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BOOK NEWS
Beckton’s Railways and Locomotives by Dave Marden
Those who lived in the era when town gas was produced in local gasworks will remember them as
devilishly grim and grimy places, covered in a film of coal dust and emitting pungent odours.
But, to enthusiasts of industrial railways, they were sheer heaven. Many had their own private
lines for transporting coal for the process of extracting gas from it, and some had both
standard- and narrow-gauge systems. In general, gasworks ceased production in the mid- to
late-1960s, when natural gas from the North Sea began to be pumped ashore and distributed
around the national network.
There can be few railway enthusiasts who have not heard of Beckton gasworks, as it was the
biggest in Europe with a huge internal railway operated by numerous and distinctive cut-down
locomotives running throughout both the gasworks and the adjacent products factory. Beckton’s
railways lasted for a century, during which time around a hundred locomotives came and went,
working ceaselessly around the clock to provide heat and energy for London.
Beckton’s railway system and its locomotives are all covered in the book, as are details of the
neighbouring outfall and sewage works that had its own railway, and saw a host of contractor’s
engines that were engaged there over the years. Beckton’s Railways and Locomotives gives a
marvellous insight to this fascinating aspect of London’s industrial past.
Uniform with London’s Dock Railways Part 1 and London’s Dock Railways Part 2
Softback: 136 pages with 160 photographs and maps
ISBN: 978-1-905505-38-8
£17.95 post free from the publisher
Kestrel Railway Books
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk
NETWATCH
Weird workplaces: Working on a refurbished Tube train
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34073082
Train travel is steaming back into its romantic past
http://tinyurl.com/ovvb3jq
Track to the future
http://www.railengineer.uk/2015/09/01/track-to-the-future/
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
The Severn Valley Railway 1940s Weekends - 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcyIS4Vm6-Y
'An Afternoon Around Highley', 29th August 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_7A623GJBQ
A Visit to Dartmouth Railway 17th August 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIBV_sQSca4
The Gulflander Normanton North Queensland
https://vimeo.com/135932956
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
New videos of Nottingham Trams from Martin Miller
Toton Lane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7uDKK9SM3s
Toton Lane Low Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0sE5wN2_9c
Pictures from Thunder in the Glens
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34106106
Philippine bomber in WWII colours
http://www.avtimes.net/news/323382581.html
P-51 Mustang Precious Metal high-power engine run, 28th August
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=96&v=noinWeUHgDk
Ghosts of shipwrecked sailors haunt Westcountry coast
http://tinyurl.com/ot95dkd
(Spotter: Alan Rushworth)
The Yorkshire Moors as seen from the cockpit of the last remaining Vulcan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITc2pB97mRA
20th-Century Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Power Generation - free download from Historic
England
http://tinyurl.com/pyes364
============
IN THE NEWS
End of the line for Elizabeth!
http://www.railengineer.uk/2015/08/27/end-of-the-line-for-elizabeth/
'Momentous occasion' as Intercity Express factory opens
http://tinyurl.com/nwcxk8z
RMT warns of more Great Western industrial action
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2015/09/01-rmt-warns-of-more-great.html
First Great Western bank holiday strike: Busy trains and cancellations
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34094375
Engineering restrictions may be eased by new Network Rail units
http://tinyurl.com/pmcktx5
Petition launched to restore Peak rail line
http://tinyurl.com/ppryaru
Merseytravel puts forward proposal for new trains
http://tinyurl.com/nkjh3vx
Liverpool city centre set for new railway station
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-city-centre-set-new-9968215
First Hull Trains to buy new bi-mode trains
http://tinyurl.com/povvztj
Borders Railway complete
http://www.railengineer.uk/2015/08/27/borders-railway-complete/
What is the best way to mark the new Borders Railway?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34140039
Borders Railway Prospectus
http://www.bordersrailwayprospectus.com/
Giant chocolate train made to mark Borders Railway opening
http://tinyurl.com/peyg67c
New £1.5m scheme to rejuvenate ScotRail stations
http://tinyurl.com/qj9zlf5
ScotRail reveals new-look trains with better seats and power sockets
http://tinyurl.com/pcoxtad
http://tinyurl.com/nhalcka
Scottish boost for High Speed Rail
http://tinyurl.com/o3vsvsx
Sleeper train drivers perfect smoother driving
http://tinyurl.com/n9p5uvm
The Railway Atlas of Scotland - Two Hundred Years of History in Maps
http://www.birlinn.co.uk/Railway-Atlas-of-Scotland.html
Fundraising bid to move historic Griffithstown railway station
http://tinyurl.com/qejz7vu
London Underground completes Victoria line upgrade
http://tinyurl.com/oeoavxa
Tornado goes down a storm at Nene Valley Railway
http://tinyurl.com/p3yufhm
New Whitby platform to capitalise on railway success
http://tinyurl.com/osy78dw
Train buffs call for enthusiast to buy £425,000 house so they can run steam train through
garden
http://tinyurl.com/nvkpbbo
Launceston Steam Railway robbed at knifepoint
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-34105971
Fresh migrant breakthroughs affect Channel Tunnel
http://tinyurl.com/qdl8chg
What is the world's least-busy railway?
http://tinyurl.com/nau5ump
Journo 'tests' French rail security with fake gun
http://www.thelocal.fr/20150827/journalist-tests-french-train-security-with-fake-gun
Security to be beefed up at Dutch stations, on international trains
http://tinyurl.com/nue8lc5
Swiss resort launches special train for Chinese tourists due to 'cultural differences'
http://tinyurl.com/pjc55gv
Nottingham tram extension: New tramline 'would cost £168m'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34126713
Two passengers trapped as bus hits tree in east London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34095374
Salon Privé luxury car event opens doors to general public
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-34151197
Pembrokeshire toll bridge to be reviewed after complaint
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-34143903
Isle of Wight ferries: Scoot begins regular island service
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-34112900
UK must learn from Shoreham disaster
http://tinyurl.com/qjjgts8
'No abnormalities' with Shoreham jet, interim report finds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-34156681
MH370: Reunion wing debris 'certainly' from missing flight
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34145127
Eclipse UK distributor extends Harrods special edition offer
http://tinyurl.com/oy6qqjb
Jet2 orders 27 737-800s
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/jet2-orders-27-737-800s-416346/
Lockheed Skunk Works designing next-gen U-2 spy plane
http://tinyurl.com/oq4ymhj
Historic World War II-era plane set to fly again
http://tinyurl.com/o7o8vwj
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Ted Millward, Reg Nerps, Mike Price, Alan Rushworth
============
TV and RADIO
05/09/15 Channel 4 1900-2000
"Great Canal Journeys" 4/4 Canal du Nivernais
05/09/15 BBC4 1900-2000
"India's Frontier Railways" 1/3 The Maitree Express
06/09/15 BBC2 1900-2000
"The World's Busiest Railway" 2/4 India
07/09/15 BBC4 1930-2000
"Great Continental Railway Journeys" Russia (1)
07/09/15 BBC4 2000-2100
"Scotland's Home Movies: Memories on Film"
08/09/15 BBC4 1930-2000
"Great Continental Railway Journeys" Russia (2)
08/09/15 BBC4 2000-2030
"Canals: the Making of a Nation" 2/6 Geology
08/09/15 BBC4 2350-0050
"Grand Prix: the Killer Years"
09/09/15 Channel 5 1900-2000
"Super Skyscrapers: Shanghai Tower"
09/09/15 BBC4 1930-2000
"Great Continental Railway Journeys" Rome to Sicily (1)
09/09/15 BBC4 2000-2100
"A303: Highway to the Sun"
09/09/15 BBC4 2100-2200
"Timeshift: A Very British Map - the Ordnance Survey Story"
09/09/15 BBC4 2200-2300
"India's Frontier Railways" 2/3 The last train in Nepal
10/09/15 Channel 5 1900-2000
"Underground Britain" 5/6
============
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes
04/09/15 RCTS Bristol
St Peters Church Hall, Church Road, Filton, BS34 7BX
"B&W Steam South of the Border" by David Kelso
Starts at 1930 (room open from 1900)
At each meeting we ask for a donation of £2 from non-members and £1 from members
A free cup of tea or coffee will be available during the interval, and a large
selection of new and second hand books will be on sale
http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/bristol/events.htm
04/09/15- Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Autumn Steam Gala & Real Ale Festival
06/09/15
http://www.bodminrailway.co.uk
04/09/15- North Norfolk Railway: Summer Steam Spectacular
06/09/15
http://www.nnrailway.co.uk
04/09/15- Great Central Railway: Diesel Gala
06/09/15
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk
05/09/15 Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sunset Specials & Carvery Night
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
05/09/15 Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway: Day Out with Thomas
http://www.steamtrain.co.uk/
05/09/15 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Tunes & Chips Evening Land Cruise (booking essential)
http://www.e-v-r.com
05/09/15- Lynton & Barnstable Railway: Half for the Hospice
06/09/15
http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
05/09/15- Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: Model Weekend (Brake Van Rides)
06/09/15
http://www.rhts.co.uk/
05/09/15- Foxfield Railway: Iron Curtain Vehicle Rally
06/09/15
http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/
05/09/15- Churnet Valley Railway: 1940s Weekend
06/09/15
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
05/09/15- Gauge 0 Guild: Guildex Exhibition 2015 - Telford
06/09/15 International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
http://www.gauge0guild.com/events/events.aspx
06/09/15 Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Morris Minor Rally
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
06/09/15 Twyford Waterworks, Hants: Open Day & Vintage Vehicles
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk
06/09/15 Romsey Signal Box: Grand Reopening
Adult: £2.50 (£3.00 if gift-aided), Child: free
1400-1700
Limited parking - see website for details
Brick Lane, Romsey - use sat-nav SO51 8LGB
http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk
07/09/15 Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society
The Underhill Centre, St John's Road, Hedge End, SO30 4AF
Members' Evening
Starts at 1945
http://www.hias.org.uk/
07/09/15 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch)
The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
“A Grinder to Town (slideshow)” by Martin Bromley
Starts at 1930
For a requested £3 donation on the door, all welcome
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
08/09/15 Great Western Society Bristol Group
Room 7, BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG
"The 2015 PTG Tour of New Zealand" by Dave Winter
1930 for 1945
There is no admission charge, but a donation of at least £2 is appreciated
http://www.gwsbristol.org/gwsmeetings.html
09/09/15 RCTS South Wales
Radyr Methodist Hall, Windsor Road, Radyr, CF15 8BP
"Pot Pourri - over 6 Decades on Gauges Great and Small" by David Walker
Starts at 1930 (room open from 1900)
Non-members are very welcome - a donation of £2.00 is requested
http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/south_wales/events.htm
11/09/15 Barrow Hill Roundhouse: Rick Wakeman & the English Rock Ensemble
http://www.barrowhill.org
http://www.seetickets.com
11/09/15- Swanage Railway: Transport Rally
13/09/15
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
11/09/15- Llangollen Railway: Along Branch Lines & Real Ale Train
13/09/15
http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
11/09/15- Welsh Highland Great & Small II
13/09/15
http://www.festrail.co.uk/
12/09/15 Oxford Bus Museum: Oxford Open Doors - free bus rides around city
http://www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk
12/09/15 Barrow Hill Roundhouse: Paul Carrack
http://www.barrowhill.org
http://www.seetickets.com
12/09/15- Romsey Signal Box: Heritage Open Days
13/09/15 Adult: £2.50 (£3.00 if gift-aided), Child: free
1200-1600
Limited parking - see website for details
Brick Lane, Romsey - use sat-nav SO51 8LGB
http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk
12/09/15- Leighton Buzzard Railway: Steam-up Weekend
13/09/15
http://www.buzzrail.co.uk
12/09/15- International N Gauge Show
13/09/15 Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Fosse Way, Near Leamington Spa, CV31 1XN
http://www.ngaugeshow.co.uk
12/09/15- Great Central Railway: Sci-Fi Weekend
13/09/15
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk
12/09/15- Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity Open Doors Day
13/09/15 The Old Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall, Notts, NG15 7SF
1000-1600 both days
http://nottinghamheritagevehicles728.weebly.com/
12/09/15- Peak Rail: Autumn Shunter Hunter Gala
13/09/15
http://www.peakrail.co.uk
12/09/15- Kirklees Light Railway: Annual Steam & Diesel Gala
13/09/15
http://www.kirkleeslightrailway.com
13/09/15 Gloucester Warwickshire Railway: Classic Vehicle Day
http://www.gwsr.com
13/09/15 Llangollen Railway: Along Branch Lines
http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
13/09/15 Great Central Railway - Nottingham: Sulzer Running Day
http://www.gcrn.co.uk/
15/09/15 Battle of Britain Flypast Day
An estimated 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes and Blenheims will fly from Goodwood
Aerodrome
http://www.battleofbritainday.co.uk/
17/09/15 Monmouthshire Railway Society
Lecture Theatre A10, City Campus, Usk Way, Newport, NP20 2BP
AGM followed by video films with B Foster
Starts at 1900 prompt, admission for non-members is £3 and for members, £2
http://mrsoc.co.uk/
17/09/15- Severn Valley Railway: Autumn Steam Gala
20/09/15
http://www.svr.co.uk
19/09/15- Kempton Steam Museum: Open House London (free entrance, engine not in steam)
20/09/15
http://www.kemptonsteam.org
19/09/15- Epping Ongar Railway: Autumn Diesel Gala
20/09/15
http://www.eorailway.co.uk
19/09/15- Gloucester Warwickshire Railway: Day Out With Thomas
20/09/15
http://www.gwsr.com
19/09/15- Midland Railway, Butterley: Diesel & Steam Weekend
20/09/15
http://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk
19/09/15- Penrhyn Quarry Railway 1965 Event
20/09/15
http://penrhynquarries.webs.com/upcoming-events
19/09/15- North Yorkshire Moors Railway: Sir Nigel Gresley 60007 Farewell Weekend
20/09/15
http://www.nymr.co.uk
20/09/15 Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway: Small Engines Gala
http://www.steamtrain.co.uk/
20/09/15 Foxfield Railway: Heritage Train Day
http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
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Issues of Raildate up to 18th December 2009 are archived at:
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This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in previous editions
(C) Howard Sprenger 2015