Update, Club Auction

The 26th  October heralded the club auction. This was a huge success and raised over £700 for club funds. I anticipate next years to be equally as good with any lemons purchased returned for resale. These items are like rare bottles of wine or spirits that are held lovingly not for consumption but purely in care for the next enthuiastic and hopeful owner who hopes that his invesment will too return a healthy profit and bring similar joy to the next new owner.

I am pleased to announce the the spirit of Ray Hammond lives on in the member, who shall remain nameless, successfully bidded against himself. Needless to say our esteemed auctioneer Dereck Langridge brought the hammer down resoundingly on the higher bid. For future reference Dennis, the phrase to use is "I recind my bid" and hope that the auctioneer is an Officer, Gentleman and an all round good bloke.

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

Public running 2023

2023 didn't turn out that bad really. There were a few duff Sunday's when there shouldn't have been in the height of the season but it could have been a lot worse. Full details will emerge during the AGM next February.

All the remains of 2023 is the Santa Run on December 10th. Hopefully it will be dry, unlike last year when rain stopped play. We expect it to be cold, that's what December is about, and frost is not out of place,  but rain? Yuk, snow would be more seasonal but the way things have been of late we should also anticapate there being a heatwave.

Whatever dawns on the day dress appropriately for the occasion that starts for 11:00 through to 2:00.

Remember if your name is down on the roster as driver, TC or assistant TC then the slot is yours and if you have to, or need to change, its up to you to arrange a subsitute. Failure could result in ridicule and public shaming on a Thursday evening

We always need helpers for safety duty and other public running tasks. If you are able to offer help on the day you'll be more than welcome. all you have to do is turn up there's always something you can do, assist with, or just be there even if only for a hour or two.

Boiler certification

For the next 25 years all delays or issues will be attributed to the pandemic. So please keep your eyes on steam and hydraulic expiry dates and get locos prepared for testing. There are the lists on the members private page that give an indication of who is due for what and when but they are not definitive. If in doubt there are also the complete boiler records that you can look through. If any doubt still remains please contact one of our boiler testers by phone, email or in person on a Wednesday morning down at field place

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. However, such members as mentioned above, who are track controllers or are licenced driver,s will have received their personal copies included with their latest (Summer 21) newsletter. If you are a newly quafied member for the above positions then see Dereck Langridge or geoff Bashall for your personable 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.