RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
NETWATCH
============
Cornwall's Lost Railways:
http://cornwallslostrailways.fotopic.net/
Photographs by Keith Sanders:
http://fullsun.webplus.net
Roger Norfolk's Railway Photo Gallery:
http://rogernorfolkphotos.fotopic.net/
The Time Capsules photo web site, owned and run by Marcel, based in
Cromarty, Scotland:
http://www.time-capsules.co.uk/
============
On BBC4 at the weekend, there was a documentary on Sister Rosetta Tharpe -
"The Godmother of Rock & Roll" - a fascinating programme, but never more
so than when we got to her visit to the UK in 1964. Granada TV made a
programme that included her and several fellow blues and gospel performers
(including Muddy Waters and Otis Spann) giving a concert on the platform
of the disused Wilbraham Road station - renamed "Chorltonville" for the
occasion.
Called "The Blues and Gospel Train", the audience was delivered to the
venue by a special train from Manchester Central hauled by Ivatt Class 2MT
2-6-0 fitted with a cowcatcher, headlamp and other accoutrements to make
it look like a American steam loco. The audience sat on the opposite
platform to where the performance was taking place.
There are some details of the event on the Disused Stations record for the
station:
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/wilbraham_road/
This includes a link to a short film of the proceedings (incorrectly dated
1963 - it was actually 7th May 1964):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2PdsnJCuko
This is a slightly different edit of the original footage to that shown on
the BBC 4 programme, and fails to include a good view of the locomotive.
To see it in its full glory, you can watch the programme on iPlayer for
the next 2 days (the railway sequence starts around 47 minutes in):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xf8k7
Totally bizarre, and I'm amazed that BR let the loco out in that state,
even if it was travelling over the little-used Fallowfield loop line!
============
Videos...
Blackfriars station redevelopment video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjwcbnHPCGY
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
East Midlands steam fans support heritage railways:
http://tinyurl.com/64jt7fg
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
A host of photos and videos here:
http://railwayworld.ning.com/
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
The Museum of all the American Railroad Train Whistles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7DNkZtG1I
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London
The capital's first skyscraper and former London Transport HQ, 55 Broadway
(once the tallest building in the capital but now dwarfed by its
neighbours) has been honoured by the government with a rare Grade I
listing.
http://tinyurl.com/5rsmnov
Gloucestershire/Warwickshire Railway
The G/WR has announced an April 2011 opening for its two mile extension
north to the reopened halt at Laverton, providing a 12-mile run to
Cheltenham Racecourse.
Lincolnshire
In order to permit loco haulage between Boston and Skegness Network Rail
plan to upgrade the line. This will involve bus replacement of passenger
services at weekends and early morning/late evening trains Monday-Friday
probably February to early summer 2011.
Lincoln
Plans could be submitted early in 2011 for a new east-west road that would
divert road traffic away from the bottleneck station level crossing and
enable High Street to be pedestrianised.
http://tinyurl.com/6d56hf2
M&GN Little Bytham - Sutton Bridge
Moulton station on the Midland & Great Northern east of Spalding has been
modernised and extended since it closure in 1959 and is now is on the
market for 550,000.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Moulton-17661.html
Staffordshire
Network Rail is ready to let the contract for the 700,000 refurbishment
of Burton-upon-Trent station.
Scarborough
According to the Scarborough Cliff Railways site, the town has five, three
of which South Cliff, Central Tramway and St Nicholas Cliff are open,
whilst North Cliff and Queen's Parade are closed. St Nicholas Cliff has,
however, been out of use for four years and the town council now say they
may have to sell it as they cannot afford the repairs which have spiralled
in that time from 93,000 to 630,000!
http://tinyurl.com/5r97uyh
http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/scar.htm
County Durham
Durham County Council has approved further investigation into a new
station on the Coast line between Sunderland and Hartlepool. It will be
known as Sea View South and located next to an industrial estate at
Horden, 12 miles south of Sunderland.
http://tinyurl.com/5tg6q68
Glasgow
The long awaited revamp of Glasgow Queen Street station is now out to
tender.
http://news.scotsman.com/glasgow/Latest-plans-for-city-railway.6661029.jp
Belfast & County Down Railway
Volunteers sprucing up the Comber Greenway NCN99, which runs seven miles
from inner east Belfast to Comber, have unearthed the platform at Knock
station:
http://tinyurl.com/45tm3ej
Norway
Scenic train journeys in Norway.
http://www.suite101.com/content/scenic-train-journeys-in-norway-a330698
Armenia
The Russian run South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has retimed some of its
passenger trains.
http://www.arka.am/eng/energy/2011/01/10/23342.html
United Arab Emirates
Union Railway (UR), set up in 2009 to spearhead plans for a 1500km network
across all seven emirates, is hoping that the freight and passenger
network will start its first complete service in 2017. Eventually, the
system will connect the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat city in the West
and Oman via Al Ain in the East.
http://tinyurl.com/6aaowjr
USA
According to the California High Speed Rail Blog, Japan's Ambassador to
the United States has offered to put up half the money for California HSR.
http://tinyurl.com/68wy7uc
============
IN THE NEWS
Kings Cross upgrade on show:
http://tinyurl.com/6h729up
Thieves take 70 tonnes of track near Doncaster:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-12192442
Castleford railways targeted in cable theft crackdown:
http://tinyurl.com/6edevzx
"Scorched earth" jibe over rail track tree clearing:
http://tinyurl.com/6dmu4d8
Railways told to improve services amid snow chaos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12207804
Ryde Pier Head rebuilding pictures:
http://patrickoneill204.fotopic.net/c1934094.html
http://denismcmahon.fotopic.net/c1934274.html
DB Schenker to create a new fleet of super 60 locomotives:
http://tinyurl.com/5rorsop
The Marylebone of the Midlands:
http://www.railstaff.co.uk/FeaturedArticles/railengineer/view/139
Ryde St Johns Signal box has received some TLC:
http://patrickoneill204.fotopic.net/p68767887.html
Unearthing lost stations in Norwich:
http://tinyurl.com/5vgoemg
Rare structure uncovered in Hayle:
http://tinyurl.com/5tkwao8
DLR strike:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12224252
Arriva Trains Wales services to Wrexham:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-12205862
Plans to refurbish Llandudno station:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-12207559
Part of Conwy Valley branch blocked by flooding:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12223677
Fuel price 'threat to heritage railway':
http://tinyurl.com/6cow8xe
Oswestry railway landmark is returned:
http://tinyurl.com/4dvw6zo
60163 Tornado boiler to return to builder for repairs:
http://rail-news.com/2011/01/13/tornados-boiler-to-return-to-germany/
Steam railway suffers another embankment collapse:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-12213505
http://tinyurl.com/4qrgjyj
Mid Hants 31806 restored:
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco/View/375
Didcot Railway Centre aims to buy 50-year lease from Network Rail:
http://tinyurl.com/6eyyrrk
Commuter train plan for Keighley & Worth Valley Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/4qrjqxq
http://tinyurl.com/4q33v7m
Workers at Keighley near the end of overhaul of two iconic engines:
http://tinyurl.com/62ksek6
Work begins on Ffestiniog Railway bridge:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-12215558
De-icing fluid sold to Finnish Railways:
http://rail-news.com/2011/01/18/finlandia-deal-for-kilfrost/
Searchers fail to find sunken locomotive on first try:
http://tinyurl.com/4rs2x5u
Gosport & Fareham bus way:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12232457
Fareham Area Rapid Transit (FART)?
New Blackpool tram design unveiled by council:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-12151400
Record sales for Airbus Industries:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12211040
East Midlands airport investing in snow clearing equipment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12226062
Airline advertises trains:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/TUIfly/Boeing-737-8K5/1852314/L/
China to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12229585
RAF HS125 Dominie trainers withdrawn:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12237425
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, George Moffat, Reg Nerps, Nick
Wheat
TV and RADIO
21/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray
24/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" London Bridge to Chatham
24/01/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Saving falling planes with parachutes
25/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells
25/01/11 BBC2 1900-1930
"Coast" The Irish Sea
25/01/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"The Beauty of Maps" Dutch cartography
25/01/11 BBC4 2000-2030
"Britain by Bike" Lynmouth to Ilfracombe
26/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" Canterbury To Margate
26/01/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"The Boats That Built Britain" The Reaper
26/01/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Golden Age of Coach Travel"
27/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" Sandwich to Folkestone
27/01/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Cowboy hats, diving and airline meals
27/01/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Modern Age of Coach Travel"
28/01/11 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" Hythe to Hastings
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/tours/index.htm
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.
21/01/11 Stephenson Locomotive Society - Talk
"Hush-Hush" by William Brown
Mining Institute, next to Newcastle Central Station
Starts 1900
http://www.stephensonloco.org.uk/SLS_perpet_cal.htm
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/10000.htm
22/01/11 Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating day
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
23/01/11 Bristol 0-Gauge Show
*** A week earlier than previously advertised ***
UWE Exhibition & Conference Centre, Filton Rd, BS34 8QZ
1000-1600
29/01/11- Southampton Model Railway Show
30/01/11 Barton Peveril College, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 5BX
1030-1700 (Sat), 1000-1700 (Sun)
http://www.smrs.hampshire.org.uk
06/02/11 Romsey Signal Box Open Day
Admission free (donations welcome!)
1000-1600
ex-Romsey Infants School, Plaza Parade, Winchester Rd, Romsey
Car park in old school grounds
http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk
19/02/11 Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating day
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
21/02/11 Friends of Cromford Canal - Talk
Ironville Church Hall, Casson St, Ironville, NG16 5NN
"Rails to Ripley" by Howard Sprenger
Starts: 1930
http://www.cromfordcanal.org.uk/
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/ripley.htm
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
Issues of Raildate up to and including 18th December 2009 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
The external edition of Raildate may be freely distributed without
permission as long as no changes whatsoever are made to the original
document distributed by the Editor. You can subscribe to the external
edition here:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RAILDATE/