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The Didcot Flyer October 2018Insider news for the Didcot Railway Centre
Over 22nd / 23rd September we had our 'Delivering the Goods' Weekend.Despite the wet weather on both days we had a number of visitors who enjoyedthe day, with 4144 put through its paces operating both goods and passengertrains over the weekend. We also had the Steam Railmotor in operation whichis always popular. A huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who bravedthe wet conditions to help out, and to Ann Davies for planning the event. Atleast the Sun broke through on Sunday afternoon!A lot of work goes into planning these events, especially for the crews whomove the locomotives and rolling stock around the site, and it is always apleasure when we receive good reviews on the internet.We are always on the lookout for future ideas for open days, if you have anidea do get in touch!
The Education Team
The Education Teams 'Special Steam Days for Schools' programme is nowalmost fully booked until the end of the year!A couple of years ago Schools were directed by the Education Secretary tomove the history of WWII into Senior Schools but since then we are doing moreWWII for primary Schools than we did before, and most of our bookings are forthe 'World War II' experience but in addition we have 50 4-5 year olds askingfor 'Inventions' and a Japanese School from London interested in 'RailwayHistory'.
We are looking forward to welcoming these Schools on the following dates:
Thursday 11th October: Northbourne from Didcot, and St Edmunds fromAbingdon.
Thursday 18th October: Elstree from Woolhampton, and Emmbrook fromWokingham.
Thursday 8th November: Eynsham from Eynsham, and All Saints from Didcot.
Thursday 15th November: Pangbourne from Pangbourne, and Stonesfield fromWitney.
Thursday 22nd November: St Christophers from Cowley, and The JapaneseSchool from Acton, London.
If you have something you think our young visitors would be interested in,please let us know, and we will see if we can fit it into our programme.
Helen Prior
DIDCOT STREET FAIR. The Didcot Street Fair will take place on Thursday 29th November, this year.The theme is Winter Wonderland.
Ann and myself would like anyone who is able to come along and help. Notonly on the stall, but taking things up there from the centre and returning themafterwards. In the past few years, we have given out the Thomas meets Father Christmasleaflets as well as next year's leaflet. This gives us a chance to speak to peoplein the community. We start taking items for the stall at 3.00pm, the Street Fair starting around4.00pm If you would like to help, please get in touch with the office by phone: 01235817200 or email at [email protected] Betty Baldry
.
Swindon Panel opening days
The Swindon Panel Society plan to be open on the following days throughout 2018.Sunday 28th OctoberSunday 4th NovemberSunday 11th NovemberSaturday 17th NovemberSaturday 24th NovemberSaturday 1st DecemberSaturday 8th DecemberSaturday 15th December.
You are advised to check before travelling as available resources can affect thesetimes.
Work continues on the overhaul of GWR Pannier Tank 3650, and as thesephotos show, there is plenty going on when the team meet at the weekends.Like many projects going on around Didcot Railway Centre, you can follow up-to-date news on Facebook, type in: Facebook@GWR3650 for the direct link.
The popularity of this project can be clearly seen with over 1700 likes andfollowers on their page. You can spend hours reading the many excellent postson this project, including some videos, the removal of the boiler being of greatinterest.If you haven't done so already, join this page to follow progress, remember itsfree to join!
As we Start October our minds are all ready set on Days Out With Thomas andD.O.W.T Christmas. This is always a busy time and we are always on thelookout for more volunteers. If you can lend a hand on any of the days pleaseget in touch so we can plan the rota, by email [email protected].
Day Out With Thomas - 6/7 October
Day Out with Thomas Christmas 1/2, 8/9, 15/16 and 22/23 December.
The Tuesday 'Light Gang', have been busy recently, Pete Alan, Michael andDave, have successfully formed rain water outlets in the roof to the Portacabinmeeting room, whereas before there were none. Painting to the front of therefreshment rooms continues. The old red post-box has been repainted and thetelephone box is being given the same treatment.The next big job is to redecorate the main offices.
Dave Smart.
Engineering Department More concrete by the Tuesday heavy gang this month, this time to complete theextension to the hard surfacing behind the Loco Works for engine componentstorage, and in the front of the Carriage Shed at Nos. 2 and 3 Lines inconnection with the fitting of roller doors to create a better environment for thetime being for display. Nearby, at Didcot Halt, the refurbished Halt nameboardhas been fitted and more paling fencing painted by the Halt Gang, while up atthe Refreshment Room the Tuesday light gang has completed the repaint ofthe Refreshment Room frontage. From there, while you bask with yourrefreshment in the September sun, you can try spotting the new browncorrugated roof sheet repairs to the roof of the Engine Shed. Another community volunteering group from Network Rail visited for a day onFriday 14th September and converted the 'red-oxided' Trollies Shed in the treesopposite Didcot Halt into our latest corrugated iron black hut (GWR black). Alittle bit of vegetation cutting is needed at the back of the Shed to enablecompletion of the black bitumen coating but brush cutting work has beenfocussed on the Coal Stage bank and various other areas of the Centre wherevegetation is threatening to take over - many thanks to those who regularly pickup this work.And then there are the SC and the CB buildings (Signalling Centre andConcrete Building). The electricians have been ensuring that the electric doorsin the SC lobby work responsively, an automatic sensor and better activationbuttons being fitted by our supplier/contractor and the function of the doorsbeing adjusted. At the Swindon Room end of the building the outside doubledoors now have weather skirts in place and draught excluders on the insidebottom edges, as also has the side door in the Bristol Room. Fencing of the CB site, while it is a discrete construction site, has progressed
with erection of a gate adjacent to the GWR oil fuel saddles and a start oninstallation of chain link fencing to close the gap to the section nearby. Castingboxes have been made for repair of the building frame uprights and all the roofand wall panels sorted and re-stacked for use. All the components, which alsoinclude lintels, trusses and truss spacer blocks are in a good or repairable stateso our need for new castings looks unlikely. Well, only four scheduled CE WorkWeekends to go in 2018. Make sure you do not miss out but in particular makesure you have the Saturday 24th November Grand Dinner in your diary; masterof ceremonies once again will be the imaginative, entertaining, prize awardingMr. Beacham - all are welcome. Details available from Richard Antliff < [email protected] >,07804 32 94 97:- 13/14 Oct27/28 Oct10/11 Nov24/ 25 Nov (Grand Dinner) Richard Antliff
VAQAS assessment
The Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) provides anindependent mystery shopper assessment of visitor attractions and museums. An independent assessor replicates the entire customer journey, from lookingat the website before the visit to experiencing all aspects of the attraction,including customer-staff interactions.We are assessed against a set of criteria for eight key areas:1.Pre-Arrival2.Arrival and Initial Impressions3.The Attraction4.Cleanliness5.Toilets6.Catering7.Retail8.StaffEach of these areas has a minimum score threshold which needs to be met inorder for us to gain accreditation. We had our assessment in August and we
had a face to face debrief after the visit. The very good news is that we havepassed the assessment so we have retained our VAQAS accreditation; however, there are quite a few areas for improvement. We have now receivedthe report and are digesting its contents before we circulate it with the nextFlyer. New website
We are nearly there with the new website but have had a few problems with theGift Aid requirements and are working with the designers to resolve these. Wewant the site to go live as soon as possible but we obviously need to ensurethat we comply with the Gift Aid regulations.Didcot Business And Community Awards (BACAs)We are delighted that we have been nominated in two of the Didcot BACAscategories – add what they are.The judges will meet next Friday to agree the winners and we have beeninvited to the award evening at Cornerstone on Friday 12 October. We haveone spare place so please let us know if you would like to come along –[email protected]. We are keeping our fingers crossed that weare successful. If not, we will have a good evening out anyway. Recent events
Thank you to everyone who helped with our Delivering the Goods event. Sadlythe weather forecast was awful and so was the weather so visitor numberswere disappointing, but we had some positive feedback despite the weather. Itwas great to have a slightly more varied running day and a chance for ourGuards to guard a goods train. The other benefit from the weekend was theresearch that Ann Davies has done on our wagons, which we will be adding tothe information on our website. Future events
Thomas is visiting us on 6 and 7 October and as usual we need a lot more helpon the day. Following feedback from Mattel, the Day Out With Thomas licenceholders, we have made a few changes to the day but we’re sure that ourvisitors will have a great time. At the moment the weather forecast looks OK sowe are hoping for a good crowd.We are also looking for helpers for our busiest events of the year – our FestiveDay Out With Thomas events – so please get in touch with the office
([email protected]) if you can help. 2019 Programme
We are getting close to agreeing the 2019 programme of open days and eventsand it’s going to be a busy spring with the launch of the Saint. The eventprogramme relies on our volunteers for operating and for other key roles,including the Shop and Museum, so please help us by making yourselfavailable. Perks for Partners
If you are going out and about in Oxfordshire, we are members of ExperienceOxfordshire’s Perks for Partners Scheme and you can get reduced admissionand offers to all kinds of Oxfordshire attractions. Contact the Didcot Office([email protected]) if you want to use the cards. Didcot Herald
We are always looking for articles for our Didcot Herald column so if you fancywriting 450 words (words only, no pictures) on almost any Didcot- or railway-related topic (the column has featured everything from apple trees to racetrains to signal boxes to our events!) please send them [email protected].
Ann Middleton
Inspiring Audio WorkshopsThe workshop is centred around communications and building engagementwith different audiences and in different ways. Whether you are beinginterviewed by a local radio station or creating a podcast to accompany one ofyour exhibits, we discuss and practice the skills you need to make you be aseffective as possible.
This will be held on Friday, 12th October, around 10.30 am. Drinks will beprovided.
If you are interested please contact the main office to be booked in.
Ann Middleton.
News for the Didcot Flyer
Any News for the Didcot Flyer is always welcome, and you can send it in any format,email, handwritten, Phone, Carrier Pigeon etc.
Without your contributions it would be a very empty Flyer!
Reviews and comments from the Signalling Centre visitor book
Fantastic to see these Signalling, be great to see the Swindon Panel up andrunning.
Super - Awesome
kids Love it!!!
Fabulous day out!!!
ooo! Trains!, Trains!
Didcot Railway Centre Name Badges.
If you have ordered a new DRC Name Badge these have now arrived. You cancollect them from Betty Baldry or Thomas Macey in the office.
If you didn't place an order but would like one, email [email protected] speak to the office and we can add your name to the next order.
Didcot Railway Centre reviews
It is the policy of the Flyer not to alter reviews
ImpressiveSpent an enjoyable afternoon here with my husband and sons, It is accessed bypassing through Didcot Railway Station. Over the years we have visited many steamrailway centres and we were impressed with the number and conditions of theengines on display at Didcot Railway Centre. The volunteers were all friendly andhelpful. Their passion was evident and some good conversations were had. Weenjoyed some refreshments and rode on the trains. Highly recommended.
A must for any steam enthusiast and historically significant part of the steamrailway systemA magnificent collection of locos and rolling stock representing the history anddevelopement of the GWR All things Great Western, Great Western, GreatWesternDidcot Railway Centre, if you like The Great Western Railway this is heaven foryou, though my purpose for me visit was to see both the broad-gauge locos.
BrilliantHad a lovely day here on Saturday, really enjoyed the new signalling exhibition,lots of very knowledgable people showing us how it all worked. We enjoyed therides on the trains and seeing up close all of the steam trains. The informationprovided was second to none.Had lunch in the restaurant which was lovely. All in all a very enjoyable day.
Reunion VisitHave visited several times over the years . Improvements made each time.Ideal place for rail enthusiasts. Great Western Railway orientated and has dayswhen there are locomotives in steam. A number of locomotives on view and asection of original broad gauge track A museum and shop with a good range ofrailway orientated products. Refreshment facilities serving a limited range of“home cooked” meals at reasonable prices. Good clean toilets.
Latest addition is a full size 1960s working signal panel originally from Swindonand another older from pre 1960s Bristol.Run by enthusiastic volunteers and very successful results.
Programme of Events October 2018 Days after 14th to follow.
Saturday 29thExhibition Day only -4.00 pmclosing2999, 3650 Working Party
Sunday 30th
Railway Experience DayGuides D Beeley and D CooperExhibition Day only For Visitors -4pm closingApple Pressing1014 Working Party
Monday 1st October
Tuesday 2nd175th Oxford Line Meeting - AnnMiddleton 10.30 Portacabin
Wednesday 3rd Thursday 4th DRCC meeting ?Friday 5th Last day of Shoulder month Days.Saturday 6th Day Out With ThomasSunday 7th Day Out With Thomas
Monday 8thMuseum closed for Installation oflights
Tuesday 9th Wednesday 10th
Thursday 11th
School DayNorthbourne CE PrimarySt Edmonds RC Primary
Friday 12th
Inspiring Audio Media TrainingCourse. Portacabin or S.L.R(Depending on numbers) open to allDRC staffBacas Awards Orchard Centre
Saturday 13th
Exhibition only day - 4pm ClosingC.E Working PartyRailway Experience DayGuide M Hurst and ?Photo shoot
Sunday 14thExhibition only day- 4pm ClosingC.E Working party
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