WN21 - We wish you a Merry Christmas Flugel

21st November 2006

The title this week was a toss up between all the Christmas carol titles. Has anyone a better suggestion? (That is printable!)

To business; My car is on loan so I had to await the pleasure of the domestic executive before departing with her car. Didn't front up till nearly afternoon tea time. Very cold and windy weather, so outside pursuits were minimal. As a result, I got but four pictures. Let's see how we can pad them out.....

Starting with the 'F'. Seen here is Callum Jones, measuring the valve linkage to ascertain the correct midpoint for the gear and then establish the correct length of the reach rod. This we didn't finish, other than to ascertain that the rod has to be shortened. I should add, that the coal bunkers are bolted down, so the point of mounting the reversing lever is now fixed.

So what did we have done on the 'F' at the beginning of the year?.............

On the 6th of January, this was the scene. The axles were under and the spring hangers were being fitted. We had fitted the cylinders and remember, the L.H. one had to be reamed between the mounting bolt holes and the frame, then fitted bolts were driven in. 6 weeks of doing reaming that took.

At the same time, 'R14' was beginning to come together again.

We had made our assertation that anything stationary and flat became a workbench. 'R14' again, with Jolly Roger and Sir Colin making executive decisions as they lean against the workbench.

The present state of 'L1939'. Bob the builder is well on the way with his 3rd wagon for the year.

Having finished the 'R' Bob then tackled the 'N'. This taken on the 11.05.06.

Then from here to the 'L'.

The earliest picture for the year that I have of carriage 'A1177' is this............

Graham Inwood working on the handrails.

The roof of the dog kennel Keith Brown and Graham made shows in the foreground.

By years end the roof had been prepared for the cover and Keith and Mirthful Max are doing the application. All the sides and ends are clad, undercoated, sanded and spot puttied. There has been an enormous amount of work done on this side of the shop that I have not covered.

Vulcan railcar, Rm 56 has been getting a great deal of attention from Sir Colin for some time and more recently he has had a very able helper in Ian 'website' MacDonald. They are now well on with the window repairs on the opposite side.

Let us not overlook the major advance the Electric Traction crew have made, in fully finishing the erection of the overhead wiring and the bonding of the rails for the earth return. Only minor work and testing now remain to be done to complete what has been a very major project. I look forward to presenting much news on this front in the New Year.

The valley line must be mentioned too. Great strides have been made here as well. Not to mention all the major sleeper renewals and track repairs that have been done. All very heavy work.

Indeed, I cannot mention everything that has been accomplished and that which I have not made mention of is no less than anything that has. The progress has been quite amazing and it is due to the efforts of everyone who has helped in whatever way. It is scary to contemplate whether we can do as well again next year. I know of three big targets to try to meet and there are probably quite a number I am not aware of. I can justifiably say that it would be hard to belong to any group where so much is achieved by so few. Roll on 2007!!

May I wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas, together with good health, good fortune and good fun with our hobby. (It is a hobby isn't it? I keep thinking it is a way of life!) Cheers to you all, 'K'.

P.S. I'll be back in mid January.