Friends of the Birmingham Railway Museum Members' Newsletter - September 1995 A rather shorter gap than usual since the last letter, but it allows for the fact that I'm on holiday at the end of the month, and gives time for another scribble before Christmas. Firstly I am delighted to report two bits of really good news - You will find a 'Locomotive News' item, giving a brief factual statement on the location and condition of all our locos (and some of other people's!), prepared by Ian and Steven who are the young volunteers referred to in the last newsletter. It is intended that this shall be a regular feature; I'm very pleased to welcome them and to have some of the editorial load shared; I'm sure you will find the information useful. One stock movement to add - not a loco item of course - is that the last remaining horse tram has left for a good home in Scotland. The other good news is the response to my appeal for typing / d.t.p. expertise. It has been such that I am spoilt for choice; if I didn't contact all those who volunteered, please don't think you've been forgotten - there's not all that much typing to go round! D i n m o r e R e s t o r e d Further to the mention of 'Dinmore Manor' in the loco report, as I write it is on its way west, looking absolutely magnificent and seemingly in excellent mechanical shape. We look forward to learning of its progress in Somerset. Quite a milestone for Tyseley - the first loco rebuild completed since 'Defiant' and our first outside contract. A really - literally - shining example of joint effort by staff and volunteers. Actually, the work here is not yet finished, for 'Dinmore's' tender has to be rebuilt. The loco has left with the tender borrowed from 3803 - another example of co-operation. One Man and his S h e l l Another completed project is the repainting of the Great Eastern 'Shell' tanker, which has been mentioned in connection with the hand crane as an almost entirely one-man job - Well done, Dave! T r a v e l l e r' s F a r e One further positive step is that the running of 'Chuffs' has been franchised. As I write this I don't know any details; if any are to hand before we go to press they will be included. Work on the buffet car has progressed well in the summer. We think we have a waterproof roof, although it will receive more treatment, and filling and repainting the sides is going well. However, daylight is receding fast in the evenings, so not much more can be done by the Thursday crew. So much could be achieved by an all-day work party; does no-one out there have the time or inclination? It's such a shame to have got so far, only to be faced with another 7 months or so with no progress. H e l p S t i l l N e e d e d Whilst on the eternal appeal for volunteers, perhaps it should be mentioned that we are still awaiting response on - * erecting the workshop lighting, * running children's' parties, and no-one has told me why the offer of driving 'Victor' was such a flop. Perhaps we shall never know..... Model Railway Weekend The Model Railway weekend was very successful, repaying the efforts of everyone concerned with its organisation. I have to add a personal note: I was delighted that my ancient Trix is still "up to it" despite having been unused for some twenty years! Well done everyone, probably to be repeated next year. W i c k e d W i t c h We have just had the second run of the "Wicked Witch" (see last newsletter). Another jolly good show by everyone; my report on the June performances omitted to mention all the others who made up the cast besides Warwick. The Tombstone Cowboys expanded their part and their numbers to add to the fun this time. Anyone wanting to hire a very well-armed (if not well-aimed) posse can contact them through us. V i s i t o r N u m b e r s Visitor numbers were disappointing despite considerable publicity. Sensible suggestions for overcoming this problem will be welcome, otherwise we shall have to reconsider our efforts at running events for the public. For all sorts of reasons, we want to keep these going. E v e n t s C a l e n d a r At present we have the following either arranged or proposed for this year: Saturday 16th September - Car Boot Sale Sunday 1st October - Brake Van Rides Sunday 5th November (evening) - Bonfire & Fireworks, Brake Van Rides Sunday 3rd December - Toy Fair Sunday 10th December - Santa Specials Train Rides Sunday 17th December - Santa Specials Train Rides Please give these events all the publicity you can among your friends and relations. If you can arrange for the display of a poster, please contact Dan Marshall, who will be very pleased to supply. He has kindly offered to assume responsibility for Friends' publicity. Workshop Gallery Walkway We have recently completed a project which gives a very tangible example of how your subscriptions help the Museum. Some of you will know that the Workshop gallery has been closed for a while, as the floor was giving trouble. Now it has been covered in steel floor plate, and is yet another co-operative triumph by staff, mid-week volunteers and some of the lads on holiday, working on the model railway. We can all vouch that the steel plate, 2.5 x 1.25 metres is HEAVY when it has to be lumped upstairs! It really has done a grand job, and will be even better when painted. Volunteers? Educational Visits A further responsibility assumed by the Friends is for running the educational visits to the Museum. This is being co-ordinated by Fred Price, whom you will know as Membership Secretary. There exists a good list of schools contacts and a number of members who act as guides, but as with everything else, we always need more, so if any of you have connections with schools who don't run trips to the Museum, please spread the word. The visits are very well regarded by teachers, and play a little extra part in bringing on the next generation of enthusiasts. And if you can offer your help as the occasional guide, Fred will be delighted to hear from you. Scots Guardsman You have, no doubt, seen the letter in 'Steam Railway' regarding 'Scots Guardsman', written by Mr Landau, who, like many others, has contributed substantially towards the loco's restoration. The sentiments which prompted him to write are quite proper and perfectly understandable, but we have had to remind him of one major inaccuracy - 6115 came to Tyseley with NO money at all. The fund raised at Dinting either was returned to the subscribers or used for other purposes. Our fund-raising realised some £13,000, almost all of which has been spent on the loco, with the remainder in a deposit account. Which brings me to a plea made at least twice before: this fund has suffered from many changes of personnel, both in the Friends and the Museum itself, and currently is languishing for want of a guiding hand to re-launch the restoration appeal. Like everything in this hard-nosed world, it is down to money. If 6115 can receive more funds, more work can be done on it. Much has already been done (almost £13,000 worth) which includes inspection by Interfleet technology and their report on exactly what needs doing. In a nutshell, this means frame, boiler, and tender, so is there anyone who will pick up the project and breathe some life back into it? Elmdon Model Engineering Society The gallant members of the Elmdon Model Engineering Society have spruced up the Mess Hut (adjacent to the signal box) so well that we are trying to persuade them to paint the box itself! But see remarks above re evening daylight; dare I make yet another appeal for daytime volunteers? Another project of theirs is to re-paint the picnic furniture with wood preservative, which again is improving its looks. This job also will take some time. Film Season Starts One item missing from the future events listed above is - Film Shows. The new season starts on 19 September, followed by 3 October (yes, only separated by a fortnight), 14 November and 9 January (none in December). All dates are Tuesdays, all events are at Solihull Library Theatre at 7.30 pm. If you've been to these shows before, you'll know the standard to expect; if not, come and find out! Membership Renewals The last newsletter contained a mention of memberships due for renewal. Please pay up on time; it's been said before that we have better uses for your subscriptions (see above) than in postage etc. for overdue renewals. A Banker's Order will take all the hassle away, or a 5-year membership which will save you money as well! Are You Paying The Right Amount? Apparently, we still have some members paying at the old rates, which were increased by agreement (in some cases, insistence!) of all those at the A.G.M. in 1994. Please check your Banker's Orders, or whatever means you use, in line with the following: Membership Type 1 Year 5 Years Single £9.00 £40.00 Husband & Wife £16.00 £70.00 Family (2+2) £18.00 £80.00 Seniors £6.00 £25.00 Juniors (under 16) £6.00 £25.00 I'm sure you have no idea how much extra work is created when these matters are overlooked; it makes things so much easier when it's all in order. Many thanks in advance for checking! A n d F i n a l l y . . . I shall have to close this now, or we won't get it out on time. Hopefully, the next letter will include reports from the various groups onsite, including progress on the training of footplate crew and guards which has taken place through the summer. It's still all happening at Tyseley - and we still need more names for the co-ordinating of the 'driving experience' courses! Jeff Robinson Quick 'n' Dirty Typing / DTP - for hire - cheap - ask Jeff for details {PAGE} {PAGE|3}