RSSA Natal Branch program and anouncements, June 2010

[Steve Appleton]

Monthly Meeting:-
Date & Time:- Wednesday, 23 June 2010. 7.00 p.m. for 7.30.
Venue: Clubhouse of the Durban Society of Model Engineers, Hinton Grove, VIRGINIA
Feature:- Mike Cottrell, Convenor of the Railway History Society will be presenting a feature on 150 Years of Railways in SA – amazingly enough on the very day that the first locomotive-hauled train ran in this country in 1860.
NB: PLEASE NOTE REVISED MEETING DATE!!

Next Month’s Programme:-
Wednesday, 21 July 2010:- Stan Crompton will be providing some insight into signaling – including why LED’s can or can’t be used in this environment.

Cape Town Excursion:- With the commemorative event for 150 years of railways now postponed – possibly to Heritage Day on 24 September, the proposed excursion to Cape Town has now been penciled in for the first week or two in October 2010. There are two options, but as one includes a Premier Classe leg, there may be a quite a difference in prices – details will be available once bookings open in July.

Umgeni Steam Railway:- (website address: http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za)
Sunday, 20 June 2010 : Fathers’ Day Special Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Sunday, 27 June 2010 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Sunday, 4 July 2010 : Soccer World Cup Special Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Tuesday, 6 July 2010 : Committee Meeting at New Germany (17:30)
Monday, 12 July 2010 : General Meeting at Inchanga (19:00)
Sunday, 31 July 2010 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Sunday, 8 August 2010 : Electric Special : Pietermaritzburg – Nottingham Road (10:00)

Work-parties take place at Inchanga and Mason’s Mill most weekends – usually on Saturdays. Coaching – 031-701 6810 (Clem Robins) projects currently underway include the refurbishment of brake-end no.7390; Locos – 082-820 9337 (Simon Anderson) projects currently underway include extensive repairs to the tender of 3BR no. 1486 as well as the restoration of 118 year old Dubs A no.134 (NGR 88); ‘Maritzburg activities – 083-435 9210 (Roy Raats) projects underway include repairs to coaches nos. 233 and 4781 and loco no. 2637. For all enquiries about the running of U.S.R. trains, as well as bookings, please call Rob Macgregor on 031-303 3003, 087-808 7715 or 082-353 6003.

Railway History Society:- The next RHS meeting takes place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 30 June 2010 at 8 Old New Germany Road, Westville - the house of the Convenor, Mike Cottrell. Library sessions: 11:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays, 12 June and 17 July 2010 at Inchanga station. Willing hands are desperately needed at the library, especially in the archive section which seems to grow by the month! As always, all are welcome at the library – complimentary coffee at about 11:00; liquid refreshments on sale all day and there’s a braai at 1 pm. The correspondence files which contain various groups’ newsletters etc. that are on display at RSSA monthly meetings are now also available on Library days for those who can’t get around to viewing them at meetings.

Railway Museum:- The Society would like to establish a formal railway museum at Inchanga. Suitable premises have already been identified (old station master’s house), but the challenge is to find a volunteer who would be prepared to undertake the project as museum curator – limited accommodation is available and this may eventually also become a paid position. If you feel you are a potential candidate, or you know someone who is, please contact me urgently.

Modellers:-. Assistance is often required for the running of the model layout at Inchanga Station on USR Running Days. To volunteer or for more details please contact Jeremy Hathorn on 031-309 1817.

Renewals:- Renewal forms will be sent out shortly, with SA Rail and Natal Newsletter. Until then all 2009/10 memberships remain valid.

D.S.M.E.:- Durban Society of Model Engineers operates miniature live steam trains for the public on the second Sunday of each month at Kellaway Park, Hinton Grove, VIRGINIA. For details, contact John Coombe on 031-572 6984.

Ashley Peter
SECRETARY

RSSA NATAL BRANCH PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENTS - JUNE 2010.doc

RSSA anouncements June 2010

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