Stranger in the steam

[jacqui]

Hi

i thought i would pop on and introduce myself to you all.

My name is Jacqui and yes im a women! but i have a big intrest in steam trains and would love to become involved in steam trains further. My father in law was a fire man on the steam train from bath and is still activlly involved with the restoration of the track etc.

I moved to the swindon area 3 months ago and i need a hobby. I live near coate water park and was delighted to hear about the track there for the 7 and a quarter gauge.

i have always wanted a train set - ever since the age of 3 but NEVER got one, well this year i turned 30 and its time i got something i have wanted for a while especially after suffering ill health so i was wondering where you get your engines from and do you make them from scratch? any help would be so helpful.

[steammadman]

Hi Jacquie,
Nice to have a lady in our midst, (that will stop them old wags swearing!!!).

Yes some of us make our miniature ,(don't like to call them models),engines from scratch but the "more wealthy amongst us buy them either in kit form or ready made.
i , unfortunately am one of the less wealthy members , so i have to make from whatever i can beg borrow or steel.

[standardsteam]

I took on building my engine from one my father started, progress has been slow since I moved out into my own house and no longer have easy access to a lathe. I decided to take on a kit build so I could finally experience firing and driving my own engine. The kit I am doing allows you to buy monthly so that's how I am able to just about afford it!

Having said that my local club has asked whether I can display my plan built engine on their club stand at Thornbury so I'm trying to get some work done on it. I'd suggest you might visit the Bristol Exhibition as it does fire the enthusiasm and has been a good show the last few times I have been.

A good club is a real bonus, the guys at my place really help out where they can with advice and experience.

[ukjimoo]

Hi Jacqui

Have you seen Julia's website at www.burrell.dsl.pipex.com Not railways but a very interesting and inspiring insight into live steam kit building and by a lady.

Jim

[Shawki Shlemon]

Hi jacqui
I am from a far land (Australia ) ,in our club we always had the pleasure of having at least one lady as member interested in steam trains.This never stopped some people swearing !!!!
However, my advice is first to join a club close to you ,take your husband , he might get interested too,meet the people,participate in the club activities, make new Friends and you will learn a lot about trains steam or otherwise .You can see my effort for the last 26 years on members.dodo.com.au/~shawki/ and visit our club website www.wdls.org.au .

[havoc]

Lots of possibilities. You can make one from scratch, make one from a kit, buy a second-hand one, buy a partialy made one, buy a ready-to-roll one or have one made on order. A club is a good place to start. Then on expositions, there are often locs for sale.

[Jo]

Hi Jacqui,

You are not alone, there are other ladies on this news group (not that the lads seem to have noticed) and some of us are active engineers building our own engines. But you do not need to be able to build an engine to be able to own and run one, although it helps if are able to understand them and have the skills to maintain them.

A word of warning: Engines are heavy and difficult to move around single handedly. My 5" Simplex is a handful, the Royal Scot I'm building even more so. 7 1/4" is even bigger still! (Not that it has stopped me considering building one)

Maybe this is an opportunity to ask if there is any strong, handsome (can but hope) model engineers who may like to help a lady with her engines? {I may regret this.....}

[spurley]

Oh Jo, I think it's been noticed allright! But the fact probably remains that we are all a shy bunch here Apart from early offers of marriage which I noticed you getting when you first signed up

With regard to your engines, I'm not sure if my wife would understand!!! Besides Hampshire is an awful long way from County Antrim.

Welcome to you both!

Cheers, from a handsome (but coy)

Brian!!

[Jo]

Hi Brian,

It would seem that I must have (as usual) been preoccupied with my engines and had missed those.....
-----------------------------------
Jacqui,

Are you aware of the cost of these engines?

I would recommend joining the local club, and learning to drive. I have never found any problem sweet talking an owner out of a drive of their loco. That way you will also find out if you prefer ground level (7 1/4") or raised (5"), and you also need to consider the challenges of reaching across the tender: Fellas have longer arms than us so tender engines can be even more challenging.

Jo

[baggo]

Hi all,

noticed that according to her profile, Jacqui hasn't logged in since July 10th ( the day she signed up) so- Jacqui, are you still there?

John