MERSTHAM SHOW REPORT - MAY 2005
This years show at Merstham was enjoyed by many of the Southdown crew, a different roster being run on each of the two days. Click on the smaller pictures for the full effect.
The scene is set early on with a short goods train, the "Woodcock Wanderer", leaving Lovedean station, past the coal yard. Granpa Chris has just got out of bed, but soon falls asleep in his old comfy chair......
A later arrival with passenger stock is the Davis Merlin, wheezing past the shed and workshop. The welder has a newer task today (he must have finally fixed the old slate wagons). Some more modern motive power can be seen on shed.
An arrival from the west, the Fleetwood Special, hauled by No.22 "Mallard" coasts into Lovedean with holidaymakers and trippers.
A
new feature that was tested to great effect at Merstham was an Accucraft Mogul,
running well and now fitted with boiler water feed system.
The water is carried prototypically in the tender - meaning that water stops
were naturally called for at the water tower.
The Blakeman-Fleetwood Engineering team have spent many hours with furrowed brow
to perfect this setup, not only for the larger Mogul, but also for a diminutive
Ruby.
Other
fine locomotives made an appearance too, the "Earl of Dulas" made a fine sight
passing the forge on the way to Lovedean (see Garden Rail 130 for Bob Petch's
article on his line), followed some time later by a Vale of Rheidol loco (hand built, this
example, by Eddie Roberts) and complimentary coaching stock.
No show would be complete with a logging train and Shay, the larger three cylinder variant showing this time, resplendent in filthy black and with spark arrestor and full toolsets on display.
A
late addition to the photo line-up, a freshly outshopped Edrig, with GVT wagons,
from Brian Hogg's stud......
I didn't get any pictures of CSLR trains on the day, so here's one of Karen in the rain!
Click here to see some of the Motive Power to be seen on Southdown