Well it was officially the coldest winter for 31 years, and it felt like it !  So cold that our 2nd Boxing Day Steam-up on a beautiful morning, was confounded by an inch of ice, so I think we're all pleased it has warmed up a bit.

We seem to have a fairly healthy program of events lined up for 2010, and the majority of members have renewed; at the time writing this we had 83 paid subscriptions, so another bumper year.

Our February meeting was a well informed talk on the use and production of Gas turbines by Simon Harris, with sample blades for us to examine close up.  This was followed in February by a wonderful slide show looking at the history of the railway along the route from Exeter to Kingswear, by Peter Gray.  Peter has a great way of bringing out all the details in his photos, and the audience was really mesmerised at how railway life has changed over the last 60 or so years.

Spring took a long time to arrive this year, but since Easter there has been regularly activity on the track, and further enhancing of the site has restarted.  The weekday workgroup have now installed modifications to the traverser, including end ramps; and two bays have been altered to handle 7 1/4 inch gauge locos.

Unwanted equipment is slowly being cleared from the Club house so this can be divided into a proper workshop, and a gathering area with seating, and we are looking at fitting an insulated roof.  This will become increasingly important as we wish to invite other Societies to visit and have a run on our track.

A couple of members will be attending the 'Southern Rally' to be held at the Worthing club track on 15/16th May, a public event for all those interested in model engineering in the style of the Southern Railway.

A plea for help.
As our clubhouse is a little way from the steaming bays, we need to minimise the amount of 'putting away' required.  Musing on how to keep coal, wood and oil by the steaming bays, I came across a petrol forecourt storage bin (as pictured) in a local garage (there are several locally).  The 'Titan Maxi Bunker' is better looking than the photo suggests (also available in green), and the large hinged and padlockable lid gives easy access to the inside.  In fact they are mainly used on forecourts for selling bags of coal, charcoal etc. so perfect for our needs; the dimensions are 1920 mm x 1060 mm x 1000 mm high, with a low front cill - ideal.

The problem is - they are well over £600 to buy new, and I have spent a year looking for a second-hand one without success - hence the plea.  Does anyone have a contact in the petrol industry, or a forecourt re-building company, who may be able to spot one of these needing a new home ?   Or, can anyone suggest a robust, weatherproof easy-to-access workable alternative ?

It would be great to find a solution to this.  Thanks.