The latest happenings at The Tamworth and District Model Engineers Inc.

Saturday morning working bees

Every Saturday morning the TDME has been holding workings bees at our compound. If you would like more information see the contact page. We have been producing concrete sleepers on a regular basis at these working bees along with any other jobs required as we move into the track laying stage.

Repton and Glenreagh weekend

A group of TDME Inc members visited Bob Farquhar's 5 inch gauge railway at Repton and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of March 2007. Saturday consisted of an early start at Tamworth for the drive to Dorrigo where we stopped for morning tea. The convoy then drove around to the Dorrigo steam railway and museum where we meet up with TDME pres John Davies. Here we meet Keith Jones who spent the morning showing us around the massive collection at Dorrigo. After leaving Dorrigo it was onto lunch at Bellingen beside the river and then onto Bob's were we spent well into the afternoon riding and looking over Bob's fantastic railway based around a Bush Tramway. Saturday night found the group at the Bellingen bowling club for a very enjoyable night (Member Allan Tanner will remember in future to check wine bottles for corks before pretending to drink a bottle...it was great entertainment though!). After leaving the club it was onto the caravan park for a well earned nights sleep before an early rise Sunday morning for the trip to Glenreagh. Arrival at Glenreagh found 1919 sitting outside the shed preparing for the days work. This again was a very enjoyable day as TDME Inc members went for rides on the GMR's W2 tram 392 aswell as rides on and behind 1919. After lunch at Glenreagh it was time to head home after a very enjoyable 2 days. The weekend was very enjoyable and a big thankyou on behalf of the TDME Inc to Bob Farquhar for being a great host and allowing us to crawl and ride all over his railway aswell as Ian, Chris, Steve, John and all the gang who were also present. Also thankyou to the Glenreagh Mountain Railway members who made our visit very enjoyable and put on a great show. Also TDME member David Scott who helped organise a great weekend and Keith Jones for taking the time to show us through the collection at Dorrigo. Photographs of the weekend can be viewed in the TDME gallery at www.tdme.fotopic.net .

Tamworth bottle show- Feb 24th and 25th

The TDME Inc attended the Tamworth bottle show over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of Febuary 2006. Thankyou to Karen Tanner for her excellent work in the fundraising department. She was there virtually the whole time and really pulled out all the stops. Well done and Thank you Karen. The Townhall is a difficult place to load and unload heavy engines from - we managed but the owners had some worrying moments; fortunately as far as I know no harm was done and the 422 diesel, the stationary engines and the 38 class all looked very impressive - sound effects included. In fact if things were quiet all we had to do was blow the 422 horn and start up the fridge compressor (powering the stationary engines) and it sounded like a real diesel leaving the station. People came running! Some engraving of Aluminium name plates was done by Bob Green, Greg Ford and Frank King. Ron's TV and DVD player also played their part in presenting a stand which usually had something of interest going on.

Sleepers and the Community water grant

Every Saturday morning the TDME has been holding workings bees at our compound. Much work has been completed as a result and ‘The Water Gang’ (John Black, Ron Salter and co) have been busy installing the piping from our water tanks heading towards the station along with making a water supply available to the Compound. David Scott and Allan Tanner have also fabricated a number of molds for the production of concrete sleepers. The pouring of sleepers has become a regular Saturday morning event.

Exhibitions

Over the weekend of the 14 and 15 October 2006 the TDME attended the Tamworth 3rd Annual Garden and Outdoor Expo at the Tamworth Botanic Gardens. On display were stationary engines supplied by Bob Elwin, Frank Newman and John Davies. Allan Tanners 42209 and beam engines, Warwick Schumack’s 3867, 2004 and riding cars along with Roger Barwick’s locomotives Chickadee and 47P3, Roger’s freight Rollingstock and his recently finished Guards van.

Meeting Place

Due to our increasing numbers we have had to relocate to the Botanic Gardens meeting room and we have settled in quite nicely there although we do miss Pat’s morning tea’s! Special thanks to Allan and Pat Tanner for the ongoing sumptuous hospitality for the many years we called Allan’s our meeting place. Many thanks to Allan for also hosting the track making program.

Community Water Grant

During early 2006 the TDME was successful in gaining a grant from the Commonwealth Dept. of Environment and heritage to install four water tanks and a reticulation scheme in both the gardens and the miniature railway to allow us to collect rainwater for engine and garden needs. These funds consist of $16, 231 to be matched by voluntary labour to the value of $10, 774 by TDME members.

Station Building and Ticket Office

Station building and Ticket office are being constructed by Joblink plus using a $50,000 grant. The first slab was poured on Monday July 31st 2006. The next slab is to be poured this coming Monday the 21st of August 2006. This work is being carried out using a $55,000 dollar grant from Joblink Plus together with sufficient labour to construct the station and ticket box.

Earthworks and Compound, 24th of June 2006

Earthworks have been commenced on site along with setting up off the compound, a big thanks to the Manilla crew of the Tamworth Regional Council for a great job on the earthworks on all TDME members involved in erection and setup of the compound.

The Compound.

The TDME purchased a container for a work base on site, this container was placed inside the compound and has been modified with whirly birds on the roof for ventilation donated by Warwick Schumack and windows have been cut in and fitted by a group of members. A compound fence was erected by a number of members to provide secure storage. Our bailey bridge was recently moved on site and is stored ready for cleaning up and painting. Our silo’s which will form out tunnels are also on site and ready to be cleaned and painted. All track work is also on site.

The Earthworks.

Earthworks commenced on May 22nd 2006 with much excitement. This work was carried out with a crew from Tamworth Regional Councils Manilla depot however, most of the $30,000 allocated budget ran out and work ceased on 1st June 2006. Since that time some work on the station area has been carried out by Council trainers and following a site inspection by Councilor Warren Woodley an interview was arranged between the Mayor James Treloar, TDME member John Black and club president John Davies and some work is going to progress a little further.

3646 in steam!, 4th of March 2006

Congratulations to member Bob Elwin on the successful steaming of his newly completed NSWGR 36 Class 3646 at Gunnedah on the 4th of March.

TDME Running day at Gunnedah, 4th of March 2006

On the 4th of March 2006 the TDME held a very successful running day at Warwick Schumack's, Warwick, Roger Barwick & Bob Elwin all had there Loco's in service on the day. The day was to celebrate Warwick’s Seventieth birthday. It was well attended by our members and some wives as well as Warwick’s many friends and relatives and a great time was had by all.

The TDME in Australian Model Engineering