😷Lockdown in 2021 continues as we reach early April now, still no open days, no exhibitions, no fun. Last month I had my first Covid-19 vaccine jab now expecting to receive the second one sometime soon which now makes me look ahead to ask the question 'When can we begin to plan something outside?' Yes pubs might be opening soon but that doesn't appeal to us right now! There remains a lack of entertainment to look forward to, sport might continue behind closed doors till May, and still haven't been able to visit the new stadium on Plough Lane for my football club AFC Wimbledon it's really my enjoyment of modelling, railways, steam tours which is still being denied with venues closed.
Hillingdon Railway Modellers will continue to hold regular Zoom meetings with their members. Pleased to see they are still getting on with their superb work, as are the London Kings Cross based Model Railway Club who also are holding zoom meetings and lectures with guest speakers.
https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/events/mrc-zoom-club-meeting/
Rail-Tours
The calendar shows every tour cancelled throughout April which is sad but not surprising, will be keeping an eye on May and June which are yet to be updated, me thinks that June will be the earliest, even the regular trips on the Jacobite service between Fort William and Mallaig are off though Scotland have a slightly different road map to reopening events than England.
Heritage Railway Services
Looks like they are beginning to open up slowly, plenty of Covid restrictions in place and advance bookings essential.
Many Heritage Railways will be making announcements on Monday 29th March, already the The Bluebell Railway have announced some changes to feature events as follows;
– The Model Railway Weekend has been moved from June to July – it is now scheduled to take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July.
– The first Bluebell Railway Beer Festival is due to take place in September (date to be announced).
– Giants of Steam will be Friday 8 – Sunday 10 October rather than in September with visiting locomotives to be confirmed nearer the time.
– The Diesel Gala which had been scheduled for July has been postponed until 2022 to allow more time for preparation.
– The Diamond Anniversary steering group is engaged in planning the ’60+ 1′ celebrations scheduled for Friday 6 – Sunday 8 August.
While the Swanage Railway are beginning a service from April 12 which will run a steam service from Swanage to Nordon only, with Covid social distancing rules in place you can at least turn up and ride but advance booking is still preferable. Personally I'm not travelling that far yet having been shielding for so long, but would want to have a trip down when the service from Wareham is established.
Model Railway Societies / Clubs
A few societies are using social media and you tube to try and deliver something to a waiting audience here are a couple of on line 'shows' coming up soon. I've been viewing some of the bigger shows from previous years on You Tube such as Warley, Rail Wells, and this from Weston Super Mare watch the coal tipper from about 3 mins in that's some modelling skill.
Sadly as I look at the listings for April and May everything remains 'Cancelled' with one or two virtual shows being put up in their place. Seems this might not change till after June/July time, hopefully the summer can bring about some much needed change.
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