HPMRS RAILDATE 07 Sep 06

News

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

BOOK NEWS

Wagons of the Early British Railways Era - A Pictorial Study of the 1948-1954 Period by David Larkin

David Larkin is well-known for his study of British Railways goods wagons, and this new work pays particular attention to those ordered by BR in the earliest years of its existence. The "Big Four" pre-Nationalisation companies all had outstanding wagon orders under construction in 1948, and these continued to be delivered with their original numbers, albeit with new prefix letters.

In addition, the newly-created BR acquired a fleet of wagons from the erstwhile Ministry of War Transport. These are also considered in this book, together with the early BR orders for wagons based on the "Big Four" designs and on its own early standard designs in the period up to the eve of the "Modernisation Plan" of 1955.

Profusely illustrated, this book includes lot and diagram details, wagon number ranges, builder's and livery details of vehicles as diverse as Lowfit wagons, open wagons, containers and container wagons, mineral wagons, ventilated vans, railtanks, cattle wagons and brake vans.

Softback: 96 pages, with 130 photographs. ISBN-10: 0-9544859-8-X ISBN-13: 978-0-9544859-8-6 Price: £13.00.

You can order copies from the publisher, *post-free in the UK*. Full details are on the website: http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk

NETWATCH

The latterday engine shed at Rowsley opened 80 years ago on 28th June 1926 and closed 40 years later, on 3rd October 1966. In 2006 it will have been closed for 40 years.

To commemorate these significant dates, the Rowsley Association will be mounting a "Rowsley Shed 80/40 Exhibition" in the Village Hall, Rowsley, on Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th September from 11.00 to 17.00 both days. There will an admission charge of £1 Adults; 50p Children and Senior Citizens. Refreshments will also be available.

To coincide with the event, The Rowsley Association will also be producing a 48-page book entitled "Rowsley Railway Miscellany", which will consist of extracts from the Association's Newsletters that have appeared regularly since 1995. This will include a good number of reminiscence and facts about this once thriving railway community. The book will cost £7.50 (£8.50 by post).

Further details at: http://www.rowsleyassociation.org.uk

There is a freeware software program available that demonstrates the various arrangements for the different types of steam engine valve gear. Most if not all of the valve gear simulations that you are ever likely to need are available. The software requires Microsoft Windows 95 (or better) to run the simulation. You will need to download as a minimum File 10 (the Start Menu, Instructions, Icon, etc). File 10A contains the simulations for Walschaerts (inside and outside admission) and Stephenson (inside & outside admission) motions.

http://www.tcsn.net/charlied/

Issue 50 (September 2006) of "West Somerset Express", the unofficial online newsletter of the West Somerset Railway is available here:

http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/westsomersetexpress.htm

A good web site with a lot of class 33 photos and other items taken around Eastleigh and Portsmouth:

http://buritonwheelbarrow.fotopic.net/c767765_1.html

Some interesting (and historical) pictures from Phil Trotter:

http://philtpics.fotopic.net/c943840.html

A recognised concern with eBay surrounds the provenance of railwayana offeredeand for sale, partly because no-one takes an interest in the auctions and has the power to quickly suspend an item if there are doubts. Now, a group of people concerned about this problem, and about eBay's high vendor charges, has created an entirely new site:

http://www.specialistauctions.com

Thanks to Neil Kearns for pointing out "British Rail 40 Years Ago": (Written in German, but you only want the pictures...!)

http://drehscheibe-online.ist-im-web.de/forum/read.php?17,3011406

http://drehscheibe-online.ist-im-web.de/forum/read.php?17,3015294

Also for some articles about London:

http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2006/09/06/52123/Special+report+on+rail+Unblocking+'The+Drain'.html

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/press-releases/press-releases-content.asp?prID=886

Thanks to Richard Buckby for alerting me to a 'blog' re-visiting some of the places that John Betjeman visited in his classic "Metro-Land" TV programme:

http://lndn.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_lndn_archive.html

A campaign to save the railway van used to carry Sir Winston Churchill to his final resting place has been launched. The parcels and luggage van has formed part of a mock English railway station on a golf course in Los Angeles since shortly after his funeral in 1965. But it has now been declared surplus to requirements by its owners who have donated it to the "British people".

The Swanage Railway Trust needs £40,000 to transport it to its new Dorset home and save it from the scrap yard. If the Churchill Project appeal succeeds, the van will be brought to Swanage Railway in Dorset and restored, but if it fails it will be broken up. Steve Doughty, deputy chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust, said: "We are endeavouring to avoid any possibility of the historic van being broken up and are now seeking support for its return to the UK because of its historical importance."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/5302312.stm

More details in Terry Bye's very well produced "Coupe News" - a monthly newsletter on Pullman matters (a bumper issue this month).

Copies from t.bye@ntlworld.com

An extremely interesting and varied site about railway publications:

http://www.steamindex.com

It contains such gems as an online index for "Great Western Railway Journal" for example:

http://www.steamindex.com/gwrj/gwrj1.htm

I.A. Recordings - "Putting Industry on Video - an Archive for the Future":

http://www.iarecordings.org/

It was reported a couple of weeks ago that a new webmaster was needed for the GWR Modelling website. Chris Bale has kindly stepped in take it over and keep it alive, and he plans to retain the original web address, etc.

http://www.gwr.org.uk

The September 2006 issue of hidden europe magazine has a short piece that highlights a rather understudied aspect of railway history: the use of draisines (a case of muscle-power rather than "letting the train take the strain"). It is available online (together with an article about Rannoch Moor)on the magazine website at:

http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/articles.php?tPath=16&page=2

Bombay Railway History Group:

http://www.brhg.4t.com/

And finally... from Neil Kearns (one suspects this might even be a true story):

A bloke gets on a bus in Liverpool and asks the driver "Ee ah mate, is this bus going to Speke?"

The driver replies, "Well, I've been sat here all day and it's not said a flippin' word yet!"

IN THE NEWS

Safety inspector dies in rail accident: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/5286798.stm

Children ignore rail safety: Video: http://tinyurl.com/z6yp9

Web film of dangerous vandals: Video: http://tinyurl.com/jo3qj

Driver on track for service award: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5323064.stm Video: http://tinyurl.com/oenr3

Water supply joy for Perthshire village: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/5319392.stm Video: http://tinyurl.com/re6hr

Train drivers' strike called off: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5322656.stm

Anger over rail revamp plans: Video: http://tinyurl.com/s5buh

Train operator issues apology: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5323478.stm

Historians raise rail bridge death toll: Video: http://tinyurl.com/lql7g

End of era at county's steelworks: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/5284456.stm

Slate Quarry in latest restoration programme http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/5301974.stm

Humbrol and Airfix go into administration: Video: http://makeashorterlink.com/?C1A512CAD

But Hornby might take over: http://business.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1293432006

Where next for Eddie Stobart? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5315366.stm

HLF funding for Avro Vulcan: http://www.vulcan558club.com/

TV and Radio

Events

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