MEMBERS’ MONTHLY BULLETIN, MARCH 2022

Engineering 

Preparation for the driving wheel castings has continued at William Cook Cost Products - we expect the order to be completed in June.

We have accepted a South Devon Railway Engineering quotation for the wheelset re-assembly package: discussion continues on the timing of this work. Expenditure on replacement tyres has been authorised. (It is not possible to use the existing tyres.) The tyre order will be placed to align with the rest of the work. Work has started at Cast Iron Welding Services on the outside cylinder modifications. Meanwhile work on frame shot-blasting and chassis reassembly was paused to allow assessment of the quality checks required on existing chassis components. 

On the boiler, the safety valve pad design has now been approved by British Engineering Services our boiler certification body. This enables the next steps in the assembly process to be developed. A constructive progress review and planning meeting with HBSS took place on 8^thMarch. 

Finance

Another financial year-end has all but arrived and we are overwhelmed by your continuing support. For engineering reasons explained elsewhere, we have not spent too much in the last financial year and it will be the first time our balance at the bank should exceed £250,000. However, we are aware of impending very significant expenditure, so your continued valued support will be essential. Thank you and let us hope that we have a happy new financial year for the Project.

Sales  

The sales stand has been out and about again recently. First, at the Keighley and Worth Valley steam gala, where we once again had a fantastic weekend (apart from Karen and Neil both testing positive for Covid on their return home!). Sales and donations totalled over £1800.00 and we welcomed one new membership from the event. 

The following weekend we attended two events - at Statfold Barn and a model event at The Alexandra Palace London. Both did moderately well financially and one attracted new membership.

The new mugs and coasters are proving very popular and we have recently taken delivery of extra stock of each design. You can get yours now by visiting our web shop.

2022 AGM 

We are actively planning our 2022 AGM and expect to confirm the details in the next issue of this Bulletin.