Rand Society of
Model Engineers
RSME Newsletter
June 2013
From the editor
Where is RSME headed?
Tich
Help - what can you remember?
September Camp
Vlooimark
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1st Sunday of each month – club day
3rd Sunday each month – family day
On both days members and their friends are welcome to visit the club and
participate in running locomotives or just enjoying a picnic . The public are also
welcome.
From the Editor
I sincerely thank everybody who sent in contributions for our newsletter. As a
result the follow – up article on rust and corrosion will have to stand over until
next time. Please keep on sending your articles or stories to the Editor at
tjtoere@lantic.net or, if you are not on the internet, please telephone the editor at
018 290 5780 for guidance.
WHERE IS THE RAND SOCIETY OF MODEL ENGINEERS
HEADED?
Background
In 2014 the RSME will be 80 years old. Dennis Applebee, the Society’s current
President, is concerned about our long term future and on 21st April tabled a document
for consideration by the Committee.
Unless we grow our active membership, given the age profile of members, the RSME’s
survival is at risk.
Looking to the future, possibly the age group 45-60 years offers the most hopeful
recruiting ground, although younger folk and those over 60 are also most welcome!
At the Committee meeting on 16th June it was agreed that key points of this note be
published in our Newsletter to enable all members to express their opinions on the
matter.
1. Ongoing Development of the RSME
The most important activity in the RSME is active participation of members in:
 the design, building, operation and maintenance of engineering models,
 the refurbishment, operation and maintenance of preserved machinery
 the running and maintenance of the required physical infrastructure
(buildings, ancillary machinery, trackwork, etc).
The RSME must strive to be the best that it can be in terms of:
 the standard of technical advice and encouragement provided to members
 applying appropriate health and safety standards
 getting the ongoing active participation of members in the Society’s activities
 attracting new members across all demographic groups (not only age!)
 retaining existing members
 ensuring that operational revenue covers day-to-day operational expenditure
 being a “good citizen” in the broader community
It follows that the RSME should endeavour to put in place the best possible development
structures, suitable to the needs of the Society. The Chairman, along with the Executive
Committee, plays a key role in developing these structures.
Important areas are:
 attracting and retaining paying customers (parties and track receipts) who
provide the bulk of the Society’s revenue
 maintaining good relationships with other stakeholders – City Council and its
departments, Town Councilors, the local community, SAPS, Community
Policing Forum, etc
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inculcate safe working practices in RSME and home workshops, the
steaming bay / engine hall and on the track
marketing the RSME, especially recruiting and retaining new members
members must feel they belong to the RSME and that their participation in
the Society’s activities is both welcomed and appreciated
furnishing correct technical advice and assistance to members and
prospective members
ensure that key knowledge / skills related to engineering models and
preserved machinery is not lost upon the demise of senior members
retain and cultivate key knowledge and skills for the running and maintenance
of the RSME’s buildings, ancillary machinery, trackwork, etc
maintain the library and encourage the use thereof
develop use of the RSME workshops including safe and correct usage of
tools and machinery
maintain the RSME’s kitchen, lapas, toilets and grounds to an acceptable
standard
2. Planning AheadCLUB MANUAL - MAKING THE MOST OF OUR
The RSME should have a development plan that is reviewed and renewed every three to
five years. The advantage of having a plan is that the Society will then be actively
planning ahead for its future and all the RSME’s members can see and identify with the
direction that the Society is taking. A plan for the RSME will also help put the correct
structures in place and help organise the Society. Planning ahead has never been more
important. Many clubs have witnessed the population of their catchment area increase
dramatically in recent years while others have experienced a serious decline in their
local population base. In order to cater for this change and other changes in society,
clubs need to put an appropriate development plan in place.
A development plan is a simple document that outlines the following:
• Where are we now?
• Where are we going?
• How are we going to get there?
• Who is responsible for getting us there?
3. Vision, Mission and Values of the RSME
Vision:
What sort of club the RSME wants to be
A suggestion for debate is……
Everybody has the opportunity to be welcomed to take part in our various activities,
to participate fully, to grow and develop and to be inspired to keep a lifelong
engagement with our Society.
Mission: Why the RSME exists and what it does to achieve its vision
According to the RSME Constitution its Objects (or Mission) is that it is an organisation
existing for:
The bringing together of persons interested in the design, construction, operation,
testing or restoration of models, engines, apparatus, tools or the like.
The advancement of the sciences of engineering through the design and
construction of models and tools as well as the encouragement of craftsmanship
through Model Engineering.
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The furtherance of the foregoing by; the holding of meetings and exhibitions open
to the public; reading and discussion of papers; the showing of films; the display,
operation and the running of models; the provision of Workshop, Library, Meeting
and the like facilities; the publication and dissemination of matters of interest, and
generally watching over and protecting the interests of amateurs of engineering and
craftsmanship.
This mission statement dates back to the 1930’s – is it still valid?
Values:
Beliefs that are shared among the members
6 suggestions of what we might strive towards are
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Sharing of knowledge and experience
Inclusiveness
Respect
Teamwork
Safe working practices
Community Identity
Please let us know what you think about the foregoing statement.
Written comments can be Emailed to the secretary at rosecolin@vodamail.co.za
or dropped off at the ticket office on club/family days or mailed to the secretary at
P.O. Box 3348 Florida 1710. You can also try to corner the Chairman or Dennis
Applebee and have your say.
TICH
Nic van der Westhuizen
There was quite a stir when Nic arrived with his Tich at the club sometime in
February and started to “fire up” or is it “gas up”. I asked him to write us
something about his experience. So – hier is dit “uit die perd se bek” (Ed.)
The old saying that a small hole can
sink a large ship, took on a different
meaning on Sunday when I tried to
prove that a small loco can pull a big
guy.
Planning to have some fun I loaded
my latest loco with riding tender and
set off to the club. On arrival I didn’t
even bother to park at the hoist to
offload. Instead, I parked under the
trees and carried my riding tender to
the steam bay. Whilst the other
steamers looked at me and most
probably thought “look that idiot
forgot his loco at home”, I turned
back to my bakkie and returned with
a No3 Cadac gas cylinder. Now the
guys started to think that I lost my
mind….not only forgetting my loco,
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but also the skottlebraai. It was then that I returned to my bakkie once more and
with one hand got hold of my loco, still in its transport frame, and carried it to the
steaming bay. With people staring at me with admiration I realized that I’m the
only guy at the club who can carry his loco with one hand…I must be super
strong. Then it dawned on me that I’m not so strong but it’s my loco that’s so
small. After placing my
loco on the steaming
bay traverse, a small
crowd gathered around
it. I could hear words
like, shame, siestog,
aaaggh even a remark
or two like “are you Up
scaling” or “is it real”.
After some help and
advice from the
experienced steamers,
and tripping over
people trying to take
photos, I had water in
the boiler and got the
gas fire burning. Soon I
had the loco all
steamed up. I started moving towards the hoist to drop onto the track. I could
see people staring and whispering things like “that small loco will never pull that
fat guy”, or “he will never get up that hill”. Knowing that my tiny loco can hardly
pull a boy scout off his sister, I still decided to prove that my small loco can pull a
big guy. I realised that I was taking a huge gamble. I could walk away with egg
on my face and a loco under my arm, or my little 3,5 inch Tich could do me
proud. With the loco barely weighing more than my shadow I sat down on the
riding tender and slowly opened the regulator. With a few huffs and puffs my
little red Tich started moving. I opened the regulator more and turned onto the
short track. Hitting the incline was no trouble. I managed to get up the hill on the
small loop and with a smile on my face and my left hand pumping water into the
boiler I managed to complete the lap. Whilst going round the track I could see
that adults couldn’t stop laughing and children crying saying “arme treintjie” and I
even had a dog staring at me. After hearing a familiar voice shouting “bully” I
decided it’s time to give the little red Tich the rest of the day off to recover and so
I carried him back to the steam bay for a clean-up and a well earned rest.
Help – what can you remember?
Can you help? I am currently collecting information and photos about Miniature
Trains & Railways in Southern Africa. Many of these mini railways disappeared
without anyone knowing what happened to them or the locos. Unfortunately very
little about these mini trains was ever documented throughout the years and the
people who were involved with them have mostly passed away by now.
In an effort to accumulate as much information about them before it’s too late, I’m
asking everyone who can remember anything about a mini-train somewhere to
please help me out. Maybe you have a photo of one in your old family photo
album…or rode on one at a holiday resort as a kid. Please visit my website
http://locohunter.yolasite.com/ and click on Miniature Railways on the top right
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hand corner. Perhaps you can also assist with information that is incorrect.
Please send me your contributions to: locohunter@mighty.co.za or scribble it
down on a piece of paper and mail it to: Locohunter P.O. Box 867, Wilgeheuwel
1736 or ring me on 082 490 0938.
RSME September Camp
Our September camp will take place from Saturday, 21 September 2013 09h00
to Tuesday, 24 September 2013 15h00. Campers are welcome to arrive any
time from Friday midday to select a spot and set up for camping.
Modelers from around the country will be congregating at our club to run and
display their locomotives to the public. Some of the locomotives will have
passenger coaches attached for the public to ride on at the normal costs of
R8/person/ride.
Members of the community will be welcome to visit us here during this period.
Our Safety Rules and Indemnity will apply to all (members, visiting members
from other clubs, and public)
We will also be requiring volunteering members to take part in station master
duties from time to time to collect tickets and authorize drivers the "right-of-way"
to depart from the station on a rotating base so that all can have fun. Please
contact our club manager and offer your services.
(083 417 4182) or
e-mail: tjtoere@lantic.net
Please members! This section is for you. If you are looking for something, want
to sell something or just give it away - let me know and I will gladly publish it for
you. It is all for free, gratis, mahala en verniet. You cannot beat this price!
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