westfalen Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I just thought I'd pass on the latest bad news from the QRI Ipswich Heritage Model Railway Club. The old tool & gauge shop we occupy at the Ipswich railway workshops underwent its annual safety inspection by Queensland Rail a week or so ago and asbestos contained in the building was found to be a hazard. This week QR's property division met with our executive committee and gave as about a month to get everything out. It seems the problem is not limited to the asbestos roofing material, on the middle level of the three tier building are some old furnaces and tool treatment vats dating back to WW2 and these apparently contain a rather sinister form of asbestos in their lagging which is breaking down with age and leaching out with drafts from the broken windows and rain leaking through the roof. About the only good news is that we don't need protective clothing to access our area of the building although they have imposed other strict conditions after which no one will be allowed back into the building. To cut the story short we are spending this weekend moving out everything we can, luckily members are able to take all the N-TRAK modules and the Clinchfield layout for storage and with T-TRAK we can set up anywhere for a day or afternoon if we are without club rooms for a while. I rescued all of my property this morning including the Japanese flag, my 3'x2' Nekotani layout and most importantly my Takadanobaba 'Astro Boy' station melody key chain and Doctor Yellow party balloon. Where the club goes from here is unknown at the moment but we will still be exhibiting the T-TRAK at the Gold Coast train show on 23/24 July. Link to comment
Guest Closed Account 1 Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 That's stinks my friend. Getting that stuff in your lungs is like razors. Feel blessed. Maybe you guys can occupy a small store at a struggling mall? Maybe free or just pay utilities. That's how the Tucson Toy train museum started out. Link to comment
westfalen Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 That's stinks my friend. Getting that stuff in your lungs is like razors. Feel blessed. Maybe you guys can occupy a small store at a struggling mall? Maybe free or just pay utilities. That's how the Tucson Toy train museum started out. We've looked at vacant stores, which any readers familiar with the area would know are quite plentiful, a few times over the years but property owners around these parts seem to prefer leaving them vacant even though we tell them we could be out with a couple of days notice if they get a better offer. We've been around a bit during the last thirty or so years, before the old Southside N Scale Club merged with the Ipswich club ten years ago we have been in a church, an empty store, a vacant room at a Macdonalds restaurant, a football club and at various times meeting at different members homes each month. Link to comment
rpierce000 Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Get your whole club to a doctor specializing in lung cancer ASAP and get them checked over. If you catch it earlier the cancer is easier to treat. I have had three relatives exposed to this, one is still alive due to early detection. This is your life you are talking about. I realize that national health will make you wait, get out your checkbook and go private for this one. If other forum members have similar stories, please help me nudge them in the right direction. There are model trains in heaven, for it wouldn't be heaven without them, but I am in no hurry to see people get to them. Link to comment
keitaro Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Rpiece speaks the truth that shit gets every where and anywhere don't take the risk. 1 small leak is all it takes. Well I hope you can locate a new place. Link to comment
westfalen Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 The N-TRAK layout set up in it's new home today. 2 Link to comment
Nick_Burman Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Rpiece speaks the truth that shit gets every where and anywhere don't take the risk. 1 small leak is all it takes. Well I hope you can locate a new place. There is a whole town in Italy (Casale Monferrato, near Turin) which has been contaminated by asbestos because of an Eternit plant. This was the town's main employer and at a time when few people knew or cared for the consequences of asbestos contamination, the plant's workers helped (unknown to them and unwillingly) spread asbestos dust throught town (either by carrying it on their skin and clothes or through the use of discared scraps in construction). Now the town has one of if not the highest rates of cancer in Italy and the Italian State is sueing Eternit for environmental damages. Cheers NB Link to comment
Fenway Park Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 There was an article in yesterday's Times newspaper highlighting the risk of asbestos in Britain's school buildings and the increase in asbestos related cancers in teachers. Sadly, one of my wife's friend's father who was a headmaster died from this disease a few years ago. Link to comment
cteno4 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Big bummer on loosing the layout room, but best to avoid the asbestos. It is a good idea to see a specialist and get the high res chest xray as like bob said early detection is the key. Also checking in the future is good, asbestos is a lurker if you have long term exposure. Looks like you all have a short term solution! I would love a more permanent home for the JRM layout, I'm tired of storing most of it here at the house! Best of luck Jeff Link to comment
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