I am pleased to welcome a new contributor to the Oily Rag, this quarter, Alan Westby—”Mr. M.D.F”.

Alan has been a great advocate of M.D.F. over several years and has built models of Irish Rail Buses out of the material in 7 1/4” Gauge which have proved to be successful passenger carriers. I hope that in the fullness of time, he will write about these and will encourage members to have a go at building one – even if they think that they only have a limited ability and workshop facilities. I know that he plans to describe a simple wagon in 7 1/4” Gauge shortly, mainly to encourage Junior members to have a go at making something for themselves.

With 2008 now drawing to a close, we can look back on a year of significant achievement and progress - the railway extension at Creech is now progressing very quickly and all the preparatory arrangements for the raised track extension at Vivary Park have been completed with construction due to start very shortly. It will be finished in time for the new running season.

Tony