their correct width and the buildings are for an additional backdrop to the layout.

Garry brought along 6 Kiso Forest Railway 0-4-2T locos built originally by Baldwin, 2 were built from Joe Works kits and the others were models from Endo Corporation both of Japan. None of the locos had been run for years, 3 of those by Endo Corp surprised us by running reasonably well.

Hugh brought along a new controller that he had built that could be switched into and out of feedback mode. The difference to the control of running with open frame or coreless motors was noted. Most of the locos brought along to the meeting were tested with the controller and the difference in performance noted for some in either mode.

Tony had a model of a Kerr Stuart diesel that ran on a Plymouth 'brick' chassis. A few additions to the body are required to finish it off. The loco did not run well – wheels need a clean and possibly gears a lubricate – but performance improved no end when run with feedback.

Paul had set up the 3 based boards for Clogher station and most of the electrics had been completed. Loco's were run up and down, including Alan's two, and all seemed to operate successfully. The layout now needs wiring up to the fiddle yards.
Additionally there was a static of CdN railway stock that included a new print of a van (wagon couvert). This made the fourth item of stock available in 00n3/1:76 scale for this line.

It is with sadness that I have to report the passing of Stuart Goodwin earlier in the month.

Stuart had been a long time member of the Oldham Group. He came to his first meeting in January 2010 and was a regular at our gatherings here in Grasscroft and in Chadderton (when we met at Laurence's). He was a loyal, stalwart member of the group and we last saw him in April at our meeting in Greenfield at the church hall.

His main passion was H0e and he built a small layout, Martini, that he exhibited locally (including a Society agm in Rainford) and also wrote an article on it for the 009 News. It was a smart and well thought through layout that was popular with exhibition visitors.
Stuart had what is probably termed a 'short illness' and passed peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and family.
Stuart's staunch support for the Oldham group will be missed.


The next meetings are planned as follows:
Saturday September 30th at Greenfield Methodist Church in the afternoon.

   Wednesday October 19th (provisional) in Grasscroft at 8.00pm.

~ s.p.t.

[Hugh Norwood]

"North west" groups Zoom meeting 21st August, 2023.

Ten group members were present for the meeting, Alan, Bob, David E., David H., Garry, Ian, Paul M., Philip, Tony and Paul T.
Apologies had been received from Andrew and Stuart.

Alan gave details of two chassis' he had recently constructed.
The first was an inside frame chassis with Walschaerts valve gear for the Cavan and Leitrim Railway 0-6-4T locomotive King Edward.  {photo1}

The second was an outside frame chassis with conventional valve gear for the London and Lough Swilly Railway's Hudswell Clarke 4-6-2T tank locomotive – a brand new kit from Worsley Works. {photo 2}

[Hugh Norwood]

"North west" groups Zoom meeting 21st August, 2023 cont/d.

Both Garry and Philip had purchased special editions of the PECO L&B van.
Garry's was a very limited edition WHHR '590' van and Philip the more widely available 'Purple Moose' variant.

Bob had been busy with a variety of donkeys and carts for a street scene on St-Trojan. He'd also completed a third Corpet-Louvert loco, running on a Roco chassis, as no 22. The last of the coaches had been widened including the addition of new balcony ends constructed in brass. He's also had the opportunity, whilst on holiday, to photograph some of the few remaining railway buildings on the Ile d'Oéron.
Later Bob showed us some photos of the CdN Association museum site at Boutdeville along with the former station at St Brieuc and some notable bridges of the line.

David E. had had acquired a Wills halt building that he'd painted for use in a future project.

David H. showed us some new models from Model Engine Works including a German Plettenberg box tram that ran on the Small England chassis, a Schull & Skibbereen tram loco (early version) that had been printed and completed by Jamie, along with a chassis for the T&D Hunslet tram loco No 4.

Ian had now painted his England variant loco from Fourdees and there is going to be an item on his new layout Tapp in the October edition of the 009 News.

Paul M. had purchased a model of the Hornby Wayside Halt building that he thought would come in handy at some point. Also an Atkinson Walker steam tractor (Philip had another 'version' of this loco from a different manufacturer) and was adapting some Hornby Mcvities vans for use on the narrow gauge.

Tony asked if anyone was available to help with operating Grimbledon Down at the Hazel Grove MRE on Sunday 29th October. There were no takers at the meeting but if you could help please contact Tony either directly or via me (Paul T).