HPMRS Raildate 24 Sep 04

News

RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society: http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/

CALENDAR NEWS

Rod Blakeman is offering the Southdown Railway Company's 2005 calendar at £2.00 per copy. It is a wall-hanging A4 calandar with a page per month depicting Southdown Railway scenes and space for your appointments. A sample can be viewed in A3201. Orders being taken by Rod in that office. (Phone: 248274)

NETWATCH

Nick Wheat spotted these interesting "might have beens" - you can even vote for your favourites:

http://www.adamsphotos.fotopic.net/c250573.html

The Bennie Monorail, near Glasgow:

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_bennie.htm

http://www.gearwheelsmag.co.uk/archive/the_bennie_railplane_feature_13.htm

A website has been launched to for the appeal to save former Class 48 - 47114 (D1702). This loco when built as D1702 in 1965 was the original of five prototype class 48 locomotives installed with the French built Sulzer V12 engine (the forerunner of the Sulzer 16LVA24 as fitted to Kestrel). D1702 was re-engined with a standard twin bank Sulzer engine in 1969. As we have lost in the past Lion, Kestrel, DP2 and Falcon, it would be a pity to see this locomotive currentlly for sale scrapped.

We would like to appeal for anyone who would be interested in saving this loco, with a long term view of obtaining a Sulzer 12LVA24 engine from France and restoring it as a class 48. This would be a mammoth undertaking, but it would also result in a unique locomotive which is already in a better state than some of the Barry steam wrecks! This is a project in its very early stages and anyone interested or has similar aims should email us.

We would also like to appeal for anyone who has information on the conversion of D1702-06, that was undertaken in Crewe works between 1968-71, and also on the SNCF 68000's, and SNCF 468000's class of locomotives, which had the same engine. We would also be interested in any information of D1702-06 in traffic as class 48's and how they performed.

More details can be found on our website:

http://www.alextrack.co.uk/D1702/

Information on Class 47s (and the class 48s):

http://www.class47.com

The 12LVA is still in use on the SNCF - there is some info up on the 68000 series at:

http://www.derbysulzers.com/sncf68000.html

Satellite pictures of the Majorcan Railways (unfortunately in Mallorcan or Catalan):

http://www.trensdemallorca.com/aeri/menu.htm

There is a new discussion group for modelling experts and collectors of Grafar, Farish, and British Minitrix. If you would like to join go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/farish_grafar_trix/

IN THE NEWS

Tilting train breaks speed record: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3671680.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3674574.stm

End of line for cheap day fares: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3668470.stm

Trains on time rise by just 0.2% http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3683354.stm

First Great Western punctuality improves: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3683326.stm

Fire damages Kilburn High Road station: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3668440.stm

Number killed on railways falls: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3676502.stm

Rail level crossings discouraged: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3673526.stm

Reasons to be a cheerful commuter: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3679996.stm

Blow to Penrith-Keswick project: http://www.glebecrescent.freeserve.co.uk/LATESTNEWS.HTM

TV and Radio

Events

See Mainline Steam Tours page for up-to-date info on many of these tours, and others, often with timings.