Rotherham & District Model Engineers Society                                                                
How to find us: We can be found down a track off the end of Park Grove, Rawmarsh, S62 7JS
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Affiliated to Southern Federation of Model Engineering Societies
18/04/2023 This web site is in the process of being updated. Saturday 11-04-2017 Hi everybody, my name is Vernon Hazzlewood ( ‘Vern’ ). I’ve been asked to take over as Web Master for the club after Ken’s death. There’s been various problems as the web passwords were unknown to us. It’s been tricky sorting it out, but now its up and running linked to our original domain name rdmes.co.uk. I have made a start on updating its content and improving its ranking with search engines. There are financial costs to running the club e.g. rent for the site, insurance, repairs and electric. Our financial revenue stream comes from three main sources. membership fees, passengers on the train and birthday parties.  In particular we need to increase our club membership. Without more members, passenger hauling and parties will be come unsustainable. The web site is a window to view our clubs activities. So, I see my task is to make it visible in as many places as possible. BLOG There is a saying that ‘the air was very Blue’. Well I can say that it definitely wasn’t blue but was in fact Green, very Green, Light Green, Dark Green, Bluey Green when in fact what was really needed was ‘British Railway Green’. It was of course Geoff trying to get the colour right for his 5 inch ‘Britannia’. Thankfully I had a tin of genuine ‘British Railway Green’ which I loaned him. This he took the the paint supplier who after scanning the colour at last produced the correct mixture. Hopefully Geoff has kept the actual paint code so if anyone else needs it you know who to ask. I find it very encouraging when at last paint starts to go on a model as we know it wont be long before its in steam. While still on the subject of Green, you cant help but notice just how good the grass looks. So many thanks to Carl for his hard work with a hand push power mower. This is a considerable task and the committee are discussing the possibility of getting a ride on mower which should make this task much easier. Over the winter much work has been done on our club ‘Wren’ steam locomotive. Over the years it has been worked hard and was showing wear in many of its parts. A program of work has taken place where much of it was stripped and parts re-machined. Doc, Dennis and Tony have put it back together and is now running again. It sounds fantastic so many thanks and a fantastic job done by all involved.  The track also needed repairs as quite a few of the wooden sleepers had to be replaced. A thankless task that Nigel and his son has been attacking. So again many, thanks. Ken was treasurer for a number of years and is a hard act to follow, but Arthur seems to have got up to speed in no time and has already produced final accounts ready to be sent to Company House. These are a little late due to the situation with Ken but will still be filed within the allowed time period. Unfortunately yet again the passwords were missing to use on-line submission so might have rely on Mr postman this time around. Other tasks to complete are the finishing of the ground level steaming bays around the turn table. This will require areas concreting over. Mike has obtained an electric hydraulic pump which we will fit to the turn table in place of the hand pump. A great improvement which will make life much easier for both members and visitors unloading heavy locos from their cars. It’s been a problem for some time that when a small locos are run on the raised track that some of the carriages have to be manually lifted out of the way. It has been suggested that the ‘traverser’ be redesigned to become part of the track so excess carriages can be temporarily moved to the steaming bay tracks. This is something that is being looking at with a view to coming up with a modified design. The winter is almost over but as usual has fallen leaves all over the tracks. Ian decided to attack this with the leaf blower but yet another problem, it wouldn’t start. After much work by various members to no avail it was decided to purchase a new one which Ian used to great effect clearing the tracks ready for running.
How to find us: We can be found down a track off the end of Park Grove, Rawmarsh, S62 7JS
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April 2018. Fare increased to £1.0 for rides in Rosehill Victoria Park. Change in hire costs for birthday parties, increased to £120 see Parties Page. Decision taken not to do any outside events in the foreseeable future. December 2015 Newsbrief added. see Newsbriefs. Wednesday 18th November 2015. Further birthday parties held on the 31st October and the 8th November. Progress made on the Co-Co diesel hydraulic loco. Brake shoes and brake drums fitted to both bogies, awaiting fitting of operating cable and brake lever. Over centre valves fitted to both bogies, some pipework modification needed. Once these items have been completed only outstanding item is the class 37 body. Tuesday 3rd November 2015. Review page added to allow customers to add and view reviews of birthday parties. Monday 26th October 2015 Passengers carried at Victoria Rosehill Park on the 11th October was 58 and on the 18th October 7. The train did not run on the 25th October due to technical problems with the petrol hydraulic loco. Problems with the lack of power with the the loco prompted action to resolve the problem before the next birthday party. The decision was taken to fit the spare petrol engine that was purchased some time ago. This work is ongoing and should be completed in time for the birthday party on the 31st October. As a result of this there will be no trains running on Wednesday the 28th October. Total passengers carried during October in Victoria Rosehill Park was 123 all on Sunday’s, this compares with 165 in 2014. Thursday 8th October 2015 Passengers carried at Victoria Rosehill Park on the 4th October was 58. Monday 5th October 2015 Passengers carried at Victoria Rosehill Park on the 20th September was 56 and on the 27th September was 52. Total passengers carried in September in Victoria Rosehill Park was 226 all on a Sunday. This compares with 194 in 2014. A further birthday party was held on the 4th October 2015. We were sorry to hear of the passing of Frank Hepworth, as reported in the August 2015 newsbrief. The Society was represented at Frank’s funeral. We also learnt that it was Frank’s wish that a proportion of the donations received at his funeral should be bequeathed to the Society. To this end a very generous cheque for £209 was presented to the Society by Frank’s wife May at the park on the 4th October 2015. A full load test has been successfully carried out on the Co-Co diesel hydraulic loco, which saw the loco climb the hill effortlessly including a hill start. Sunday 27th September 2015 August 2015 Newsbrief added. see Newsbriefs Wednesday 16th September 2015 The funeral of David took place at the Rotherham Crematorium yesterday. Several members of RDMES and their wives attended. Passengers carried in Victoria Rosehill Park on the 16th August was 33, 19th August (Wednesday) was 144 a record except for special events, 23rd August was 55, 30th August was 47, 6th September was 76 and 13th September was 42. Total passengers carried in August in Victoria Rosehill Park was 516, with 195 on Sunday’s and 321 on Wednesday’s. This compares with respective figures in 2014 of 302, 173 and 129. Birthday parties held on the 22nd August, 29th August and the 13th September.