Maintanance and Saturday Steam ups / Driver training
Due to considerable track maintenance now needed Saturday Steam ups are suspended until the 4th April next year after the Steam up on November 1st. There may be a possability of January the 3rd but that depends on the weather and work progress.
These things have to be done and there's only Wednesday mornings and maybe the odd Saturday. Sorry, but its the price we pay for the wear and tear for both the track and the locomotives that generated the income that guarantees the existance of our club.
The diary dates below will reflect known activities, with updates, as they are established.
Many thanks to those who give their time for this work.
By popular demand we will hold Steam ups on the first Saturday of a month. This will probably only be steam tests for certification or repairs. The main event will be in the club house. The next event will be Saturday 7th February
Sunday
| Date | Details | ||
| 2026 | |||
| Saturday March 7th | Saturday Steam up, probably more of a social due to track maintenance. | ||
| Thursday 12th March | The Sunderland Shaper, what it does and did do. Plus the Rolls Royce Trent engine, inside the Derby Factory | ||
| Saturday 21st March | Cobweb run times and dates to be confirmed | ||
| Thursday 26th March | Public running 2026, The roster for drivers and TC's plus any thoughts for safety by Goeff Bashall Plus plus any useful video for time remaining. | ||
| Saturday April 4th | Steam up on Easter Saturday primarily testing locos for public running | ||
| Thursday April 9th | The industrialist Sir William Beardmore, with Geoff Bashall | ||
| Sunday April 12th | Public Running 2026 begins | ||
| Saturday April18th | Saturday Steam up, driver training. PLUS Birthday Partry from 13:00, with running from 14:00 to 16:00 | ||
| Thursday 23rd April | An update on Shoreham Fort since we last heard back in 2013 | ||
| Sunday April 26th | Public Running | ||
| Saturday May 2nd | Saturday Steam up. PLUS Birthday party with running from 143:'00 to 16:00 | ||
| Sunday May 10th | Public Running | ||
| Thursday May 14th | The problem of 90 degree torque drives and the incredable mechanics of drive shafts | ||
| Saturday May 16th | Saturday Ateam up. emphasis on driver Training | ||
| Sunday May 24th | Public Running | ||
| Thursday May 28th | Fish and Chip Evening. A return of a favourite, details to be advertise by the end of April |
New Locomotives on their commissioning runs.
Three of our members proudly present their new locomotives. To see them in all their glory go to the videos page.
Club Member Dennis Holmes created the videos and the links take you to his youtube site WooWooMad.
We Have a dedicated forum!
Ive moved this to near the top of the members page as Phil, who set this up and acts as moderator tells me that usage has dropped off. Perhaps those who contribure to whats app could also add to the wdsme forum too.
No jokes about funny things happening on the way please. For those unfamiliar with one it's an upmarket message board very similar to the what's on offer through Model Engineer (other magazines available) where suscribers offer advice, progress, ask questions, trade insults show photos. You can search for subjects, members or themes so long as they are there in the first place. You don't have to be an active forum contributor, but if you prefer to just look or follow posts, you will still have to join up. It's secure and moderated so anything untoward will be removed and if it's too offensive the perpertrator can be suspended or even get the order of the boot.
How do you get there? You can just click the link below or better still remember it, write it down or carve it on your dining room table. You do need to have an active email address then think up a user name (mine is NeilF) than a password following the necessary rules for security then wait for a welcoming email and away you go. Any questions please ask me, preferably within the clubhouse and not at 2 in the morning.
Https://worthingdistrictmodelengineers.co.uk/forum
Boiler certification
Changes have been made to the boiler records by Phil Downs. There has been an overhaul of the records with one or two discrepancies corrected. this shouldn't have any general effect on members. However, what will have an effect are the records of hydraulic and steam certificates. The new system will generate email reminders to owners of locomotives whose expiry of steam and hydraulic certificates will expire during the forthcoming month. It will be then up to respective owners to arrange any testing with the boiler testers by placing their locos on the schedule on the white board in the clubhouse.
Please liase with the boiler testers as the do not need be suddenly greeted with an impossible list of tests required on a Wednesday morning, it's not just the tests its the paperwork too.
Code of Practice for Public Running Version 5
The code of practice for public running has been reviewed and where appropriate, revised. This will come into effect from when Public Running resumes, hopefully in June this year (2021)
If you are to be involved in public running either as track controller, as other operational members, or the drivers of either steam or electric locomotives then you must be familiar with its scope and coverage.
There is a downloadable version on the private members page in the documents section. Members as mentioned above, who are track controllers or are licenced drivers will have already received their personal copies. Newly qualified members yet to obtain a copy can print their own or alternatively see Dereck Langridge / Geoff Bashall for your personal copy
Club Members meet regularly in our own clubhouse situated at Field Place, Durrington, near Worthing.
Scheduled meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7.30pm with either a guest speaker or "in-house" programmes.
Here members have access to notices, documentation and a discussion forum. This area is password protected.