BURNHAM & DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB.
Chairman: Andrew Jones 07813014722
Secretary: Derek Bowden 01278 722882 djbowden@tiscali.co.uk
Exhibition Manager: John Langley 01823 270882
web site - www.burnhamanddmrc.org/
NEWSLETTER 6
May 2010
Welcome to our early Summer newsletter!
It is often thought that the model railway hobby 'hibernates' during the summer. Well, that may be true for some but it certainly is not true for us! Possibly it is because the wintry temperatures we are experiencing at the moment are keeping us active - on the other hand it may be that our planned programme of works just has to be met in full. Whatever the reason we have never been busier.
The month started with the main regional exhibition at Thornbury (Bristol) where we exhibited 'Chedway'. Always a busy show, this three day event always attracts a good crowd.
This was immediately followed by the Joint Exhibition with the Taunton Town MRC held on the following Saturday. This proved to be a great success. The excellent venue close to the town centre proved to be well chosen. The whole day was busy and at the end of it, exhibitors, traders and club members expressed themselves completely satisfied with the results. Being the first exhibition that the Taunton Club has been involved with meant that there was a steep learning curve to negotiate. However, the 'post mortem' will clearly identify issues and hopefully any problems will not appear next year. Next year? Yes, the show's success means that this will be a regular spring fixture in the West of England.
BURNHAM ONE DAY EXHIBITION – MAY 29TH
Two exhibitions in one month – no wonder we are busy bunnies! As in previous years this will be the Club's opportunity to display ALL the layouts it has – over 10 in number. This is the time when we need assistance from outside and the Taunton Club have always provided numerous willing volunteers. I had hoped to have a truly good selection of Southern motive power on show, but Murphy's Law has dictated otherwise. Unfortunately a house move has meant that everything will be packed ready for the 'off' two weeks' later. Still, the 'Leader' and the Bulleid Diesel Electric will be doing their bit to amaze and amuse.
The venue will be the Community Centre in Burnham on Sea, as in previous years. Come and see this one day festival of modelling. The Exhibition is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm whilst the admission charge is a modest £2.00. Seniors and children are £1.50 whilst a family ticket (2+2) is £6.00. A bargain!
SEDGEMOOR RAIL 2010
August seems like a long way away, at the end of the summer if we have one this year! However, make a note in your diary for the Club's major exhibition and event which is held on the Saturday and Sunday of August Bank Holiday. More details will follow in the next Newsletter.
LIMITED EDITION WAGONS – 'OO' GAUGE'
What ever happened to the deliveries from January and March? Quite simply, they have all gone! The four models comprising the March batch were the fastest moving of all with every item selling out in under a week. Again we had many disappointed customers, but it only highlights the need to pre-order and pre-pay. Only that way can you be sure to get the models you want.
Deliveries from Dapol have been slightly erratic and some customers must have wondered when they would get their order. The first of the May consignment arrived ahead of the April delivery and finally April and the balance of May all arrived on the same day. There is a small window of opportunity to despatch the orders for these models before the One Day Exhibition at the end of the month.
APRIL & MAY DELIVERIES.
All five wagons comprising this delivery are now in stock. Based on past experience we know they will all sell very quickly. The Nestle tanker is absolutely stunning!
Nestle 6 wheel milk tanker. This looks absolutely stunning and we thank Messrs. Nestle for giving their permission to us to reproduce this model. One condition of that permission is that the model can only be sold in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Even so we know that demand for this model will be high and consequently we are limiting all customers to 2 models. That way we wiill try to ensure a fair distribution and minimise the Ebay purchasers who are creeping into the market. In royal blue with gold lettering. SOLD OUT £13.50 ea.
Southern Railway Express Dairy 6 wheel milk tanker.
Our second milk tanker released this month. This model is based on a photograph supplied by a customer and features the railway company's initials in black on the end of the tank.The tank is in white with blue lettering. All in all a most welcome addition to a collection or layout. Even known GWR supporters have ordered some so it can't be that bad! Price £13.50 ea.
National Smelting Corporation of Avonmouth 6 wheel tanker.
Our third tanker, but this time it carried rather noxious liquids to and from the Company's works just outside
G. Heywood of Exeter.
This model has been produced based on photographic evidence. A black 5 plank wagon it comes with either sand, brick or timber loads. Please specify your requirements when you order. Heywood established his builder's merchants business at the LSWR station at Queen Street in the late 19th century and it prospered as the City expanded. Price £9.25 ea.
G. Heywood & Sons of Exeter & Topsham.
When Heywood retired his two sons took over the business and they diversified into coal opening new depots at Exmouth and Topsham.The firm lasted until the 1980s when industry rationalisation forced it to close. Both these wagons were found in our researches last year. Price £9.25 ea.
AUGUST DELIVERIES (in time for Sedgemoor Rail 2010)
Duchess of
Purchase of Taunton container on GWR conflat. The late 19th century saw a growth in house removers as the population became more mobile. Purchase were based in Rowbarton, close to Taunton station where their containers would have been taken by horse and cart for onward shipment to any part of the country. Price £14.00 ea.
Taunton Cider 6 wheel tanker. Somerset is synonomous with cider and Taunton Cider expanded to become one of the County's largest producers. This model is in the firm's distinctive livery of apple green with gold lettering. Alas the firm closed in the 1990s and the site where apples were turned into a golden sparkling drink is now a large housing estate. Price £13.50 ea.
Sheppy's Cider of
SEPTEMBER DELIVERIES (in time for the Chippenham Show)
Pinniger of Calne A 9' wheelbase 5 plank open with a coal load, the model was based on an image in the Wild Swan book 'The Calne Branch'. Pinniger was the town's major coal merchant drawing his supplies from the Somerset and South Wales coalfields. Price £9.25 ea.
Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Co. of Chippenham. One of the more positive side effects of the American Civil War was the development of condensed milk, which when tinned, seemed to last forever! Anglo Swiss started operations in the late 19th century utilising locally sourced milk and using the railway for fast distribution of the finished product. Price £10.00 ea.
NOVEMBER DELIVERIES
Wilts United Dairy 6 wheel tanker. A re-run of this popular model with a new fleet number. This will surely make Patrick in Devizes happy! Price £13.50 ea.
Alfred Down of
DECEMBER DELIVERIES.
A festive release of three vans. Two will be from breweries associated with the SDJR whilst the third is from Wiltshire commemorating a firm who produced copious amounts of pork pies, hams and sausages much of which went by rail.
These three models will conclude our programme for 2010. Without a doubt it has been a most successful year and we are now firmly established as one of the country's largest commissioners of Limited Edition model railway wagons. That is due to you – our customers- and we thank you.
2011 PROGRAMME
his has now been finalised and will contain the usual mix of the usual and the unusual. The need to spread our wings geographically will see models from Kent, Sussex, Leicestershire and Liverpool as well as many examples from our traditional 'stomping ground'. Of one thing you can be certain, the quality of our product will remain high as we will not compromise on the products we sell.
POST & PACKING
We have tried to simplify our P&P rates following Royal Mail's price increase in April. Thus:-
Orders for 1 or 2 models posted at the same time will cost £2.25
Orders for 3 or 4 models posted at the same time will cost £3.25
Orders for 5 or 6 models posted at the same time will cost £5.50
Orders for 7 or 8 models posted at the same time will cost £6.50
Please note that the maximum amount of compensation payable by Royal Mail for loss or damage is £41.00. Therefore larger orders will be split into separate consignments so that we do not breach this figure (or if we do, it won't be by much!) Overseas orders are charged at cost- please enquire for details.
ENQUIRIES AND ORDERS
Please contact the Exhibition Manager, John Langley, 20 Compton Close, Taunton, TA2 7UD, Tel. 01823 270882 or johnlangley2001@yahoo.co.uk for availability.All cheques to be payable to BDMRC please. Due to the strong demand for our products, orders are held for 10 days only. If payment is not received by that date the order is cancelled and the items returned to stock unless alternative arrangements have been made in advance.We strongly recommend that wagons are ordered with payment, but please, not more than 6 months in advance as the cheques go out of date! Please note that cheques are not presented for payment until the goods are ready for despatch.
2011 BUDGET
Now that the General Election is behind us and a new Government is in office it is obvious that a new budget will be set in the very near future.Although there has been much speculation as to what this will contain, it is possible that the VAT rate will increase to 20% (at the moment it is one of the lowest in Europe). Unfortunately, if this happens we will be forced to amend our prices accordingly. News of any changes will be posted on our Web Site.
WEB SITE
This is regularly updated and contains news about our wagon programme as well as the exhibitions we will be attending. Please log on to http://www.burnhamanddmrc.com/ so that you are updated on events and developments.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
One of the reasons why our model range has been so popular is that we put a considerable amount of energy into providing you – the customer- with the kind of old fashioned service you deserve. Where possible we will attempt to despatch your order within 24 hours although this period may be extended just after a large delivery has been received and we are having to process all the pre-orders. Then we are packing furiously and the local Post Office tends to get swamped!
We are only too aware in these difficult economic days more than ever the Customer is King. He may not always be right, but he has the freedom to take his custom elsewhere. We are determined that will not happen.
YOUR REQUESTS
Again, a plea for photographic evidence so that we can produce the models that you, our customers want. As you will have seen we have committed ourselves to the 2011 programme, but we may be able to squeeze in something really special.
AND FINALLY.......
I am receiving my State Pension (yippee!), and the next few weeks will see me moving into the 'Big City' of Taunton. Stress is a way of life at the moment, but hopefully not for long! Martin Dean, Editor.
