Umgeni December program

[Steve Appleton]

Program from Umgeni Steam Railway

PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENTS : DECEMBER 2009

Monthly Meeting:-
Date & Time:- Wednesday, 16 December 2009. 7.00 p.m. for 7.30.
Venue: Clubhouse of the Durban Society of Model Engineers, Hinton Grove, VIRGINIA
Feature:- Geoff Bennett will be presenting a light-hearted slide show entitled “Little Things & Large Things” with a railway theme. The results of the Annual Photographic Competition will also be announced. Please note that there will be a braai fire available from 18:00 for those who wish to begin the socialising before the meeting. As always, our December meeting is intended to be more informal and members are encouraged to bring along family and friends. A plate of eats to be shared during the meeting interval would also be appreciated.

Next Month’s Programme:-
Wednesday, 20 January 2010:- Entertainment to be advised. There is a possibility of an historical railway slide show. In order to ensure acceptable levels of attendance, members are asked to provide programme proposals for the forthcoming year.

Umgeni Steam Railway:- (website address: http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za)
Sunday, 13 December 2009 : Santa Special Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Sunday, 20 December 2009 : Santa Special Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
: Carols by Candlelight : Kloof – Inchanga (17:00) – steam
Sunday, 27 December 2009 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Sunday, 3 January 2010 : Special all-day steam & electric trip : Kloof (07:30) – Pietermaritzburg (10:00) – Nottingham Road and return (Kloof – ‘Maritzburg section subject to there being sufficient patronage)
Sunday, 10 January 2010 : Extra Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 : Committee Meeting at New Germany (17:30)
Monday, 18 January 2010 : General Meeting at Inchanga (19:00)

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. 7376 and repairs to coaches nos. 209 and 500; Locos – 082-820 9337 (Simon Anderson) projects currently underway include restoration of 117 year old Dubs A no.134 (NGR 88) which will hopefully be ready in time for next year’s 150 years of railways celebrations; work is also taking place on the sealing of the loco water reservoir at Inchanga – Marc Bouchier (083- 252 2912) would be pleased to hear from you if you can help!; ‘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 or 082-353 6003. Johan Nel (076-542 5858) is looking for blown bayonet-type light globes for a USR lighting experiment.

2010 Railway Calender:- Our colleagues in preservation, Friends of the Rail, have compiled a superb calendar featuring South African railway scenes to commemorate 150 years of railways in SA. An example is on show at monthly meetings, and copies can be obtained at R50 including postage from trainman@friendsoftherail.co.za or from P.O. Box 1077, PYRAMID, 0120.

Railway History Society:- Library sessions: 11:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays, 12 December and 16 January 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 11:00; liquid refreshments on sale all day and there’s a braai at about 1 pm. The correspondence files which contain various groups’ newsletters etc. that are on display at RSSA monthly meetings are also available on Library days for those who can’t get around to viewing them at meetings.

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 Ian Sutherland on 073-914 3395.

Steam in Action:- Sandstone will be running a special week-long event called “Mega Power” during April 2010. For more details or to register as a participant, please visit their website http://www.steam-in-action.com

D.S.M.E.:- Durban Society of Model Engineers operates their 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.

Paton’s Country Narrow Gauge Railway will be running their NGG11 garratt no. 55 on trips between Ixopo and Carisbrooke at 10:30 on December 16 and 27, as well as January 3. Tickets are R75 to R125. For info and bookings contact 039-834 2963.

The Chairman and Committee of the RSSA Natal Branch wish all members and their families a safe and blessed Festive Season.

Ashley Peter
SECRETARY