RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/
BOOK NEWS
"Rails to Portpatrick" by HD Thorne
The book usually costs 15 + P&P, but the publisher, GC Books, is offering
it for 2 + 2.75 p&p.
Originally published in 1976 this extensive history of the railway system
running between Dumfries and Portpatrick was reissued in 2005 by GC Books
of Wigtown. Featuring a new introduction by the author, this edition
includes 44 colour and black and white photographs of the trains and
stations along the network that ran through south-west Scotland. "Rails
to Portpatrick" tells the story of the rise and varying fortunes of the
"Paddy Line" through to its demise at the hands of Beeching in the early
1960s. Copies now available from GC Books at 2 each, 2.75 p&p or boxes
of 30 available at just 5.75 p&p.
GC Books Unit 10, Bladnoch Bridge Estate, Wigtown DG8 9AB
Tel 01988 402688
http://www.gcbooks.co.uk.
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
NETWATCH
============
Plumb Loco - railway photographs from Geoff Plumb:
http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/
34028 "Eddystone" on the Churnet Valley Railway on 18th November:
http://paulgildersleve.fotopic.net/
Wanborough station, Surrey:
http://normandyhistorians.co.uk/station.html
A pretty esoteric subject - locomotive number panels:
http://numberpanels.fotopic.net/
(Spotter: Nick Wheat)
Cornwall's lost railways:
http://cornwallslostrailways.fotopic.net/
In pictures - the new viaduct at Borough Market:
http://tinyurl.com/2utfld7
The SEmG 2011 calendar is now available to download:
http://www.semgonline.com/calendar/2011/calendar.html
Chasewater Railway blog:
http://chasewaterstuff.wordpress.com/
A collection of photographs showing the preparation work done by Peak Rail
in connection with the extension into Matlock Station.
http://photosbyp.fotopic.net/c1917258.html
DB timetable information - free download:
http://www.bahn.de/fahrplandownload
A very interesting model railway site - plenty of good ideas presented
in the style of a monthly magazine:
http://www.amodelrailway.co.uk/
============
Videos...
A short video by Barry Knapper of "Tornado" leaving Crewe on 20th
November:
http://vimeo.com/17027907
Mark Found's excellent Railway World video channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/railwaychannel
South East Steam 1962-67
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeWTn3dhpt8
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
The Jersey Western Railway, Past and Present:
http://www.britishrailways.tv/british-railways?task=viewvideo&video_id=1408
Great Central Railway mini-gala:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZuhMyB3XoQ
A cab rid on Berlin's S-Bahn in 1999:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HZvsYKHvjk&NR=1
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
Rail deaths UK
According to the British Transport police some 250 people die on the UK's
railways every year, most as a result of suicide, and a significant number
of these bodies are never identified.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/21/missing-persons-unmarked-grave
London Underground
The Northern Line Extension of the Northern Line west from Kennington
through Nine Elms and Battersea to Clapham Junction is a step nearer. The
developer of Battersea Power station has agreed to pay 203m towards the
extension.
http://tinyurl.com/36xffuu
http://www.spectacle.co.uk/spectacleblog/tag/battersea-park/
London
Taking a trip along what is London's only funicular railway:
http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2010/11/20/london-funicular-railway/
Staffordshire
The layout at Norton Bridge on the WCML restricts capacity and
performance.
Options to upgrade the junction to separate the paths of Birmingham-
Manchester trains from London-North West services are being considered.
http://tinyurl.com/35p5omp
West Yorkshire
Vegetation clearance to allow engineers to assess work required to
reinstate the west to north curve at Todmorden was due to start at the end
of October 2010.
Workington Floods
Twelve months ago the Cumbrian floods washed away or damaged four of the
five cycle, road and rail bridges over the River Derwent in Workington. It
has now been announced that the cyclebridge, that utilised the piers of
the former Cleator & Workington Junction Railway's Cleator Moor Jn-
Workington (Siddick Jn) line bridge, will be replaced by a new bowstring
structure.
http://tinyurl.com/39smvjj
Morocco
Casablanca's Y-shaped tramway network is due to open on 12th December
2012. The line will cross the city from Grand Stade in the east to Hay
Hassani and Facults in the west, with 49 stops, and is expected to carry
up to 250,000 passengers a day. Alstom are supplying 74 Citadis trams
which will operate in paired sets 65m long.
http://tinyurl.com/3ae2p67
Swaziland
Work on extending the Matsapha to Ngwenya line, 138km (86 miles) to Lohiya
in South Africa, is expected to get underway by June 2011.
http://www.times.co.sz/News/23205.html
India
Facts and figures new projects.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=67232
Iran-Afghanistan-Tajikistan-China
The Iranian Foreign Minister announced on 15th November that Iran,
Afghanistan and Tajikistan have agreed to cooperate with China to jointly
build a railway connecting China, Central Asia and the Middle East. From
Xinjiang in China it will pass through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Afghanistan to Iran where it will divide. A SW leg will give direct
access to the Gulf South line whilst the other leg would head west to
Turkey and Europe.
http://tinyurl.com/34896do
============
IN THE NEWS
Railways to get 8bn investment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11834531
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-11837514
http://tinyurl.com/34vbzs4
Virgin to eliminate four-car Super Voyagers:
http://rail-news.com/2010/11/16/virgin-to-eliminate-four-car-super-voyagers/
Faster train Midland Mainline plan hits buffers:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Faster-train-line-plan-hits.6631971.jp
Middlesbrough - Station of the Year:
http://tinyurl.com/2agquwf
Liss men found guilty of pushing wheelie bin onto railway line:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-11821722
Suffolk train crash tanker driver jailed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11845696
Instant fine for 'bridge bash' driver:
http://tinyurl.com/37hodbo
BTP warning on shopping-trolleys:
http://tinyurl.com/2cfr8w3
Lineside fencing through Sydney Gardens, Bath:
http://tinyurl.com/38ocq9h
Fare increases:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11818904
Doubts over Hitachi IEP programme:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11837345
Newquay branch blocked to mid-December:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-11820096
Flood damage to Bodmin and Wenford:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-11835525
Argyll train derailment driver honoured:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-11796430
Rhymney branch reopened after landslip:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11799737
Derailment at Welshpool:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-11836584
http://railphotos.demeseo.com/p68230761.html
http://railphotos.demeseo.com/p68232884.html
New signalling for Cambrian line:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11793266
Report on Meridian derailment February 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/yarygh5
Channel Tunnel fire - joint RAIB/BEA-TT report released:
http://tinyurl.com/2cjfyby
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-11815174
Greater Manchester looks at running trams on train tracks:
http://tinyurl.com/33ynbkw
Xelabus - a new operator based in Colden Common:
http://www.xelabus.info/
http://tinyurl.com/36byyrz
Hayling Island ferry suspended over safety concerns
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-11842626
First orders announced for Chinese airliner:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11764653
Qantas A380s return to service:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11817317
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps
TV and RADIO
27/11/10 BBC2 1915-1930
"Coast" Ravenscar to Hull
27/11/10 Discovery Shed 2200-2230
"Central Steam" 14/15 Golden Oldies Gala
http://tinyurl.com/32of3r7
27/11/10 Discovery Shed 2230-2300
"Central Steam" 15/15 Wartime Weekend
http://tinyurl.com/32of3r7
29/11/10 Five 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Oil and Swiss Army knives
30/11/10 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Lands End to Porthcawl
30/11/10 BBC4 2000-2030
"Newcastle on Film" Archive film
30/11/10 BBC4 2030-2100
"A Time to Remember" The need for speed
03/12/10 BBC2 2030-2100
"Britain by Bike" Using some 1940s cycling guides
03/12/10 BBC2 2100-2200
"John Sergeant on Tracks of Empire" India's railways 1/3
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
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.
26/11/10- Moorland & City Railways Diesel Gala
28/11/10 Class 37 37075, Class 33 33102, plus 2 visiting diesels
and Class 104 DMU
Intensive 3 train timetable
http://www.mcrailways.co.uk/events
http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/
26/11/10- Wakefield Model Railway Exhibition
28/11/10 Thornes Park Stadium, Horbury Road, Wakefield, WF2 8TY
http://www.wakefieldrms.org/index.html
27/11/10 New Forest Book Fair
The Community Centre, High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NY
http://www.fairharebooks.com/
27/11/10 Letchworth MRS Model Railway Exhibition
Etonbury Middle School, Stotfield Rd, Arlesley, Beds, SG15 6XS
1000-1630
28/11/10 New Forest Model Railway Society Open Day
Brockenhurst Village Hall, Highwood Rd, off Sway Road,
Brockenhurst, SO42 7RY
Layouts include Crow Arch Lane MPD, Calshot and Aldermouth
1000?1630
Adult: 3, Child: 2, Family: 8
http://www.nfmrs.co.uk/nfmrs_exhibition
03/12/10- West Somerset Railway: Dunster by Candlelight
04/12/10
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
04/12/10 Mid-Hants Railway Real Ale Train (RAT)
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/rat.htm
05/12/10 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
11/12/10 Shaftsbury Book Fair
United Church Hall, Bell Street, SP7 8AR
http://www.fairharebooks.com/
11/12/10 Rye Book Fair
Rye College, The Grove, Rye, TN31 7NQ
http://www.woolhousebooks.co.uk/
11/12/10 Hayle Model Railway Club Exhibition
Hayle Day Care Centre, Commercial Road, Hayle, TR27 4DE
1000-1600
http://www.haylemrc.org.uk/
11/12/10- Wigan Model Railway Exhibition
12/12/10 Robin Park Arena, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH
http://www.wiganfrm.org.uk/
15/12/10 Churnet Valley Railway: Victorian Christmas Carol Service
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
18/12/10 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Carol Evening
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
Santa Specials
04/12/10- Mid-Hants Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/
04/12/10- Swanage Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
04/12/10- West Somerset Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
04/12/10- Didcot Railway Centre: Thomas and Father Christmas
05/12/10
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
04/12/10- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
04/12/10- Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
04/12/10- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: Santa Specials
05/12/10
http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk
04/12/10- Peak Rail: Santa & Steam Specials
05/12/10
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/
08/12/10 Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
11/12/10- Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.steamtrain.co.uk
11/12/10- Mid-Hants Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/
11/12/10- Swanage Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
11/12/10- West Somerset Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
11/12/10- Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
11/12/10- Didcot Railway Centre: Thomas and Father Christmas
12/12/10
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
11/12/10- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
11/11/10- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Santa Trains
12/11/10
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
11/12/10- Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
11/12/10- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: Santa Specials
12/12/10
http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk
11/12/10- Peak Rail: Santa & Steam Specials
12/12/10
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/
15/12/10 Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
18/12/10- Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10
http://www.steamtrain.co.uk
18/12/10- West Somerset Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
18/12/10- Didcot Railway Centre: Thomas and Father Christmas
19/12/10
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
18/12/10- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk
18/12/10- Swanage Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
18/11/10- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Santa Trains
19/11/10
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
18/12/10- Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
18/12/10- Peak Rail: Santa & Steam Specials
19/12/10
http://www.peakrail.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
document distributed by the Editor. You can subscribe to the external
edition here:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RAILDATE/