May 2021 Update

 

The fifth Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held on Saturday 31st July 2021 at Blunsdon railway station on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway at 1pm. Following the cancelation of last years physical AGM due to Covid 19 and the need to switch to a proxy event the Society are confident that this year’s event will go ahead, although this is still depend on Governmental guidance.  The AGM will be the first that most of you will have had the chance to get to see the engine following her boiler lift last Autumn and to view the work that has continued since that time. It is planned that once the society AGM has been completed the CIC’s will take place with the shareholders. Shareholders will be contacted separately in this matter. We would appreciate those considering attending the AGM to contact the Society so that we can gauge the likely numbers of attendees to help ensure a Covid safe event for everyone.

Issue 15 of the Packet is at the printers and due to be sent out to our members by the end of the month. The 28 page issue features a huge update from the engineering team looking at the trailing truck, frames, boiler and crank axle. The issue has the latest news on our AGM, membership, podcast, fundraising coach trip, our 00 gauge wagons, more 35011 performance logs and an article looking at the early days of the GSNLRS. 2021 is shaping up to be a very important year for the project with some big goals in mind. You can help support us in many ways if you are not already a Society member: you can sign up for membership for currently only £15 per year here, or donate to the Society here or even better become a shareholder here.

The Society have recently received a donation of several scaffolding boards to help our volunteers to work safely on the locomotive. Allen and Foxworthy Ltd based in Swindon are Her Majesty The Queen’s scaffolding contractor with a royal warrant. The Society would like to thank Allen and Foxworthy for their support.

Work on the engine at Swindon has resumed with efforts focusing on the boiler and the trailing truck. A full update will be featured in the Packet. The weekend did see two of our newest recruits Jack and Geoff continued cleaning the boiler and inner firebox. If you’d like to get involved no matter what skills you have we can use your help. Please contact our volunteer liaison officer Mr Andrew Collett at andrew.collett@35011gsn.co.uk.

The Trailing Truck Transformers funding group continues to be our primary fundraising campaign with its objective of funding the restoration of GSNs trailing truck. The Society is pleased with the initial number of members who have signed up for ‘Lots’ but are under no illusions that its still along way from being funded. We are offering a maximum of 30 members the opportunity to purchase a ‘Lot’ for £500. Members are welcome to purchase as many ‘Lots’ as they wish up to the maximum target amount.

Members of the Fund Group would receive a number of benefits including:

• Certificate of membership of the ‘Trailing Truck Transformers’
• Name engraved on a suitable brass plaque attached to the refurbished Trailing Truck
• Regular updates on the refurbishment of the Trailing Truck
• An invitation to a VIP day at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway to see the completed Trailing Truck once it is returned to the railway.

For details on how to become a Trailing Truck Transformer click here.

We understand that £500 is a lot of money and for people who wish to support the trailing truck but are unable to join the Trailing Truck Transformers club you can help us by donating to our Wheel Set appeal on our JustGiving page here.

The 35011 Twenty Twenty Club winners have been drawn for March and April.

Congratulations go to:

April 2021- 1st Prize – Steve Rapley, 2nd Prize – Andrew Stokes , 3rd Prize – Simon Strachan

March 2021- 1st Prize – Paul Millard, 2nd Prize – Simon Strachan, 3rd Prize – John Anthony Jackson

The Twenty Twenty Club is a great way to help raise funds for the locomotive and at the same time have a little bit of fun. We still have the last few places remaining find out how to join here.

As always thank you for your continued support.