june 2012 steaming ahead · sun 24 june midland fed rally erewash valley editor: steve kesterton...

June 2012

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Steaming AheadSteaming Ahead

Sutton Coldfield Model Engineering Society

Sutton Coldfield Model Engineering Society President Neal Harrison 0121 378 3992 Chairman Allan Leary 01827 892503 Secretary Eric Davies 0121 308 6886 Treasurer Chris Greene 0121 351 3509 Directors Bill Betts 01624 880372 Mike Brophy 0121 353 6233 Bill Colman Ron Freeman 01922 632180 Stuart Harrison Peter Robinson 01543 253343

Front Cover: The interior of George the Diesel - it could be the real thing!

Events Next Month Sun 01 July Steam Up 10am Tues 03 July Board Meeting 7.30pm Sun 08 July Garden Party 11am-4pm Sat 14 July Steam Up & SCRS Visit 10am Sun 22 July Birthday Party 2pm-4pm Tues 24 July Stationary Engines Buffet 6pm

Events This Month Sun 03 June Steam Up 10am onwards Mon 04 June Bank Hol Steam Up 10am onwards Tues 05 June Board Meeting 7.30pm Sun 10 June Birthday Party 2pm-4pm Sat 16 June AGM & Steam Up BBQ 10am onwards Tues 19 June Traction Engine Night 6pm Sat 23 June G Tyso Private Function Sun 24 June Midland Fed Rally Erewash Valley

Editor: Steve Kesterton Mobile: 07946 025 151 Email: [email protected] Press Date is the first Tuesday of the month

What YOU need to do is……… This is the opening phrase so often heard at Balleny Green addressed to members working on various projects by their fellow members who have either both hands in their pockets, or one hand in a pocket whilst the other is holding a cup of tea! Whilst advice is always welcome, help is even more welcome. But ‘I can’t lift, or bend’ I hear you say. You don’t have to. There are always jobs such as drilling holes, holding something while another member fixes it, painting, sweeping, or even making a cup of tea for those members working. It was noticeable that the raised level track refurbishment was carried out by members who do not own locomotives to run on it, whilst all those who use it regularly were either conspicuous by their absence, or just dropped in to see how things were going and to question when it would be ready to run on again. What WE need is…… MORE HELP! It’s YOUR society so please come along and help, not only with maintenance, but with running events, and bringing locomotives. You never know – you might even enjoy yourself and the project will get completed that little bit sooner! Whilst on the subject of events, the testing of models either steam or diesel on public event days, including birthday parties, which is likely to interrupt service trains will not be allowed. This is not something new – it has always been our practice. Garry Tyso Pond Restoration /Waterfall Project – Progress Report. The heavy rain and hail storms in the early part of May raised the water level in the pond by several more inches. During the later hot spell, tadpoles were seen swimming around, the water lilies started to flower and together with the wild flowers around the banks, the pond looked more of a feature. The daffodils the grew along the side of the old stream have been moved to several locations between the low fence and the water’s edge. The old duck house was consigned to the bonfire and a new duck house made by Eric (D) has been put roughly into position pending reinstatement of the pump and pipe work.

Garden Party 8 July—can you help?

The stone work, forming the retaining walls of the waterfall, has all been cemented in using mortar mixed for us by Gary(T) and Dave(M). Rocks have been placed along the one edge of the pool to prevent soil and stones rolling into the water, as the ground is built up to form the rockery. Roger Addenbrooke The Club Signal System Update The mechanical ends of the system are still not sufficiently reliable. The point sensor box on the station approach filled up with an ant nest and would not function at all, just before the Spring party. This should be solvable with a generous sprinkling of ant powder. The springs on the second station platform point drive have been reorganised so it works better. We had four treadle detector faults at the recent public party and one a week earlier. Two of these were broken springs, rusted away, two were springs that jumped off their posts even after being gummed to the posts. The other one was caused by the detector going out of adjustment because of the high ambient temperature. The solution must be to develop a solid state detector with no moving parts that detects the wheels directly. The problem is to get a reliable design that detects every type of train in all weather conditions having regard for machining, materials and electronic tolerances, no mean task. To achieve this we have to develop a design that produces the maximum change to the magnetic field around the sensor head when a train passes. This should require the minimum maintenance and be reliable. Ideally this requires the area near the head to be completely non-metallic. Any metal near will degrade the on/off differential. This means having a short section of non-metallic track. High performance plastic materials are very expensive and often difficult to machine. Allan, Ossi and I are working on two approaches. Ossi has made a sample keeping a narrow (2.6mm) steel track edge which Allan has installed on the inner track near the tunnel exit.


I have made a sample with a 30mm non-metallic section of track. This uses Delrin which is a tuff Acetal material and is cheap and easy to machine. I am not confident that this will be good enough to withstand the heavy loads and harsh conditions but it will give us some experience to work on. Watch this space! Bill Colman

Grounds Maintenance Diary TUESDAY 1ST Two days after the SCRS Exhibition at Bishop Walsh School, which went off very well with our stand attracting a lot of interest. However, two days after and most of us down with diarrhoea and sickness as a result of an infection picked up at the exhibition. I was in touch with Malcolm Gibbins, their Chairman, who confirmed they had the same problem. I suggested that it was reportable and put him in touch with one of their members who could provide guidance. As a result he contacted the Health Protection Agency and I was asked to provide details of our members who were affected. As I write this on Thursday 3rd I have no further information but I’m attending our (SCRS) Thursday evening meeting and hope to learn more. Consequently, with 13 of the usual Tuesday Little Hay members affected the numbers were well down. However, as luck would have it non of my team were involved and so Bill Colman got his wish – see following message from Rod on the team:- “1st May. Grenville, Roger, Bill. Rod and myself, guided by Bill laid new trunking in the tunnel out of the rain!! complete with cable. We were then joined by John on the next run through to the station. There is now only a short run left to do now”. Bill sent me a similar one but more complimentary!!!!! TUESDAY 8TH With the threat of rain it was important to get started on the mowing which had not been fully done for some three weeks. However, instead the sun came out and Grenville and I worked well completing 90% of the mowing by lunch time.


Last month in Pictures ...

Alongside the refurbished high level track, the wall for the new 16mm circuit is rapidly developing

Ballasting of the track underway on the high level circuit.

Last month in Pictures ...

Eric out for a run with his GWR Tank loco

The club’s ‘Speedy’ tank loco being steamed up.

With a birthday party next Sunday requiring the marquee We got the trailer and with help from Mike Bentley, Dave S, John C, Roger A and I erected the roof frame. We left the canvas and side legs to be done on the Sunday before the party to avoid the risk of high winds doing more damage. Roger worked on the new rockery and waterfall while John continued assisting with the high level track refurbishment – see elsewhere for those reports. SUNDAY 13TH Today it was Oliver Albers birthday party and first task was to put the roof on the marquee after which it was cleaning all the garden furniture, 5 tables and 30 or so chairs, which Chris set out in readiness for the party. Next was cleaning the club house and setting up the refreshments in the steaming bay. We were treated to cake and sandwiches during the afternoon – most welcome. Mr & Mrs Albers were absolutely delighted with the party as were the guests who’s children also included some other autistic’s. In each of the ‘goody bags’ she put one of our events leaflets. Finally, they made a special point of telling Chris and I how much they and all their guests had enjoyed the day and said they would let us have a few photos. On Saturday 20th I had to return a knife they had left at the club and Mrs Albers was again full of thanks and appreciation for how nice the day had been and all the members. She’s had many photo’s and e-mails and from their guests saying what a brilliant party and how much they all enjoyed it. General comments as we were packing up from a number of you helping was that you thought it was one of the best parties for a long time – I must agree and thank you all for making it so. TUESDAY 15TH I unlocked just before nine and unloaded the new Duck House I’d built and later presented it to Roger when he arrived. There is some work to do before it is set in place and the old one, which was falling to bits, was dumped on the bonfire. With the rain and cold over the past week Grenville and I were surprised how the grass had grown. So no alternative but to get the mowers out and get going. Grenville and I sat down just before lunch slightly shattered, Grenville


having walked several miles as usual manipulating the mower and me bouncing up and a down on the tractor – no the site is not flat and level like a golf course and its hard work for both of us. More hard work by Roger & Rod continuing work on the pool waterfall which is beginning to take shape, while John continues with the high level track team. TUESDAY 22ND A beautiful sunny morning with the temperature climbing so by coffee time everyone was down to their ‘t’ shirts. Grenville took the sprayer, with selective weed killer, and started working his way round the site while I struggled to get one of the strimmers working – a bit of a job as they hadn’t been used for almost 9 months. Strimming was needed to clear all the long grass where we can’t get with the mowers – needless to say they are, in most cases, the most difficult or awkward to deal with. We finished about mid day and were grateful for the shade under the patio roof – the temperature having climbed into the mid twenties -- and were quickly joined by most of the others. After lunch half a dozen of us put the end panel and the roof onto the marquee in readiness for the Spring Steam Event on Saturday 26th May, and with help from David S we put away the marquee trailer and tractors. That left one job to tidy up the area to the right of the club house main door – lots of leaves to clear having moved out the potato machine in readiness for the weekend. TUESDAY 29TH Another brilliant day and mowing the priority, it not having been done for two weeks. I got to Little Hay about 8.30 am, just in front of Stuart, in order to get the mowing done in the parking areas before most members arrived. I’d just got this done when Grenville appeared with the larger of the two propelled mowers. Things were going well and then got better when Ron B arrived to assist. He’s now well enough to take the smaller propelled mower and deal with the areas around the station. After coffee John C came and asked if he could assist and suggested doing some strimming. With four of us we had the site looking good just after lunch – so should be OK for this Jubilee weekend. Eric Davies



John Paul Bertinat (1912 – 2012) The funeral of our long time member took place at St George’s Church, Orleton, Hereford on Friday 27th April at 12 noon conducted by Reverend Jan Fox. Forty-seven family, friends, neighbours, model engineers of three societies and a technical editor bade him farewell. On the front of his Order of Service was displayed his signed end elevation drawing of that remarkable triple expansion engine he developed from O. B. Boulton’s design and then built. A trug of fresh vegetables rested on his coffin reflecting his keen gardening interests. He had no time for flowers, television or small talk but was an avid follower of “The Archers”, “The Navy Lark” and “Gardener’s Question Time”. He was an enthusiastic cyclist and met his wife Edna while in the south of England. Family outings in the Midlands were by bicycle usually to well know locations ending in favourites such as Bracebridge Café in Sutton Park. Railways were often encountered. On the way to Water Orton Station when having to stop for the Minworth Sewage Works 2’0” gauge to cross the road with wagons of effluent he commented “my false teeth are in there somewhere” referring to a recent mishap. He wore shorts and always had a Cadbury’s chocolate bar to share. The only known time he took Edna out for an evening meal was to a transport café which had been visited the day before, because the sausage and mash was such excellent value. He enjoyed plain food. He never threw anything away and hated waste. An old door from Hammersmith College was turned into a wheelbarrow which is still going strong after seventy years. Oldest vegetables from the garden were cut and used first. He was tea total and had a very large mug with which he drained the pot and it was a puzzle when struck down with gout. It transpired a bumper crop of wild plumbs and damsons not being allowed to go to waste were the culprits. Lecturing in mechanical engineering at Aston Technical College he became head of department. He cycled the five miles to college, home for lunch, back to college then home for tea at 5pm. Several former students have stated how he was their inspiration. A very patient teacher and we enjoyed talks he gave at the society.


He did not like surprises and they were most definitely to be avoided such as the occasion a cricket ball passed him as it went through the greenhouse while he was potting. Rising early, he always presented Edna with a cup of tea whether she wanted one or not and at whatever time it was. He would then with brown bread and treacle go off to his workshop until breakfast. When an evening musical group met at the house he went missing only to be found in the workshop “getting on with something useful”. He was always interested in stationary steam engines, making existing designs work or work better. He redesigned the societies’ “Gert” vale gear. Proved designs, build prototypes and produced his own designs with locally associated names such as “Borderer”, “Marcher” and “Teamster” built for and with his son Peter. After a stroke he helped Peter list 120 different engines he had built, then put into dovetailed boxed made from wartime insecticide boxes before placing them safely in cupboards. These included twenty Stuart Turner No 4 engines “because they were nice to make”. There were 250 boxed sets of castings, including a further sixteen No 4’s. He also make furniture, collecting 129 planes and 218 chisels. Classical music was enjoyed in the workshop and concerts attended at Birmingham Town Hall sitting in the choir seats. When annoyed he whistled Beethoven’s Fifth. He sorely missed Edna and was lowered into their shared grave to be reunited with her in eternity, as rain poured down on the assembled. Bill Hall Programme Update Neal Harrison is doing a talk on injectors on Tuesday 17 July in the club house at Little Hay starting at 19:30. The following Tuesday is a stationary steam engine and buffet night at which Peter McMillan will have working models with injectors as a follow on.

Eric Davies

june 2012 steaming ahead · sun 24 june midland fed rally erewash valley editor: steve kesterton...

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