I was fortunate to visit Canada again recently and renew friendships with our colleagues in the British Columbia SME. I attended one of their regular monthly meetings at their Burnaby track site and was asked to bring them up to date on our current activities. I was pleased to note that the TME badge now hangs in their clubroom alongside that of the Los Angeles Live Steamers.

TME members may remember Martin Rogers, a long time member of BCSME, who joined us for a time when living over here, and who regaled us with the story of how he built his railway ‘through the bush’ and which included the use of dynamite to clear rocks that were in the way! He had been battling cancer since last September, but very sadly, died peacefully on 13 August. I was pleased to see him for one last time on the day before he died and talk over old times. Our condolences and best wishes for the future are extended to Marie, his wife, and their young twins.

On a happier note, BCSME held their Annual Train Festival the weekend before when US colleagues joined in and also visited Martin’s track where there were about 80 guests, including visitors and family. In spite of his illness Martin had insisted that the event should go ahead. This year BCSME have triple celebrations – 15 years on the Burnaby site, 80 years since BCSME was formed and 150 years since British Columbia became a Canadian province. We offer them our congratulations.

Members will have noticed the gaps in the meeting programme in the last issue. This reflects the difficulties your Committee sometimes have in compiling a list of events to meet your interests, particularly when we do not have a member prepared to take on the role of Events Secretary, and get little feedback or ideas from yourselves. The situation has improved this time but we do need some input for next year please, either for formal meetings or visits etc. We do plan to reintroduce Trophy Night during the Spring when we shall be pleased to see all those workshop projects that you’ve been working on this coming Winter. Do we keep to the old format or would you like to see a different approach? Comments to the Editor please.

Another difficulty is the portable track. At one time this was our only ‘shop window’, visiting various events to provide rides on some 120 feet of raised 3 ½”/5” tracks, helping our funds and gaining new members. It does however need a small regular support team and one or two locomotives to sustain it and a road vehicle capable of towing its trailer to site. For some years now Phil. Mortimer has been the mainstay of its operations and has regretfully had to advise us that 2008 is his last season. Its continued use depends on forming a new support team for which volunteers are required please, otherwise we shall have to consider disposal before deterioration sets in. Your ideas and comments to the Editor please

Finally, and on a more positive note, members will be pleased to see that Taunton Deane BC have given the go-ahead for extension of our Vivary Park raised track by about 400 feet. The Thursday and Sunday working parties at Creech are extending that running line and preparations for our 2009 Exhibition are well under way with the Hall and Caterers booked and Traders confirming their intentions of attending. We need to update the TME model inventory and you will find a questionnaire enclosed for your completion please – we can then ensure plenty of variety in our displays again. Please try to complete and return these forms before Christmas otherwise the ‘phones will start ringing – you have been warned!

Mike.