ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEEKEND

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April 2008

	350 102 at Northampton

A full weekend of supporting events has also been arranged by the Branch.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

FRIDAY 25TH APRIL 2008

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE IRONSTONE RAILWAY TRUST – our first visit is to the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust. The Trust operates a small, but interesting, site at Hunsbury Hill on the south side of Northampton. As its name suggests, the Trust’s main emphasis is on the ironstone and industrial railway systems that were once prevalent in this county. However, it is also home to some ex-BR Southern Region EMU vehicles, including a surviving double-decker DMBS. The Trust has a short section of operational track.

EVENING EVENT – At 20.00, in the Kent Essex Norfolk suite at the Park Inn Hotel, there will be a talk and slide show by Graham Onley entitled “Transport in and around Northampton”.

SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 2008

Classic transport will be provided for the day’s events in the shape of an ex-Northampton Corporation Transport Daimler double-decker bus. It will leave from the Park Inn Hotel and its first call will be at SIEMENS TRAIN MAINTENANCE DEPOT – Northampton has an “MPD” again! Siemens opened this new depot, at King’s Heath, to the north of the station in June 2006 at a cost of £31m. It has an impressive array of facilities and equipment and is a key feature in the modernisation programme for the West Coast Main Line. It also serves as the headquarters of Siemens’ rolling stock maintenance operations in the country. At the moment it maintains the 30 Cl.350 Desiros operating on the WCML. The further 37 units ordered for the new London Midland franchise are also expected to be maintained here. Siemens have kindly agreed to the visit, which gives a rare opportunity to visit this impressive new facility. There is no limit on the number in the party but on arrival it may be split into groups for the tour.

Our vintage bus will then take us on to the IRCHESTER NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY MUSEUM – which is a long established museum that again has its roots in the ironstone and industrial railway systems which once operated across the county. It has a selection of steam and diesel industrial locomotives and a large selection of related rolling stock. There is a metre gauge demonstration line and it is planned that this will be in operation for our visit. The Museum is located at Irchester Country Park, which is off the A509 two miles south of Wellingborough.

Back on the bus and our next call will be at the RUSHDEN TRANSPORT MUSEUM where a ploughman’s lunch will be provided and other refreshments will be available.

This Museum is located in the sensitively restored station building at Rushden, on the long closed Midland Railway branch line from Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers. It is run by the Rushden Historical Transport Society and contains items of railway memorabilia and small items connected with road transport. The railway activities of the Society now come under the Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway, whose ultimate aim is to reopen the branch. To date, a ¼ mile of track has been relaid at the station and it is planned that brake van rides will be available during our visit. Also on site is a collection of standard gauge rail vehicles, including a Cl.31 (31206), industrial steam locomotives, an LNER Gresley buffet car and some former Travelling Post Office vans. For those who like their transport to run on rubber wheels, there is also a collection of public service and commercial road vehicles.

Our bus will then return to the Park Inn Hotel in time for refreshments prior to the Annual General Meeting at 16.00 which will be held in the Kent Essex Norfolk suite.

ALTERNATIVE TOUR – for those not wishing to go on the above tour, an alternative has been provided. Dr. Peter Hill will lead a walking tour of places of interest in Northampton town centre, which will start at the Hotel at 10.00. The tour is expected to take approximately two hours.

For those who want to explore further, you might like to consider making your own arrangements to visit Althorp House, home of the Spencer family, or 78 Derngate, Northampton – the former home of W.J. Bassett-Lowke and with the interior designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Details for these are as follows:

Althorp – www.althorp.com – e-mail: mail@althorp.com – telephone 01604 772107
78 Derngate – www.78derngate.org.uk – telephone 01604 603407
Please note that pre-booking is essential

The AGM Dinner will take place in the same suite as the AGM, with a reception at 18.45 for Dinner at 19.15 prompt. John Downing, a Northampton Branch member, will give the after dinner talk, entitled “On and Off the Footplate”.

SUNDAY 27TH APRIL 2008 On Sunday, members are invited to make their own way to the NORTHAMPTON AND LAMPORT RAILWAY – there is ample free parking on site. This is an established standard gauge preserved railway on the trackbed of the former LNWR Northampton-Market Harborough line. It is based at Pitsford & Brampton station, some five miles north of Northampton and currently has an operational line of 1¼ miles, with regular passenger services. The steam locomotives on site are primarily industrials and ex-BR main line diesels predominate with, currently, at least six different classes represented, although not all are operational. A tour of the site and a diesel-hauled train ride have been laid on, with two coaches reserved for the RCTS. Soup and a roll will be included and available on the train.

The Northampton Branch looks forward to welcoming you.

DINNER MENU : SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 2008

Starter:
1. Fan of Honeydew Melon (served with a Duo of Fruit sauces)
2. North Atlantic Prawns (with a Marie sauce and Lemon garnish)
3. Chef's Home Made Soup of the day

Main Course:
1. Breast of Chicken Wrapped in Bacon (with a Wild Mushroom and Shallot sauce)
2. Garlic and Rosemary Studded Leg of Lamb (served with a Roasted Lamb gravy)
3. Steamed Supreme of Salmon (coated in a White Wine and Dill sauce)
4. Filo Parcel Filled with Creamy Goats Cheese, Red Onion, Mushroom and Asparagus

Dessert:
1. Glazed Lemon Tart (served with Blackcurrant Coulis)
2. Hot Apple Pie (served with Crème Anglaise)
3. Tropical Cheesecake (served with Mango Coulis)

Followed by freshly brewed Coffee and Mints

Booking form for the 2008 AGM Weekend at Northampton

04/02/08