Members' Monthly Bulletin - January 2024

Here is our project news for January 2024.

The transition to Tyseley

The emphasis in January was on organising the transfer to Tyseley of our many components stored in containers at West Shed. A site meeting back at West Shed on 8^th January inspected the contents and agreed a methodology for sorting and transferring components that cannot be simply transported in the containers without risk. An extended team of volunteers has been assembled for this special task. Our original plan to complete the move in late January had to be deferred to February because of temporary vehicular access restrictions at Tyseley (outside the control of TLW Ltd.).  

 A second Engineering meeting took place at Tyseley on 15^th January as planned. The meeting confirmed the relocation plans described above. All the team were present, including for the first time Simon Scott in his new volunteer capacity. Spring (May) was confirmed as the target for relocation of the chassis inside the main workshop and for the start of work. The outline content of the first three-month work package was agreed and details and costs will be confirmed over the coming months.

The meeting provided a first opportunity to look in some detail at key elements of our engineering and supply approach on specific issues. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the discussion was the joint willingness to consider options emerging from Tyseley know-how which could help the project both in cost and project progress terms. 

Weather conditions early in January were not kind to the Project, thanks to the very severe Storm Henk that hit the West Midlands area and beyond. 80 mph winds lifted our chassis tarpaulin almost clean off the locomotive frames, despite the measures taken to secure and weight it when it was fitted by volunteers in December. Fortunately, the tarpaulin sufferred only minor damage; it was possible for the project team to retrieve the situation after the January Tyseley engineering meeting, before the bad weather returned.

Tyseley volunteers

Three members have responded already to our call for Tyseley volunteers, thank you to you all.  This is a very good start.

We will be making arrangements for induction training and coordination at the right time. If any else is interested we would be delighted to hear from you. 

Boiler progress at HBSS

HBSS have now started work on riveting the boiler crown and fitting the crown stays, the first of two new work packages agreed with the company in Autumn 2023.

 Sales

Our sales stand has just had its first outing of 2024 at the Great Central Railway Winter Gala, always one of our favourites. We were located in the marquee at Quorn and Woodhouse station.We were thrilled to hit a takings total of £4,500, that we think is a record over a 3 - day event in the last 10 years. There was a wonderful atmosphere and it certainly was very busy at times. Sales of railway models very generously donated by a member In November 2023 helped make it all happen.  

A big thank you to our members and supporters who visited us for a catch up, made a donation and purchased items from the stand. It was great to see you all. Not forgetting a massive thank you to our great team of volunteers who gave up their time over the weekend, either on the stand or involved in the preparation and logistics; Roger Bateman, Andy Collinson, Neil Collinson, John Ferguson, Phil Hutchinson, Ian Kinsey, Neil Kinsey, Gavin Shell and Brian Taylor.

 We are out again this weekend at The Battlefield Line for their winter gala. An excellent line up that’s now featuring 78018 as well as 5199 and 4144. We will be down at Market Bosworth goods shed next to the Gauge one layout that is running throughout the weekend. We hope to see you there!

 Finance

As reported in the December bulletin, we did end the calendar year with a flourish. Project income for the 9 months to 31^st December amounted to £252,000 against the full-year budget of £249,000. If we do not see a significant reduction in income in the fourth quarter, we would expect to achieve £310,000.

 It is also the time of the year when we set a provisional budget for next financial year at our January Board meeting.  Whilst our Treasurer would like to be optimistic and think that we could achieve a similar outcome, we need to be realistic and think more in terms of figures broadly similar to the budget for 2023/2024.  Unless of course, you, our loyal supporters, know different!

 The Warrior Magazine

Production of Warrior 60 has just commenced, if you have anything of interest to send in, or would just like to write to us with your views, please do, to: warrior-editor@lms-patriot.org.uk or office@lms-patriot.org.uk

Thank you as ever for your continuing support for our project.