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The dream of a Hartford man to restore
the era of steam locomotives to Northwich took a leap forward
recently, thanks to the Northwich Guardian, with the formation of
the Mid-Cheshire Society of Model Engineering...
The start of 1999 brings
our society into its Silver Jubilee year. As one of the
founder members of the society, I recognise that a quarter of a
century has passed rather rapidly and also that many of the present
members do not have local roots...
Mr. T.D Robinson, a building company
director, of Beach Road, Hartford, has been using his knowledge of
engineering for nearly 30 years to build these scaled-down
locomotives with painstaking dedication and now he hopes to set up a
model engineering society in Northwich...
Not so long ago we had a barbecue to celebrate
our thirty years existence, blessed by beautiful weather and a
gathering of most members, it was a real celebration...
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The history of the Mid Cheshire Society of Model Engineers
A
History of
the MCSME
Welcome to
a potted history of the Mid Cheshire Society of Model Engineers.
The society was formed in 1974 and is still active to this date.
You can navigate around the various sections of the history page, by
using the side panel to the left. You can see our pictorial on
the tracksite developments from day one in our gallery.
A
brief history
Information gathered and
compiled by Geoff Foreman
The Mid Cheshire Society of Model Engineers
originated in 1974, when the society was formed with a base in Northwich.
In 1977 a 3½" and 5" gauge railway was laid in the grounds of Moss Farm
Recreation Centre and membership climbed to 30. Difficulties with the
track's foundations caused it to be lifted and the Society then had to rely
solely on its portable track for its main activity of providing rides at local
fetes and charity events. Membership stabilised at around a dozen active
members until 1986 when, as a result of an exhibition locally, further interest
was identified and the club grew to its then membership of 17.
In 1991, we became a limited company to restrict
members’ personal liability, as claims for excessive damages began
to follow the American pattern. At that time there was a huge
demand from local organisations for attendance and we were able to
reward ourselves with a ‘free’ annual trip to the Model Engineering
Exhibition!
In the early 1990s we moved to our
current site at Pettypool where our 5” and 7¼ track was installed
and continues to be developed to this date. Current membership
(2006) is 41. Steam models are at the centre of our
activities, but not exclusively. We have jointly built five
Club Engines, three steamers, an electric diesel outline loco and a
similar petrol/hydraulic model. In the winter our fortnightly
meetings are enlivened by “Bits and Pieces”, auctions etc and
occasional guest speakers. The meetings are for the most part
informal and the Society is totally democratic!
Left: Earthworks complete at
Pettypool
A
more in-depth history
Information gathered and
compiled by Geoff Foreman
The dream of a Hartford man to
restore the era of steam locomotives to Northwich took a leap
forward recently, thanks to the Northwich Guardian, with the
formation of the Mid-Cheshire Society of Model Engineering.
In an article on May 23, the story of
Mr. T. D. Robinson, a building company director of Beach Road, who
has been building perfectly-detailed working models of steam engines
for nearly 30 years, was told. He wanted to find other
enthusiasts with a similar interest who could pool their work and
set up a permanent track, where these miniature locomotives could
run, giving people the pleasure of seeing the magic of the iron
steamers of yesteryear.
”Since your report, I had a
tremendous response from local model engineers and now we’ve formed
a society,” said Mr. Robinson. An inaugural meeting was held
at his home with five people joining and many more have contacted
him to express their interest in reviving the age of steam.
Explaining the Society’s plans Mr. Robinson says: “We are open to
anyone who is interested in model steam engines, whether they’re
rail engines or traction engines, and we hope to share our equipment
to set up a workshop for those who can’t afford some of the costly
precision tools needed.
Right: Peter Waterman and Geoff Foreman
cut the first sod at Pettypool
The Society is also working on
building a portable track to take to fetes, so people can see the
models in action. Eventually it is hoped to set up a permanent
track layout and, to this end the Society have approached Playing
Field Associations and plan to contact Vale Royal Council and Parish
councils in the area. They are also appealing for any private
landowner willing to loan a suitable site, to get in touch with Mr.
Robinson.
The start of 1999 brings
our society into its Silver Jubilee year. As one of the
founder members of the society, I recognise that a quarter of a
century has passed rather rapidly and also that many of the present
members do not have local roots. So a brief potted history of
progress to date may be appropriate.
Northwich itself in those
days had quite an engineering background.
Apart from ICI, which had its own in-house
facilities, there were many smaller concerns, such
as W. J. Yarwood and Isaac Pimblots, shipbuilders,
Joseph Parks, structural engineers, Henry Bates,
iron founders and engineers, Kerrs, fire pumps etc.
Above:
Ex-chairman, John Green
with his
7.1/4 gauge locomotive "Red Damsel"
at our Pettypool tracksite
In addition many local
wage-earners traveled daily to work at the
Locomotive works & Rolls Royce in Crewe, Fodens and
ERF in Sandbach and the Broadheath complex of
Lynotype, Richards etc. Therefore Mid-Cheshire
contained a good proportion of engineering
expertise.
Despite this, no model
engineering society ever existed in this locality, the nearest
perhaps being Urmston & Warrington. However on 23 May, 1974 an
article appeared in the local “Guardian” stating that Terry
Robinson, who turned out to be a local builder, was appealing for
people interested in model engineering to contact him, with a view
to forming a local society. My own interest was immediately
kindled and I rang Terry to arrange a visit. On seeing his
workshop and discussing his proposals, I was “bitten by the bug” and
an inaugural meeting was arranged.
“The Club”, as it was
subsequently known, was formed with Terry as Chairman, Ken Boley as
Secretary and Barry Storey as Treasurer. Terry, being a
current member of the Urmston Society and a well-equipped and
seasoned model engineer, was assumed to be the fund of all knowledge
and, apart from Alan Gordon, the guiding light. No one else
possessed much expertise or equipment.
The initial meetings
were held at Terry's home in Beech Road, Hartford, and over the next
few months the membership increased to about twelve and future
objectives were, formed. Firstly the need to raise club funds,
made a portable track the highest priority. At the time the
only locomotive available were a 3 1/2” gauge Heilan Lassie and a
LMS Mogul, both belonging to Terry. He managed to salvage some
rather mangled scrap steel extrusions which we were able to
straighten and from which we were able to produce about sixty feet
of portable track.
Our first working
sessions were carried out at Terry's Cuddington workshop. The
first passenger truck was a rather rudimentary affair, which
nevertheless served its intended purpose. The first fete we
attended was at Hartford village the following year, and it soon
became apparent that 3 1/2” gauge was totally inadequate for
passenger hauling. However we soldiered on for the next couple
of years and membership built up to over twenty, although some of
these were primarily modelers who soon drifted away. Our next
objective was a permanent track site and clubhouse, which was
eventually located at the Moss Farm complex, solely due to Terry’s
desires and negotiations with Cheshire County Council.
The track, a straight up and down affair
with run round loops and turntables, between a line of poplar trees
and a large ICI stockyard chain link fence, was hardly scenic!
The track panels were pre-constructed at the workshop and then
concreted in the following weekends. The project was completed
in 1977, by which time Alan Okel had acquired a 5”Simplex, a big
improvement on 31/2 gauge. In
addition, two new sit in bogie passenger cars were constructed, one
comprising “coffin” components and both of which have subsequently
been modified and are still in use by the society.
The Moss Farm project was an
ongoing disaster. After a short while the poplar tree roots
moved and cracked the concrete base, causing track misalignment and
we suffered vandalism and the theft of items locked in a below level
bunker. The Moss Farm manager failed to provide us with a
meeting place and we were denied the promised permission to erect a
club building. Terry then seemed to lose interest in the
society, membership fell, the site was hardly used and loco
ownership was virtually non-existent. Meetings were then held
firstly at Barry’s home in Winsford and then at Northwich Vics
Social Club. Our new Chairman, Bob Manifold, managed to rekindle
interest in the club, fetes being our main source of revenue.
New steel angle portable tracks were constructed, the original track
and passenger track being given to Terry, who had departed for
pastures new at Bethesda, as a parting gift.
Over the ensuing years, the
society stabilised and I must mention that much help and
encouragement was given by the late Bob Manifold and Tom Hankey.
Alan Okel also supplied much help and assistance with transport
although sadly he, along with many others, is no longer a member.
I well remember that until the building of the Club Sweet Pea, we
struggled along with Alan’s 5”gauge Sweet Pea,
John Moss’s Bagnall and my own Simplex, although the club is better
equipped nowadays.
After a couple of years, the
decision was taken to dismantle and abandon the Moss Farm site and I
am sure this was the right thing to do. After a succession of
meeting places, culminating at the Three Greyhounds, under the
chairmanship of Geoff Foreman, the decision was taken to relocate at
Pettypool and plan the construction of a track site complex.
Now almost completed with a lot of dedicated planning and hard work
by most members, the site must rank highly among any club
facilities. A few years ago the society decided, not without
reservations, to adopt Limited Liability status, but in the light of
the times we live in, it is perhaps an inevitable decision.
Another sign of the times is
the fact that the majority of the members are retired, the average
age must be over sixty. What the future holds for recruiting
younger members must be a cause for concern, particularly as the
schools and colleges are no longer so involved in practical
engineering training. Another aspect is the change over the
years from 3½”
to 5”
and
towards 7¼”
gauge locomotives and also from the smaller scale traction engines
up to the larger 4”
-
6”scales. Perhaps this is an indication of our greater
affluence and acquisition of larger workshop facilities and better
machine tools.
The society, although mainly railway and
locomotive orientated, does have members who build other models.
John Moss has built a wide spectrum of locomotives, traction
engines, clocks, boats, IC. engines, cycles and motor cycles et al.
Geoff Foremen is a tool maker par excellence and one only has to
examine his work to appreciate his dedication and ability.
Steve Brown is also very versatile, building locomotives and
traction engines and whatever task he undertakes it is a first class
job. Ken Drakeford can turn his hand to most things and his
fast developing Romulus is looking good. In Craig Dyer we have
the most meticulous and dedicated Treasurer, a great improvement on
my earlier efforts on the back of the proverbial “fag packet”.
I am sure the Jinty will make progress. Geoff Johnson is a
first class Secretary and a great asset in many other ways.
Roll on Speedy! Cliff, well he certainly churns them out,
Indeed the newly completed “Metre Maid” is a credit to all
concerned. There have, in times past, been many other members
who have helped our society in numerous ways, some sadly no longer
with us.
The society has come a long way since
1974 and one thing is certain, that, given the quality and ability
of the current members it will long continue, although at present I
think it has reached its optimum membership
level, quality rather than quantity. We should all utilise and
value the facilities at Pettypool and savour the
camaraderie which is priceless. So onwards towards the half
century.
The
following is an extract from a local newspaper, published 23rd May
1974
Mr. T.D Robinson, a building company
director, of Beach Road, Hartford, has been using his knowledge of
engineering for nearly 30 years to build these scaled-down
locomotives with painstaking dedication and now he hopes to set up a
model engineering society in Northwich.
Say’s Mr. Robinson: “I want to find
other people with a similar interest with a view to Setting up a
permanent track where these locomotives could be run as a local
amenity as well as a site for pooling the work of enthusiasts. If a
model engineering society could be set up, perhaps people will be
able to see steam engines again”
A retired engineer now, Mr. Robinson’s
interest started when he was a schoolboy. He works on the
models in his spare time, in a workshop at his home, from
blueprints, photographs and locomotive textbooks, using scrap metal
that he converts on his machines. Working on a scale of 3/4”
to a foot, he had produced 28 perfectly detailed models, some of
actual old engines and some to his own designs.
They are laboriously built, usually
taking 3,000 hours of intricate work and his prize piece
–
a 19thCentury Compound
passenger locomotive took 10,000 hours to make. Mr. Robinson
shows his engines as a member of Urmston Model Engine Society, where
there is a large track layout complete with stations, main lines and
sidings with multi-gauge lines, to accommodate various sizes of the
models. He would like to see a similar layout in Northwich.
If there are any other model engine enthusiasts who are interested
in setting up a society in Northwich, Mr. Robinson will be pleased
to hear from them.
Not so long ago we had a barbecue to celebrate
our thirty years existence, blessed by beautiful weather and a
gathering of most members, it was a real celebration. If it
wasn’t for our Chairman, Geoff Johnson, buying that DIY carriage
shed, we could have been sitting with our cuppas, reminiscing for
the last two years!
Since we were 25 we have settled down at
Pettypool, steadily improving our facilities. Midlander has a
new body, we have a picnic area (somewhere to go over the bridge at
last!) and a proper signaling system. We were awarded a
Lottery grant of £5000 in December 2005 for a new carriage shed and
a riding car for the disabled and this work is well advanced.
We moved into the 21st century when
Colin Usher originated our Society Web Site and this has been
progressively improved. Anno Domini is taking effect on some of our
Members, but we still see them kicking from time to time.
Fortunately some younger members are coming along and their efforts
are evident already.
Left:
Geoff Foreman and Geoff
Johnson constructing the new club workshop in 2006.
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