RAILDATE - your free weekly guide to what's happening, what's new and what's on
Happy New Year!
NETWATCH
The Newbury and District Transport Group welcomes non-members to its meetings, which are held
on the third Friday of each month. Admission is free, as is car parking, although donations
are welcome towards expenses. There is a raffle and refreshments - all are welcome - just turn
up. Meetings run from 7.30 to 10.00pm (approx) - doors open from 7.00pm. The venue is Bayer
House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 1JA. The group is always looking for
speakers on any transport subject, and although they cannot pay accommodation, reasonable
travel expenses will be met.
(Via David Canning
dandmcanning@hotmail.co.uk)
Thanks to George Moffat for details of four ex-Norwegian Cargonet Bi8 Bo-Bos that have been
imported to replace the indigenous GEC locos at Lackenby works. On 20th December, at about
0800, the four locomotives were towed from Teesport to SSI UK Lackenby works, topped and tailed
by GEC shunters. Some GECs will be retained for PW and light shunting duties, but the others
have been cannibalised, and will be melted down on site. The Bo-Bos will be used on the main
line hauling "Torpedoes" from the Redcar blast furnace to the Lackenby continuous caster, and
are painted in Cargonet's all-over yellow livery with red cabs with a "1" and "2" to identify
each end. The numbers of the first four are: 8.712, 8.716, 8.719 and 8.720, and George advises
that another six are due to arrive shortly. Details of the locos are available here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSB_Di_8
Railway Magazine reports that the Weymouth quay rails are to be infilled with a removable
compound. Dorset County Council proposes to use a mixture of sand and tar, capped with sealant
at a cost of 35,000. The work, approved by Network Rail following complaints from cyclists,
will see the rails disappear for just under a mile between the platform ramp of Quay station
and Westham Road. Lines in the Quay station and the non-tramway sections will remain
untouched. NR has told the council that it will propose permanent closure of the mothballed
branch towards the end of 2012. Its first attempt in 2010 was objected to by Freightliner.
The last train ran over the tramway in 1999.
A recent video of Whittingham station, Northumberland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc9Y7VO2ej4
(Spotter: Tom Baldwin)
More of Rick Eborall's photos of Severn Valley Railway Santa Specials:
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p869109585
And video taken of the SVR Santa Specials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBStBUpknc
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
Lots of trains, buses, planes and ships on Donald Stirling's entertaining SmugMug website:
http://www.donaldstirling.me.uk/
David Kitching's home page includes canals, railways, industrial history and industrial
archaeology of Chechire, and railway photos from around the world, with a section devoted to
Chinese railways:
http://www.brocross.com/
Julian Hunt Local History - covers Buckinghamshire, Worcestershire, Wales and Yorkshire with
some industirlal archaeology and transport-related items:
http://www.julianhuntlocalhistory.co.uk/
Llanastr, B&MR, the story of a Brecon and Methyr layout in Scalefour:
http://llanastr.webs.com/
============
IN THE NEWS
Bombardier handed 188m Southern contract
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-16344487
http://tinyurl.com/d5gghne
The hunt for Britain's ghost trains
http://tinyurl.com/cwpzvjv
Train-switching technology 'poses hacking threat'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16347248
Network Rail's east Kent signalling project to complete
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-16347286
Skegness railway station revamp nears end
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-16092326
New Street station fully reopens after bridge work
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-16352050
York railway station bottleneck solved by 9.5m operation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-16338195
Wind delays Doncaster East Coast Main Line road bridge work
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-16332322
New bridge for Tees railway users
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-16326688
Extra carriages for South West Trains rail services
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16314381
Scrap metal raids: Police seize tonnes of rail cable
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16307310
Metal thefts tackled with North East ID scheme
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16352524
Ticket inspector stabbed on C2C train from Southend to London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16229921
In pictures: Graffiti artists brighten railway bridges
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15598836
Old railway drawings given to Bath Record Office
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-16315376
Railway stations to improve access with 9.5m funding
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16354848
Sleeper saved - now for the Chieftain
http://tinyurl.com/c5437nz
Network Rail sued over Caithness crossing crash
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-16354142
Demand to close 'high risk' rail crossing
http://tinyurl.com/c33vtbv
Bridging the years when steam was king
http://tinyurl.com/d6shrxt
Calls to restore Cultra Railway Station to former glory
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16224576
Train and lorry collide on level crossing near Whitland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16246123
Whitland train crash: Buses replace trains west of Carmarthen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16260897
Whitland train crash: Arrested lorry driver bailed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16261631
Whitland train crash: Passenger films reaction on mobile
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16256901
Railway line between Derry and Bellarena reopens after ship hits jetty
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16358318
Weardale Railway discontinues community rail service
http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/news_main.htm
Coventry railway museum gets top accolade
http://tinyurl.com/cnjgw9p
Train-hopping couple buried alive under coal
http://tinyurl.com/cn5oz2k
China bullet train crash 'caused by design flaws'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16345592
Swansea bus crash: Pedestrian dies of injuries
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16278497
Free Christmas Day buses in Keighley to stop drink-driving
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15992411
Chesterfield Canal project creates new mooring station in Staveley
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-16316130
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Mike Price
============
TV and RADIO
30/12/11 BBC2 2245-0025
"Transsiberian" Thriller set on the Trans-Siberian Express (2008)
02/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" New series starts in Great Yarmouth
02/01/12 BBC4 1900-1930
"Railway Walks" Julia Bradbury walks the Monsal Trail
02/01/12 BBC4 1930-2030
"Indian Hill Railways" 1/3 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
02/01/12 BBC4 2330-0030
"Indian Hill Railways" 1/3 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
03/01/12 Channel 5 1800-1855
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks, Trailers and Tinsel" Christmas special
03/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 2/25 Darsham to Felixstowe
03/01/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Climbing Great Buildings" Durham Cathedral
03/01/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Golden Age of Liners" 1/3
04/01/12 Channel 5 1800-1855
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers" Series 2 - 6/8
04/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 3/25 Sudbury to Southend
04/01/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Climbing Great Buildings" Lincoln Cathedral
04/01/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Great British Outdoors" Carry on camping...
04/01/12 BBC4 2100-2200
"Time Shift: The Smoking Years" A history of tobacco use
05/01/12 Channel 5 1800-1855
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers" Series 2 - 7/8
05/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 4/25 Epping to Hackney
05/01/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Climbing Great Buildings" Caernarfon Castle
06/01/12 Channel 5 1800-1855
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers" Series 2 - 84/8
06/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 4/25 Fenchurch to Embankment
============
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
30/01/12- Bodmin & Wenford Railway Steam Up
31/01/12
http://www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk
01/01/12 Friends of King Alfred Buses Winchester Running Day
http://www.fokab.org.uk
01/01/12 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: New Year Trains and Fizz
http://www.e-v-r.com
01/01/12- Isle of Wight Steam Railway: New Year "Hangover" Specials
02/01/12
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/
06/01/12 Burton upon Trent and District Engineering Society: tALK
Burton & South Derbys College, Lichfield Street, Burton, DE14 3RL
"Tilting Trains - more or less" by David Greenway CEng, FIMechE
Starts 1930
07/01/12 Marlow, Maidenhead and District Model Railway Club Exhibition
Cox Green Community Centre, 51 Highfield Lane, Maidenhead
http://www.mmdmrc.org.uk/
07/01/12- Orpington & District MRS Model Railway Exhibition
08/01/12 Pratts Bottom Village Hall, Norsted Lane, Pratts Bottom, Orpington, Kent
1000-1700 both days
14/01/12 Bridport and District MRS Model Railway Exhibition
Beaminister Town Hall, Fleet Street, Beaminister, Dorset, DT8 3EF
14/01/12 Gorleston-on-Sea Model Railway Exhibition
Cliff Park Junior School, Orde Avenue, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth
14/01/12 Railway/Bus Collectors Fair
Pudsey Civic Hall, Leeds
1000-1500
14/01/12- Bognor Regis MRC Model Railway Exhibition
15/01/12 Felpham Community College, Felpham Way, Bognor Regis, PO22 8EL
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1630 (Sun)
http://www.brmrc.co.uk/
14/01/12- St Albans Model Railway Exhibition
15/01/12 The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans
1000-1800 (Sat), 1000-1700 (Sun)
http://www.cmra.org.uk/
16/01/12 Friends of Cromford Canal - Talk
Ironville Church Hall, Casson St, Ironville, NG16 5NN
The trade on the Cromford Canal before the Railway Age by Philip Riden
Starts: 1930
http://www.cromfordcanal.info
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
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This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in previous editions of
Raildate.
(C) Howard Sprenger 2011.