Norwich and District Society of Model Engineers

29 June 1933 – Inaugural Meeting. President J.B.Willis, Chairman Mr Parfitt, Vice Chair J.R.Gladden. Committee: Messrs P.M.R.Bower, W.Cooper, G.R.Cross, J.R.Gladden, R.S.E.Hill, A.J.R.Lamb, R.E.Pattenden, K.H.Purdy, B.R.Reynolds, W.F.A.Way.

4-6 October 1934 – Exhibition at Drill Hall, Cattle Market, Norwich.

13 December 1934 – Gothic Works to be hired from Morgan’s Brewery at a rent of £10 p.a.

3-5 October 1935 – Exhibition at Drill Hall.

7-10 October 1936 – Exhibition at Drill Hall.

7-9 October 1937 – Exhibition at Drill Hall.

26/27 June 1942 – Society’s HQ and workshop was totally destroyed by enemy action.

October 1950 – First Exhibition held after WWII.

January 1951 – Meetings now held in Assembly Rooms on the Second Wednesday each month.

12 September 1951 – Details given of proposed permanent track.

November 1951 – Meeting with Parks Superintendent and our first track likely to be in Eaton Park.

10 September 1952 – It was agreed that the Society spends up to £100 on the erection of a track in Eaton Park

8 October 1952 – It was agreed that the track be “shelved” unless it can be done at no cost to the Society or leased on a nominal rental.

10 February 1954 – AGM Discussion on how Society could be enlarged and made more successful.
Fourteen members present.

11 May 1955 – A.W.E. Hoskins elected Secretary of the Society.

23 July 1956 – Meeting at Taverham Hall School decided to decline the offer of a track site at the School.

31 October 1956 – Site offered by Norwich Corporation for a track in Eaton Park.

29-30 November 1956– Exhibition at St Mary Magdelen Church Hall, Silver Road; first since 1950. (Profit £2.00!)

13 February 1957 – It was reported that the Society had accepted the Norwich Corporation offer of a site in Eaton Park for a permanent track.

1958 - Locomotive Trophy presented.

11 February 1959 – Decision made at AGM to include a rail for 5” gauge on the new track.

July 1959 - Track completed.

19 July 1959 First Public Running.

November 1959 - Competition night held, as in previous years.

27 May 1962 - 1st day of public running, takings £5.6.0.

1962 - List of members now circulated.

April 1964 - Eaton Park Track Rally.

28.10. - 31.10.1964 - Exhibition at TA Hall.

July 1965 - Revision of the Society Constitution and rules proposed.

May 1966 - Passenger trolleys rebuilt.

15-18 March 1967 - Exhibition at TA Hall.

1967 NDSME became a Company Limited by Guarantee.

December 1967 it was noted that Arnold Hoskins had twice recently run a 5” gauge 2-6-0 loco that is now the Society’s “Dyak”. Originally owned by the late Mr A.E.Arnold of Hempnall it was sold by his son to Arnold.

Feb 1968-Report of GNR Single champion in its class at the ME Exhibition, Seymour Hall, built by Albert Peacock.

July/August it was reported that the portable track had been rebuilt with provision of 3½” and 5” rail.

October 1968 Construction begun on new trolley made with the use of cycle hubs for the axles.

December 1968 report that Ken Sykes had completely overhauled the “Dyak”.

April 1969 – Railway sleepers that formed platform at the Eaton Park track were replaced by paving.

21 September 1969 Track discovered vandalised by removal of a piece of outer rail. It was quickly replaced and running commenced five minutes late.

January 1970 Albert Peacock congratulated on winning the Duke of Edinburgh Trophy for his Stirling Single.

March 1970, Archie Way Died. Founder member, Secretary and other positions.

15-17 April 1971 Exhibition at Wensum Lodge.

12 July 1972 – Screw press presented to the Society by Bill Naunton.

15 April 1973 – Commencement of building current Track of 955ft.

21 April 1974 – New track opened by Councillor John Walker.

10-12 April 1975 – Exhibition at Wensum Lodge.

Saturday 18 January – Party of members started to dismantle Platelayers hut at Felmingham.

October 1975 – Reported that the Platelayers hut had been reassembled, electricity installed and the cups of tea brewed therein were most welcome.

Oct 1975 – Reported that “Dyak” had been overhauled.

3 January 1976 – Trip to Seymour Hall, London for the ME Exhibition. The first of many?

6 November 1976 – Private Exhibition held at the Vauxhall Centre.

6-8 April 1978 – Exhibition at Wensum Lodge.

March 1979 – All five passenger trolleys rebuilt with new bogies, upholstered seats and yellow valances with “NDSME” lettering.

5-October 1980 – Exhibition at Thursford Museum.

23-26 April 1981 – Exhibition at Wensum Lodge.

12 August 1981 – Presentation by Dick Joice of awards gained at the Exhibition.

October 1981 – Now meeting in the Music room in the Assembly House.

4 April 1982 – Invitation day at Eaton Park Track. One person came!

14-November-1982 – Work began on realigning the track to accommodate a swing section organized by Sonny Knights to enable engines to be prepared on radiating steaming bays.

7-10 April 1983 – Golden Jubilee Exhibition at Wensum Lodge.

July 1983 – Advice received that Guy Richards had bequeathed the contents of his workshop to the Society.

13-November 1983 – Tree fell on our track.

13-February 1984 – “Bygones” programme on TV featuring our Hobby

April 1984 – After several cold Sunday mornings the track was finally repaired.

12-June 1985 – Presentation of a picture to Arnold Hoskins and his wife Joyce on the occasion of 30 years as Secretary of the Society. There was a large balance remaining from the money collected and Arnold was going to buy a television with this.

22 September 1985 – “LBSC Memorial Trophy Competition” hosted by NDSME.

22 September 1985 – Presentation to Arnold of the Southern Federation Award to the person who best personified the spirit of the hobby.

3-6 April 1986 – Exhibition at the Hewett Lower School.

May 1986 – Fare at Eaton Park Track raised to 20p.

August/September – Newsletter prepared by Ron Courtney after many years in the hands of Arnold Hoskins our Secretary.

14 December 1986 – Ron Courtney died. He was elected onto the Council in 1982 and had produced the Newsletter and Minutes of meetings since Arnold retired from the Council.

October 1987 – Gales damage track around steaming bays, completely destroying one section.

April 1987 – Fitting of security locks to all our movable items in Eaton Park.

July 1988 – Arnold volunteered to lighten load of Secretary by taking on the Newsletter again. First one published September 1988.

October 1988 – Planning application to Norwich City Council for a “Station” building alongside our track in Eaton Park.

23 January 1989 – Proposal to build a 7¼” track in Eaton Park discussed on site with Clive Olley) Parks Manager) and Charlie Youngs (Area Supervisor)

May 1989 – It was decided that this season the public running would take place every Sunday subject to having sufficient numbers of locomotives and members to operate the service.

25 October 1989 – New boiler for the “Double Dyak” was handed over for installation on the chassis.

March 1990 – Tank Loco built by the late Fred Stone purchased by the Society.

18 March 1990 – Annexe to the original hut being built. It was completed later that year.

May 1990 – Fred’s Loco overhauled by John Dabson.

April 1992 – Lord Mayor Mr Philip Moore opened the track for the new season by driving Mark Figes engine round the site.

April 1992 – It was announced that mains water was now available by the station and the platform smartened up with newly laid paving and repositioning of the station fencing. The City Council have also moved the chain link fencing further from the track where it runs alongside the public path.

August 1992 – Society’s “Dyak” restored to operation.

July 20-29 1993 – The portable track was set out on the Norwich Castle mound and two of the Society’s locos gave rides to visitors every afternoon. This was on the occasion of the loan of the replica “Rocket” for display at the Museum.

12 April 1995 – A disastrous fire at the Assembly House on the night we should have met meant that we should have to find another meeting place.

10 May 1995 – We now meet at Angel Road Middle School.

September 1995 – A loo was added to the rear of our concrete hut, containing a caravan type portable loo basin together with washbasin and the provision of hot water.

1995 – Sweatshirts available with the Society’s logo embroidered upon them.

9-14 April 1996 – Exhibition held at the Hewitt School.

1998 – Building to house the traverser and new trolleys under construction.

2 September 2002 – Foundations of carriage shed being laid.

28 February 2003 – Carriage shed nearing completion. A new ground level track will be laid out to the old tennis courts.

28 Feb 2003 – Easter 2006 - New Ground level track opened to the public.