RRA AGM Weekend
 

Nor really a show report but I did not know where else to put it.
This weekend (6th & 7th March 2010) the RRA held their AGM in The Royal County Hotel in Durham City. As a local bod, I was asked to do a steam engine based presentation to the members between the AGM and the evening meal. At their invitation, I also joined them in 2 of their local visits as part of the weekend entertainiment. My presentation (the first I have ever performed!) was based mainly on my life with steam, and more particularly with Guy Potts Road Rolling Contractors of Newbottle in County Durham and his rollers both during their working days and their preservation years, with my local knowledge on roller conversions as an addition. My presentation appeared to be well received, and I received generous praise from several members.
Before the AGM, a visit was arranged to Shildon, where Michael Bowman's Lorry Museum was opened specially for them, after which some went on to Locomotion. Here we see some of the items on display at the Lorry Museum
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After a miserable cold and drizzly Saturday, Sunday dawned bright clear and frosty. A visit had been arranged to The North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish. Three traction engines were promised to be in steam, although Anthony Coulls who was looking after resident Fowler roller "Fiddler" was conspicuous by his absence for much of the day. I understand that the excuse was that the roller had been dry stored for the winter and who ever stored it, failed to leave it near a water supply to allow it to be steamed when required.
However, we had a grand day at Beamish and here are some of the better photos

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Thanks must go to Anthony Coulls and Paul Jarman of Beamish Museum for laying on the 2 entertaining visits.

Tar-Pot has sent me a selection of pictures that he took to post:

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/10.../STEAM-072.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/10.../STEAM-075.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/10.../STEAM-077.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/10.../STEAM-078.jpg

How good does the Marshall look with filthy wheels!.

Also the sticks on ''Fiddler''.

Very good, its nice to see people looking at old pictures and seeing how engines used to be.

I'm sure Paul Jarman would be delighted to hear you say that, after all the intention is for it to be a working museum - and thus the Marshall is spot on! As for the sticks, you know where that came from, but it got people - including general visitors - asking questions on Sunday, which has to be good.

Did the sticks have anything to do with the fact you appeared to be hiding most of the day?

I don't know where you were looking Roy but it was Anthony, his steersman and his father who I saw about for most of the day.
As organiser of the weekend, I would personally like to thank Anthony & Paul via T.T. Three engines in steam were promised and three were delivered.


Paul Wood
RRA Treasurer & AGM Organiser.

I must have been looking the other way. I saw Anthony's Father several times, but only saw Anthony & Fiddler when I was about to go home at 3.30 having given up seeing Fiddler at all. Come to think of it we did not meet during Sunday either. Beamish is such a big site it is easy to miss seeing people. Still my photos on the late afternoon sun were worth waiting for. If the RRA would like copies of the photos I took over the weekend, please just ask.
Roy

I have now posted 7 short home movies of the steaming at Beamish. You can see them here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i46TXK62pw

Thanks for that Roy. Much appreciated.


Paul