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Newsletter No 133 – October 2016

DIARY

Friday 7 October 19:45 Kettering & D Loco. Soc. March via Peterborough around 1960 - Peter Groom at the Cornmarket Hall, London Rd, Kettering, NN15 7QA

Sat & Sun 8 & 9 October Stotfold Water Mill

Working Steam Weekend with Ploughing, Milling etc. at Mill Lane, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, SG5 4NU

Wednesday 12 October 19:30 RCTS Hitchin

More Archive Films - Frank Banfield at Walsworth Road Baptist Church, Hitchin, SG4 9SP

Fri 14 to Sun 16 October Swanage Railway

Steam Gala with 8F48624, 7F 53809 plus home fleet. at Station House, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1HB

Monday 17 October 19:30 RCTS Northampton

The Midland Railway - Bryan Benford at Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Ln S, Northampton, NN3 3EP

Fri 21 to Sun 23 October Mid-Hants Railway

Steam Gala with 7P 46100 and 7F 53809 at The Railway Station, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JG

Wed. 26 October 19:30 Sandy Transport Society

A Mixture of Railway Films - Frank Banfield. at Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Rd, Sandy, SG19 1EL

LOCOMOTIVE CLUB of GREAT BRITAIN

BEDFORD BRANCH

Tuesday 18 October 19:30 LCGB Bedford AGM then Peter Bland Coll’n. part 5 - Bryan Cross

at St John’s Hall, St J’s St, B’f’d, MK42 0DL (near St Johns Stn)

Tuesday 1 November 19:30 LCGB Bedford Kettering to Cambridge Revisited - Robin Cullup at St John’s Hall, St J’s St, B’f’d, MK42 0DL (near St Johns Stn)

Monday 7 November 19:30 LCGB / RCTS Away Quiz v. RCTS North’ton NOTE DATE CHANGE

at Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Ln S, Northampton, NN3 3EP

Saturday 12 November 10:00 LCGB Bedford Visit to West Hampstead Power Signal Box

John Morgan 01525 630554 john.shel313@ntlworld.com

NOT ONLY SIMPLEX AT BEDFORD Ken Dickens

Recent display of a Simplex loco at the local mu-seum reminds one that another Bedford firm pro-duced a number of petrol engined, industrial loco-motives.

J & F Howard of the Britannia Works, com-menced the manufacture of a range of such locos in the 1920s, powered by engines supplied by Dor-man, who were part of the same combine as How-ards. Whilst the majority built were 2 foot gauge, six were standard gauge. Many of the NG were sold to brick makers in the UK. Others were exported as far as New Zealand.

One of the standard gauge, No.957, remained at Britannia Works as the works shunter. It replaced their ageing 0-4-0 Manning Wardle of 1899.

957 carried out its duties until Howard folded in 1932, when the entire works and its contents were auctioned off. However 957 remained unsold and was therefore included with the works site when pur-chased be the George Fischer organisation in 1933. So 957 carried on until 1965, when extension to the internal rail system at the works saw it replaced by a more powerful Ruston Hornsby. Now redundant, 957 was heading for the scrapyard when approach-es were made to George Fischer management for its preservation, and it was donated to the then de-veloping Bluebell Railway. It has had a major over-haul and been converted to run on LPG.

So if you are visiting the Bluebell, look out at Kingscote and you may see a bit of Bedford’s history shunting in the yard.

THANKS to all contributors. PLEASE send some-thing – even if it’s just one photo or a few lines. We’re looking for YOUR thoughts and experiences. Material for November’s 15D by Tue 25 Oct. please

cheers, Geoff

CONTACTS:- General:- Bryan Cross tel 01525 750149 Newsletter:- Geoff Biggs tel 01582 737780

100 Richmond Hill, Luton, LU2 7JQ e-mail:- biggsluton@hotmail.com www.lcgb.org.uk - see Bedford pages

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BIG ENGINES Colin Smith

- On Sunday 28th August I drove to Huntingdon to see 6201 Princess Elizabeth, as it was a booked stop on the way to Derby. The train was for Peak rail. 6201 looked superb and sounded great on leaving. I planned to see it again at Holme. On the way I encountered 3 sets of road works, arriving just in time to view it across the field!

My next port of call was David's, we then went to Orton Mere (N.V.RLY), to see 60163 Tornado. -

Then we went onto Wansford, for more pictures of - Tornado and - 55007 Pinza. Thomas was in steam on the shuttle to Yarwell Mill.

WELSHPOOL & LLANFAIR GALA Michael Field

I must be mad, just over 1,000 miles for 3 days filming! It was a good weekend with good company, apart from a very wet Saturday.

- Castle Careinion with Joan

- Banwy Bridge with The Countess

- Llanfair Careinion with Joan, Chevallier and The Earl. - Heniarth and Chevallier

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The Chairman‘s been abroad, which the branch is not enthusiastic about. However, I thought maybe the sight of the Czech equivalent of the 'Nodding Donkey' might just be of interest. It came bounc-ing into Prague Masarykova just when I was plat-form ending, taking a break from riding around on the teriffic Prague Trams. Making my way back to

the terminal buffer stops I was able to take a picture of the Spartan interior and discover the more luxurious 2 car version in another platform. Unfortu-nately locked up so I couldn't examine it's interior.

- 46233 Duchess of Sutherland is braking hard at Bootham Stray approaching York with 1Z62 1619 Scarborough - Crewe 'The Yorkshire Coronation' Saturday 24th September. Robin Patrick

SEVERN VALLEY SCOTSMAN Malcolm Burgoyne

On Friday 23 September I went to the Severn

Valley Railway to see the sell out visit of Flying Scotsman & 60163 Tornado. As stations were only available to ticket holders and expected to be busy. I opted to go to Birchen Coppice which is between Bewdley and Kidderminster. Pictures here of locos working. Plenty of spectators there but no problems taking photos. However, I felt sorry for video users as there was a white drone being used. It was making a sound like a bees nest and also taking stills via an automatic control. I did not speak to anyone but I personally thought he was being a bit selfish. Every time a train was due the drone would take off and hover. To make things worse, when Flying Scotsman was due, a black drone with a red light on it appeared beside the loco and then went very near the loco and above the track.

Not sure if anything can be done about it but it could have caused as accident. Both were very near other members of the public and I thought they were too near . I have seen one used in Germany but this was above a depot and was quite high. I hope this will not be allowed to become the norm. An accident waiting to happen! PS Had to get it of my chest.