We had pre-booked a guided tour which took us behind the scenes and in particular afforded us access to the workshops. The shear number of locos waiting to be ‘processed’ through the workshops was a surprise as was the dedication of the volunteer maintenance teams who at times must feel like they are painting the Forth Rail Bridge.

A great (western) day was had by all and the trip was declared a success (the fact that we returned with the same number of members we set out with was a major plus in itself).

The open day will be held at our regular meeting room, the 8th Alton Scout HQ in Anstey Park, just after the Rugby Club and British Legion. Doors are open from 10am to 4pm, and entry is free.

Worcester Road

Soberton

Penhallick

The Campbell Lumber Company trains arrives in Pine Bluffs station, operated by American Section members Mike and Allan.

At 8.00 am five of the AMRG were on their way to Swanage on the first days outing of the Group. Arriving at Norden Park and Ride at just after ten, we met Diane on site, (she had camped over night in the field opposite).

The group  were met by volunteer John Rowley who proceeded to outline the history of ball clay mining in the area.  John explained the importance of Josiah Wedgewood, Thomas Hyde and Oliver Lodge to the development of the area. Wedgewood indentified the significance of ball clay in the firing of his pottery. The clay enabled the pieces to become finer and less likely to be damaged in firing, both attributes enabling the quality of the pottery and hence the price to increase. The Purbeck area was identified as a significance source of ball clay and contracts were signed with Thomas Lodge to deliver the clay. To facilitate the moving of this bulky load, tram ways were developed, first drawn by horses and subsequently by steam. So the numerous lines began in the area.

Oliver Lodge arrived on the scene much later in the 1860s, when he entered into his father’s business of selling ball clay. But his intellectual abilities soon saw him move away from this into the field of academia, where he invented, amongst other things, the spark plug and became the first person to send a wireless message, (ahead of Marconi).

The tour around the site enabled us to see the restoration of the buildings and track way and also to see the plans of the Museum Group. The Groups aspirations include developing the site to demonstrate the working of a ball clay adit mine.  Denis was suggested as potentially a key part of their developmental plan as an electrical, although he ‘politely’ refused our recommendation.

The final part was walking through undergrowth to view the site of the Eldon sidings, were the ball clay was transhipped to the main line.  Whilst there we sampled the delights of Freemans Apples.

After the tour we had a quick snack in the buffet at Norden and caught the 1.10 to Swanage. We sat in the newly restored Devon Belle Observation car at the back of the train so arrived in Swanage in style. We then watched the Standard 4 tank take water via a dilapidated spout! This was obviously very interesting yes? Well not to Denis, he was off scuttling off down the platform to a blue and yellow object, Spitfire, 33035, a Class33 diesel!!  ‘That has made my day’ Denis was heard to say.

Anyway after this ground breaking statement we went day to the beach for our ice cream and paddle, (except guess who?). A walk along the sea front was followed by a return to the station to be taken by Bullied Light Pacific, unrebuilt 34070 Manston. Supper was taken on the way home at The World’s End Public House and then back via a very slow M3.

Our first Group outing was, by unanimous verdict a success.

John Coates, Diane Kivi, Richard Pretious, Steve Cook, Graham Smith and Denis Stevens.

Section: American
Members: Five
Layout name: Pine Bluffs & Ceda Falls Railroad
Layout scale: HO
Layout setting: 1950’s Colorado, USA
Layout status: Exhibiting, new layout in construction stages
Layout contact: Mike Stent, 01252 547326

The section

The American Section of the Alton Model Railway Group was formed in 1992 and currently has five members. The section is dedicated to the furtherance of American Model Railroading in the Alton area. The section created the Pine Bluffs & Ceda Falls Railroad, and currently has its own ‘HO’ layout of Pine Bluffs Depot, and a second Pine Bluffs Freight Depot under construction.

From its very first days the section has followed the Group philosophy of trying to mix a relaxed atmosphere together with serious modeling whilst always maintaining a sense of humour. A good deal of this humour is evident on the Pine Bluffs layout, and in the background and history of the line (as well as in the color of the section polo shirts!)

Pine Bluffs Depot

Begun in 1994, the Pine Bluffs & Ceda Falls Railroad was created by the American Section of the Alton Model Railway Group, and evolved out of the design criteria the section set down for construction of a modular American exhibition layout. Our aim was to create an easily expandable design, that would allow members and the section to build and exhibit a variety of models, based on the same basic design and construction methods.

The final design had two and a half metres of ‘display’ area, and included a depot, water tower, local store, flour/grain warehouse, diner, petrol station and garage, and a furniture factory.

Construction on the layout began in mid 1994, and the layout attended its first exhibition in 1996. Since then it has attended an average of eight exhibitions per year.

Apart from general maintenence, little was done with Pine Bluffs Depot until 2001, when the section decided to make an end-to-end version of the Depot. This involved making a new fiddle yard and new one metre board to be used instead of the short half metre board. The new one metre board includes an Oil Depot, Railway Express Agency building and a Scrapyard. This new board was completed in the summer of 2002, and had its first exhibition at Alton Limited 2002.

Pine Bluffs Freight Depot

Construction began on Pine Bluffs Freight Depot in 2007. Originally intended as an extension to Pine Bluffs (and still able to used in this way), Pine Bluffs Freight Depot is a round-and-round layout 3.5 m by 2.5m, the front half featuring a freight interchange, diner, firehouse and memorial park; with the back half being a 6 lane fiddle yard. The layout is fully DCC controlled, with a mixture of manual and DCC controlled points.

Construction should be completed and the layout ready for exhibiting in 3rd quarter 2010.