HPMRS RAILDATE 19 Sep 08

News

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

NETWATCH

The editorial and letters pages of most railway magazines have been filled for some time with complaints about the heavy handed treatment handed out by petty officials to people attempting to take photos on railway premises or even from public roads and footpaths. There was even an example of a train manager attempting to prevent an ATOC manager from taking a photo from inside a HST! British Transport Police and senior railway managers all agree that there are no restrictions, but the message never seems to percolate down to some horribly rude and aggressive front line staff. The problem seems to be that staff at station level are simply not aware that photography is NOT a prohibited or illegal activity! The following is part of a letter received by the editor of 'Rail' from the BTP Chief Constable:

"I can confirm that there is no power to stop members of the public taking photographs on railway premises for personal or legitimate purposes. Whilst officers are encouraged to actively engage with the public it is important that their actions are not seen as restricting people from enjoying a lawful activity"

http://www.btp.police.uk/railenthusiasts.html

(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)

Wolverhampton Low Level Station up for sale (Wolverhampton "Express and Star", 5th Sept 2008)

The future of Wolverhampton's newly-transformed Low Level station could be decided in days when it is finally put on the market for potential buyers. The historic site will be going back on sale after a planned casino development was dramatically halted at the 11th hour. Bosses said the station would appear in property bible Estate Gazette next Friday (12th Sep). There is no guide sale price for the sprawling site because there is a chance it could be split up into smaller sections for various projects. Workers from Claremont Leisure had been due to move into the site in the summer but the firm pulled the plug. It is believed the economic downturn, along with the fact proposals to roll out a national chain of casinos had not gone to plan, were behind the decision. Jonathan Cox, of Oswin Developments which has restored the old station, said today: "A casino would still be our preferred choice." http://tinyurl.com/gudxp

Dave Spencer has uploaded a few sets of photographs of the site from the start of development up to last month:

28.3.06 and 27.5.06: http://gricing.fotopic.net/c907304.html

29.6.06: http://gricing.fotopic.net/c1006767.html

5.5.07: http://gricing.fotopic.net/c1271795.html

11.8.08: http://gricing.fotopic.net/c1579949.html

The Railway Channel has recently been updated: http://www.therailwaychannel.com/ (Spotter: Ted Millward)

Community Rail - Network Rail notes (the Wherry Lines linked site is very good): http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/983.aspx (Spotter: Neil Kearns)

Forthcoming BBC4 series on Railways: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk40/feature_ihislop.shtml (Spotter: Neil Kearns)

Disused railways of East Sussex: http://disusedrailwaysofeastsussex.fotopic.net/

Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup...

Llangollen Railway: A public meeting was held at Corwen on 11th August to explain the Carrog extension. It is proposed to remove the Corwen-Ruthin-Denbigh line embankment from where it leaves the Llangollen Railway at Corwen up to the River Dee, apparently in connection with flood alleviation. At present, there is a big gap in the embankment/trackbed that will either have to be bridged or filled in. A new road is required for vehicles requiring access to the sewage works which is to the north of the Llangollen Railway next to the river bank. Also, the former goods shed at Corwen recently had the interior floor screeded, and brand new roller doors fitted. http://llangollenrail.llangollen-railway.co.uk/

Aviemore-Forres: The Strathspey Railway has laid half a mile of track north from Broomhill. The Aviemore - Boat of Garten section was reopened in 1979, and a 4.5 mile extension to Broomhill followed on 2nd June 2002 giving a total length of 9.5 miles. In January 2003 the Highland Council approved plans for the final 3.5-mile extension into Grantown-on-Spey. Jarvis donated 2.5 miles of concrete sleepers, and although the old West station was demolished and the platforms filled in, the site together with access from the south end, is secured. The A95 (which has used part of the trackbed south of the town) will have to be diverted at Gaich, a tunnel provided under the new road and a replacement bridge built over the River Dulnain. In July 2006 the Scottish MoT sanctioned a £1.5M scheme to realign the road but the railway will have to finance the cost of providing a tunnel. The extension is supported by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, and in November 2007 Network Rail donated 74 panels of track and a redundant girder bridge from Merry Street near Motherwell to bridge the River Dulnain. http://www.strathspeyrailway.com/

Ebbw Vale: The Welsh Assembly is being pressed to bring forward the three-mile extension to Ebbw Vale Town station in time for the National Eisteddfod in 2010. The festival is to be held alongside the site of the new terminus which is not due to open until 2014. Extra capacity is also being sought to cater for higher than expected passenger numbers on the recently opened line.

Leamington-Coventry: Warwickshire County Council has moved the reopening of Kenilworth station a step further by inviting tenders to find a joint promoter with Cross Country for its construction.

Tram-trains: This is the buzz-word at present with the latest development, street running of tram-trains in York, being discussed by the city council as part of a Leeds-Harrogate-York project. They are contained in an Arup report commissioned by Leeds City Region. The first tram-train trials will take place on the Sheffield-Barnsley-Penistone-Huddersfield line from 2010.

Greater Manchester-Stockport: The feasibility of a high-frequency light rail system linking the eastern parts of Stockport is being studied by Stockport MBC. Council leader, David Goddard, has revealed the route could follow the little used line through Reddish South then loop round via Bredbury and Marple to re-enter Stockport.

Leicester: A tramway has been suggested running south from the city centre and Leicester station. It would serve a planned large-scale "eco town" housing development to be known as Pennbury. The city council is known to be envious of Nottingham's light rail system (NET) which has transformed the local economy.

Edinburgh Light Rail: The Scottish Nationalist party has made a complete U-turn in its attitude to the new light rail system, which it fought hard to abandon last year. It wants to see extensions brought forward, because it says it makes economic sense now the construction framework is in place

How to change a set of points in the Channel Tunnel. It is in German, but you'll get the picture: http://www.bahntv-online.de/btvo/site/index.php?s=3500&ids=141945

(Spotter: Richard Buckby)

IN THE NEWS

Channel Tunnel reopened after fire: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7613632.stm

New design for New street revealed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7623039.stm

Threat hangs over Stephenson's Newcastle works: http://tinyurl.com/6l6z59

Redevelopment of Reading station. NWR press release: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3897

Marston Vale upgrade and trains timetabled to run slower: http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/35m-to-make-trains-run.4484495.jp

Complaints over engineering works at Bath: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7612215.stm

Blackburn - Clitheroe line engineering works: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7616407.stm

Shepherds Bush WLL station to open: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7618263.stm

Theft from Derbyshire minor railway: http://tinyurl.com/4fbuqr

NYMR gets 1 million pound cash boost: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7623031.stm

Ffestiniog Railway Company cuts full time jobs: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7624070.stm

Manston 34070 returned to traffic on 14th September: http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news466.htm

GWR 5619 working on Pontypool and Bleanavon Railway: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7613450.stm

Head on collision near Los Angeles (Metrolink/BNSF): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7614874.stm Explanation of signalling system used, "Absolute Permissive Block" http://www.lundsten.dk/us_signaling/abs_st_sp/index.html

Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry service to be reinstated: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7621941.stm

PS Waverley damaged Worthing pier: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7618983.stm

Loch Ness lighthouse: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7618226.stm

Narrowboat ambulance http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7620699.stm

Aeroflot Nord 737-500 crash near Perm: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7615622.stm

Alitalia finance talks: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7615622.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7622304.stm

Leuchars Air show: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7614882.stm

Faulty flaps on Spanair MD82: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7618627.stm Video (in Spanish): http://tinyurl.com/3ssxrr

Alaska Airways staff cuts http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7613549.stm

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps

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