RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/
NETWATCH
============
Railway poetry:
http://www.lner.info/forums/railway-poetry-t3073.html
(Spotter: David Moore)
A recent explore of the old GNSR Station at Elgin:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=47923
More photos here:
http://www.moraymrg.org.uk/mr-gallery-reference.html
Also note the link to Page 2 "Disused Railways":
http://www.moraymrg.org.uk/mr-gallery-reference-2.html
A webpage all about signalling on Peak Rail:
http://dominic-beglin.magix.net/website/#17
Manchester Metrolink: So far the first 11 (3001-11) new Metrolink Trams
have arrived at Queens Road depot. The early units 3001-4 have been in
use on the Alrincham-Bury service, and additionally to Eccles from
Piccadilly station. On the Eccles route a new triangle has been installed
near Anchorage connecting with a new line to MediaCity. This was
energised wef 0001 on Sunday 7th March (per contract notice on the site),
and work is underway landscaping the new single line to the terminal
station. At the moment it can only be seen from a distance and looks to
be a two platform station. The new trams are basically in yellow/grey
livery - a makeover of many station signs has followed in similar colour
scheme but the lettering is not easy to read. Nameboards on the
Altrincham and Bury lines have already been replaced at some station
stops. Perhaps black on yellow would be preferred. Woodlands Road still
retains the original Metrolink nameboards, this station is expected to
close and be moved to a new location with another name. (PS - A report on
BBC-TV mentioned the first new tram for Edinburgh was expected very soon.)
(via Neville Knight)
Highbury - a model of a typical, small, North Somerset colliery as it
might have looked in the 1920s, built in 2mm finescale:
http://www.jerrycliffordmodels.co.uk/
I mentioned a news item about the parlous state of Paddle Steamer Ryde a
couple of weeks ago. Here are some more links courtesy of Brian Hall...
"New look" PS Ryde website:
http://www.psryde.co.uk/ryde/index.php
There is also a Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friends_of_the_ryde/
The Ryde is currently on the River Medina near Newport. Another boat,
the Medway Queen was once there and is currently under restoration
elsewhere:
http://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/
The Hollinwood Canal Society website has been relaunched:
http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk
On the first Sunday of every month, there's the rare opportunity to travel
the length of Dudley Tunnel (almost 3km) and visit Dudley's limestone
caves on a two-hour trip run by the Dudley Canal Trust. The caves were
carved out in the 18th Century by the mining industry - the miners used to
haul away 1,000 tonnes of limestone a week. The tunnel starts in the
Black Country Museum which is well worth a visit regardless of whether you
want to travel through the tunnel.
http://www.bclm.co.uk/
============
Videos
Severn Valley steam, 5th March 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=9eNabJ-QNos
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
North Kent Loop resignalling 1968-1970:
http://www.youtube.com/user/crompton33001
Video of Clapham and Wandsworth Road in the 1950s, showing the Night Ferry
and Golden Arrow, mostly in colour.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SouthernRailwayFilms#p/u/5/H98D2xjBet8
South Croydon-Victoria Cab Ride, 1930s:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthernRailwayFilms#p/u/21/mmCdP_3XvOQ
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
London Broad Street & Widened Lines Superb film of regular services and a
railtour over the Widened and Broad St lines:
http://www.youtube.com/user/rgadsdon#p/u/1/rcpb9oZ6f3g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZiTRd8dT6A
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
Very short clip of New Delhi-Mumbai Central Rajdhani express rushes past
Saphale station at 7.25am, plus links to five longer videos:
http://tinyurl.com/ybuq45m
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
NYC film from 1938:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1_ywPGzD5E
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
The South Tynedale Railway
Contractors have completed work on three bridges: 46 (north end of
Kirkhaugh station), 42 and 40 (Lintley Viaduct). Track has been laid as
far as bridge 43, half-a-mile from Kirkhaugh. The initial target is
Lintley with the railhead stopped short of the viaduct. The viaduct will
be crossed when the line is extended to the eventual target at Slaggyford.
Sheringham
The project to link the North Norfolk Railway to the national network was
completed over the weekend of 20th/21st February 2010, when the level
crossing between the two Sherringham stations was reinstated. It has since
been opened:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8562407.stm
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Including locos and stock Exmoor Enterprise, the L&BR's supporting
organisation, has costed reconstruction of the approx 8 miles from Lynton
to Wistlandpound at 30m.
Launceston Steam Railway
Planning permission was granted in February 2010 for the first section of
the proposed Launceston-Egloskerry Multi-user Trail. The Launceston Steam
Railway hopes that creation of such a trail could bring about their long-
held ambition of extending 2 miles from New Mills to Egloskerry.
The Weardale Railway
Villagers back coal by rail scheme amid traffic fears. Five daily commuter
services between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland are planned from May 2010.
These will be in addition to the Wolsingham-Stanhope heritage services.
http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/teesdale-news/story,2532.html
Welsh Highland Railway
Trains will continue to run to the present Hafod y Llyn terminus until
27th May 2010 when passenger services are extended three miles to a new
terminus at Pont Croesor.
Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway
Passenger trains will start using the 1 mile extension to Manuel from
27th March 2010. There is no station at Manuel so passengers remain
aboard while the loco runs round.
Disused Lines
The Conservative Party has pledged to protect disused lines still in
public ownership if elected. It would introduce a moratorium on building
over them for at least the first five-year term.
Heathrow
Trials between the three stations (two car parks and Terminal 5) have
proved successful and London Airport expects to have its new Ultra Rapid
Transit System fully operational by the summer of 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/ygomnkj
London Crossrail
Initial construction work has started on the tunnel in West London. A
190m-long box is being built at Royal Oak from where tunnelling will start
in 2011. Work is also underway at Paddington, Tottenham Court Road,
Farringdon and Canary Wharf.
London ELL
Transport for London is expected to reveal soon which of four companies
has been awarded the contract to design the 1422yd link from Silwood
Junction to Old Kent Road Junction. This is an essential part of the
project to extend the East London line from Surrey Quays to Clapham
Junction.
Kenilworth Station (via Nigel Callaghan)
The current Railway Herald reports that Warwickshire County Council has
agreed to the purchase of land, which is crucial to the development of a
new station at Kenilworth. It is hoped that the station on the Leamington
Spa to Coventry route will be open by late 2012. The John Laing company
is working with the Council, and has previously undertaken a similar role
to deliver the schemes at Coleshill Parkway and Warwick Parkway stations.
Cliff Railways
In Hastings, East Hill Lift, the country's steepest operational funicular,
will reopen on 27th March 2010. Hastings Borough Council has spent
350,000 on upgrading following an accident in 2007. In Folkestone the
Lees Cliff Lift closed in 2009.
Blackpool Trams
A new study, funded by the European Parliament, is looking at possible
extensions of the modernised tramway to Blackpool Airport and Blackpool
North station. An extension to the airport would presumably also serve
Squires Gate station.
Tyne & Wear Metro
The long-awaited renovation of the grade II listed Tynemouth station has
suffered a setback. North Tyneside Council has refused planning permission
for a supermarket on the site but it looks as though restoration of the
ornate iron canopies can go ahead as 3m has been secured from the
Government and English Heritage.
Glasgow
Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde University are considering 'freight
trams' in the city centre to serve local businesses in pedestrianised
areas.
Eurostar
The shared management of the Eurostar Company by London & Continental,
SNCF and SNCB is to end. A new, single entity, Eurostar Company will be
formed on 5th April 2010.
Kenya-Uganda
Kenya and Uganda expect speeds to treble and ten times more freight will
be carried on the new standard gauge line linking Kenya's Mombasa port to
Uganda's capital Kampala via Nairobi. Due to open in 2013 the new railway
is meant to supplement an existing metre gauge line which was built by the
British at the turn of the previous century.
http://tinyurl.com/ycz2a5j
India
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is building the longest yet span
for a Metro bridge, passing over an operating railway line near Okhla in
the city, DMRC officials said.
http://tinyurl.com/y8rxweh
China
Work started on the 820-mile high speed line between Beijing and Shanghai
via Jinan, Xuxhou and Nanjing in April 2008, and it is expected to be in
service by 2012.
http://www.chinaknowledge.com/Newswires/News_Detail.aspx?type=1&NewsID=31766
In northwestern Xinjiang Uygur province work started on 3rd March 2010 on
a freight line between Hami City and Lop Nur, a former lake known as the
"Sea of Death". The 230-mile line will provide a faster route to
transport Lop Nur's rich potassium salt, is expected to take two years to
complete, and includes a bridge at Hami City 3,220yd long.
http://tinyurl.com/yk6bvm2
============
And finally... British Pathe Corner...
Steam locos being scrapped in 1938:
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=14186
============
IN THE NEWS
Driver dies in level crossing crash in Wokingham:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8553349.stm
Network Rail request level crossing questions in driving test:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8559121.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8558273.stm
http://tinyurl.com/yewnzxr
HS2 details:
http://tinyurl.com/yechuav
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8561286.stm
HS2 maps:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/route/
West Highland line reopened after avalanches:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8557178.stm
Tracks laid for controversial Airdrie to Bathgate route:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8556255.stm
NRM reveals extent of Flying Scotsman restoration:
http://tinyurl.com/yeljvtg
Mallard to leave York?s railway museum after 35 years:
http://tinyurl.com/ygsgwma
Glounthaune-Midleton railway:
http://www.irishrail.ie/projects/glounthaune_midleton_railway.asp
Eurostar services between Brussels and the UK resume:
http://tinyurl.com/yzd962s
Royal Exhibition at the Dutch Railway Museum:
http://tinyurl.com/y8hlreb
Accident and fire at Tehachapi spiral near Los Angeles:
http://tinyurl.com/yeqwj4l
King's Cross to Beijing in two days:
http://tinyurl.com/yko2tym
Fleetwood's tram festival cancelled:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8557254.stm
Delays to Edinburgh tram project:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8560788.stm
Activist trying to keep Melbourne's W class trams rolling:
http://tinyurl.com/yboxd7b
Crane falls over in Southampton Docks:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8554176.stm
Fatal bus collision in County Durham:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/8548262.stm
How to scrap an airliner:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8542482.stm
(See also Channel Five, 13/03/10 below)
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Ralph Rawlinson
TV and RADIO
13/03/10 Five 1200-1305
"Megastructures: 747 Demolition"
13/03/10 BBC4 1900-1910
"John Betjeman Goes by Train" Norfolk in 1962 (BTF)
13/03/10 BBC4 2010-2105
"Monsoon Railway" Indian railways in the monsoon season 1/2
14/03/10 BBC2 1810-1900
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" Keck Observatory
14/03/10 BBC4 1900-1910
"Service for Southend" Southend Electrification (BTF)
14/03/10 BBC1 2225-2255
"Great British Railway Journeys" Portillo in Yorkshire
15/03/10 Five 1930-2000
"Building the Ultimate" Commercial passenger jet
16/03/10 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"A Brief History of Double-Entry Book-Keeping" Railway mania
16/03/10 BBC2 2100-2200
"Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds" Faster than the eye
17/03/10 BBC2 2000-2100
"Coast" Aberystwyth to the Wirral
18/03/10 C4 2000-2100
"Country House Rescue" Carnfield Hall, Derbyshire
19/03/10 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Liverpool to Carlisle
19/03/10 Five 1930-2000
"Building the Ultimate" Aircraft carrier
EVENTS
For up-to-date information on many of the tours mentioned in Raildate (and
others) often with timings, see the Steam Tours pages at:
http://www.uksteam.info/index.shtml and also
http://railwayherald.co.uk/railtours/
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.
12/03/10- North Norfolk Railway: Celebration Steam Gala
13/03/10
http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/
13/03/10 Portsmouth Model Railway Show
Admiral Lord Nelson School, Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, PO3 5XT
1030-1630
http://www.shmrc.org.uk
13/03/10- Basingstoke & North Hants MRS Annual Exhibition
14/03/10 Aldworth Science College, Western Way, Basingstoke, RG22 6HA
HPMRS member Derek Gillkerson will be attending with "New"
Stanton Lees
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
Adult: 5, Child/Senior: 4, Family: 14
http://bnhmrs.hampshire.org.uk
13/03/10- Swanage Railway: Railway at Work Weekend
14/03/10
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
14/03/10 Mid-Hants Railway: Mother's Day
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/
14/03/10 Talyllyn Railway: Mothering Sunday
http://www.West-Somerset-Railway.co.uk
20/03/10 Transport Collectors' Market
Chiswick Town Hall
20/03/10- Kent & East Sussex Railway: Branch Line Weekend
21/03/10
http://www.kesr.org.uk
20/03/10- West Somerset Railway: GWR 175 The Standard Era (1)
21/03/10
http://www.svr.co.uk
20/03/10- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Railcar Gala Weekend
21/03/10
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
21/03/10 Talyllyn RPS Model Railway Exhibition
Ferneham Hall, Fareham
HPMRS member Derek Gillkerson will be attending with Zwiesboden
1000-1630
24/03/10 100 Years of Flying in South Hampshire
Lecture: The Flight of the Vulture 1924 by Vanessa Ascough
Lecture Theatre, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LP
(Use Art Gallery/Library entrance by fountain)
Starts: 1900
http://www.centenary-of-flight.co.uk
25/03/10- West Somerset Railway: GWR 175 The Standard Era (2)
28/03/10
http://www.West-Somerset-Railway.co.uk
27/03/10 Mid-Hants Railway Real Ale Train (RAT)
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/rat.htm
27/03/10- Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Spring Diesel Gala
28/03/10
http://www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk
27/03/10- Wimbledon Charity Model Railway Exhibition
28/03/10 Merton Abbey Primary School, High Path, Merton, South
Wimbledon, SW19 2JY
1030-1700 (Sat), 1030-1600 (Sun)
27/03/10- Nailsea & District MRC Model Railway Exhibition
28/03/10 Prince Hall & Community Centre, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 7SZ
1030-1730 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
Cheers, Howard.
editor (at) raildate.co.uk (spam-proofed)
Previous issues of Raildate are at:
http://www.raildate.net
This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in
previous editions of Raildate.
(C) Howard Sprenger and Hursley Park Model Railway Society 2010.
The external edition of Raildate may be freely distributed without
permission as long as no changes whatsoever are made to the original
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edition here:
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