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 4.
January 2010.
Greetings and welcome to the New Year!
I always find this an interesting period as it gives one the time to look back on the past 12 months whilst planning for the year ahead. It is wise to reflect on past achievements whilst not overlooking the disappointments.
Not surprisingly, the Club has had its share of positives and negatives on which to ponder. The failure to secure a permanent new home was perhaps the single largest disappointment. We know that this is an issue that will not go away and we must confront the problem, if possible, this year. If we do not we could be made homeless.
However, the clear positive in 2009 was the development and expansion of our commissioned 'OO' wagon range. These have proved to be highly popular and it has allowed us to develop the Club in several ways. We have widened the amount of consumable stock and spares that it is necessary to carry so that the Club's layouts can be maintained and improved. It has also given us the ability to assist others in the hobby and to plan a new initiative with another Club in Taunton.
NORTH PETHERTON EXHIBITION.
In spite of appalling weather with heavy rain and leaden skies, visitors still came to the show. They deserved a medal! Not surprisingly visitor numbers were down on last year but the exhibition was still judged a success by the Treasurer, so it wasn't that bad! The additional space that was hired was put to very good use and at the end of the day both traders and exhibitors felt that the experience had been worthwhile. An unusual exhibit was a 'T' scale layout which fitted into a despatch case. No one can say they don't have room for a model railway now! This show marked the finale of our exhibition season - one where we have been to more shows than ever before. It has been a busy year but a worthwhile one. In particular we have learnt from the one day exhibition held at the end of May; never to hold it on a fine summer's day which coincides with the FA Cup Final!
EXHIBITIONS 2010
Listed below are the exhibitions we will be attending during the first four months of 2010. We look forward to meeting you there!
Date Venue Layout
January 23rd & 24th Calne Chedway
February 13th & 14th Gartrell Lt. Rly. Chedway
February 20th & 21st Warminster Chedway
February 27th & 28th Eastleigh Chedway
March 13th & 14th Redruth Chedway
April 30th to May 2nd Thornbury Chedway
DON'T FORGET OUR OWN EXHIBITIONS!
May 29th Burnham on Sea one day exhibition. All the Club's layouts on display and working!
August 28th & 29th Sedgemoor Rail 2010. Our largest exhibition in the calendar.
NEW! NEW! A JOINT EXHIBITION IN TAUNTON.
Recognising the assistance that the Taunton Town Model Railway Club have given us in the past, we have decided to help them in co-hosting their first ever exhibition. All proceeds from this show will go to the Taunton Club and hopefully this will encourage them to develop their own ideas in the future. To be held at Taunton Town Football Club on May 8th. Please note this new show and support a new idea!
WEB SITE
This is regularly maintained and if you wish to know of our activities and our model stock please log on to www.burnhamanddmrc.org/ It also has the latest newsletter which does get amended from time to time as different news items are received.
E-MAIL ADDRESSES.
Thank you to those people who have sent us their email addresses. It has speeded up our communications and has minimised the problems with sending information by 'snail mail'. Increasingly we were finding that our commissioned wagons were selling so quickly that those customers who have to rely on post sent hard copies of the newsletter were running the risk that items had already been sold. However, we still need more addresses, so keep them coming!
LIMITED EDITION WAGONS – 'OO' GAUGE
When we decided to produce a few models based on pictures held in the local Bridgwater Museum, little did we know it would develop into a rolling programme that has largely commemorated Somerset's diverse industrial history. By providing competitive prices and friendly fast customer service we have certainly gained a loyal customer base. We have tried to provide you, the collector and modeller with the products you have wanted. The variety of designs seems to have been appreciated and we have tried to steer away from the basic open wagon. However, it will not be possible to maintain that policy this year as some of the designs we have found in our researches are of that type. Also, we must remember that the open wagon was by far and away the most common vehicle on Britain's railways.
The sharp eyed will notice that a change of plan has been introduced in the March programme. This is because we found, to our dismay, that another specialist supplier had been given permission by Dapol to commission the same wagon as ourselves. Although we had ordered the wagon first and had the right to insist that the model came to us, we decided for the sake of goodwill in the hobby to withdraw. Consequently an unplanned spell of research over the Christmas period resulted in a replacement being found. Therefore May & Hassell of Bridgwater (or should it be Hassle for the changes have certainly caused that!) appears in the place of J.E. Smith(Portsmouth) of Fratton etc.
The November Limited Edition models have now sold out. In particular, the lime wagon and the box van sold extremely well and they went in under a fortnight. Because all of these releases went so well, we again made the decision to augment our meagre (zero!) stock with some of Dapol's own production items. We only ordered 20 of each so availability of these is limited. At the time of writing the following items are available:-
James & Co of Exeter. One of Dapol's own production runs, so we have left it to them to do the research! A five plank wagon in brick red with the end irons picked out in black. A new model with the new 9 foot wheelbase. Non Limited Edition. Price £ 7.75
Silvey & Co. of Fishponds , Bristol. The second of Dapol's main production run. Again, featuring the new 9 foot wheelbase moulding this 5 plank wagon comes in chocolate brown and is fully lined out. Silvey were major fuel distributors, so this model comes with a coal load. They are still trading today but as oil distributors. Non Limited Edition. Price £7.75
2010 Limited Edition Programme.
ORDER NOW TO SECURE THE MODELS YOU WANT.
Scheduled for late January: 180 ordered except where indicated.
Wilts United Dairies of Bridgwater, Highbridge & Wells. This is a re-run of the extremely popular vent van in cream with red text which was issued last year. This time the model features a different fleet number. The firm became part of United Dairies with the dairy at Bason Bridge being the reason for the last traffic on the SDJR. Price £10.00 each.
Coates Cider of Nailsea. Those of us of a certain age will remember the famous advertising line 'Coates comes up from Somerset where the cider apples grow'. This is our first 6 wheel tanker this year and the advertising line features prominently on the side of the model. In white with red and apple green text. We know this one will be especially popular. Price £13.00 ea.
Norton Mills of Norton Fitzwarren. This firm originally derived its power from the stream that stills flows (and floods) through the village. A green GWR vent van from the location that is the junction for the West Somerset Railway. Price £10.00 each
Somerset County Council, Underwood Quarry, Wells. (155 ordered). This quarry, now unused, is located in the Mendip Hills and overlooks the City. These wagons travelled widely taking road stone to a variety of destinations and are suitable for GWR, SDJR & SR. A bright red 5 plank wagon with stone load and blackened end irons Price £9.00 each.
Scheduled for late March: 150 ordered except where indicated.
SDJR No. 356 A five plank wagon with blackened end irons based upon the drawing we found in our researches last year. The model comes with coal, brick or timber loads and you will need to specify your preference when ordering. Price £9.00 each
Earl of Waldegrave Collieries, Radstock. Based upon a photograph taken at Weston Gas Works, this model clearly shows the three major pits in the Waldegrave ownership on the centre door. An unusual and attractive design from the Somerset coalfield. Price £9.00 each
May & Hassell of Bridgwater (This model replaces the J.E. Smith(Portsmouth) of Fratton etc.)
Located on West Quay in Bridgwater Docks the firm were timber importers dealing mainly in products from the Baltic which were distributed throughout the region. A 5 plank yellow wagon with the end irons picked out in black. An unusual design with a timber load. Price £9.00 each.
Cheddar Valley Dairy of Axbridge & Cheddar. A most attractive 6 wheel tanker featuring a distinctive script logo in chocolate on a cream background. The firm lasted for over 100 years until it was acquired by Unigate. Its railway operations were centred on the small wayside station of Brent Knoll near Weston Super Mare. 180 ordered. Price £13.00 each
Scheduled for late April: Only 150 ordered.
Nestle 6 wheel milk tanker. Based on a photograph sent to us by a customer (thanks Dave!), this model is being released only in the UK and Ireland. In royal blue with gold lettering, we know this one will fly! Is this the first model of one of this Company's wagons? Price TBA.
Scheduled for mid May Only 150 ordered except where indicated.
G. Heywood of Exeter. A black 5 plank wagon with either timber, brick or sand loads. Heywood established his builders merchants business at Queen Street station in the late 19th century and it grew as the City expanded. The firm finally closed in the 1980s. Price TBA
G. Heywood & Sons of Exeter and Topsham. This wagon shows the development of the Company when Heywood's two sons took over the Company on his retirement. They moved into coal to complement the existing business and opened new depots at Topsham and Exmouth. Both these wagons come from our researches made last year. Price TBA
Southern Railway Express Dairy. Based on a photograph supplied to us by a customer (thanks again Dave!) this model is based on the Southern Railway's first 6 wheel tanker. In white, it comes complete with the railway company's initials on the end in black whilst the Express Dairy name is on the side of the tank in dark blue. An unusual model. Price TBA
National Smelting Corporation of Avonmouth. Based on original research, this 6 wheel tanker took acids and other noxious liquids to and from the Company's works just outside Bristol. In matt grey with white lettering. This is a joint venture with the Shirehampton MRC and we believe this is a first – a model co-commissioned by two model railway clubs. (170 ordered) Price TBA.
Scheduled for August and November.
Our ongoing researches have given us quite a pool of interesting material on which to base the last two batches of models for this year. All being well, these will be released in time for Sedgemoor Rail 2010 and the North Petherton exhibitions. We intend to give full details of the models within these two release dates in the next newsletter. As for 2011, don't even ask!
ENQUIRIES & 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 made payable to BDMRC. All orders received are held for 10 days (longer for overseas customers) to await payment. After that period of time the items ordered are returned to stock and the order cancelled.
We strongly recommend that wagons are pre-ordered with payment in advance as so many of our models sell in such a short period of time. This way the models YOU WANT are secured.
Please note that cheques are not presented for payment until the goods are ready for despatch.
POST & PACKING.
We have tried to keep these costs to the minimum as we appreciate they can be onerous. Postage for a single item is £1.75 with additional items posted at the same time being an additional 50p each. Overseas orders are charged at cost – details on request. Because the Royal Mail's limit on compensation for lost items is £39 we are reluctant to post more than 4 models at a time. Please enquire as to the arrangements for larger orders. We always obtain proof of posting from our local Post Office so that we can always let you know when your order was despatched.
FUTURE POSTAGE & PACKING RATES.
In late September it was announced that the 1st class letter rate will increase from 39p to 42p. . There will inevitably be a similar rate increase for small packets and this will mean that our P&P charges will have to increase after April. We hope information will follow in the next newsletter.
MODEL INDUSTRY PRICE INCREASES.
We have been informed that Dapol's prices will increase from April 1st. It is also highly likely that the other manufacturers will do likewise. At the moment we do not know any details of the changes but it is likely that we will not be informed until mid March at the earliest. Consequently we have been unable to price any of the issues released after that date. Nevertheless, you can be assured that as a model railway club whose sole interest is to promote the hobby as a whole, we will keep any price increases to the minimum. We are a non profit making organisation, not a business operating within the hobby, and all our proceeds go to the Club itself.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT.
Time consuming, frustrating and often leading nowhere at all, but every now and again gold nuggets are discovered. Customers are often the best source of information. Images of wagons are always welcome as are your ideas for future releases. Keep sending them in please. At the moment we are in the process of looking at the end of year releases. It is possible that 6 wheel tankers will be feature in both the August and November programmes. That will make a tanker for every release date! However, also look out for a container and conflat and other interesting items.
2010 what will it bring? Hopefully, my State Pension! Martin Dean, Editor.
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 3.
November 2009
Hello again!
Welcome to our third and final newsletter for 2009. We hope you have found the first two interesting, keeping you fully informed of what the Club is doing. We propose to continue in this vein in 2010. However, because of the proposed delivery schedule of our Limited Edition wagons some of the future newsletters will be devoted solely to our wagon releases.
SEDGEMOOR RAIL 2009
August saw a frenzy of activity as the Club put the finishing touches to its major exhibition of the year. Nevertheless by the Bank Holiday weekend all was in place and we were pleased to see visitor numbers that exceeded previous years. This was in spite of advertising which told would be visitors to leave the M25 at Junctions 22 or 23. We have not heard of large numbers of modellers lost in the Home Counties so we must assume that most saw through this mistake. An added bonus this year was a live steam display from the West Huntspill Model Engineering Society. Hopefully this attraction, which was extremely popular with children, will be returning in future years. We have had a considerable amount of positive feedback stating that Sedgemoor Rail is a welcoming and friendly exhibition. Hopefully, this reflects the overall character of the Club.
Filling a 'quiet gap' in the local model railway calendar, this one day exhibition is aimed at filling the needs of local modellers, traders and visitors alike. Since it started a few years ago, the show has grown and so this year we have hired an additional room which has increased our floor space considerably. The show has on site parking with fresh refreshments available. In addition you will be able to purchase our three new Limited Edition wagons (see below for details). We look forward to seeing you at the Village Hall on 29th November. To find us leave the M5 at junction 24.
EXHIBITIONS – SUMMER 2009.
The Club has taken its layouts to numerous model railway exhibitions throughout the year. In particular we attend fund raising events free of charge and in this way we have assisted in the raising of funds for several local worthy causes. Specifically, the Club has supported BARB (Burnham Area Rescue Boat). Hopefully, our actions show that the Club continues to play a role as part of the local community rather than being seen as somewhat separate from mainstream activity.
EXHIBITIONS – WINTER 2009
See our layouts at numerous exhibitions in the dark winter period. The weather may be miserable but we won't! All our Club members now have smart new polo shirts. Gone is the design with the taper boiler locomotive from a certain local railway; it has been replaced by Stephenson's 'Rocket'. That way railway rivalries can be kept in check!
Date Venue Layout
7th November
7th November Wadebridge Dead End
14/15th November Tolworth, Surrey Canalside
CLUB PROFILE
Our activities, exhibitions and especially the issuing of Limited Edition model railway wagons (see below) has lifted the profile of the Club considerably. Whereas last year we were known in our part of the World, now more and more people are aware of us and our activities.
WEB SITE
There is nothing more frustrating than finding an out of date web site. It is worse than useless and might as well not be there. Our web site is regularly updated and you can check on the Club (and its model stock) by logging on to www.burnhamanddmrc.org/
CLUB PREMISES
For some time we have been aware that the long term future of the premises we use is in question as the Community Centre in which we are based has been threatened with redevelopment by the Local Authority. Therefore we have started the slow, time consuming and expensive task of finding a new home. Our first attempt has ended in failure as the structural survey highlighted numerous expensive problems in the premises we were interested in. Nevertheless, we will keep looking!
LIMITED EDITION WAGONS - 'OO' GAUGE
Sales of our models continue to grow as awareness of our programme spreads. The two May releases sold out in a fortnight and the trio of vans which were released in September have also done well. From starting with no database of customers we can now report that our models are reaching around the world. We must be doing something right!
A considerable amount of research goes into what we commission. This year we were fortunate to discover a cache of material which had been mouldering in the depths of a County library. A whole day was spent by the Club's Exhibition Manager and the Editor in ploughing through vast amounts of photographs and drawings. When the Exhibition Manager found two wagons from his home town of
Because the demand for the wagons we commission has been so high, we have taken the unusual step of acquiring additional models from other sources. We started by giving a helping hand to our friends at the Shirehampton MRC and we successfully sold on their behalf all their remaining stock of the wagon they had commissioned. Then, seeing that Dapol were issuing a Taunton area wagon we made a special purchase of some 40 Small & Sons coal wagons. Even though these are not Limited Edition models, they have proved to be extremely popular and we have now sold out
At the time of writing we have only one of our September releases in stock:-
John Board of Bridgwater cement van. The firm's sidings were at the SDJR station. They have been very popular and our stock position is extremely low (only 5 left as I write). Price £10.00 ea.
Scheduled for November delivery:-
Only 150 ordered of each type.
Evercreech Lime & Stone Co. Ltd. The Mendip Hills continue to provide copious amounts of stone, mainly for road repairs. In earlier years much of the stone was used for the manufacture of lime used for agricultural purposes. This lime wagon is from the company whose premises and private siding adjoined Evercreech New station on the SDJR main line. Price £10.00 ea.
Bland & Co. of Highbridge. An attractive red five plank wagon with the addition of the end irons being picked out in black. This firm specialised in importing timber from the Baltic through its base at Highbridge Wharf. Naturally, the wagon comes complete with a timber load. Price £9.00 ea.
Holts Brewery of Burnham. A vent van from Burnham's own local brewery. The Company lasted for many years and the firm lasted until the major rationalisation that impacted on the brewery industry in the 1950s. Price £10.00 ea.
Scheduled for delivery in late January 2010
Only 150 ordered of each type.*
Wilts United Dairies of Bridgwater, Highbridge & Wells. This is a re-run of the extremely popular vent van issued earlier. On that occasion it sold out in just over a week! This time the model features a different running number. Price £10.00 ea.
Somerset County Council, Underwood Quarries, Wells. The first wagon from the archive source mentioned above. In the early 20th century SCC bought several quarries in the Mendip Hills so that they had a source of high quality road stone. Consequently, these wagons travelled far and wide. Today the quarry is out of use but it still dominates the City. Price £9.00 ea.
Norton Mills of Norton Fitzwarren. Many small towns had own mill especially where there was a plentiful supply of water to provide the power source. This was especially true of Norton – it still floods every winter! A GWR vent van from the location which is still the junction for the West Somerset Railway. Price £10.00 ea.
Coates Cider of Nailsea.* Six wheel tankers always seem to be popular and this model was inspired by one of the County's most important industries – alas not any more. The firm adopted the famous advertising line 'Coates comes up from Somerset where the cider apples grow' and this features on the model. (* 165 ordered). Price £13.00 ea.
Scheduled for delivery in late March 2010
Only 150 of each type ordered.*
SDJR No. 356. A five plank wagon based on a line drawing found during our researches. The SDJR carried three primary sources of traffic – coal, timber and bricks. This model is coming with a choice of all three loads and you will need to specify your needs when ordering. Price £9.00 ea.
Earl Waldegrave Collieries of Radstock. This model is based on a photograph of the real wagon taken at Weston Super Mare gas works. An unusual and attractive design, the model has the Earl's three major pits detailed on the centre door. Price £9.00 ea.
J. E. Smith (
Scheduled for mid April 2010
Only 150 ordered
A special milk tanker. Based on a photograph sent to us by a customer (thanks Dave), permission has been obtained from the Company concerned which is still trading. However, a condition is that this model can only be sold in the UK or The Republic of Ireland.
Scheduled for Mid May 2010
(in time for our one day exhibition at the end of the month)
A matched pair of wagons from
Southern Railway Express Dairy . A 6 wheel tanker with the company's initials on the end of the tank. Based on two photographs of the prototype received from a customer. (Thanks Dave, again!)
A 6 wheel tanker from Avonmouth Based on original research, this is a joint venture with The Shirehampton Model Railway Club. We believe this is a first – a model co-commissioned by two model railway clubs.
Scheduled for August 2010
A trio from
POST & PACKING.
By using recycled materials wherever possible we have kept our postage charges to the minimum. However, as my cat has taken a dislike to Whiskas it is likely that boxes from that source will cease in the near future! Postage for a single item is £1.75 with additional items posted at the same time being an additional 50p each. Overseas orders are charged at cost – details on request. We always obtain a proof of posting so we can let you know when your order was despatched.
ENQUIRIES & 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 made payable to BDMRC. All orders received are held for 10 days (longer for overseas customers) to await payment. After that period of time the items ordered are returned to stock.
We strongly recommend that wagons are pre-ordered with payment in advance as so many of our models are sold in such a short period of time. This way the models YOU WANT are secured. However, cheques are not presented for payment until the goods are ready for despatch.
POSTAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION.
This has had an impact on orders reaching us and the speed of delivery to you, the customer. Rest assured we will continue to give you a first class personal service, in spite of the difficulties.
FUTURE POSTAGE & PACKING RATES
In late September it was announced that postal rates will rise again in 2010. This will probably take place in April. Coupled with this, the volume of orders has necessitated us making increased use of purpose made cardboard boxes. We have absorbed these additional costs up to now but it is likely that our P&P rates will need to be reviewed after April next year.
FUTURE PRICING STRUCTURE.
As a Model Railway Club you can be assured that all the proceeds from the sale of our models go into the hobby. We are not a business operating within the hobby, and thus we are able to maintain our prices at a competitive level. However, it is possible / probable that the model industry may impose new price rises from April 1st. For that reason we are unable to give prices for models issued after that date, but please be aware that our competitive pricing policy will remain..
RESEARCH.
This is ongoing and the part of the process that I really enjoy. However, the work has paid dividends as is evidenced by our continued high level of sales. Consequently we have had to increase our level of research to keep pace with demand!
CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU.
Finally, may we wish you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank YOU for your continued support throughout the year; in return we will try to keep commissioning the models you want in the future. Certainly you have made us confident enough to plan a positive programme for the New Year which will mean that we probably now commission more wagons from this part of the West Country than any supplier.
Martin Dean, Editor.
BURNHAM & DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB.
Chairman: Andrew Jones 07813014722
Secretary: Derek Bowden 01278 722882 djbowden@tiscali.co.uk
Exhibition Manager: John Langley 01823 270882
NEWSLETTER 2.
August 2009
Good wishes!
It is often thought that the summer is the quiet period for the model railway hobby. Tradition seems to think that all good hobbyists pack up their soldering wire and pick up a garden fork. Well, that may be true for some, but it certainly has not been the case for us down here in Somerset, for the Club has never been busier.
SUMMER 2009.
Summer started with the Club taking its 'Oddsan Ends' layout to the major regional model railway exhibition at Thornbury, Bristol at the beginning of May. This exhibition, run by the Association of Model Railway Clubs Wales & West of England branch is always busy and well attended. This year was no exception with an excellent range of layouts and traders.
No sooner had this event happened then the Club had to put the finishing touches to its Open Day which was held on Saturday 30th May. With some thirteen operating layouts, it became necessary to draft in operating assistance and this was readily supplied by the Taunton Town Model Railway Club. The Club certainly acknowledges the help they willingly gave. It was unfortunate that the event clashed with the FA Cup Final whilst the weather was sunny and hot which meant that many casual visitors headed straight for the beach. Next year the date has been brought forward a week whilst the size of the operation is such that the Club feels that the title 'One Day Exhibition' is more appropriate. Knowing British weather, we know it won't be sunny next year!
Throughout June, July and August the Club exhibited at the
This, the Club's major event of the year promises to be more interesting than ever. Not only are there going to be numerous high quality layouts in attendance but there will be the usual mixture of traders offering bits and pieces to suit most needs. In addition the Club will be releasing its September range of Limited Edition model railway wagons (see below for details). As ever, light refreshments will be served throughout the exhibition. To be held on the 29th and 30th August, the opening hours are from 10.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday and between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Sunday. The venue, as ever, is King Alfred School, Burnham on Sea. There is plenty of on site parking with special facilities for those with disabilities.
Held in North Petherton Village Hall on 29th November this year's show is bigger than ever with additional floor space being hired to meet the needs of visitors, traders and layout providers. The period before Christmas has long been recognised by the hobby as being quiet. Some years ago the Club recognised the need to fill this gap in the calender and the North Petherton show has fully met everyone's expectations. Access is from Junction 24 of the M5 whilst the venue has on site parking. Contact the Secretary for details.
EXHIBITIONS – AUTUMN 2009.
Date Venue Layout/s
24th October Willand, Devon Williton
24/25th October Weymouth Newburn
7th November Barnstaple Oddsan Ends
7th November Wadebridge Dead End
14/15th November Hampton Court Canalside
5th December Dorchester Newburn
LIMITED EDITION WAGONS – 'OO' GAUGE.
The other reason why the Club has been so busy this Summer is meeting customers' demands for its expanding range of Limited Edition wagons. Without a doubt the products have grown in popularity with some releases being sold out in under a week. Although it might seem a good idea to increase the production runs we are not going to follow that route as, quite simply, we don't know that far in advance what ones will sell that quickly! However, to overcome this problem to a degree, we will be re-issuing models but with a different fleet (running) number.
A considerable amount of work has gone into researching the history of the wagons we commission and increasingly we have to work many months in advance of the scheduled delivery date. Hence the reason why we can show you what we will be producing in the early part of 2010.
One thing is becoming increasingly obvious to us is that we will soon be forced to commission wagons away from our immediate geographic base as we have probably exhausted all the local possibilities. Suggestions, preferably supported by images, would be welcome from our customers. Your Editor would prefer to see only wagons from the Southern but he fears he will be vetoed on that score by the Management!
Scheduled for late August delivery:-
Hopefully these three models will be released at Sedgemoor Rail.
Please place your order now so not to miss out. Only 150 of each ordered.
Eclipse Peat Co. Limited of Ashcott,
John Board & Co of Bridgwater An iron mink van used for carrying bagged cement from the firm's Spinx Cement Works which had numerous private sidings just outside the SDJR station in Bridgwater. Suitable for SDJR, GWR & SR. Price £10.00 ea.
Vickery's Cider of
Only 150 ordered of each type.
Evercreech Lime & Stone Co. Ltd. A lime wagon from this famous location. The kilns were adjacent to the SDJR main line and were served by a private siding.
Suitable for SDJR, SR, GWR and LMS based layouts. Price £10.00 ea.
Bland & Co of Highbridge. A 5 plank wagon with a timber load from this timber merchant and importer based at Highbridge Wharf. The firm was a specialist in importing timber from the Baltic. Suitable SDJR, GWR & SR layouts. Price £9.00 ea.
Holts Brewery of Burnham A vent van from our own very local brewery. At one time most towns had there own local brewery and Burnham was no exception. The firm lasted until the 1950s. Suitable SDJR, GWR & SR. Price £10.00 ea.
Scheduled update ** for delivery in January 2010:-
Wilts United Dairies of Bridgwater, Highbridge & Wells. A re-run of the extremely popular dairy vent van but with a different running number. Price £10.00 ea.
Coates Cider of Nailsea. Our second 6 wheel tanker which will feature the famous advertising line ' comes up from Somerset where the cider apples grow'. We know this one will be extremely popular. Price £13.00 ea.
Norton Mills Co of Norton Fitzwarren. A GWR vent van from this local flour miller which was located close to the junction of the Minehead and Barnstaple lines. Price £10.00 ea.
** Somerset County Council, Underwood Quarries, Wells. In the early 20th century local authorities embarked on an ambitious programme of road improvements. SCC bought several quarries and used these wagons to move the stone from the Mendip Hills. Suitable GWR, SDJR & SR Price £9.00 ea.
Scheduled update** for delivery in late March 2010:-
SDJR No. 356. A five plank wagon from this famous joint railway. The S&D carried three primary products in its open wagons, coal from the Radstock area, timber imported through Highbridge and bricks from the numerous kilns at Bridgwater. This model will have a choice of all three loads and you will need to specify your needs when ordering. Price £9.00 ea.
Earl Waldegrave Collieries of Radstock. The photograph on which this model is based was taken at Weston Super Mare gas works. It was indeed a lucky find! The wagon has the Earl's three major pits detailed on the centre door. Price £9.00 ea. **
** J. E. Smith (
Post & Packing By using re-cycled materials where possible we have tried to keep our postage charges to the minimum. They certainly do not include a charge for the time it takes! Therefore postage for a single item is £1.75 with additional items posted at the same time being a further 50p each. Overseas orders are charged at cost- details can be given on request.
Enquiries & orders Please contact the Exhibition manager, John Langley, 20, Compton Close, Taunton, TA2 7UD, 01823 270882, johnlangley2001@yahoo.co.uk for availability. All cheques should be made payable to BDMRC. All orders received are held for 10 days (longer for overseas customers) to await payment. After that period of time the items ordered are returned to stock.
Pre- ordering. We strongly recommend that wagons are pre- ordered in advance Payment with order secures the product, BUT cheques are NOT presented for payment until the goods are ready for despatch. This way you can be sure of getting the models you want.
Web Site Our web site is regularly updated and gives full details of the Club's activities as well the availability of its Limited Edition wagons. Click on to www.burnhamanddmrc.org/
Martin Dean, Editor.
