Letter & Photos from Callum Christie
NWMES Member from Ireland
Hi all my names callum Christie and I’m nearly 19
and yes we had a wonderful time visiting your society running my great grandfather’s loco which he started to build around 1939/1943 and we hope to come and run and help out at the society at some point in July .
Anyway yes on to the question yous asked there’s only 2 model engineers society’s in Ireland/Northern Ireland the nearest one is called Dublin Society Model Experimental Engineers and the second one is in Northern Ireland called Drumawhey Junction Railway’
Dad’s a trained blacksmith and boilersmith as he trained in Inchicore Railway works in Dublin but he’s well capable of doing things he’s currently building a 5 inch gauge Duchess of Hamilton which he’s currently building the boiler for.
Our new club Drumawhey Junction Railway in Northern Ireland last February, there so nice and caring and they actually want to help and teach me and other younger guys new things so its a wonderful Club, the club is that great that we travel 3 hours and 14 minutes from our house, that’s how great the Northern guys at the club are .
But yes there’s only 2 model Engineering societies in Ireland and I personally find there’s not enough youngsters in the societies personally the Dublin one only has 2 youngsters, at the Drumawhey Club there’s a few young members just in there case they don’t have any new young members possibly because of where their located at the very top of the country but mainly I think model Engineering in Ireland isn’t to strong as there’s at least 200 members in total combined between the Northern Ireland Society and the Dublin Society it seems in Ireland there’s not to many people who have or want to learn Model Engineering as a hobby but I’m not too worried I’m just glad we have the Northern Ireland club and we have great fun up there but anyway before I go here’s our current builds and our loco collection.
My dad’s 5 inch Duchess of Hamilton which he Is building he’s currently up to the boiler hoping to have that running before winter – Dads 3 1/2 Derby 4F – My 3 1/2 inch LBSC Helian Lassie – My Great Grandfather’s 3 1/2 inch gauge Mgwr No.50 .
We also have 3 other locos which we are building but also there are more locos approximately 3 more locos which my great grandfather built which I’m currently trying to get off my grand aunt Margaret who lives in Dublin so I hope to get them someday but anyway that’s all I have to say thank yous all so much and me and my dad hope to see yous all hopefully in July
Best Wishes
Callum Christie
Click on pictures to enlarge:
