Rules to be followed when visiting the G1 track

Monty

Monty

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Dear Forumites,

I have searched and searched for a similar topic but just can't seem to find it!

At Galston, NSW we have a 5" gauge line and also a fairly large 45mm raised track, hopefully this link will illustrate it. [It's the third gallery down in the middle].
http://www.hme.org.au/photos.php

Some time ago we had some simple rules to guide members and guests as to how to behave appropriately.

These seem have disappeared somewhere and so I am asking for some guidance and suggestions from this forum.

I have looked at the G1MRA site plus some past newsletters and have come up with some sort of answer but I am sure I have seen something here which may be more appropriate.

Hoping someone can help.

Cheers,

Ian
 
There was an article, reasonably recently, in either Garden Rail or a society magazine..
A little twee in it's prose, but the basics were there..

Unfortunately, I am away from my pile of literature, this weekend..

PhilP
 
PhilP said:
There was an article, reasonably recently, in either Garden Rail or a society magazine..
A little twee in it's prose, but the basics were there..

Unfortunately, I am away from my pile of literature, this weekend..

PhilP
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It wasin the 16mm Association magazine I believe.
Basically, follow the rules of decency and common sense.
 
Paul M said:
It wasin the 16mm Association magazine I believe.
Basically, follow the rules of decency and common sense.
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That is the problem, what is decent common sense to one person, is seen as outrageous by another, so defining boundaries and guideline ensures everybody knows the do's and don'ts.
 
JimmyB said:
That is the problem, what is decent common sense to one person, is seen as outrageous by another, so defining boundaries and guideline ensures everybody knows the do's and don'ts.
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You would have thought, considering the cost of our hobby, that good behaviour would be foremost in anyone's mind
 
Paul M said:
You would have thought, considering the cost of our hobby, that good behaviour would be foremost in anyone's mind
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there are some that loose all sense of anything once their Puffer is ready to run, must run it logic takes over with those 20-30 or so minutes existing as if they would never exist again. Have seen it all to often at club running days, couple that with an inability to control their locomotives at a sensible speed and you have a recipe for some idiot tail ending your expensive loco possibly damaging it seriously. Why I never run at club days anymore.
 
Monty said:
Dear Forumites,

I have searched and searched for a similar topic but just can't seem to find it!

At Galston, NSW we have a 5" gauge line and also a fairly large 45mm raised track, hopefully this link will illustrate it. [It's the third gallery down in the middle].
http://www.hme.org.au/photos.php

Some time ago we had some simple rules to guide members and guests as to how to behave appropriately.

These seem have disappeared somewhere and so I am asking for some guidance and suggestions from this forum.

I have looked at the G1MRA site plus some past newsletters and have come up with some sort of answer but I am sure I have seen something here which may be more appropriate.

Hoping someone can help.

Cheers,

Ian
Click to expand...
For years I have attended organised steam-ups on open days in the UK as well as locally in the Southern Highlands, Newcastle and Brisbane; and, even been invited to take over a running steamer or be a fireman stoking the loco with crushed coal while the owner drives. I have never actually run any of my own engines at the local gatherings. Maybe I am unobservant but I have never noticed any rudeness, nor has my attention been drawn to any such incident. Is a new generation entering the hobby? Or is it a problem peculiar to Galston?
 
It may just be that when you have a steam engine under your control, you tend to concentrate on what you're doing, especially if you're a beginner.
 
Paul M said:
It may just be that when you have a steam engine under your control, you tend to concentrate on what you're doing, especially if you're a beginner.
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And that is a good thing to happen !

I regularly run at exhibitions, sometimes I also act as the layout co ordinator. We have a sign up list, usually, 20 minute running slots which start every 10 minutes, so there are usually two trains running at any one time. This staggered start means that if a train runs out of gas early, as can happen due to the noise level in an exhibition hall making it harder to gauge how high the burner is, there is still one train running to entertain visitors. At a larger exhibition this can be extended by adding extra column to the list, and seems to work well as people know when they have the run on the layout. We have very few problems, someone may be late starting, or have to come off early due to a problem, that is the way of things with live steam.

One other thing which can occasionally happen is R/C failure, usually as batteries start to run flat towards the end of the day, resulting in the regulator glitching to fully open, but usually someone near will spot the unusual running and apply the 'manual brake', a hand placed in front or grabbing a wagon behind the loco to slow it down to a stop before any damage is done. My own radio controlled locos are fitted with Micron R/C which usually tells me the batteries are about to go flat, as the whistle servo opens and the whistle keeps sounding, much to the amusement of my friends. I don't know if this is intentional or just a fluke, but well thought out if it is by design.

I do run at several local groups or friends gardens, and there the thing seems to be to shout 'Is anyone steaming up for ten minutes time ?' and if no-one answers then you just go for it.

For both these type of running sessions, there will usually be someone with a battery loco who will be happy to have a run if the line is un expectedly clear, indeed at exhibitions we try to keep a train in a siding ready to be switched on to keep things moving if the need arises. We are there to entertain the visitors, answer questions, we still get some asking how we get such good smoke effects - 'light a real fire in it'. ;-) and promote our hobby. I try to instil that attitude into folk, and not that we are there just to have fun, which we obviously very much do as well.

Fuelling up can sometimes need watching for new members, but the longer served members are good at keeping an eye out, and gently talking to anyone who may not be used to how we do things. We are at an exhibition by invite and it is up to us to be careful for keep our hobby's good reputation for safety.

Regards, David L
 
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