The summer and early autumn seems to have flown by once again, but I think we can agree it was another good season at the track.  The attached photos are from the first Sunday in October - a really hot day from the unusual warm spell, and this brought out 4 locos and several additional members to the track.

Looking back at the summer, besides the regular steam ups, we had a couple of very successful events for which we had suitably good weather; a Club bar-b-q day with a marquee and gas grill available; and a Family and Friends day, aimed at sharing our hobby with younger ones; with train rides, iced cakes and a treasure hunt treasure to keep them busy.  Primarily organised by Ces, these were really pleasant occasions with more opportunities to take passengers, and several families relaxed while watching the locos go by - one with a full picnic and wind-up 78 player !  We even attracted a visitor, Rod Bryant, who journeyed south for the weekend from Carlisle for the bar-b-q.

Also under the direction of Sceretary Ces (he's been busy this year), the Society was represented at the Taunton Model Engineering Society exhibition for the first time, also at the Powderham Show, and (at the time of writing) a display stand at the Exeter Garden Railway show is still to come.  The Society certainly presented a good looking stand, with a new name banner, a set of matching green fabric table drapes, and a new NADMES info flyer, besides lots of good models.

At the track, there have been no really testing rains to try out the new Council's flood defences, so fortunately we've not been submerged in water yet this season.  We have enjoyed the spin off from this installation in the opportunity to have our own electric meter and power supply installed, and we've all appreciated the benefit of having instant light and power without the noisy mobile generator pounding in our ears !

During September our Chairman Ted Head got married to Jane, and we wish them both well - just hope she'll let him out to run his locos !

Also, we said good-bye to Derek Yates and partner Anne, who have moved away to Lincolnshire.  Our thanks go to Derek who has done a huge amount for the club over the last decade, and his intense efforts helped bring about the aquisition of our current track site.  Add to that that Derek has been our primary boiler tester for many years, also going out of his way to assist modellers where possible.  He will be missed, and the Club wishes Derek and Ann all the best in their new location.

Recently on site, further work was done by Kevin to add safety infill panels to our footbridge, whilst paving in the steaming bay has been extended by Ces, Keith and Graham Walker; and the stored water capacity has almost tripled after Dave & Ron installed an additional large tank.  And after months of behind the scenes activity, Rob's project to add lighting over the steaming bays is nearly complete, the final lamps and wiring being fitted in early October.  This will allow us to have ocassional evening runs into the dusk - such as at summer meetings - the lighting allowing safe packing away of locomotives and kit afterwards.  Thanks to all who have helped with this project.  ** We hope to attempt an early evening steam up to try out the lighting on Saturday Nov 5th, weather permitting. **

The September AGM brought no major surprises, the annual subs are pegged at £25, and the Committee has re-been re-elected virtually unchanged.  There was a plea from our treasure Keith to ask that subs are paid during the first month of the year.  The 'Member of the Year' award went to Graham Walker for his efforts in helping keep site vegetaion in check; the 'Model of the Year' award was given to Roy for his recently completed 'Betty' resplendant in steam at the summer bar-b-q; and the 'President's Cup' was awarded to Ces Courtney for the organisation of many excellent events through this season - all well deserved.

There are still several interesting evening meetings lined up for the remainder of the year, and we will soon start planning next year's calendar.

As always, our Club nights are open for people to come along and meet us - and maybe you can be encouraged to start that new project . . .

p.s. Wired and ready to go - Dave has now wired up the cable to the yard lamps, and here is a photo with them lit.  Not quite as blinding as the photo may suggest; should do the job nicely.

It is with great sadness we have to bring to attention an incident that occurred at the track on Sunday.  A stranger, introduced to the Society for the first time at the Exeter Garden Railway Show made his way to our track.  It seems, sadly, that the scale of our operation overcame him, and he fell from the platform in front of an arriving train.  Despite the valiant attempts of the (un-named) driver who brought the train to a stop, the result was regretably predictable.  Further services were held up for some time while the line was cleared (and lunch was taken); and the NAHSE are investigating this most regretable incident.