Page 3 - March April 2002

CUPOLA
...FROM THE EDITOR
Grumbles, grouses and queries, yes. We wouldn’t be human if they didn’t surface from time to time. But we are going back to civilised debate. I’m reminded of an old “Calvin and Hobbes” cartoon, where the bolshie little lad Calvin, with a tough look on his face, tells his pet (toy) tiger Hobbes, “What we need is an Attitude!” The tiger ‘thinks’ for a moment and then suggests, “We could be courteously deferential?” Well, that isn’t what Calvin had in mind, but I’d go along with it. Back to trains, please.
Talking of which...
SHOWING THE (E-L) FLAG
ALDRIDGE Indiana enjoyed another long wet weekend at the Erith Club show in Dartford, Kent, back in January (see photo). You might remember that horrendous few days of weather, or prefer not to.
However although the driving was a bit nautical, the show was well attended and we operators had a good time in Erie- Lackawanna land again. Our discipline slipped a little and we found not only Reading, Lehigh Valley and Pennsy diesels
showing up (so - call it just- post-Conrail!) but also a sudden flashback into the past with a brass Erie Russian smoothly going where no steamer has gone (much) before. Er....preserved fan-trip
time again!
The main thing is that, for a change, just about everything worked all the time, we had interesting discourse with the genuinely interested punters, nearly all our NMRA publicity material was taken, and I think, on balance, Model
Railroading Was Fun.
The regulars thank Alan Thomas and David Pritchard for helping us out over the weekend, which allowed more relaxed refreshment breaks and a chance to wander round the rest of the show.
Martin Boyask
ed_nmra@mboyask.freeserve.co.uk
So, I am sure you are all waiting to hear about the fallout from the Episode of The Infamous Adverts, Chapter 97. (No? Well, I can’t say I’d blame you!)
Considering our near-700 membership, there actually wasn’t all that much feedback - not to Mboyask@Roundhouse anyway! And although some of the communications were long and detailed, most were barely a few lines. As those people took the trouble to write or e-mail, I felt it appropriate to sum up, briefly, elsewhere.
Whatever view was taken, one thing came across strongly from all sides - commercial adverts. are not the place to air grievances. This should be done, politely, through Uncoupled Cars letters, or similar. A second point, to put it bluntly, is the general feeling that traders need the ordinary members more than vice versa - sorry guys. But equally, of course, members are very pleased to see the traders and their goods, as and where possible.
The north-south divide thing came up a few times, but I think the geography bit is a red herring (where is north? - where is south? What does west count as?) In any case, so far as the Ross meet is concerned, the organiser told me that if the format turned out to be a success and were repeated in a year or so, the traders omitted this year would get first refusal next time - hardly a north-south divide.
We all share the same hobby whether it is our living or not. Also, in the grand scheme of things, we are too few in number to start having feuds and factions amongst ourselves. If it is going to be “us and them”, let’s have it as the USA modellers versus that rivet-counting GWR lot! (Just kidding - I know some of us ARE that rivet- counting GWR lot!!)
The reasons for allowing the adverts into print this time have been explained by both President Geoff Meek and myself. Having said that, it isn’t going to happen ever again - not while I’m editor anyway.
ROUNDHOUSE APRIL 2002
CONSIST...
CUPOLA 3
PRESIDENT’S CAR 4
BRITISH COLOMBIA 5
Vernon Stone
BEANERY 6
UNCOUPLED CARS 6
TIMETABLE 9
WHAT’S ON & WHERE 10
DIVISION DIARY... 12
AGM MINUTES 13
TED’S TRAVELS PART 2 14
More on Dallies from Bob Warren
REGISTRAR NEWS 16 TOO BIG FOR THE LAYOUT? 16
Rod Welch
THE AMERICAN DREAM 17
Rod Frnklin
CONSTRUCTORS' CORNER 18 CHIVERS FINELINE 0n30 KITS
Brian Gilbert
PREPARING & PAINTING BRASS MODELS
Alan Corkill
Material for ROUNDHOUSE should be sent to: The Editor, Martin Boyask, 135 New Church Road, HOVE, East Sussex BN3 4BE. Telephone: 01273 422048 (before 9 pm) E-mail: ed_nmra@mboyask.freeserve.co.uk
TRADE ADVERTISING COPY to:
John Sammans, 32 Oker Avenue, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 2GN.
Telephone: 01629 734931
COPY DATES FOR FUTURE ISSUES...
Deadline for June 2002 is April 26, and for August 2002 is June 28.
ROUNDHOUSE is designed by Ian Wilson, Mackenzie Wilson, 2 High Street, Corby Glen, Lincolnshire NG33 4LX Tel.01476 550502 E-mail: art@mackw.co.uk
and printed by Ruddocks Colour Printers, Great Northern Terrace, Lincoln.
Tel: 01522 529591
Railroad Clipart by Ken Houghton Rail Images.
APRIL 2002 3