Area Groups 2017
Area Groups - 2017 Activity
North Midlands Group - Report in the Great Central Railway's 'The Last Hurrah' 18th / 19th November
As usual the North East Midlands group were present at the event which is always popular despite the weather. Saturday proved to be our best day with a good attendance from the public and also B17 group members.
Sunday was a much quieter day, despite similar sunny but cool weather conditions, and we put it down to Christmas shopping taking precedence.
Steam and diesel locomotives were present and the stars of the show were the newly restored Austerity J94 68067 and new build diesel brake tender which accompanyied D123 on Saturday and D8098 on Sunday
The supporting cast was 6990, 92214, 48624 and a three car Met Cam DMU
Brian Hall and Richard Allsopp manned the stand on both days.
Essex / Southend Group Joint Venture - Southend MRC Show Saturday 18th November 2017
Volunteers on the stand
Essex / Southend Group Joint Venture - Romford MRC Show Saturday 11th November 2017
Another joint effort by both Groups saw the B17 Stand well represented at the above show by Group members. The stand was manned by Richard Taylor, Larry Sampson, Eddie Savage, Mick Scott and Frank Carter. The show was as popular as ever and the project attracted a good level of interest. It was good to have Mick back for a full stint on the stand and to see his enthusiasm undimmed. A good day enjoyed by all with a good level of sales income and donations for the Trust funds.
Essex / Southend Group Joint Venture - Chelmsford MRC Show Saturday 21th October 2017
The B17 Stand was well represented at the above Show by both Groups. The stand was manned by Eddie Savage, John Pearson, Richard Taylor and Larry Sampson. The show was well attended and a great deal of interest was shown by visitors in the current state of progress. The highlight of the show for us was when Frank Carter arrived with Mick Scott and stayed for over 3 hours. This was the first time that Mick had been on the Stand in a good few months following an unfortunate accident. It was a great pleasure to see him back in action and we look forward to seeing him again on the stand at a couple of shows before the end of the year. The result at the end of the day was an increase in takings for the Trust over last years at this show and we hope it was enjoyed by everyone.
North Midlands Group - Report on the GCR Gala of 5th to 8th October at Loughborough
The annual October gala held at the Great Central Railway can always be relied on to produce a variety of interesting visiting locomotives and this year was no exception with rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ class’ Sir Keith Park’ and un-rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ class’ 92 Squadron’ in the very appropriate Malachite livery, stealing the show.
The GCR’s Standard class 5 was running as 73156, one of the batch which worked in the Bournemouth area, but due to brake problems put in very few appearances.
From The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust’s point of view, the attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was excellent, resulting in record takings, despite the restrictions imposed on items which the GCR does not now allow stall holders to sell in competition with the ‘Emporium’.
There was much interest shown in our locomotive and some knowledgeable people turned up, including drivers and firemen of Sandringhams, all of which could result in new members joining us.
The weather was generally fine for the whole weekend, despite a forecast to the contrary, and Brian Hall and myself went home tired but very pleased with a well organised event which saw around a dozen locos in steam and a consequent good support from the public.
Cambridge and Fenland Group
The B17 SLT had a promotional stand at Wansford for the 'Pacifics at the Nene Valley' event on 16th/17th September 2017. As this event clashed with the Trust's AGM, it was run independently by the members of the Cambs & Fens group. Despite intermittent heavy rain, specially on the Saturday, it was a well patronised event and B17 SLT benefited from its success. Our stand attracted substantial attention throughout the event.
Over the summer months at various locations throughout the fens, the Trust has had on display a 'Wakefield' mechanical lubricator which will eventually be part of the 'Spirit of Sandringham' locomotive. It was the focus of a competition to estimate its weight with the wining competitor being awarded a £30 prize. This attracted substantial interest from members of the public who might otherwise have walked by. Hundreds of people entered the competition and this gained extra revenue for the Trust. The estimations varied from the very light to the impossibly heavy possibly respecting that this was 'Just a bit of Fun'. Five competitors correctly estimated its weight of 95lb/43kg. Some of the winners have waived their share of the winnings to the benefit of the Trust. Thank you to all those who took part.
North East Midlands Group
An exhibition of local history display took place at Worksop library's Heritage Day on Thursday September 7th where the theme was primarily devoted to the station area and the North Country Continental Boat Express always referred to locally as the'boat train'
We were also able to include the new build 'Spirit of Sandringham' in the exhibition with pop up screens, photographs, graphics, a model Sandringham in 'O' Gauge 61619 'Welbeck Abbey' which is a local stately home and seat of the Duke of Portland and the Star of the Show kindly brought by our member Keith Crawford an original 'Melton Hall' nameplate and splasher from 61638.
There was a good attendance by the public on the day considering that it was mid week with many showing an interest in the new build. One gentleman is planning to get his hands dirty by joining the team at Llangollen!
The B17 SLT stand was manned by members Alan Smalley, Richard Allsopp and Keith Crawford.
Cambridge and Fenland Group
On Saturday, 9th September, 2017, B17 SLT accepted an invitation from Friends of March Railway Station to be a part of their celebration of the 170th anniversary of the railway coming to March. Besides the normal B17 SLT promotional display, we were able to show a considerable quantity of GER and LNER cast iron signs that drew considerable interest and also an extensive display of historical written material regarding the history of March's railway history, development, accidents and staff. These documents were avidly studied by members of the local community.
B17 SLT's own display afforded opportunity for members to explain the project, its current and future progress. It was good to be able to operate along side the modern commercial railway and its passengers and staff.
Norfolk and Suffolk Group - Anglian Garden Rail Show, Bressingham, Norfolk. Saturday 12th August 2017
B17 SLT director Larry Sampson and The Fiddlers Green 16mm Railway Group attended the above show and had a very busy day and as usual with the Fiddlers Green Layout, the B17 SLT was also given coverage. The Show was attended by a record number of people, helped by the fact that the weather was beautiful. A number of Trust Members from all over East Anglia visited the layout and it was good to see many friends, old and new. We managed to attract one new Member and sold a number of Lapel Badges. Altogether a very enjoyable and, I think, successful day for all concerned. If you see us on the Exhibition circuit, please come up and say 'Hallo'. I attach a photograph of the Team kindly taken by John Peat so that you might recognise us.
Cambridgeshire and Fenland Group
Although it was not a railway event, B17 SLT attended the March Steam and Vintage Show at Knight's End show field March. Held in a large grass arena over the weekend 5th/6th. August. Although all the events concerned traction engines and steam road rollers, tractors, motor cycles. cars, lorries and buses, B17 SLT's stand attracted a good level of attention, perhaps because it stood out as something different. Reasonable receipts were secured for the Trust's benefit over both days with requests for further information.
Cambridgeshire and Fenland Group
Ramsey Rural Museum's Steam and Fire Show, 8th/9th July, 2017 at Wood Lane Ramsey.
Ramsey Rural Museum is devoted to the farming industry. It the site of an extensive farm just out side of Ramsey near Huntingdon, with a substantial grass area and fields to demonstrate farming activities. B17 SLT were invited to attend their 'Steam & Fire Show' weekend of 8th/9th July. It was a totally different environment for the Trust. There was a good selection of old fire engines and fire fighting demonstrations as well as old road vehicles and half size steam traction engines. There was a flypast by an RAF Memorial Flight Spitfire on both days and also on Sunday by the RAF's Red Arrows. One Trust member volunteered to look after a promotional display on both days and sleep on site. The highlight of his weekend was the opportunity on the Saturday evening to join the cavalcade to go to a pub in Ramsey on a steam engine.
Cambridgeshire and Fenland Group
On Friday, 28th April, 2017, Peter Wright was the guest after dinner speaker at the annual meeting of March Grammar School Old Boys Association. An audience of 60 listened while Peter spoke of his father's railway career, his own lifelong interest in railway history and the steam engine and finished with information about the B17 project. The meeting raised the prospect of access to an archive of railway material that would contain much about the activities of B17s at March throughout the postwar steam era.
Cambridgeshire and Fenland Group
On Friday 21st April, Peter Wright of the B17 Steam locomotive Trust Cambridge and Fenland Group gave a presentation to the members of March Museum. The theme of Peter's talk was the horses whose names adorned 122 railway engines that ran on the main lines north from King's Cross. He outlined the LNER's adoption of this unique naming policy and stories about the horses and those associated with them. Among them were, 'Aboyeur', which won the 1913 Derby, the race in which suffragette Miss Emily Davidson died after throwing herself under the hooves of the King's horse. 'Merry Hampton', winner of the 1887 Derby and which was perhaps the worst horse ever to win that prestigious race. 'Humourist' which won the 1921 Derby but within the week had died of advanced tuberculosis.
Peter received a warm round of applause and was thanked for his efforts by Museum chairman, Gordon Thorpe.
Cambridge and Fenland Group
Top transport artist Malcolm Root was guest of March Railway Circle on Friday 24th March. Malcolm entertained his capacity audience by describing how his natural youthful talent to draw was encouraged through his school days. Illustrations of Malcolm's early drawings and paintings were shown. He began a career in printing but after a voluntary redundancy he started a career as a full time painter. A lucky chance gained him commissions to illustrate the front covers of telephone directories. Examples of his distinctive oil paintings were then displayed and discussed at the meeting while Malcolm described how he assembles historical material, sometimes from numerous sources, to ensure that his paintings are always historically correct. His distinctive work now appears in books, posters, calendars and on crockery and jig - saw puzzles.
Malcolm, who was supporting The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, was thanked by Circle organizer Peter Wright. The meeting raised additional funds towards the Trust's ambition to build a new example of a LNER B17 'Sandringham' class locomotive.
Photograph - Artist Malcolm Root with his recent painting of the 'Sandringham' locomotive at Wolferton station and flanked by his hosts, Maureen and Peter Wright.
Midlands Group (Feb 2017)
The West Midlands G Scale Show took place on Saturday 11th February 2017 in Solihull. This was attended by Fiddlers Green 16mm Steam Railway representing the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust. The literature available on the Stand caused a lot of interest as local enthusiasts were not always familiar with the Project. A number of Membership Forms were taken and we even managed to sell a Lapel Badge to one of the visitors. Altogether an enjoyable Show in a 'new' area!
Southend Group (Feb 2017)
South East Essex Railway Society Meeting took place at 8pm Tuesday 14th February 2017 in Chalkwell, Essex. This meeting was attended by the Southend Group with the B17 Stand and a display about the last B17s to work into Southend Victoria. The topic for the evening was 'The life and times of a steam enthusiast' delivered by Larry Sampson, one of our Directors. This culminated in the story so far for the B17 Trust and his involvement with Garden Railways. The meeting appeared to be enjoyed by everyone and resulted in a donation from SEERS to the Trust for which we are very grateful.
Essex Group (January 2017)
The end of steam at Southend Victoria in December 1956 reported in the Southend Area Group below provided an opportunity for the Essex Area Group to get some coverage of the Trust on Essex Live which is the online ‘breaking news’ arm of Essex Media Group. The group publishes two weekly papers in Brentwood and Mid Essex but its focus is very much on the online medium.
Cambridge and Fenland Group
On Tuesday, 17th. January, members Peter Wright and Richard Munns attended a meeting of the March Probus Club to deliver a talk about the effect that the 1953 floods had on the railway. The talk described the immediate damage and disruption to the railway system, what was done to continue services where possible on alternative routes and what remedial work was needed to rectify the damage. It also described the resourcefulness, resilience and dedication displayed by railway staff at a difficult time. In some areas little damage was done and services were restored within a few days but some lines were washed away, one not being restored for use for almost a year and another never being restored at all. Alternative lines were brought back into use and even relayed to continue services. Also some subsequent business opportunities that the railway was able to exploit were described and letters of thanks from the travelling public and business read out.
