Site Shut Again

[smallbrother]

Just been informed our site is closing again.

I can't argue with the decision in the circumstances but it is ever so frustrating.

Pete.

[barlowworks]

We were due to have a fun run with possibly 30 people on site. That now looks like that is out of the window as well. Mind you, we have quite a big site so if we have 6 in the club rooms, six on the ground level track, six on the raised track and six on the garden railway we might still have a good day. 🤔😉

[steamlaser]

We have not been fully open since the first lockdown. Only recently we have had very limited numbers on working parties. There has been no private or public running.
Having no more than 6 people on site would now appear to be the current rules? This means that all our planned easing of restrictions have been put on hold.
As our site is a public park, we have to be particularly careful to obey the rules.

[JonL]

I've been wondering about this. At our site we attend we are little individual groups of less than 6 tending our own locomotives (usually solitary or two, three individuals at the most). Is that any different to visiting a supermarket? Especially when we are so distanced.

[coniston]

There is an exception in the government rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing) "for work, and voluntary or charitable services". This can easily apply to working groups at miniature railways, we are after all voluntary and as long as there is a register of who is on site and what 'work' they are performing (e.g. gardening, track maintenance / replacement, rolling stock maintenance etc. etc.) for track and trace purposes, then it would appear to be quite legitimate. Regarding the 'social' side then different groups attending different activities e.g. garden railway, raised track railway, boating etc. could be considered different groups.

Also thinking about it any clubs that have started public running again could IMHO be considered 'working' as in earning revenue, so maybe that could also continue. Of course the public would be subject to the 6 person rule as their activity is 'leisure'

Chris D

[houstonceng]

As far as understand the advice from S’fed, if you want to claim voluntary work no one should be working on their own loco in the society workshop, driving their loco on the track (unless working by carrying fare paying passengers - subject to other rules), etc. If more than 6 on site, all must be working voluntarily for, or paid by, the MES.

[dscott]

Club running in the morning and we have all PRIOR BOOKED IN.
Not many turn up even on a normal day.
Sometimes we dream of 6 on the track = the number of sections between signals.

So 4 on the Raised track and 2 of us on the Ground if Battery number 2 can get its charge together by morning!!!

Wednesdays we are outside and distanced on various projects.
Plus we all know each other and have been a gang for many years.

David and Lily.

[JonL]

Surely if you are nowhere near each other you are not "gathering" though?

[JonL]

Had an email today saying the site can only hold 6 people at a time and we need to book. I suspect that means a lot of us will not be running for a while.

[tractionbob]

Nobby

I do not understand why you think some members will not be running for a while. The number of running sessions has been greatly increased to still give everyone a chance. You only have to pre-book. With a maximum of 6 people on site I think unlike before there will be no waiting.

[JonL]

I emailed to book around midday today for a session tomorrow and/or Saturday (I'd managed to get Friday off for a session before the email went out) but so far I've not heard anything. As a result I suspect I'll miss out on tomorrow, and as I was planning to take my son on Saturday (I only get him every other weekend) I suspect I'll be bumped off the list as it would be fairer to invite two individuals than one pair.

I'm not really begrudging it, I understand something had to be done, it's just a bit of a shame as I'd finally got the locomotive running properly! (On the bench at least)

[dscott]

I was quizzed about turning up for our afternoon run last Saturday.
We pulled 3 large IKEA bags of weeds from the Ground level then tacked the rusted up pointwork.
Putting out 8 levers to help move them. Yes one of them caught us out later.
Yes that is what a TRAINWRECK LOOKS LIKE.
Wonderful day.
But another member just ran on the track and did not even bother to take the covers off the warning lights on the crossing.
No thanks for our extra work!

Just spend more time in your workshop and hope that your cable holds out.

We have a Contact with our Daughter for her 13th with more and more rules following from the social workers.
The supervisor wants to see the card prior to giving it to her?
I feel like writing something and cutting certain words out!!!
NO a BLANK one will be given and Lily can write it in CHINESE. LAUGHING.
Last year the use of a camera was banned just after my third complaint went in.

David and Lily.

[delaplume]

To help with the rule of 6 I've temp. withdrawn my attendances at both Oswestry and Rugeley .... They are both 30 miles each from my home so this will give the "Locals" more of a chance to attend.... and me more workshop time at home !!

Sorry to hear about the "Rules & Regs." Brigade David.......Joyce and I send our best wishes for you and Lily..

Wish I'd known about you going to Maidstone recently--They have a boiler for me that you could have bought back to Reading and we'd fetch it from you after a visit to the family.

[dscott]

Wednesday is cancelled for us this week I have just read in an e-mail. Work going on with the electrics in the Clubhouse.

Maidstone was a very last minute diversion with the car on our way back from Folkstone.
Fading light and a 50 year anniversary of me discovering this hobby there in the summer of 1970 gave me a push to stop there.
Wow the trees have grown!
I know 3 of the Club members and could contact them to see if they are coming up this way. They come up to Dreaming spires
now and enjoy... Except for this year.

David and Lily.

[delaplume]

Hi David----------------I'll continue this via a PM..