After the flurry of activity leading up to Christmas of 2019 the late winter and early spring have, by COVGOG standards, been relatively quiet. The regular monthly running nights have seen an attractive mix of older prototypes and modern image being run. It was noticed at the February running session that for some while there were three lengthy trains running all made up of passenger stock. Of those trains most of the carriages were ready to run although there were some very attractive kit-built carriages to be admired as well.
One particularly interesting model belonging to a club member was that of LMS 80000/1/2 which was built in 1939. After successful revenue trials on the Oxford/Cambridge route, and some use between London (St.Pancras) and Nottingham, it was put in store at the commencement of WWII. After the war 2 of the 3 units were modified to form an overhead-wire maintenance train. A sad end to a very advanced design.
In the middle of February Bill Lee came to the club to share his photographs of a succession of accidents and derailments he has attended over his long and varied career. This was Bill’s second visit to us, and members continued to be amazed at the strange situations some trains end up in.
The Guild Spring show saw a fair number of members make the trip along the A14 to Kettering. It was good to meet up with old friends and to anticipate future releases from a number of manufacturers.
If you would like to come along and meet a friendly group of modellers you will be made most welcome. Paul W