HPMRS RAILDATE 7 Aug 09

News

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

NETWATCH

A wonderfully nostalgic site from Dave Rowland here: http://thefamousabcbooks.fotopic.net/

Dave Rowland has over 13,000 railway pictures here: http://daverowland.fotopic.net/

Brian Hawkins has 3000 photos of Chinese steam: http://brianhawkins.fotopic.net/

Can Kestrel Railway Books claim to be the first railway book publisher to have a presence on Twitter? http://twitter.com/kestrelrailway http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk

Some information on north Cornwall railways and mines here: http://www.stteath.co.uk/history.htm

The Cromford Canal website has had a makeover: http://www.cromfordcanal.org.uk/

Peter Nicholson was recently on the Isle of Man for its Transport Festival week, and was interviewed by a reporter from ITV Granada, who will feature the system on its regional news programmes on Monday 10th August. The interviewer only gave her name as Caroline - no doubt she's well known in the Granada area! The Granada team then rode up on the trailer behind No 2 to Laxey, filming all the way and talking to various passengers.

If you aren't in the Granada region, the most recent seven "Granada Report" programmes seem to be available at any time. Go to the ITV TV Guide: http://www.itv.com/TVGuide/?intcmp=NAV_TVGUIDE3 Then set the region as Granada, and the date for next Monday, and you'll see "Grenada Report" in the listing. Click on that, and a pop-up comes up with a link to the last seven issues.

WR Hydraulic history: http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/dieseltxt.htm#may (Spotter: Neil Kearns)

Film of old trams in Bradford, Halifax and Belfast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hyh58ngpIs&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfv7xdQdbUY&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpU4DgefFPo&NR=1

IN THE NEWS

Grand Central names one of its new Class 180 trains after James Herriot http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Grand-idea-to--honour.5505078.jp

Victoria Station to get £695m Facelift: http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news61186.html

Response to petition about railway photography: www.number10.gov.uk/Page20242

West Coast train times 'poor' despite upgrade: http://tinyurl.com/lwke7f

Record year for Network Rail (2008/9 Annual report): http://tinyurl.com/mcgrvy

Ormskirk's eco-friendly station opens: http://tinyurl.com/l2gz4g

Leicester hit by day of road and rail chaos: http://tinyurl.com/n5mofk

Protest over removal of ex GCR bridge in Leicester: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8182847.stm

More support for National Express East Anglia strikes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8182993.stm

York-Beverley-Hull reopening campaign latest: http://tinyurl.com/l7y2th

North Wales - 4 bridges, 1 wet weekend: http://tinyurl.com/mgpzq2

City Thameslink station upgrade: http://tinyurl.com/lvwbrj

Raynes Park - commuters must continue to mind the gap...! http://tinyurl.com/na3hz6

Plain stupid: http://www.rail-magazine.com/news/default.asp?storyID=122&nid=4

Par or Paris...? http://tinyurl.com/nzam4x

Weedwatch at Moreton in Marsh: http://www.rail-magazine.com/news/default.asp?storyID=121&nid=4&pid=2

Steam fans can ride in style to help Flying Scotsman fund: http://tinyurl.com/mnj4a7

Bluebell Railway 50th Anniversary: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8189165.stm http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk http://bluebellrailwaytrust.org.uk

Beyer-Garratt returns home: http://tinyurl.com/klf2yz

Midleton-Cork line reopens: http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news61032.html

Rusted railway relic plucked from a watery grave: http://tinyurl.com/lp68gy

Accident on Blackpool tram system: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8186914.stm

'Drive Green' on First Group: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8184576.stm

Increased trade on CAL-MAC ferries: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8182114.stm

Restoration agreement for Cotswold canals: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8177779.stm

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, John McCrickard, 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.