Autumn 2012 - Black Country Live Steamers

Chairman
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Secretary
Events
Boiler Inspectors
News Letter
Webmaster
Richard Cross
David Bickerton
Keith Turley
Geoff. Paddock
Penny Warwick
Les Bromley
Ian Bromley
Chris Bailey
Leigh Hartshorne
Mike Malpass
Harry Wilkes
President Len Crane
AUTUMN 2012
Dear Member.
The Club as been fortunate to have nine new members, to have joined the Club in the
last few months. Unfortunately one of those members Peter Wright, I have recently
been in formed that he has resigned due to the fact, he as gone to live in North Wales.
Of the remainder we have one member who is building a 6 inch freelance Leyland
Steam Wagon. Another member is building 41/2 inch Foden "c" type steam wagon.
Also a member as completed a 41/2 inch Foden steam wagon. and another member is
also building a Foden "c" type lorry, the remainder are building stationary engines of
various types, With the collection we now have steam wagons, and stationery engines,
Iam sure the Club will be a formidable presence on the rally fields in the future, Thank
you to all .
--Winter Program
September
Dave Shuker gave an interesting and entertaining talk on how to build a 21/4 gauge
Allchin traction engine, without castings.
October
Richard Betts will be giving a talk, and a slide show of a photographic
Records of steam rallies members have attentended , beware you will be on candid
camera
.
November
Will be an auction, please bring any thing you wish to sell or resell, if you bought it at the
last one. If the last auction is any thing to go on , with the master of ceremonies Dave
Bickerton it will be a superb, entertaining evening.
December
The date for the winter meeting is THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER AT THE PUMP
HOUSE. Penny Warwick will again organise a fun quiz, and Mrs. . Jill Turley is
organizing the catering, which we all know is superb
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January.
Richard Cross has arranged a talk and slide show by Christopher Allen from Clay Mills,
entitled Marine Steam Engines.
February
Frank Kennedy is to give a talk entitled Automotive R & D.
March
The ever popular bring and talk, please bring any object of interest, to show members
and give a brief talk about these items.
April 25TH.
A.G.M.
--Black Country Living Museum.
Following a meeting between BCLS committee members and Jane Allcock of the Black Country Living Museum
(BCLM) earlier this year, several successful visits have been made by members and their engines to the
BCLM.
The committee meeting on October 9th appointed Penny as the Club liaison with Jane. Any events organised
by the BCLM or by the Club at the BCLM will be handled through her. Ad hoc visits by members can continue
as before and should be arranged directly with Jane.
It should be noted that the only “expenses” that may, at the discretion of the BCLM, be given will be in the
form of fish and chip vouchers and coal, However, you have the freedom to run around as much as you like
within the constraints listed below. Also, the fish and chips are well recommended!
Any events organised by the BCLM to which the Club is invited would hopefully involve some remuneration
but again this is at the discretion of the BCLM.
In order to maintain and develop the Club’s good relationship with the BCLM, it is worth noting a few “Dos
and Don’ts”.
Do
• Comply with BCLM staff requests and directions at all times
• Remember you are a part of the BCLM in the eyes of the paying public
• Remember you are representing the BCLS
Don’t
• Drive down into the Village without an escort
• Drive the wrong way round the one-way system
• Park your engine anywhere near smoke or fire alarms
• Park your car inside the BCLM during the day- use the car park (tokens can be obtained from staff
at the tills inside the main entrance) and bring your car in overnight if you are staying
The Club looks forward to more visits to the BCLM in 2013. The BCLM has been very pleased with what we
have done so far.
Do go along if you have a spare weekend or even a spare day.
For ad hoc visits, contact Jane Allcock on 0121 521 5696 or for organised visits contact
Penny Warwick
---
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Dudley Canal Festival
Steve Bingham Gave his thanks to the members for their impressive display in the Pump
House.
Mike Malpass had his engine in steam. Penny and Allan had their street organ entertaining the
crowds, Frank Kennedy, Dave Shuker , Bob Chater,had superb static models in the Pump
house and John Poultney sailed his steam launch on the canal, between boat trips, Through out
the day other members, paid us a visit.
It was a very enjoyable day, and the weather was fine on the Saturday.
--Club Uniform
Members wishing to purchase, Club Sweat Shirts, There are two or three suppliers where they
can be purchased , The Club does not hold any stock of these items. Any member wishing to
purchase these items, Please Contact the Secretary Geoff. Paddock, for details.
--Committee Meetings
Mainly for the benefit of new members, the committee have committee meetings usually two or
three times a year, If any member wants to see the minutes of these meetings ,contact the
Secretary, also any member wishing to attend any of these committee meeting are welcome to
do so, just contact a committee member.
--Richard Betts
After a lot of hard work by Richard, he has organized a visit to a friend of his. It is to a
private viewing of a collection of aero memorabilia, including engines which are in
working order, barns full of other items which we will be free to walk round .the date is
Saturday October the 27th from 10.30am/11.30am
Entrance is free but there will be collection bucket for the local air ambulance. Tea and
biscuits will be provided.
Final arrangements will be announced at the October Meeting. You can bring
companions if you wish.
--Market Bosworth Station
Hi Penny
Hope things are well at Black Country Steamers
Finally, after months of hectic persuasion I have managed to persuade the railway that a
Miniature Traction Engine Rally is both viable and a good, potential success. The date is still
proposed for April 27th/28th at Market Bosworth Station, the Battlefield Line.
OK - here we go. If any of your club would like to exhibit their engines then please do not
hesitate to give them my details. I can be contacted on this email address, by telephone on
07805759029 and I will also be at the MMEE (Fosseway) on the Friday and Saturday to a)
round up some of the engines there and b) to drive for my model engineering society on the
portable 5" gauge railway.
The large, gravel yard at Market Bosworth Station is large enough to accomodate a large
amount of engines and is right next to the main standard gauge line that runs for 5 miles
between Shackerstone and Shenton. Over the weekend the railway will be running steam
hauled train services (locomotive tbc). Down at MB is where all of the 'action' as it were takes
place.
In short, the proposal to exhibitors entitles them to:
* £10 per day steaming fee for each engine that steams
* Free tea/coffee
* Free ticket(s) to ride on the full size steam train
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* Engine storage in the Goods Shed (if owner not camping on site) - theft insurance provided
* Space to camp overnight on Friday & Saturday if requried (need to book pitch from me)
The railway will be providing 1/2 ton of full size coal as a gesture - when its gone its gone hopefully it will last a bit though!
As well as the miniature traction engines we will have a full size 8-ton Aveiling Roller joining us
to show the scale difference. That engine will be on site throughout the weekend, in steam and
probably milling about. A 5" gauge portable ride on railway is also booked to appear - giving
rides in the yard. A catering van and toilet facilities will also be brought in.
Inside the large Goods Shed we hope to have model engineering displays and also some toy
steam (mamod, wilesco etc) displays, showing the smallest extremity of the traction engine.
Engine owners wishing to attend will need to provide proof of boiler (steam & hydraulic)
certificates and personal public liability insurance. No certificates - no steaming I'm afraid - as is
standard practise at rallies.
The lowest benchmark for miniature engines is 15 - I think thats a fair display, plus everything
else, and the full size railway - especially as this is the first event of its kind for Market Bosworth.
I would request that any owners that live near the railway and want to come preferabbly do not
camp on the site, simply so that those coming from further a field will definately have space. Of
course we will not turn away any owner who lives far enough to justify camping - we understand
the logistics of moving such large models! I mean, I spotted an Allchin named "Abbie Jane" and
a Garratt named "Jack" at a rally once - both of which are in your club I believe - beautiful,
beautiful things, but absolutely huge!! I would consider it amazing if either of those (or even both
of those) engines attended.
All of the details I have given above are just about to be confirmed. The final deadline for
confirmation to me (from the railways side) is the Friday of MMEE (19th Oct) so after that I'm
searching for engines like mad - hence the coincidental match with the MMEE weekend, so I
can do some engine poaching!
So, as I say Penny, I would love for any of your club to attend. I know its a long way off but you
will appreciate that an event like this needs to be 'nailed down' early so as to avoid
embarrassment and hassle nearer the time.
Furthermore, does your club have a society stand or anything that gets exhibited at shows? Or
do you have any members with mod engineering or other displays which may be appropriate for
our indoor exhibits? If so I am more than happy to discuss options and offer space.
Thank you very much for your time. I hope B.CL.S members will attend and hopefully make this
first event a success. Though confirmation is due on Oct 19th I am available for contact prior to
this date so owners may "Register interest" in coming first.
Best Regards
Sam Brandist
Penny Warwick
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Claymills Steaming August 2012
As what has become normal for the August bank holiday weekend, another fantastic time was had by all
who attended the Claymills Victorian Pumping Station (C.P.E.T.) steaming weekend. The B.C.L.S.
members in attendance were Keith Turley, Dave Shuker, Richard Cross (jnr), Ian & Les Bromley, Pepe,
Steve & Jack Daniels Harry Wilkes, Steve Bull and myself, also one 6” Tasker in attendance. (Not
BCLS)
Other exhibits in attendance being a large collection of Austin 7 cars, brewery shire horse and dray,
classic motor cycles, birds of prey display, a visit to the Victorian bathroom, plus the usual children’s rat
trail, although most parents appear keen to complete the list themselves. Other regular visitors being the
Victorian “Steam Punks” with their theatrical show of the captured mermaid! Caught off the Marcus
Island, and “save the mermaid” campaign. I will leave the rest to your imagination. After the CPET
members did a feasibility study on the unused pair of engines which do not
steam, neither of which are seized, it was decided to start restoring a third engine, (“B” Engine)
some of the motion work has been removed for cleaning and polishing, major scaffolding, lifting
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and slinging required to remove said pieces, but work carries on and some linkage is starting to
shine.
Richard Cross
Above are the dignitaries that attended, left to right, Sir Alan Jones (CPET President), Mr Roy Barratt
(CPET Director), Christopher Allen (CPET Chairman) and the Mayor of East Staffordshire.
Richard Cross
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