Canterbury & District Model Engineering Society

Trains & Traction 2018 - Record number of visitors

Canterbury and District Model Engineering Society
PRESS RELEASE
Chris Davey, Vice-Chairman. Tel: 07741 012004.
26th November 2018

It was 50-years ago on the 11th August 1968 when British Rail ran it's last steam train and, over the five decades since, interest in steam locomotives does not seem to have diminished and this was certainly the case on Sunday 12th August when we staged our annual 'Trains and Traction' weekend and had a recor number of visitors.

Chairman Paul Kemp said “We have held our ‘Trains and Traction’ weekend for 11-years when both the locomotives on the miniature railway and the traction engines built or owned by our members and guests from other clubs have all been in operation on the same weekend and the event has always been popular with our members and the public, but this year, visitor numbers exceeded our expectations with around 1700 people enjoying a ride behind our miniature locomotives and traction engines&rdquo.

“On the Saturday, which is staged as a 'members only event' guests from other model engineering clubs from around the county ran a variety of superbly built locomotives and traction engines around our track and site with the traction engines participating in the traditional run into Fordwich village”.

“On the Sunday the event was open to the public and this year we had a constant stream of visitors all day. The queue for rides for both rail and traction engines was long but people waited patiently as our engines and drivers kept up with the workload.

For the second year running members of Herne Bay’s Heron Model Boat Club joined us with an a display of model boats and ships and there was also a display of radio controlled lorries, some classic cars and 'spitfire' engine which was run for a short while.

“We hope that as in previous years we delivered a family experience at a minimal coast and our thanks go to the Brett Group in continuing to support us by allowing us the use of the site and to all our visitors who had a great time judging by the comments made to our members who manned the gate with everybody leaving with a cheery wave and smiles all round”.
Ends.

Stuart Guy's Class 50 locomotive with a fully loaded train. Picture: Chris Davey.

One young visitor lends a hand with the 'oiling up' of Ernie Millard's LNER B1 class locomotive. Picture: Chris Davey.

Ken Vine driving his traction engine. Picture: Chris Davey.

Rides behind miniature traction engines were popular at this year's Trains and Traction weekend. Picture: Chris Davey.

Dennis Thomas and his Simplex tank locomotive were kept busy hauling fully loaded trains. Picture: Chris Davey.

Visitors admire Peter Cripps splendid model tug on the Heron Model Boat Club's pool. Picture: Chris Davey.

Granville Askham driving his London & South Western Railway T6 class locomotive. Picture: Chris Davey.