HPMRS RAILDATE 30 Mar 07

News

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

RAILDATE will take a break over Easter - next issue: 13th April.

NETWATCH

Links to British Rail TV ads on YouTube.

This is the age of the train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3NRr4SYiA

InterCity sleepers, from the Relax series, late 80s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFiIyl2MyHM

Not an actual ad, but a recent tribute to the Relax ads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfRcQZ6Vz0

With inspiration from Night Mail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tTJXw7xUtk

Inter-City makes the going easy, 1969: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPdq-KJaa8Q

British Rail - We're getting there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHKX6FfGys

British Rail - Cheap weekend away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPQgLmoK20

This is the age of the train (in a full commercial break from 1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RrXB6TAdAM

The Inter-City 125 promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFiti6h_uPg

A BR NSE crew training video from Brighton to Hove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhHj7C4l3mk

The Railwaysarchive site has pdfs of two booklets issued when the Blue Pullmans commenced running:

Western: http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRWR_Pullman1960.pdf

Midland: http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRLMR_Pullman1960.pdf

200th anniversary of the Mumbles Tramway: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6491379.stm http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/mumbles_rail.shtml http://www.welshwales.co.uk/mumbles_railway_swansea.htm Audio: http://tinyurl.com/2bhvrc

Mitch Stepanovich's illustrated listings of N gauge wagons: http://home.flash.net/~stepanov

An interesting North Cornwall Railway layout by Stafford Railway Circle: http://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/treneglos/index.php

For anyone interested in adding a road system to their layout, there is one made by Faller (Germany) and available from Gaugemaster at Ford (near Arundel): http://www.gaugemaster.co.uk/

Some websites that show what can be done: http://home.arcor.de/infracar/ (in German) http://modelleisenbahn-claus.de/ (in German) http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/data/cms/en/240/ (in English) Minature Wonderland in Hamburg, has a fully computer-controlled car system, where the vehicles can do many different things. It's apparently well worth a visit.

A report on the reopening of the Welsh Highland Railway received from a Railway Ramblers member by Ralph Rawlinson

On Saturday 24th March, two supporters' specials ran as far south as possible over the partially-rebuilt section south of Rhyd Ddu. I was on the second (afternoon) trip, the morning one evidently included a bus link to the WHR (Porthmadog) to ride the newly-reopened 900m section from Pen y Mount to Traeth Mawr. The original intention was for WHR stock, top and tailed by large diesel "Caernarfon Castle" and Garratt No 138, to operate throughout, terminating short of the platform that is to serve Beddgelert Forest camp site. However the running of test trains on Wednesday and Thursday resulted in a change of plan. The WHR stock only operated north of Rhyd Ddu, where all passengers changed on to FR stock double-headed by works (and normally FR) diesels "Upnor Castle" and "Conway Castle", tailed by 138 only to Pont Cae'r Gors cutting, about half-way between Rhyd Ddu and the campsite. No-one bemoaned this, as it enabled us to continue almost to the head of steel at the top of the lower S-bend at Cwm Cloch. From this point we looked down on the ballasted, but as yet trackless, middle section of this bend and the north end of Beddgelert village. The diesels then propelled in push-pull mode back to the waiting Garratt. At Rhyd Ddu, both trains combined and ran to Dinas (where the FR stock was detached) forming what was claimed to be the longest passenger train in the WHR's history.

Thief-watch website launched: http://ukhrail.uel.ac.uk/hra/thiefwatch/ThiefWatch.html

For a holiday with a difference - try Dent station on the Settle and Carlisle line (opens later this year): http://www.dentstation.co.uk

Photographs of the South Devon Railway Half-Price Weekend: http://www.southdevonrailway.org/News-and-Press-Releases/2007-New-Season.html

Paul Biggs's pictures from the GCR diesel day on 23rd March: http://paulbiggsgcrailway.fotopic.net/c1238190.html

Chris Dadson has uploaded 18 new photos to his Fotopic website taken recently at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. They include a new collection called "Beyond Killington Lane" showing the original trackbed from Bridge 65 (Killington Bridge) round to Parracombe Halt, and images taken at or near to the railway's Cricket Field Lane site: http://gallery74781.fotopic.net/c1240545.html

Neil Dimmer has posted two small collections, the first is of the now defunct Royal Mail services on the West Coast line: http://west-coast-photos.fotopic.net/c1238574.html

The second is of Eurostars & HSTs on the East Coast main line: http://eastcoastrailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1238569.html

Also over 65 photos given by Keith Till, of the final years of British steam operations, and scrapping of locos. http://steam-diesel-photos.fotopic.net/c1239695.html

And two collections of photos taken at Doncaster Works Open Day on 26th July 2003. First the diesel & electric visitors: http://eastcoastrailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1241396.html

Secondly, the steam locos present: http://eastcoastrailwayphotos.fotopic.net/c1241386.html

Task Force South - The Royal Navy and The Falklands War Saturday 31st March 2007 - Friday 29th January 2008

Task Force South, a new exhibition at The Royal Naval Museum, marks the 25th anniversary of the conflict, and will focus on the Royal Navy's vital role in the war and the deployment of over 100 ships and 18,000 personnel. Using artefacts, models, sound and film footage, the exhibition will look at key events, and tell stories of those involved in the defining moments.

And finally, don't try this at home...

Tube ski stunt blasted by police: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6501897.stm BBC video: http://tinyurl.com/yw6k45 Actual video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fFqQOlYE4EE

IN THE NEWS

Rail overcrowding protest in Hampshire: Video: http://tinyurl.com/2xedlz

Services alter after rail "chaos": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/6494493.stm

Rail services 88% over capacity: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6494633.stm

Rail commute amongst UK's worst: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6494805.stm

Derby depot gets major revamp: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/6495749.stm

Rail firm failures led to crash: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6495475.stm

Sustrans looks at Durham viaduct: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/6493575.stm

Train project "urgent priority": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6494737.stm

Airdrie-Bathgate rail link approved: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6504201.stm

Steam train plan for TT race visitors: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/6493535.stm

Future of Wanlockhead Mining Museum secured: http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/03/01132831

(Spotter: Reg Nerps)

TV and Radio

Events

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