Jan 2023

 Chairman’s Chatter

2022 has been a successful year for Redbridge Wharf and all credit to all members who helped design, build, add scenery and operate the layout during the shows. Well done to you all. screens.

It is  a shame that near the year end, our landlord wants to make our clubroom usage a more formal arrangement. Whilst we were given only a few hours notice of the terms of the proposed lease, the matter is being investigated by several members via relatives and we will need to take professional advice before signing anything. screens.

Our aim for now is to stay at Manor Farm for as long as we can, but costs will go up and we have to look for long term alternatives. Please spread the word to all your friends and ask if they know of any alternative premises, which we admit will be very hard to find.  

00 Gauge Matters

We enjoyed two highly successful shows during the Autumn of 2022 at Farnham and Warley, at both shows Redbridge became an award-winning layout, something the whole club should be really proud of.

At Warley the layout ran the best we've seen it at a show in terms of stock and the electronics, so thanks to Dave for spending much of his time diagnosing the coding which seems to have made a big difference, and to various members who ensured their stock was exhibition ready. We still have some work to do, most notably improved reliability of shunting the Yard.

Our next show is New Milton in July 2023 and there are around 6 months to make improvements to various areas of the layout, an updated jobs list will come in January for us to crack on with.

EM Gauge Matters

No formal report received in time for this publication, but we are aware that the layout is ‘resting’ pending a new year’s modelling.

0 Gauge Matters

The Warley show took priority over me working on the new plugs and sockets, but I have resumed and hope to have the ‘door’ connections complete in the next few weeks.

Other Business

Your committee have been consumed with admin work of late, not what we really want to spend our time on but needs must. The AGM and change of signing instructions is now complete and we are nearly there with getting all the records straight, not helped by bank holidays etc. The big spanner as you know is the new lease we are asked to sign. We are trying to delay the formalities as long as possible and getting professional help where we feel it necessary. The Hampshire Chronicle are now involved and who knows, we may get a local person with a spare unused building for us to us. (Pigs have been seen flying overhead!)

Other Future Events:

• Annual Dinner at the Potters Heron Saturday 18th February.

•  Provisional Booking:    Bigbury-on-Sea at Havenstreet IOW.

A volunteer with a large car and one other operator required with the ability to stay the two nights on the IOW and play trains with full size ones running nearby, a total of 4 of us. Single rooms in a Ryde hotel. All costs found except evening meals and drinks!