HPMRS RAILDATE 10 Dec 08

News

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

NETWATCH

Brunel's achievements revisited: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7753000/7753202.stm

More on the North Staffordshire Railway... This is a series of articles that have been appearing in "The Sentinel" about the Potteries Loop Line: http://tinyurl.com/5bnve3 http://tinyurl.com/6zdalj http://tinyurl.com/5s24vh http://tinyurl.com/6o8xwh (Spotter: David Moore)

Russian train pictures: http://englishrussia.com/?p=2081#more-2081 http://parovoz.com/newgallery/?LNG=EN

On the other hand... Paddington is safe! It seems the US Transportation Security Administration, in association with the US Department of Homeland Security, even offer their protection to High Speed Trains at Paddington...! http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/tsnm/mass_transit/index.shtm

(Spotters: Several!)

There is a German equivalent of British Transport Films...

Until the summer, films from their collection spanning the last 80 years were broadcast in high quality via their own satellite TV service. Since then, the service has moved off high-grade satellite onto low-to-medium grade internet delivery, but the old links to their archive still seem to work. In general their material doesn't match up to BTF, but there are some quite good films, batched up into TV programmes called "Zeitgeschichte". For a taster, you can see "Menschen, Städte, Schienen" (a late-1940s, BTF-style, journey film), "Bella Italia" (a tourist-style film) and "Poesie du Rail" (part service delivery, part tourist): http://www.bahntv-online.de/btvo/site/index.php?s=5600&ids=139779

The latest video has been added to Model Railways Online - this month, a compilation of video clips taken on Graham Plowman's Ashprington Road layout, which is based on the South Devon main line in the South Hams. The clips were taken to illustrate articles that Graham is writing about DCC sound. http://www.mrol.com.au/

The Model Electronic Railway Group: http://www.merg.co.uk/

Ralph's Railway Roundup...

Shots of Queensbury tunnel taken between May 2007 and November 2008: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/sets/72157600232087942/detail/

Lyle Barwick's albums of bygone lines... you will need a good geographical knowledge as he doesn't give much more than the name of the station or structure: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25795659@N02/

Barry Doe's National Rail Franchise Map National Rail Passenger Operators' map 11th edition is now available online. It includes all changes up to December 2008 although some do not take effect until Jan/Feb 2009. It can be viewed at http://www.barrydoe.co.uk but check copyright restrictions regarding hardcopy printouts.

London abandoned lines and railways: Aldwych tube station: http://gianlucamoschini.blogspot.com/2008/11/london-abandoned-lines-and-railways.html

Network Rail will shut the Doncaster - Scunthorpe line at some point next summer to deal with subsidence problems: http://tinyurl.com/5r6lue

Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD) is the state corporation that operates the public railway system in Turkey. http://www.turkeylive.net/turkish-state-railways/turkish-state-railways.html

Another aeroplane landing on one wing - this time an F-15 - I'm beginning to think having two wings on a plane is overengineering, but I suppose it's handy to have a spare: http://videos.komando.com/2008/11/16/f-15-flies-on-one-wing/

IN THE NEWS

Reading train plan gets thumbs up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7758632.stm

Christmas and New Year services on Virgin Trains: http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=244129

Protests over ticket gates at York: http://tinyurl.com/5unjvr

Further funding for Borders rail link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7763354.stm

The latest Airdrie - Bathgate project newsletter is at: http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk/

Slash and grab raids on railways: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7758474.stm

FGW boss resigns: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7762683.stm

Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the new Thameslink stock: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/thameslinkrollingstock/itt/

RAIB report on fatal accident at Bestwood Park: http://tinyurl.com/58l2f4

RAIB report into SPAD at Didcot North Jn August 2007: http://tinyurl.com/6naspr

Merseyside Route Utilisation Strategy draft for consultation (2.85MB): http://tinyurl.com/5cdn6c

Mobile phone coverage on the "Clockwork Orange" (Glasgow Subway): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7757323.stm

Eurostar to probe service delays: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7758493.stm

Pirate attacks on shipping have upside for Russian railways: http://www.russiatoday.com/business/news/34042

Bulgarian Railways to sack hundreds of workers over financial crisis: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99440

Indian Railways may stop trains in Uttar Pradesh tiger reserve: http://bruno.penandscale.com/2008/11/railways-may-stop-trains-in-up-tiger.html

Cross border Korean service withdrawn: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7753846.stm

$730b plan to expand China's railways: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/28/content_7249032.htm

Vulcan funding: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7757931.stm

Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair offer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7757971.stm

Air New Zealand Airbus crashes after maintenance: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7753270.stm

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Ralph Rawlinson

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