RADMEC
The Ramsgate and District Model Engineering Club
Latest News
10th September 2023
The Stig joined us for a ride at the 130th Anniversary of Ellington Park. It was a great and very hot day….
30th October 2022
Yesterday was the Halloween event in Ellington Park. It was a great – and very busy – day. We had a long queue waiting for rides for most of the day, with lots of people in costumes all in good humour!
We even ran in the dark and the engine drivers all reported that it was great driving in the dark, with the track being illuminated in front of them by a good headlight on the loco, making it safe.
We are already looking forward to next year’s event!
16th September 2022 – The final part of our station was fitted today – its nameplate, Ellington Halt…
13th July 2022 – Yesterday the canopy was erected and I have to say it looks good! Tomorrow the tarmac and yellow line should be reinstated.
7th July 2022 – The first part of getting our station canopy was sorted today.
Two holes were dug and partially filled with concrete, these being the pads on which the canopy will stand.
All things being equal, the canopy will be erected next Tuesday the 12th July.
Looking forward to seeing it and getting the benefit from it being there!
24th June 2022 – On this day 75 years ago, back in 1947, The Ramsgate and District Model Engineering Club was formed. Thanks to the dedication of our members, both past and present, the Club is still going strong.
15th May 2022 – Today was the first outing of our new Club Loco, a Class 33 diesel-electric, at the May Fayre in Ellington Park – it was a great test of the loco and it performed perfectly…
9th April 2022 – Today was the Easter Fun Day in Ellington Park. The sun shone and it was a glorious day and we even had a visit from the Easter Bunny!
24th November 2021 – Our station now has a yellow ‘Do Not Cross’ line, similar to those found on mainline station platforms. When trains are running, no member of the public should cross the line without be directed to do so – this to minimise the chance of anyone being struck by a train passing through the station.
1st October 2021 – Our AGM will be held at the Cafe in Ellington Park on November 4th, starting promptly at 7:30pm.
19th July 2021 – Now that Covid restrictions have been relaxed, we have decided that it should be safe to start running again! Our first running day will be on Sunday 25th July from around midday to 4pm. Hopefully, we will continue to run each Sunday until the end of the season which is normally at the end of September.
There is however ongoing work in our station area, which may mean that we cannot run every Sunday, but disruption will be kept to a minimum… It has been far too long since we’ve been able to use the railway giving public rides and we are really looking forward to resuming our running schedule!
6th February 2021 – There will be no Spring Meeting again this year, due to the ongoing Covid-19 problem. The meeting would normally be held on the last Friday of March. I’m sure that this doesn’t come as a surprise to any of our members…. Stay safe!
2nd October 2020 – Due to the continuing problems caused by Covid-19, there we will not be calling an Annual General Meeting this year. Hopefully next year things will be different!
10th July 2020 – Today we carried out steam tests on two member’s locomotives. I am pleased to say that both passed. Steam locomotives have to pass an annual steam test and a hydraulic test every four years in order to prove that their boilers are safe.
We have another two locomotives that require steam tests and we are hoping to perform the tests soon…
Whilst we are not currently running trains due to Covid-19, we do now have at least two steam locomotives ready for use when we resume running – this will probably not be this year…
29th February 2020 – Our Spring Meeting will be held on the 27th March, starting promptly at 7:30 in the Sylvia Kirkpatrict building at Crampton Tower.
2nd November 2019 – Following our AGM, the committee remains unchanged, as follows:
Chairman: Alan Gibbs
Treasurer: Jane Knight
Secretary: Shared by Jane Knight and Duncan Edwards
Safety Officer: Duncan Edwards
Our 2019 AGM will be held at the Sylvia Kirkpatrick building, Crampton Tower, Broadstairs. Friday 1st November 2019 starting promptly at 7:30pm.
27th August 2019 – The bridge now has a coat of paint – looking good, but still a couple more jobs to be done to finish it off completely.
10th July 2019 – The second stage of the bridge work is now complete and we have a pivoting bridge – no more having to carry it in and out of the shed! There is still more work to be done to finish it, adding a much needed coat of paint to complete the job…
8th April 2019 – The first stage of replacing the heavy lift out bridge with a pivoting one is complete – A pivot post has been buried in the ground around which the bridge will swing clear of the entrance to allow the mowers to get in to cut the grass on the inside of the track.
11th March 2019 – Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Spring Meeting will now be held one week later than planned, at Crampton Tower on the 5th April, starting promptly at 7:30.
2nd March 2019 – Our Spring Meeting will be held on the 29th March, starting promptly at 7:30 at Crampton Tower.
27th October 2018 – Following our AGM, the committee for 2017-2018 is as follows:
Chairman: Alan Gibbs
Treasurer: Jane Knight
Secretary: Shared by Jane Knight and Duncan Edwards
Safety Officer: Duncan Edwards
20th August 2018 – On Saturday 11th August we were invited to the Canterbury and District Model Engineering Society’s open day, an event held each year – Saturday for visiting clubs and Sunday for the general public. As always it was a great day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves – thanks for the invite!
14th July 2018 – Whilst running trains last Saturday at ‘Battles for Victory’, a guy came along carrying what I’d call a big drone. He asked for permission to launch from inside our track, as it is about the only safe place when there is an event on in the park. The drone is incredible and Alex, the owner operator was happy to discuss and demonstrate its capabilities – he kindly captured an image of our track.
The company Alex has created is called ‘A Drones Perspective Ltd.’ – more details can be found online at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
28th October 2017 – Following our AGM, the committee for 2017-2018 is as follows:
Chairman: Alan Gibbs
Treasurer: Jane Knight
Secretary: Shared by Jane Knight and Duncan Edwards
Safety Officer: Duncan Edwards
Our 2017 AGM will be held at the Sylvia Kirkpatrick building, Crampton Tower, Broadstairs. Friday 27th October 2017 starting promptly at 7:30pm.
3rd September 2017 – Work has started on the flintwork in the walls of our shed in Ellington Park….
9th July 2017 – Today was the second day of the 2017 Battles for Victory event in Ellington Park. The club was there both days – the weather was great, the show was fantastic and very well supported and we had great fun giving lots of train rides.
Many thanks to those people who gave up their weekend to help us and make the event so good!
Finally our thanks to Clive for organising the event. We look forward to the weekend of the 14th and 15th of July 2018 when the Battles for Victory event will be on once more!
1st November 2016 – The Club’s 2017 Spring Meeting will be held at Crampton Tower on the 31st
March at 7:30pm
29th October 2016 – Following our AGM, the committee for 2016-2017 remains unchanged:
Chairman: Alan Gibbs
Treasurer: Jane Knight
Secretary: James Kearsey
Safety Officer: Duncan Edwards