The Whistle Blower -

News of the Canberra Society of Model and Experimental Engineers August 2012 President Peter Hateley 62547229 Secretary Greg Peters 0412 179899. Email: csmee@grapevine.com.au

Website: www.canberramodelengineers.org.au

What’s been Going On

CMR WORK ACTIVITIES Work has progressed steadily during the month of June. The weather has been fairly kind with a few wet days for the month. Water is a problem with the watercourses being very wet and boggy. Just how soft the watercourses are was again demonstrated by John Oliver when he managed to get the tractor bogged, Quickease Towing came to the rescue and was able to pull the tractor out.

John looking rather pleased with himself

And it took Quickeze to get him out. There is still some minor work to be completed on the workshop. The library has been relocated from the signal box at KMR to the new workshop. Two steel book shelves have been donated to the club to house the library in. Thanks to HAGSOC and especially to Julie Hesse for the donation. The gap between the ground and the floor level of the toilet block has been closed in with paneling. The three frames for the junction boxes for the signaling and

points control have been put in place and concreted in. Work is under way on the construction of the track base for the station loops by pass loops for both the 5” and 7¼” tracks. We have now spent the last of the ACT Government grant with the remainder of the monies going towards the construction of the basic road works and drainage works, materials to complete the signal box, cable and conduit for the control of points and signals. We are still waiting on advice from the contractors as to when the work on the construction of the basic road works and drainage works will commence. As stated previously, there will be a working bee of club members required to assist with the fine trimming around sheds and obstacles. Advice will be sent out when the date of the working bee is known. The roof trusses for the signal box have now been constructed. This work completes the frame of the signal box. Final construction work for the signal box should be completed this month. Mowing is still a problem and takes up time which can be used more productively elsewhere. So if you have some time and can come and sit on a ride-on mower, please contact John Oliver on 0406 206 113 or the Secretary on 0412 179 899 or by email if you would like to help out. While the main thrust of the Wednesday work party is at CMR there is still work to be performed at the KMR site. Thanks to Graeme Belcher for keeping the grass mown however there are always small jobs to be done at the KMR site. MONTHLY MEETING The Member’s meeting for July saw 17 members brave the cold weather and turn out on the night. There were five apologies for the night. In the absence of both the President and

Vice Present, the Treasurer conducted the meeting. Bits and Pieces for the night were provided by David Foote with side frame, casting and drawings of his A4 (Mallard) Locomotive. John Oliver bought along his ER25 collett adapter for the Myford lathe and Greg Peters bought along more samples of water cutting by PTRAquacut waterjet cutting, COMING EVENTS MONTHLY RUNNING DAYS The July mid-month run and end of month run saw limited parties booked for each day. The weather again was a typical Canberra winter’s day. Extremely cold mornings followed by sunny mild days. Again walk in public saved the days and takings for both days were around $1,500.00 for each day. All day tickets are proving to be very popular with around forty to fifty being sold on the end of month run. Events Calendar 2012 Attached to the Whistleblower is a printable calendar for those of you, like me who cannot remember what is going on from one week to the next. KMR CLEAN UP ROSTER August Saturday 26 th 2012 Chris Grallelis 6231 5981 Paul Gugger 6281 1849 Peter Hateley 6254 7229 (Team Leader) The cleanup for the Invitation Run will be held on Saturday 9 th September prior to the 16th September. Please come along and give a couple of hours of your time to help with the cleanup.

If you cannot attend your designated place in the clean up roster, please find another member to take your place. Do not leave it up to your committee. BOILER MATTERS The club locomotive AJAX had its boiler test this month and has been passed. The other boiler matter for the month was the 10 year boiler inspection of Bunyip’s steel boiler. The test required the boiler to be exposed and then ultrasound readings to be taken to ascertain what wastage if any has taken place over the last ten years. Work commenced with the removal of the side tanks and the cab. Once these were out the way work could commenced on removing the steam dome, sand domes and finally the boiler cladding.

Bunyip almost ready for cladding removal

Bunyip with cladding removed Once the boiler cladding was removed and the steel boiler barrel cleaned up, it was time to inspect the boiler inside and out. First

Monthly meeting 16th August 2012

The August meeting will begin with the Annual General Meeting for 2012 followed by the August members meeting and raffle.

Meeting to be held at Symonston.

inspection was the internals of the boiler. Upon removal of the steam dome it was possible to visually inspect the tubes. These looked in good shape with everything covered in a good coating of Tannin from the boiler treatment. Further inspection with the endoscope did not show up any problems. The next was the ultrasonic inspection of the boiler itself. Measurements taken from various locations on the boiler revealed that minimal wastage had occurred. Approximately 0.5mm around the water leg and the crown plate in the firebox. Once this was complete, the boiler inspector checked and verified the readings obtained and after a visual inspection the boiler was passed. Once this was completed all that was left was to put everything back together and perform a final steam test before the boiler could be fully certified, MONEY MATTERS Our accounts for last financial year have now been audited. Again we have been given an unqualified audit result. Our final result for the year was a small surplus of $262 after allowing for tax payable. Full details of the result and our current position will be given at the AGM on 16 August. We have started the new financial year will with good sales at the KMR, $1,442 mid month and $1,566 at the end of the month. On both days, a high level of walk in traffic contributed to the good result. Overall we have started the year on the right foot and are tracking against the budget. COMMITTEE REPORT The July committee meeting saw the return of the Treasurer from his holidays. With the President away, the meeting was chaired by Bob Hesse. Work at CMR is progressing with the signal box frame now completed. There are still some minor tasks to be completed in the workshop. Upcoming Party Bookings. 12th August 2 Parties 81 people 26th August 0 Parties 9th September 2 Parties 60 people 30th September 0 Parties 21st October Private party 120 people

General business for the night focused on the upcoming Malkara exhibition and the Invitation run in September. A decision by the committee to raise the ticket price for Malkara from $2.00 per ride to $2.50 per ride was carried. Two steel shelving units have been donated by HAGSOC for use as book shelves in the workshop. Due to the inclement weather, the driver training day has been postponed until a date to be determined. Signal Box Naming competition A competition for members to come up with a name for the new Signal Box is now on. So put on your thinking caps because there will be a prize of two bottles of wine for the best entry. Judging of the signal box name will be held after the AGM in August. The competition will close at the Annual General Meeting in August. Send in your entry by email (csmee@grapevine.com.au) , letter or come along to the AGM in August. Members Play Day July Fun Run by Gerardus Mol On a ‘warm’ Canberra winter day (a morning temperature of –5) of 9 degrees max with snow falling on the ranges, a few enthusiastic, members (read fools ) assembled to enjoy a day of steam and for some, electric power at the track. John Oliver was the first to arrive with his ‘12’ class locomotive and when he vacated the traverser, Gerardus and Melanie moved up to unload the Queensland Railways PB15 loco. Reg Smith arrived next with his Queensland electric steeple cab loco and two wagons. Lloyd Sawyer then thundered up with his NSWGR 35 class and a string of wagons. The string has become a tad longer with two new 4-wheel water tankers added to the collection. Lloyd’s last run was back in February so he was keen to be let loose out on the track. Last to arrive were the Cameron’s with their music box: there is nothing like the sound of a GM diesel radiating from the 422 locomotive. Colin Fuller arrived to see what was happening and to make sure we were behaving ourselves.

John Oliver brought along some strike-less matches: the more you strike them, the less chance they will work... Gerardus saved the day by having matches that did work, so John was able to light his fire! Steam was soon rising from the engines, albeit a little longer than usual due to the cold conditions. Reg Smith and John Cameron were first out, circulating around the track but soon after, John and Gerardus joined in the ‘fun’ - I say ‘fun’ because the wind chill factor made you lose all senses in fingers, nose and ears, not to mention the watering eyes. Even the dog next door chased us up and down as we ran along the fence line, just to keep warm. Reg Smith soon ran out of available electrons in his battery: being a Queensland battery locomotive, it just did not like the cold! Later, John Oliver was seen doing three laps of the track and he was so excited that he ran out of steam, well, fire actually... John had forgotten to put coal into the firebox to keep up steam. Maybe he was thinking of the carbon tax, but then, he may just be converting his loco in to a fireless engine. It doesn’t work John!!! While Lloyd was having lunch, Gerardus took his train out for a trip and just before Shellshear siding, a branch (my excuse) came down behind the engine and caused a spectacular derailment (pile up): hoppers were everywhere except on the track. Melanie, who was following on the PB15, requested a replay. Words were spoken, which are not printable here. Colin Fuller went home complaining about the cold (not a stayer) and David Foote paid a short visit to the track. By 1pm, the wind started to build up and the weather did not look good so we all vacated the track and headed onto the steaming bays. Just then it started to pour with rain so everybody took shelter. Lloyd Sawyer ran into the little shed beside the traverser: we thought that he may light up some of the char to dry himself out and keep warm… Fortunately, the rain did not last long and we soon had blown down our loco boilers. Everyone helped each other clean and load up, close up shop and we finally departed for home with the rain returning. The heater in the car felt sooooo good when it finally heated up. So it was another enjoyable winter’s day down at the track.

John Oliver – DRINK DRIVING

Lloyd at the controls while Wal and John catch a li ttle sunshine

Lloyds new 4 wheel tankers

Lloyds string of wagons.

Melanie lost in a haze of steam

Now how do you do this

Now that’s a load of coal

Where there is smoke there is fire we hope

Reg Smith – Its cool out on the back straight

NOTICES Thanks to all those who contributed to this edition of the Whistleblower by sending photo’s and text for inclusion in this issue. If you have photos and/or articles you would like put into the Whistleblower please send them to the secretary at the following email address csmee@grapevine.com.au

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Don’t forget Members Fun Day on the first Sunday of each month and the Mid month running day on the second Sunday of each month. All welcome. Please come along and join in.

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Club badges are now available from the Canteen on running days or by requesting

then through the secretary by email or letter. Cost is $5.00 each

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Please Note Membership fees are due by the Annual General Meeting in August. Remember you must be financial to be able to vote. Avoid the rush and get in early. Fees remain at $70.00 for an Individual, $90.00 for Family (2 Members) + $20.00 each additional member after that.

Invitation Run

All members are reminded that the Invitation run this year will be held on the weekend 14 th

to 16 th September.

There will be a working bee at KMR on Saturday 8 th September to clean up.

Please come along and give a hand to help make KMR a show place for the Invitation

run.

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The 2012 AGM will be held at the Clubs Workshop at the new site at Symonston.

Meeting will commence at 8:00 PM sharp on

Thursday 16 th August 2012.

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STOP PRESS

YES we have been done in again. Thieves have struck again. This time they came in

through the fence off the highway. We suspect that they have been watching

the place as they were very organized as the removal of the checkerplate required allen

keys to unscrew it from the ramp. We estimate the offence took place sometime between Monday afternoon 30 th July and

Wednesday morning 1 st August..