Hi Stew, Just arrived here – looks like you’re in good hands with Jason and Bill.
As you now know Forncett is not in the US but it’s still a fair haul from Crewe however it is a great place to visit if you are a stationary engine enthusiast. Andy and I of course being ‘good ol’ boys’ from Suffolk have to get a visa to cross the border.
Not wishing to take anything at all from Bill’s sterling effort this past show I’m sure he wont mind if I say that the open day for ME enthusiasts will see it’s twentieth birthday next year. It all began when a friend and I approached the museum to ask if we could take our Victorias there to steam on an open day. For the first year I think we went every month but that, predictably, got a bit too much. The idea of an ME day was mooted and the rest as they say is history. It was, in the past, always billed as ‘A Model Engineers Day Out’ a title which I think Bill intends to re-introduce for next year.
It’s been held on various days throughout the season – for the first few years it was in November but that always meant packing up in the dark. The last year it was held such was when the lights went out with a bang at three o’clock or so and just as one of the exhibitors, using his RLE engine for power, was pile driving a stake into the ground for one more time
– we’ve always encouraged active participation – but whether there was any connection remains a mystery to this day
One year it clashed with the Wimbledon final which was rather good planning but now it seems October is the ideal month to finish off a steamy season and looks set to remain.
It’s a lovely situation for an event and one which for me at least has always lived up to it’s initial outlook – good models, good people, old friends, A Great Day Out
We’ve had exhibitors from quite a reasonable distance away in the past so perhaps we might encourage you – you’d be most welcome of that I’m certain.
Regards – Ramon