The Vocal Chuffers get up steam at St Peter's

The Tuttleton and District Model Railway Society, which has met in the hall at St Peter's Methodist Church since 1987, has formed a choir. It is called the Vocal Chuffers, a name settled at a short meeting ahead of the Signal Box Singers and, by one vote, Points of Praise.

Chairman Mr Leonard Ashworth noticed that members hummed while shunting and felt it might as well be organised. Eleven have joined, all men. Ladies would be very welcome, provided they are prepared to sit through the timetable.

Rehearsals take place around the layout, which has not moved since the Jubilee. The choir is arranged not into sopranos, altos, tenors and basses but into Up, Down, Goods and Shunting. Mr Ashworth conducts with a green flag, and bringing them to a halt with a red one took most of the first evening.

The opening number will be Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, chosen for the line about the barren land, which is the stretch past the sidings not yet scenicked. Cecil Hobday will accompany on the hall piano once a way round the viaduct can be found.

The Vocal Chuffers make their debut at Lower Branton's Songs of Praise on Sunday 4 October. Rev'd Paul Thompson's one condition is that the timetable be suspended during the sermon. Refreshments will follow from the buffet car, which is a trestle table. Mr Ashworth asks that the basses not be referred to as rolling stock.