On our travels around the world, we meet interesting people and one such person that I met was someone that I shall simply call “Walt”. I met Walt first of all in Canada in 2000—he was driving his Logging Locomotive which carried the name of the fictitious company, ”Penn Mill Lumber” on the Tender and “Yeovil and Penn Mill Railroad” on his Driving Gondola . Finding names in Canada that were local to us in Somerset very much caught my attention and in talking to Walt, I found that he was born in the UK, was employed at Westlands in Yeovil during the last war and had belonged to the Yeovil Home Guard. After the war he emigrated to the United States and had spent his working life in the American Aircraft Industry. I understand that he proposed to his late wife on Yeovil Penn Mill Railway Station and the name on the tender of his locomotive commemorates that happy occasion for him.

Walt is a great miniature Railroad enthusiast—now well into his 80’s and a highly experienced engineer. He has kindly agreed to write some bits for the “Oily Rag” from time to time and his first contribution can be found here.

I am also pleased to welcome a contribution from our regular Australian visitor, Barry Glover and this can be found here.

We are very fortunate to have a very enthusiastic Horological expert within our Club in David Spicer and David is keen to pass on his knowledge and expertise to other members. Read more here.

Members are reminded that 2008 subscriptions fell due on the 1st January and may be paid to the Membership Secretary either at Meetings or by post.

Tony