HPMRS RAILDATE 26 Jul 06

News

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

Unexpectedly early this week - decided to take off to the west for a long weekend!

BOOK NEWS

"The Great Salisbury Train Disaster Centenary 1906-2006: Voices from the Boat Train" by Jeremy B Moody and George Fleming

This excellent A4 book has been published locally to mark the centenary of the Salisbury train disaster of 1st July 1906, when the up boat train from Devonport inexplicably raced through Salisbury station and derailed at the curves at the eastern end. As it did so, it struck a milk train coming in the opposite direction, and carnage ensued. 28 people (including four railwaymen) lost their lives in the early hours of that fateful day.

Messrs Moody and Fleming have gathered together numerous contemporary newspaper reports and eye-witness accounts to piece together the story of this accident, hour by hour and minute by minute. In the process, they have sought to explain what might have caused the experienced footplate crew to have disregarded the 30mph speed limit through the station with such disastrous results.

With a foreword by Salisbury MP, Robert Key, himself a steam enthusiast, this 58-page book is well worth tracking down.

Price is unknown, and I have heard that it may only have been available to attendees at a memorial service that was held earlier this month. However, I suggest a note or phone call to the publishers will answer any questions if you are interested in obtaining a copy:

The Timezone Publishing Group The Old Vicarage 36 Queen Alexandra Road Salisbury Wiltshire SP2 9LN

Phone: 07900 680587

Stop press: I have heard that The Tourist Information Bureau in Salisbury has had some available for around £5.00.

NETWATCH

A website dedicated to LNER Kitchen Composite No 7960

http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/7960/

For the first time, Michael Morant has included rolling stock (other than locomotives) and some infrastructure images in his fotopic gallery:

http://gallery62603.fotopic.net/c1026311.html

Chris Dadson has uploaded 13 pictures to his Fotopic website taken last weekend at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. New images feature the new coach No 3 (with 1st class accomodation) and some views of the spectacular Exmoor scenery along the route:

http://gallery74781.fotopic.net/c603089_49.html

A brief illustrated history of the class 458 with South West Trains, including the history of each unit, can be viewed on the Southern Electric group website:

http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/swt458f01.html

Richard Buckby has forwarded this timely advice. It was originally posted under the heading "Urgent RAIB Advice" by DM Shell on the Preserved Diesels Website. It is all to easy to lose concentration for few seconds in this hot weather and it has to be said that this can occur to the professional as well as the enthusiastic amateur on a preserved line.

To all Drivers, Guards & Shunters.

Background:

On 17 July 2006 at approximately 12:20 hrs a shunter employed by Freightliner (Heavy Haul), who had been engaged in a shunting movement controlled by radio, involving coupling a Class 47 locomotive and a single wagon at Dagenham, was found lying adjacent to the siding from which the train had just moved. The emergency services were summoned, but attempts to resuscitate the shunter failed and he was declared dead on site.

On 19 July 2006 at Bronwydd Arms on the Gwili Railway, near Carmarthen, a Class 03 locomotive was being used to add an additional carriage to a train. The move was controlled by hand signals. During this move the guard of the train was trapped between the carriage and the train, and sustained severe injuries as a result. He succumbed to those injuries a few hours later, despite the attempts of his colleagues and the emergency services and despite receiving hospital treatment.

Action Required:

In advance of completion of the RAIB investigations into these two accidents all staff involved in shunting movements must be reminded that:

- Shunter and driver must carry out a brief before movements start, and have a clear understanding between them of all moves to be undertaken - When using radios to control shunting movements the shunter must give the driver verbal assurances that it is safe to continue throughout the whole movement - If the shunter has to go between vehicles to deal with automatic couplings he/she must instruct the driver to stop at least two metres away - The shunter must not go in between vehicles until they are at a stand and he/she is sure the driver understands they are going in between - No other person than the driver and shunter may go between closely parked vehicles - If a shunter goes in between vehicles for any reason he/she must never give permission for a train to move off until after he/she is clear of the train and in a place of safety.

There is the risk of staff being trapped during shunting moves with possible fatal consequences

Richard has also spotted this news item:

It was with great regret that I learned today (25/7/2006) of the death of Iorwerth Jones, formally Iorwerth Watkin Jones, MBE, on 18th July from leukaemia.

Iorwerth was a Talyllyn fireman in the 1960s and an inveterate attendee at TRPS AGMs (up to and including 2005), where I do not recollect his speaking but, outside the meeting, it was always a great pleasure to enjoy his quiet sense of humour.

He was a driver on the Penrhyn Railway and later took charge of the railway museum at Penrhyn Castle, a post from which he only retired last year. He was thus a real link between the old and the new of North Wales quarry railways. There is more information at:

http://www.penrhynrailway.co.uk/

The funeral will take place on Thursday, 27th. July at 1100 at Bangor Crematorium.

Nick Wheat's photographs of the Royal International Air Tattoo on 18th July:

http://nickwheat5306.photobook.org.uk/p31857161.html

Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall bills itself as the biggest mining history site in the UK. Between 6th and 18th August 2006 it will host "Geevor - A Miner's View" exhibition.

http://www.geevor.com

IN THE NEWS

Girl electrocuted on Hampshire railway line: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5209986.stm

Green light for Borders rail link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/5210922.stm

Car and train collide at Berkshire crossing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5210028.stm

Anger over bid to change crossing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/5211886.stm

Hatfield report criticises firm: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5209752.stm

Talks held to avert train strikes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5212418.stm

Alton Towers runaway train: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/5201966.stm

TV and Radio

Events

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