History of the Worcester and District Club
The club was founded in 1946 and a straight multi-gauge track (2 1/2, 3 1/2 and 5 inch) 100 yards long was built in Gheluvelt Park, Worcester.
First day of public opening in 1948 at Gheluvelt Park, with Alf Castle driving 'Lady Rosalie' (Photo: Worcester News)
Expansion at Gheluvelt Park (the name commemorates the 2nd Battalion, Worcester Regiment's role in the World War I Battle of Gheluvelt, Belgium) was not possible but the local council offered the present site in Waverley Street, Diglis to allow a continuous run to be constructed.
The continuous raised track (3 1/2 and 5 inch gauge) 230 yards long was opened in 1954 but, after long service, was renewed and re-opened by the Mayor of Worcester in 1999. Latterly, 2 1/2 inch gauge running has been added to the continuous track.
The adjacent club house was originally built as a workshop only, but as tea and cakes became popular on public running days, a kitchen extension was added in 1963 to improve refreshment facilities.
In 1968, a second, continuous ground level track (3 1/2, 5, and 7 1/4 inch gauge) was built inside the original, raised track. The inner, ground level track is looped over a bridge (with gradients of around 1 in 100 approaching and leaving the bridge) to give a length of 350 yards. In 2002, refurbishment of the bridge decking was completed. More recent projects for the ground level circuit include sleeper replacement, re-ballasting and new 7 1/4 inch gauge rolling stock.
Aerial view of Worcester & District Model Engineers track (Photo: WDMES)
Getting there
I'd originally arranged transport by road with a relative but, at short notice, a difficulty arose. Then I thought "I can go by train!", until I discovered that strike action affecting a number of Train Operating Companies made that impossible. The Chairman of OLCO, John Brandrick, came to my rescue, as he was driving down from Lancashire on the morning of 'Lionsmeet 2022' and offered to detour to my home to pick me up. We had an enjoyable drive to Worcester, discussing various railway matters.
Refreshments
We were made very welcome by the host club and Hot and Cold drinks with various cakes were available at the refreshment area throughout the day. An excellent buffet lunch was served at lunch time.
OLCO members enjoying the refreshment facilities, WDMES: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Informal Running
OLCO members who ran their models enjoyed exclusive access to both the elevated and ground level circuits. Until, I think, Lionsmeet 2013 OLCO members would engage in a not-too-serious competition to see which model could perform the greatest 'work done' in ten minutes. In the following year, the format changed to 'informal running' which seemed well-received by members and so, to date, the competition has not been reinstated.
John Dalton from Chelmsford was first into steam and he had the inner, ground-level circuit to himself with his splendid 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion'. His attractive driving truck is in the form of a Great Western open wagon and it's equipped with a vacuum brake.
John Dalton's 7.25" 'Lion' with multifunction Driving Truck on the inner circuit at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Lifting the hinged seat on the driving truck reveals the'works' - a sealed rechargeable lead-acid battery powering a vacuum pump for the brake cylinder. A small control panel has pushbuttons for 'Brake Off' and 'Brake On' (it is not designed as a 'proportional' brake) and a brake gauge. During preparation, the battery can be used to power an electric fan as a blower, so as to be independent of 'shore supplies'.
John Dalton's Driving Truck incorporates a battery to power both an electric blower during lighting up and a vacuum pump for the brake cylinder on the Driving Truck during running: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Three 5 inch gauge 'Lion' models were steamed on the outer, elevated track - A J Richards' 'Lion', Alan Banks' 'Thunderbolt' and Jon Swindlehurst's 'Lion'. They were prepared on elevated steaming bays (5 inch or dual 3 1/2 and 5 inch gauge) radiating from a dual gauge turntable which allows locomotives to be transferred to and from the outer, elevated circuit via a traverser.
A J Reynolds readies his 'Lion' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Alan Banks preparing 'Thunderbolt' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Jon Swindlehurst preparing his 'Lion' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
John Dalton, with his 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion', crossing over the bridge: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
A J Reynolds 'Lion' setting off: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Alan Banks driving 'Thunderbolt' on the outer, elevated circuit: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Jon Swindlehurst pauses for a chat whilst running his 5 inch gauge, well-known model of 'Lion'. The Exhibition marquee is in the background: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Four 'Lion' models steamed at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester. In the foreground, John Brandrick is a passenger as 'Thunderbolt' pauses, with Jon Swindlehurst waiting behind and A J Reynolds also stopped further back near the marquee. Meanwhile, John Dalton has the inner track to himself.
Exhibition Tent
To enable various models and models-in-progress (many from members of the host club) to be shown, a large marquee, provided with tables and chairs, had been erected. It was a few moments before I realised that the rather curious profile of the tent was because an even larger marquee, ingeniously, had been only part assembled. A fascinating selection of models was displayed here, including Jon Swindlehurst's nearing-completion 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion', which he tells me has been run successfully on air.
General view of marquee display, showing two 'Lion' models with ballast trains, displayed by Jackie and Bryan Buckley at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
L: 3.5" 'Lion' and (behind) 'Rainhill', R: two 'Lion' models with ballast trains, all displayed by Jackie and Bryan Buckley at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
Cylinders and valve gear for 5" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Will Taylor at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
5" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Tim and Neil Bottle at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester
7.25" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Jon Swindlehurst at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester. This new model has already been satisfactorily run using air.
Overall Impression
It wasn't the best attended 'Lionsmeet' that's been run (I suspect the Covid19 Pandemic may still be exerting a lasting effect) but it was certainly one of the more memorable, partly because of the opportunity to meet face-to-face after being restricted to remote communication for so long, partly because of the good weather but mainly because of the welcome Worcester and District Model Engineers gave us.
Related posts on other websites
Worcester and District Model Engineers (Facebook)
Related posts on this website
To find all my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee and the locomotive 'Lion', click here or select 'OLCO' under 'Labels to select a blog topic'.
My pictures at Worcester
Lionsmeet 2022
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