RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/
NETWATCH
Nigel Bird's latest Railway Book Catalogue (No 70) is now available:
http://www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk/html/catalogue.html
Richard Maund points out that the website given last week for Semaphore
Online, which gives news and reports of progress on the Avon Valley
Railway, has not been updated since 2005. For more recent news, go to the
main page for the railway, and click on the "News" button:
http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/
Eastleigh Museum has a "Titanic: Honour and Glory" exhibition running from
10th July to 11th September. It tells the story of Titanic and her
sister ships Olympic and Britannic. Admission is free.
http://www.hants.gov.uk/eastleigh-museum
Hornby has opened a Visitor Centre at its Margate HQ:
http://www.hornby.com/visitorcentre/
Buses on Malta:
http://tinyurl.com/34whttg
============
The Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" flight-test airplane, ZA003, will touch down
at Farnborough on Sunday 18th July at approximately 0900hrs, and will
remain on static display through to midday on Tuesday 20th July. It will
be open for tours on a scheduled basis on 19th/20th July. (The Farnborough
Airshow runs between the 19th and the 25th, but I have no idea how you get
on one of these tours!) Boeing is using ZA003 to test and certify seats,
galleys and associated cabin safety and comfort systems. After taking off
for the USA on 20th July, it will do a flypast of the Derby Rolls-Royce
site at approximately 1700hrs, accompanied by a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
(You may have seen the recent BBC2 programme about the building of the
Trent engines at RR Derby.)
http://www.farnborough.com/
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/
(Spotter: Nick Wheat)
============
Edward Hopper SR to BRB 1925-68
Raildate reader, Maurice Hopper, is seeking information about his father
Edward, and writes...
I am researching my Father's career in the railway. He started in the GM
managers office at Waterloo becoming personal assistant to John Elliot.
After nationalisation he moved to 222, becoming Chief Training Officer for
the BRB. He was involved in designing and running many courses for
railwaymen. Of especial interest are the General Railway Course held at
Dillington House in Somerset and the Railway Study Visits to various
European countries. He was also responsible for selecting graduate
entrants into the railway. After he had retired my Father also ran a
series of railway courses in the 1970s for the Worker Education
Association in the Croydon and Epsom area. I would be very pleased to
hear from anyone who may have had contact with him at these times.
mauricehopper(at)phonecoop.coop (replace "(at)" with @)
============
Videos...
Compilation of the best videos of 2010 so far from "605 Videos":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEtbk4Aq2UQ
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
A recent video showing most of the Weymouth Harbour tramway in its
current state:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwCMrEQ6V2c
Rare tour inside an abandoned tube station - St Marys:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10612599
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
Many people have commented favourably on the Plattling station webcam,
featured in a previous Raildate. Here's a time-lapse video of a hump-
shunting yard in Switzerland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nz-n49pIFQ
Abbey Road zebra crossing webcam:
http://www.abbeyroad.com/visit/
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London Crossrail
Paddington's Hammersmith & City line platforms will be closed and services
west of Edgware Road to Hamersmith suspended from 24th July to 15th August
while the canopy is removed and existing platforms lengthened. For these
three weeks the Circle line reverts to its clockwise and ant-clockwise
operation without the extra section to Hammersmith.
Castle Donington
Developer Clowes has signed a deal with Network Rail for rail access to
the former Castle Donington Power station site on the Sheet Stores Jn-
Stenson Jn. Work is expected to start in January 2011 on converting it
into a business and distribution park.
Dovey Junction
The Aberystwyth line platform has been extended, and a passing loop
installed. This will enable to trains to cross there when the planned
hourly service is implemented. See also
http://carnostation.org.uk/node/23
http://tinyurl.com/32yjv9y
Arbroath
75th anniversary of Kerr's Miniature Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/34bl4ov
France
The French Government has indicated that it will not comply with a demand
from the European Commission that SNCF be transformed into the equivalent
of a public limited company. In July 2008 the EC decreed that any country
providing unlimited state guarantees must remove them within a period of
two years.
Zimbabwe
The General Manager of the state-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ)
claims that the entire rail network faces collapse because of neglect.
Zimbabwe's rail network, once a hub of regional transport, stretches for
3,077km and is so dilapidated that the World Bank has recommended the
closure of some lines. According to a 212-page draft, the government is
considering "a separate body to own/operate infrastructure while the rail
services are opened up to a number of sector players for a fee".
http://allafrica.com/stories/201007090635.html
============
And finally - this may be of interest to those with Yahoo accounts...
Yahoo is using "Web Beacons" to track users around the net, to see what
you are doing and where you are going. You can see their privacy
statement here:
http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/webbeacons/details.html
About half-way down the page, in the section "Outside the Yahoo! Network",
you'll see a link that will let you "opt-out" of this. Once you have
clicked the link, you are opted out, but you can opt in again on the next
page. (You should be logged in with your Yahoo userid when doing this,
and you need to opt out from all computers that you use to access Yahoo.)
============
IN THE NEWS
New 20m road and rail bridge plan for Penrhyndeudraeth:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10598503
Businessmen lobby for regional high-speed rail link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-10658330
New seat fabric design for LUL:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10586117.stm
Track stolen:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leeds/10519334.stm
Teignmouth stroke victim's wheelchair train 'ban':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-10637972
Repainted Freightliner class 90:
http://www.freightliner.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=189
Manning Wardle 2-6-2T back on the L&B in September...?
http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/news.asp?dismode=article&artid=406
Monkwearmouth station museum on track for restoration:
http://tinyurl.com/2dmm4nc
Californians bare bottoms for passing trains:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10588850.stm
Ryanair apologises for "Pinocchio" adverts:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10645543
Heritage centre proposed for RAF Coltishall:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/10616794.stm
Record of RAF Coltishall's last day in 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/3yawgs8
Drought closure of Leeds & Liverpool Canal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10622798
Hampshire workmen paint white lines around dead badger:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-10650160
Pump stolen from Parys Mountain:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west_wales/10544340.stm
Bemrose Booth goes into administration:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10456229
(As well as their current ticket printing contract, Bemrose, who were
founded in 1826, were large suppliers of timetables to the Midland Railway
and the LMS)
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Glynn Waite
TV and RADIO
17/07/10 Five 1035-1135
"The Man Who Moves Buildings" 1/4
22/07/10 Five 2000-2100
"The Man Who Moves Buildings" 2/4
23/07/10 BBC2 2100-2155
"Monsoon Railway" 1/2
EVENTS
For up-to-date information on many of the tours mentioned in Raildate (and
others) often with timings, see the Steam Tours pages at:
http://www.uksteam.info/index.shtml and also
http://railwayherald.co.uk/railtours/
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.
16/07/10- North Norfolk Railway: Beer Festival
18/07/10
http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/
17/07/10 Mid-Hants Railway Real Ale Train (RAT)
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/rat.htm
17/07/10 Alton Limited 2010 All American Meet
Four Marks Village Hall, Nr Alton, GU34 5AA
1000-1630 both days
Layouts, bring & buy, trade stands, demos
17/07/10 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Fish & Chip Quiz
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
17/07/10 Escorted walks through Combe Down Tunnel
http://www.twotunnels.org.uk/
17/07/10 Rye Book Fair
Rye College, The Grove, Rye, TN31 7NQ
17/07/10- CamRail
18/07/10 Saint Margarets Hall, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts
1100-1730 both days
http://www.titfield.co.uk/Camrail/Camindex.htm
18/07/10 Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum: Classic Vehicles
Swanwick Lane, Swanwick, Southampton, SO31 7GW
http://www.bursledonbrickworks.co.uk/
18/07/10 Mid-Hants Railway: Bus Rally
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/
18/07/10 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Senior Citizens Day
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
21/07/10 Historic Railway Walks of Rowsley
Start from Rowsley Old Station at 10.30am
Approximately 3 hours covering a distance of 2 miles
Advance booking required
http://www.rowsleyassociation.org.uk/
24/07/10 100 Years of Flying in South Hampshire
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast along Southampton
Water (also in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the
Battle of Britain)
Best viewing points will be from Royal Victoria Country Park
and along Hamble foreshore, although if sunny, better viewing
might be from the other side of Southampton Water: Frost Lane,
Hythe Pier or /Hythe Marina
http://www.centenary-of-flight.co.uk
Timings:
http://tinyurl.com/37qzsgx
24/07/10- Didcot Railway Centre: Enhanced Steamdays
25/07/10
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
24/07/10- Bluebell Toy & Rail Collectors' Fair
25/07/10 1000-1600 both days
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/
24/07/10- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Heritage Bus & Rail Gala
25/07/10
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
http://www.e-v-r.com/busgala10.htm
24/07/10- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: Children's Weekend
25/07/10
http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk
25/07/10 Gauge 0 Guild Open Day
Otterbourne Village hall, Nr Winchester, Hants
25/07/10 100 Years of Flying in South Hampshire
Gordon-Keeble Car 100-mile Rally
Around 40 cars rally around South Hants
http://www.centenary-of-flight.co.uk
25/07/10 Crich Tramway Village: Mini Meet
http://www.tramway.co.uk/
27/07/10 Guided walks through Chesil Tunnel, Winchester
1830-2000
Purchase tickets on the day from the Tourist Information Centre
4.50 adult, 1 child
http://tinyurl.com/2vaa2yw
31/07/10 Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum: Auto Jumble & Bikes
Swanwick Lane, Swanwick, Southampton, SO31 7GW
http://www.bursledonbrickworks.co.uk/
31/07/10 Mid-Hants Railway Real Ale Train (RAT)
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/rat.htm
31/07/10 New Forest Book Fair
The Community Centre, High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NY
http://www.fairharebooks.com/
31/07/10- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Gala Part 1
01/08/10
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
31/07/10- Cromford (Derbyshire) Steam Rally
01/08/10
http://www.cromford-steam.co.uk/
31/07/10- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: Rail Ale Festival
01/08/10
http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk
31/07/10- Swanage Railway: Swanage Regatta and Carnival
07/08/10
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
01/08/10 Romsey Signal Box Open Day
Admission free (donations welcome!)
1000-1600
ex-Romsey Infants School, Plaza Parade, Winchester Rd, Romsey
Car park in old school grounds
http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk
01/08/10 Twyford Waterworks Industrial Narrow Gauge & Rural Crafts
1100-1600
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
01/08/10 Provincial Society Bus Rally
Stokes Bay, Gosport
http://www.provincialsociety.org/
01/08/10 West Somerset Railway: Toys & Train Collectors Fair
Minehead station
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
01/08/10 Crich Tramway Village: Emergency Vehicles Day
http://www.tramway.co.uk/
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
Previous issues of Raildate are at:
http://www.raildate.net
This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in
previous editions of Raildate.
(C) Howard Sprenger and Hursley Park Model Railway Society 2010.
The external edition of Raildate may be freely distributed without
permission as long as no changes whatsoever are made to the original
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edition here:
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