The various working gangs at WDMES have sprung into action this month with various planned project work and maintenance at Daresbury, ready for the up and coming season, including the brand new tunnel extension!

Apologies for the late arrival of this month’s Gazette – no it’s not due to Brexit.. it’s just that I’ve been on holiday to the Isle of Man. Had a great time and an invite to the Ballaugh Wild Life Model Engineers track. It’s ground level 7 1/4 and 5ins and 3 1/2 – its one kilometer long and we received a very nice welcome. There is a open invitation to any of our members to take an engine and have a run, but get in touch with them first.

Lot’s gone on this month the tunnel has now been extended and it’s been painted and is now a major attraction a fantastic effort by Paul Caldwell and his staff ensured all the major work was completed in one day.

Whilst this was going on Henry, Roy and myself started the annual track inspection. Nothing major to report a few loose anti tip rail supports mainly the one’s supported by wooden blocks. Biggest job is tweaking the gauge as of Wednesday there is only the bottom end now to be checked.

Steve Hudson and his gang have now completed the new fencing around the stations and it’s looking fabulous. Duncan and Bruce have been busy burying conduit for the installation of a solar panel to power the swinging link signal and to provide charging facilities for on site batteries.

You can see photos in the Gallery of the Tunnel Extension and Site Maintenance here

Track running has been very good many new engines appearing for test etc. Jake undertook a loaded driving test and a series of questions and answers and passed with flying colours and is now a qualified passenger hauling driver. Well done Jake and happy birthday from all of us.

Finally from me I took it upon myself to ring the guy who promised to empty our toilets (as they were getting a bit high in no small way due to one of our members consuming a very dodgy Chinese meal the night previously). Anyway the guy doesn’t operate in this part of Cheshire anymore so a quick call to our landlord with the assistance of John Waldron the job was done. I went up later that day and washed the loo tanks and put in new disinfectant it now smells of roses.

Patrick

 

Other related Daresbury Gazette articles:

• Easter Natter Running Night – April Edition – Daresbury Gazette
• WDMES Committee Minutes – 9th April 2019
• MMEX and AGM 2019 – March Edition – Daresbury Gazette
• WDMES Committee Minutes – 12th February 2019
• Winter is Here! – February Edition – Daresbury Gazette

<< Back to Daresbury Gazette

Easter Bank Holiday weekend started early for WDMES Members this year, with a fun twist on Natter Night being held at the Daresbury Track for a 'Natter Running Night' and BBQ, and then a run at the track on Easter Sunday also! Please read on to find out more. You can also view the Gallery of the Easter Weekend 2019 here The AGM was held last month, with the committee members and roles accepted again for another year (including our newly appointed Chairman Barry Linaker last year), and other details about the club are in good stead - members will be able to find out more in the latest committee minutes (available online here). Lots of fittings, taps, dies, copper tube were sold also after the formal proceedings, with many items purchased at a greatly reduced price! What a bargain! Maintenance work continues at pace up at the track, readying ...
Read More of this article

This years Manchester Model Engineering Exhibition (MMEX 2019) was once again held in Oldham Greater Manchester. Brian Renton and Steve Hudson took charge of organising the WDMES Stand and made a very good job of displaying the club's models. The venue is not very exhibitor friendly due to restricted parking allowances being enforced by the local wardens. But despite that I think we all enjoyed the weekend and a big thank you goes out to all those who contributed. You can view the Gallery of MMEX 2019 here Just lately we have had some atrocious weather conditions (thanks to Storm Gareth), resulting in the loss of one Sunday track day (see The Daresbury Gazette Xtra for the inside scoop!), but luckily no serious tree damage from the extremely high winds this is in no part due to the tree maintenance by Andrew and Jake Marsh and other members who contribute ...
Read More of this article

Well here we are, we are now into February and still running and access to the track is holding up and days are getting longer! This Months edition of the Daresbury Gazette, we feature a photo of the Winter Snow at the Daresbury Track, many thanks to Roy Allen for braving the sub zero conditions to take the photo! Thursday February 7th from 8:00pm we have our next WDMES Talk about the 'History of Mining in Lancashire' by Guest Speaker: A. Davies (at the St Mary Magdalene's Church Hall, Appleton) - we hope to see many members at this event - More details of this event and future events can be found here Since the last Gazette we have a new engine on the block in the shape of a very nice 5ins Royal Scot belonging to Barry Purslow - as expected it ran straight out of the box blowing ...
Read More of this article

For the last couple of months now we have been looking back over the last year thinking it all ends as far as running is concerned in late November. But here we are in 2019 and we are still blasting!! This Months edition of the Daresbury Gazette, we feature Barrie Purslows Royal Scot at the Daresbury Track during its first outing, more details below within the DG! Thursday January 3rd from 8:00pm we have our first WDMES Talk of 2019 about 'Wheel/Rail Interface' by Guest Speaker and fellow member: J. Stow (at the St Mary Magdalene's Church Hall, Appleton) - we hope to see many members to bring in the new year - More details of this event and future events can be found here What a month December turned out to be, we've not missed a beat with Wednesday working days and they have been very productive, and as ...
Read More of this article