May 2008 Spennymoor Exhibition
Many thanks to all those who again supported the event making it a great success. Special thanks to the Weardale Railway Junior club for their assistance over the weekend. We have already booked up for 2009 and hope to see everyone again.
April 2008 - Norwood
Progress is slowly taking place acquiring missing components for Norwood. Hopefully in the near future a start can be made striping the loco down for overhaul, but all this depends of funds. If you can help in anyway, please get in touch. Simply by becoming a member of the group vital funds are raised. There are also still many boiler tubes to sponsor, so please help! Forms are available to download from the website. Thanks for your support.
April 2008
Shildon model Railway club will be hosting a free model railway exhibition at Shildon National Railway Museum on the 20th & 21st June 2008. Donation buckets will be laid out. The club are currently in search for a new club room as their home is at risk due likely closure of the Southern Club. If anyone would like to offer home leave a message through the contact page on our site.
March 2008
Model Motion - Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March, Free entry, Shildon Railway Museum. Layouts and traders.
February 2008 - Sir Vincent Raven Talk & Slide Show
Author Andrew Everett will be giving a slide show and talk on the life and work of Sir Vincent Raven at Meadowfield British Legion Club on April 18th at 7.30pm. Donations to cover the cost of expenses would be welcomed at the door. For further information contact Dave on 01388 817907. Andrew Everett's book will be available to purchase on the day.
February 2008 - Model Railway Exhibitions 2008
The loco group host two exhibitions a year, Spennymoor and Wear Valley (Crook 2008). Members of the Weardale Railway locomotive Preservation Group will receive half price entry to both Spennymoor and the Wear Valley exhibitions. Membership forms available to download in the membership section. The group also visit numerous other events promoting not only the group but the Weardale Railway. Dates of these events will be posted shortly.
December 2007 - Stanhope Model Railway Exhibition
Due to a huge increase in hire costs and safety concerns with Stanhope townhall, the difficult decision has been made to move next years event to Crook. The new venue will be larger and we should be able to increase the number of layouts and traders in attendance. The event will be held on the same week end 15th & 16th November 2008. Directions will be provided on the website closer to the date.
November 2007 - Appeal
To assist with raising funds towards Norwood's restoration, please can anyone with unwanted railway books, Railway modeling magazines, model railway items in any condition please get in touch we can turn it into cash for boiler repairs.
We are still collecting used postage stamps and aluminum cans so please keep collecting!
November 2007
To those who attended and supported Stanhope Model Railway exhibition, many thanks. The weekend was a great success bringing over 500 people through the door.
Next up Spennymoor 2008 on the 10th & 11th May at Spennymoor Townhall. A much larger exhibition with a greater number of layouts and traders.
October 2007 The G5 Project
The WRLPG website will be the place for the latest news on the project. Mike Wood will be at the groups fortcoming Model Railway Exhibition if you would like to discuss the project further.
August 2007 Appeal for Information
Do you have any photograghs or information of Norwood in its working days? Likewise any photographs of 60115 Meg Merrilies or the 9F 92215. If please contact Dave on 01388 817907 or email cfoxton@hotmail.com
August 2007 Model Shop
Don't miss some of the great bargains at our model shop. There are huge savings on list prices and any profits from sales go straight towards Norwoods restoration. If you live local to Spennymoor you can arrange to collect and save on postage costs.
Hopefully there will be new items added shortly, due to a successful weekend at Hartlepool Model railway exhibition stock levels are low hence the lack of new items being added. But if there is anything in particular that you require, please get in touch for highly competitive price. We regularly make new orders from the wholesalers.
August 2007 Norwood Latest
Norwood now officially has a whistle! The group has acquired the whistle originally from A1 pacific 60115 Meg Merrilies. The whistle was later used on 92215 a 9F based at wakefield.
Many thanks to those sponsoring a boiler tube. There are still a number left, please help!
June 2007 Norwood Latest
The group have continued with purchasing missing parts and acquired an ejector and have also been donated a steam heat pressure gauge.
The group will be at Shildon Railway Museum on the 30th June and 1st July for the Toy & Train collectors fair. The event has free admission.
May 2007 Model Shop
The loco group model shop is now open. The shop will be updated over the coming weeks with items from, Hornby, bachmann, Trackside, corgi and many more. Paypal will be required to buy online. If you don't have paypal, simply reserve your item contacting us through the contact us page and forward payment by cheque. The address is also on the contact page.
May 2007 Norwood Latest
The blast pipe and main steam pipes are now off to be cast with the originals beyond repair. New name plates and makers plates have also been ordered from Procast.
The boiler has had an ultrasound carried out showing that there is only one minor area that needs repair due to heavy pitting of the boiler barrel. Overall the boiler was said to be in very good condition. The main requirement is for a new tube plate. The copper fire box is also in very good condition
May 2007 Spennymoor Model Railway Exhibition
A great success! Over 500 people attended the 1st exhibition at Spennymoor Townhall and the feedback was excellent. The group have already booked up for 2008. May 10th and 11th.
A special thanks to all those who supported the event.
April 2007 Norwood Latest
The group have successfully secured a grant towards the purchase of missing components for RSH No77 Norwood. The grant was awarded by the Banks Foundation. There are many conponents missing from the locomotive including, cab fittings and boiler tubes. There is also the need to replace the main steam pipes and blast pipe, which have been damaged before the locomotive arrived at the Weardale Railway.
A survey has been recently carried out by local company Great Northern steam, this will enable a full detailed quotation for the renovation costs of the locomotive. It is estimated that the cost will be in the region of £90k.
May 12th &13th 2007 will see the return of the Spennymoor Model Railway exhibition at Spennymoor Townhall. There will be around 15 layouts, trade stands, society displays and stalls. There will be refreshments and there is a number of free carparks around the venue.