Around two dozen or so of us had a very enjoyable time at the Silk Mill today for the Spring Member’s Meeting. It was great to see several new faces, as well as those who support the Society regularly at these events. Quite apart from the many chats and discussions going on around the room during the informal parts of the day, we were treated to two very well delivered and exceptionally interesting presentations.
As we were at the Museum of Making, it was fitting that Nigel Fisher should take us down to the magnificent Kirtley Junction model and talk us through its many and varied finer points, with its incredibly detailed engines and stock being paraded past for us. I see this stunning example of the modellers” craft every day I am at the Study Centre, but it surprised me how much nuance and detail I have missed until it was pointed out by Nigel.
After lunch, in the 150th anniversary year of the opening of the Settle and Carlisle line to passengers, Stephen Lea imparted some of his extensive knowledge of MR carriage development in the context of Anglo-Scottish traffic during the Midland years. In describing developments such as the advent of corridor connections allowing the introduction of dining carriages, we could almost hear the crockery rattle as 54 foot 12 wheel bogies carriages were hauled over the Long Drag! (I may have got a little carried away there…)
My point, however, is that those of us who attended all very evidently thoroughly enjoyed the day. If you weren’t there (and indeed even if you were!), you may want to pencil-in Saturday 24th October for the Autumn Members Meeting. The date and the rest of the details are yet to be confirmed, but will of course be in the Members’ Newsletter, and here on the website, well in advance. See you there.
[Apologies to Nigel for incorrectly naming him in earlier versions of this page. – Mea Culpa . Dave]
