RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society: http://steam.to/hpmrs
Note: Temporarily disabled, please use: http://213.232.93.59/ss/hpmrs/
Harvey Saunders begs to differ on the subject of the term "Gricing":
Sir!
The origin of this term, as I understand it, is rather older than your other correspondent suggested: In the early 1840s, a Mr Gricer wrote a letter to The Times in which he mentioned that he had noticed that the, say, 12:15 from Paddington to Bath, had been pulled by the same locomotive, say 'Excalibur', on every recent occasion on which he had used that train. He asked if this was a coincidence and had other readers noticed similar phenomena. There followed more and more similar letters - concluding with a grumpy one complaining about Gricer's people clogging the correspondence column with trivial observations.
So, Mr Gricer was the first train spotter.
(Unless you know different ...Ed)
A website detailing withdrawn and stored locomotives:
Lots of useful information at The RailwayCentre.com:
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/index.html
Secretary of State Alistair Darling announced a major review of the structure of Britain's railway on 19th January. The review will focus on: the structural and organisational changes needed to improve overall rail performance for its customers; the progress being made by increased investment with clear lines of accountability and responsibility; and the regulation of safety. To contribute go to:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railw ays_027343.hcsp
You bored the Channel Tunnel, and now you're boring me. For sale - Channel Tunnel boring machine - get your bids in here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3284949854&category=41 3
The Newcomen Society is organising the following events:
9th June: Visit to Tower Bridge - Behind the Scenes
22nd-24th October: A weekend on Helicopters at Yeovil with a visit to HMS Heron Naval Air Station and a visit to AugustaWestlands, with lectures on the Saturday and a visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum on the Sunday.
The tours are open to all - details from David Worth: dave@railway42.fsnet.co.uk
In case anyone was planning to go to Didcot this weekend, GWR Diesel Railcar Number 22 will not be operating as planned due to a difficulty getting replacement engine parts. It should however be operating Spring Bank Holiday Weekend Sat 29th May to Mon 31st May.
Thames Trains £2m fine: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3602379.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3600465.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3602303.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3604515.stm
Rail safety system faces delays: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3610311.stm
Rail disruption over Easter: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3610079.stm
Rail union considers strike vote: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3607129.stm
Newquay branch crossing accident: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3605183.stm
GNER equips trains with high speed Internet access: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3607357.stm
New trains for Northern Ireland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3599089.stm
Flying Scotsman to stay in the UK: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3599427.stm
| Sat Apr 10 | 1130-1200 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Sat Apr 10 | 1830-1900 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Sun Apr 11 | 0900-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' The whole series |
| Sun Apr 11 | 1400-1900 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' The whole series |
| Sun Apr 11 | 2000-2100 | Discovery 'Queen Mary 2' A look at the new liner |
| Sun Apr 11 | 1900-2000 | BBC1 'Brilliantly British' Josiah Wedgwood |
| Mon Apr 12 | 0400-0500 | Discovery 'Queen Mary 2' A look at the new liner |
| Mon Apr 12 | 1000-1030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Mon Apr 12 | 1330-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Mon Apr 12 | 1400-1430 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Steam pumping engines |
| Mon Apr 12 | 1830-1930 | BBC1 'The Legend of the Tamworth Two' Some railway scenes |
| Mon Apr 12 | 1930-2000 | Five 'Demolition Squad' A Birmingham tower block |
| Mon Apr 12 | 2000-2030 | Five 'Building the Ultimate...' Tank |
| Mon Apr 12 | 2000-2030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Mon Apr 12 | 2030-2100 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Steam pumping engines |
| Tue Apr 13 | 1000-1030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Tue Apr 13 | 1250-1305 | BBC2 'Big Screen Britain' The Dambusters |
| Tue Apr 13 | 1330-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Tue Apr 13 | 1400-1430 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Marine engines |
| Tue Apr 13 | 2000-2030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Tue Apr 13 | 2030-2100 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Marine engines |
| Wed Apr 14 | 0400-0500 | Discovery 'Salvage Squad' |
| Wed Apr 14 | 1000-1030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Wed Apr 14 | 1330-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Wed Apr 14 | 1400-1430 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Giant Trucks |
| Wed Apr 14 | 2000-2030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Wed Apr 14 | 2030-2100 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Giant Trucks |
| Wed Apr 14 | 2200-2300 | Discovery 'Salvage Squad' Restoring a Centurian tank |
| Thu Apr 15 | 1000-1030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 1330-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 1400-1430 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Airships |
| Thu Apr 15 | 1930-2000 | ITV1 West 'Brunel - the Little Giant' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 1930-2000 | ITV1 West Country 'Brunel - the Little Giant' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 2000-2030 | BBC2 'Landscape Mysteries - In Search of Irish Gold' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 2000-2030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Thu Apr 15 | 2030-2100 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Airships |
| Fri Apr 16 | 1000-1030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Fri Apr 16 | 1330-1400 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Fri Apr 16 | 1400-1430 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Steam trains |
| Fri Apr 16 | 2000-2030 | Discovery 'Mark Williams on the Rails' |
| Fri Apr 16 | 2030-2100 | Discovery 'Chris Barrie's Massive Engines' Steam trains |
See Mainline Steam Tours page for up-to-date info on many of these tours, and others, often with timings.
| 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 | ||
| All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is taken for inaccuracies or changes. | ||
| Mon Apr 05 - Fri Apr 16 | ? | Great Central Railway: Easter Daily Running http://www.gcrailway.co.uk |
| Wed Apr 07 | ? |
Main Line Steam - Cathedrals Express
Canterbury and return mailto:info@steamdreams.co.uk http://www.steamdreams.co.uk |
| Fri Apr 09 | ? | Swanage Railway: Hot Cross Bun Specials http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk |
| Fri Apr 09 | ? |
Pendon Museum
Madder Valley Railway in operation http://www.pendonmuseum.com |
| Fri Apr 09 - Sun Apr 18 | ? | Mid-Hants Railway: Day out with Thomas http://www.watercressline.co.uk |
| Fri Apr 09 - Mon Apr 12 | ? |
Dean Forest Railway: Easter Services
Includes an Easter Bunny Hunt http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 10 - Mon Apr 12 | ? | Swanage Railway: Easter Specials http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 10 - Mon Apr 12 | ? | Great Central Railway: Classic Vehicle Rally http://www.gcrailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 10 - Mon Apr 12 | 1000-1700 |
42nd York Model Railway Show
New Knavesmire Stand, York Racecourse 1000-1700 each day http://www.yorkshow.freeserve.co.uk |
| Thu Apr 15 - Sun Apr 18 | ? | Dean Forest Railway: Day Out With Thomas http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 17 | 1400 |
Paddington Films present British Transport Films
Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael's Place, Bath Street, Bath Mail on Rail: LMS Events of 1938, Letter for Wales (1960), Night Mail (1936), Newspaper Train (1942), Thirty Million Letters (1963) commencing at 1400 |
| Sat Apr 17 - Sun Apr 18 | 1000-1700(Sat) 1000-1630(Sun) |
Crawley Model Railway Society Model Railway Exhibition
Tanbridge House School, Guildford Road (A281), Horsham 1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1630 (Sun) http://www.crawleymrs.org.uk |
| Sat Apr 17 - Sun Apr 18 | ? |
50th Brighton Coach Rally
Madeira Drive, Brighton |
| Sat Apr 17 - Sun Apr 18 | 1000-1700(Sat) 1000-1630(Sun) |
Heathcote O Gauge Society - Model Railway Show
Humphrey Perkins High School, Cotes Road, Barrow-upon-Soar Nr Loughborough, Leicestershire Includes LNWR Society Open Day on the Saturday 1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1630 (Sun) |
| Sat Apr 17 - Sun Apr 18 | 1000-1800(Sat) 1000-1700(Sun) |
Macclesfield Model Railway Show
Ryles Park School, Ryles Park Road, Macclesfield 1000-1800 (Sat), 1000-1700 (Sun) |
| Sun Apr 18 | 1430 |
Rob Foxon's 'Railways Remembered' Archive Film Show
Phoenix Arts, Leicester New West Coast Main Line Show starts at 1430 Further information: http://www.britishtransportfilms.co.uk |
| Wed Apr 21 | 1400-1730 |
The Institute of Railway Studies & Transport History, York
Railway Research Workshops 2003-04 The railway problem in post-war Britain Charles Loft (Huddersfield) 'Whitehall and the railway problem 1951-63' Gerald Crompton (UKC) 'Network Rail - forwards or backward? Not-for-profit in British transport' 1400-1730 All welcome - refreshments will be served NRM car-parking charges apply except for registered disabled |
| Sat Apr 24 - Sun Apr 25 | ? |
Dean Forest Railway: 1940s Re-enactment Weekend
Live battle each day, military vehicle displays http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 24 - Sun Apr 25 | 1000-1800(Sat) 1000-1700(Sun) |
Sutton Coldfield MRS Model Railway Exhibition
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Lichfield Rd, Sutton Coldfield 1000-1800 (Sat), 1000-1700 (Sun) http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 24 - Sun Apr 25 | ? | Churnet Valley Railway: 1940s Weekend 1940s dance on Saturday evening - pre-booking essential http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 24 - Sun Apr 25 | ? | Dean Forest Railway: Forties Wartime Weekend http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk |
| Sat Apr 24 - Sun Apr 25 | ? |
The Great British Train Show 2004
Brampton, Buffalo, NY http://www.theplatelayers.org/gbts2004.htm |
| Sun Apr 25 | 1000-1530 |
Bluebell Railway: Railway & Toy Collectors Fair
Horsted Keynes station 1000-1530 http://www.tobaz.co.uk/bluebell/carboot.htm |
| Sun Apr 25 | ? | Isle of Wight Bus Museum Bus Running Day |
| Sun Apr 25 | 1030-1700 |
Stowmarket Model Railway Club Exhibition
Leisure Centre, Gainsporough Road, Stowmarket 1030-1700 http://www.stowrailclub.org.uk |
| Cheers, Howard. editor@raildate.co.uk | ||