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

This is the last Raildate of 2010 - a bumper issue!

Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

The next issue will be on 7th January 2011.


NETWATCH

============

"Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" made the first steam departure from Birmingham
Moor St since 1987 on 11th December.  Some shots of the train at Hatton:
http://rickeborallphotography.fotopic.net/

Martin Creese's pictures:
http://www.martincreese.fotopic.net/
Including pictures of the re-opening of Birmingham Moor Street:
http://www.martincreese.fotopic.net/c1923493.html
(Spotters: Ted Millward, Richard Buckby)

Eurogricing:
http://www.raretrack.com

The Spurn Railway:
http://www.skeals.co.uk/Articles/Spurn Railway.html

Photos and history of the Micklehurst loop:
http://table38.co.uk/micklehurst.htm

Photos and history of the Stalybridge Junction Railway:
http://table38.co.uk/dukinfield.htm

Talyllyn Railway winter newsletter:
http://issuu.com/talyllynrailway/docs/winter2010letterweb
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)

Stations from the air - a new book of aerial photos:
http://www.stationsfromtheair.co.uk/Gallery.htm
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)

A new e-book on the history of the IoW railways has just become available.
priced at 10 for the download, there are no plans to publish the book as
a paper edition:
http://hastingspress.co.uk/footplate.html

============

Videos...

Pete Waterman's layout:
http://vimeo.com/17411783
(Spotter: Neil Ferguson-Lee)

Background to the Coronation Street tram crash:
http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/videos/backstage/secretsofthetramcrash/
(Spotter: Peter Nicholson)

Severn Valley Santa trains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwRNb3RWRY4
(Spotter: Ted Millward)

Barry Knapper has digitised an old VHS tape containing a 40-minute long
amateur recording taken at Crewe Loco Works Open Day in 1995:
http://vimeo.com/17816695

A remarkable video of a derailment in the USA as it happens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Nq632eV6I
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)

Power hammer forging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm2LD-UZdwI
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)

============

Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup

More Line Closures?
Sir Roy McNulty, who is producing a rail industry value-for-money report
for the Government, has said that unless costs are cut substantially line
closures could become inevitable.  An interim report is on the FT site
(free subscription) but the main report will not be published until March
2011.
http://tinyurl.com/2coeydp

Stop & Search
Figures produced by the Home Office show that of 101,248 people stopped
and searched under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act in 2009, including many
rail enthusiasts with cameras, not a single one was arrested relating to
terrorism as a result of the searches!

HS2/HS1 link
The Transport Secretary has confirmed that HS2 plans include a spur to
Heathrow airport and a tunnel eastwards from Old Oak Common to connect
with HS1 (Raildate, 24th September 2010).
http://tinyurl.com/2an3s6j

London Underground
Further information on the Jubilee Line.  TfL aims to have the new
signalling between Stratford and Dollis Hill in weekday use by the end of
December.  The section north from Dollis Hill to Neasden is complicated by
the presence of Neasden depot.

Docklands Light Railway
The DLR extension from Custom House to Stratford International forms the
northern section of the 6km line between Canning Town and Stratford (which
follows the same route as the Jubilee line) and is made up of the former
NLR stations at Canning Town and West Ham plus four new stations at Star
Lane, Abbey Road, Stratford High Street and Stratford International.  Test
trains were due to start running in November with passenger trains between
Stratford International and Woolwich Arsenal, and between Stratford
International and Beckton commencing early in 2011.

Elmers End-Selsdon
The Brighton Main Line 2 (BML2) proposal seeks to provide extra capacity
on the London-Brighton corridor with (according to the 17th November
edition of Rail magazine) the northern section using the abandoned route
between Elmers End and Sanderstead.

Kent
Commuters travelling on three routes, Hastings-Grove Park, Ashford-
Maidstone and Tonbridge-Orpington should notice an improvement this
winter.  Network Rail has installed ten miles of heating strips on
conductor rails to prevent ice forming and delaying trains.  Other parts
of the third-rail network are also to get similar attention.

LSWR Gosport branch
Residents have started moving into the 35 flats and houses created in the
main building whilst the central trackbed has been turned into a communal
area.

Didcot
Work is due to start in March 2011 on the 5.7m redevelopment of the
station.  Oxfordshire CC also wants the word "Parkway" dropped from the
station name as it gives the impression that it is located away from the
town.

Oxford
Creation of a new south facing bay for trains terminating from the south
(reported in Raildate, 22nd January 2010) that would free up the through
platforms for other services has been shelved.

Yatton
The Grade II listed buildings on the down side of Yatton station (GWR
Bristol-Weston SM line) were reopened as a caf in October.  The 200,000
cost was funded by the Railway Heritage Trust and the Rural Development
Commission.
http://www.dudleymall.co.uk/loclrail/brisexeter.htm

GWR Helston branch
In September, Cornwall Council granted planning permission to extend the
railway's existing consent a further quarter of a mile to Truthall
Platform (or Halt).  This includes the rebuilding of the station at
Truthall with pedestrian access to the road.  The aim is to extend a
further mile to a new terminus at Water-ma-Trout on the outskirts of
Helston.  To reach Helston it will have to cross the River Cober by means
of the six-arch 90ft high Cober aka Lowertown Viaduct.
http://www.helstonrailway.co.uk/news

Chris Sawle's detailed photographic survey of the line:
http://cornwallslostrailways.fotopic.net/c1160081.html

Yarmouth Vauxhall bridge:
In February, Norfolk County Council was preparing an application for funds
to restore the 1852 grade II listed former combined road/rail box girder
bridge over the River Bure.  At that time, only pedestrians were allowed
on the footbridge alongside but, after renovation, it was hoped that once
again the main bridge would carry road traffic (albeit only buses and
taxis).  In October, a 30,000 survey was carried out that included an
ultrasound examination, testing of materials and a 3D laser scan to
establish the bridge dimensions.  The footbridge, that had again been
closed because of problems with the timber deck, was also inspected.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-11495919

This survey has revealed serious structural problems that have cast doubt
over hopes that it can be restored to its former glory, but other ways of
saving important features of the bridge are being explored, and
fortunately Norfolk CC seem reluctant to advocate its demolition.
http://www.96ktalkback.co.uk/vauxhalbridgecondition/

The County Council is seriously short of funds and, with further cut backs
expected, they will not be in any financial position to fund restoration
work.  The bridge (which is owned by Sustrans) is now open again to
pedestrians having been patched up with a few new planks.  The cost of
de-listing the bridge would be a major factor in retention, as it would
almost certainly end up with an expensive public enquiry should that be
proposed.

Leicester station
Following a 17-month campaign by Leicester Civic Society the present
station, dating from 1893, has been awarded Grade II listed status.  A
station on this site was first opened by the Midland Counties Railway in
1840, and was subsequently renamed Campbell Street (1867) and London Road
(1892) before becoming just Leicester in 1970.  Network Rail may now have
to modify its proposed 10m improvements scheme.
http://tinyurl.com/398f9mp

Birmingham Curzon Street station
A landmark of British railway architecture, Curzon Street Station was
designed in 1838 by Philip Hardwick to serve both the Grand Junction and
London and Birmingham Railways.  Built in the classical Ionic style, with
a magnificent pillared frontage, it was the identical twin of the original
station hall at Euston (demolished in 1962).  In use as a passenger
terminus for less than 20 years, it was relegated to a goods depot, and
finally closed in 1968.  Employed as offices for a number of years, and
narrowly escaping several proposals for demolition and redevelopment, the
Grade I listed building has been empty since 2001, although for two weeks
in 2007 it was transformed into a public gallery, presenting 'Station' an
international exhibition of documentary photography with a broad railway
theme.  It also provided a rare opportunity to explore the oldest
surviving railway terminus in the world.  Now earmarked to become part of
HS2, it is reported that its doors and windows have been boarded up for
protection.
http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/curzon_street.php
http://tinyurl.com/2wuus8p

Staffordshire
Work is to start at Burton-upon-Trent station in June 2011 on a 700,000
refurbishment.  According to local MP Andrew Griffiths it is the worst
station in the country.

Greater Manchester
The bridge carrying Richmond Street over the Manchester Victoria-
Huddersfield line in Ashton-under-Lyne is being demolished and rebuilt.
http://tinyurl.com/2a4g9zx

Harrogate Resignalling
Network Rail expects to award contracts for the 14m resignalling of the
line between Horsforth and York via Harrogate in the summer of 2011 with
work commencing in 2012.  Harrogate will control computer-based
interlocking between Horsforth and Harrogate and will monitor Rigton level
crossing by CCTV.  On the mainly single line between Knaresborough and
York, the current manual level crossings at Hessay and Marston Moor will
be replaced by auto half barriers.  The NER lever shed at Hammerton will
survive.

Scarborough
Scarborough station, once a Victorian tourist gateway, is to become a
550,000 hub for visual arts.
http://tinyurl.com/26oshwe

Wear Valley Railway
At present heritage line passenger trains to/from Stanhope start/terminate at Bishop
Auckland West a temporary wooden platform about mile west of the Northern
Rail station but it it is planned to extend the service to a bay at the main station.
Meanwhile a shorter footpath is under construction between the two stations. The
Wolsingham coal traffic to Drax power station is expected to start in January 2011.

NBR St Andrews-Leuchars
The campaign to reopen the line between St Andrews and Leuchars is gaining
momentum.  In November it was reported that Corus, Railfuture and the
local community council have pledged money towards an engineering study.
It has also been boosted by a recent debate in the Scottish Parliament and
support from local opinion polls.

Germany
Maps of Berlin's U-Bahn and S-Bahn 1961 and 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/263hkgr

Portugal
The 25m euro renovation of the line that runs across the Algarve began in 2008
and should be completed by 2011.  Concrete sleepers and CW rail are
replacing timber sleepers and jointed track.

Balkans
Albania has reached agreement with Montenegro to start running passenger
trains between Shkoder and Podgorica (formerly Titograd) using the
existing freight-only line, Albania's only current link with any other
country.  Land-locked Macedonia is seeking rail access to the Adriatic
port of Durres in Albania.  Macedonia would build a 40km line to the
border near the village of Lea whilst a 2km extension into Albania would
connect with the present Pogradec (on Lake Ohrid)-Durres line, the
upgrading of which would be funded by Macedonia.

Iran
An Iranian transport delegation has met their Chinese counterparts in
Beijing to discuss the construction of a high speed line that would link
the Iranian capital to the North Eastern holy city of Mashhad.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8909191007

Angola
Luanda Railway (CFL) is operating an hourly express passenger service
between Ingombota and Viana with passenger services along the 424km main
line to Malanje expected to restart late in 2011.  For the Benguela
Railway (CFB) Chinese factories have delivered $89m of equipment which
includes eight locos, 66 coaches and 94 wagons.

USA
Florida has received has $800m towards the cost of a new 85-mile west to
east high-speed route between Tampa and Orlando that will eventually link
with Miami.
http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/fast-facts

Finland-Russia
The Allegro high-speed Pendolino train operated by Karelian Trains, a
joint venture between Finnish Railways (VR) and Russian Railways (RZD),
commenced running on the upgraded line between Helsinki, and St Petersburg
on 12th December 2010.  The journey between the capital of Finland and St
Petersburg will take slightly more than 3 hours, instead of the previous
6hr 18min.
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15771072&PageNum=0

Russia
Prime Minister Putin claims that modernisation of key ports, including
Vanino, Nakhodka and Sovietskaya Gavan, is being "held back by
bottlenecks" on the Baikal-Amur main line (BAM).  A new line BAM2, costing
$14bn will relieve pressure on the existing route.
http://tinyurl.com/28la8bv

South Korea
Services started on 1st November 2010 between Daegu and Busan, the second
phase of the Seoul-Busan high speed line.

============


IN THE NEWS

Angry commuters in festive song:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-12006683

Birmingham Moor St terminal platforms reopen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-11969464

Hawes marks centenary of Christmas Eve disaster:
http://tinyurl.com/36l6rl7

Police patrols in East Midlands:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11971609

160th Anniversary of Berwick Border bridge:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-11981054

Airdrie-Bathgate line reopens:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11976653

ScotRail uses skirts to defrost trains:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/12/13115721

Fatal Level crossing accident on Cambrian line:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-11998815

Passengers left in closed station during Tube strike:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11995538

Confidential report on Edinburgh trams revealed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11959127

Cost of guided bus-way climbs to 181 million:
http://tinyurl.com/26f8n5o

Oxford Tube coach overturns on M40:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-11978007

Greyhound Coaches (First Group) operating from Glasgow:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-11983816

C17 pilot ignored stall warnings:
http://tinyurl.com/2dp8mlx

Panama canal closed due to high water levels:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11953800

The Ordnance Survey at work:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11554941

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Ted Millward, Reg Nerps


TV and RADIO

19/12/10    C4  1800-2100
           "100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross"  Not James May...

19/12/10    ITV1  2100-2200
           "David Suchet on the Orient Express"  Documentary

20/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1545-1600
           "The Bus Pass Roadtrips"  Extreme OAP bus journeys 1/5

21/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1545-1600
           "The Bus Pass Roadtrips"  More bus pass journeys 2/5

21/12/10    BBC4  1900-2000
           "Indian Hill Railways"  1/3 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

22/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1545-1600
           "The Bus Pass Roadtrips"  All of Britain for free 3/5

22/12/10    BBC4  1900-2000
           "Indian Hill Railways"  2/3 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

22/12/10    BBC1  1930-2000
           "Dig 1940"  Looking for a WW2 Hurricane off the Isle of Wight

23/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1130-1204
           "Eagle: the Space Age Weekly"  The story of Dan Dare & Co

23/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1545-1600
           "The Bus Pass Roadtrips"  More bus pass journeys 4/5

23/12/10    BBC4  1900-2000
           "Indian Hill Railways"  3/3 The Kalka-Shimla Railway

23/12/10    C5  2000-2100
           "Demolition: the Unsinkable Ship"  A US warship

24/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1100-1130
           "Merry Christmas Morris Minor!"  A celebration of the car

25/12/10    ITV1  2100-2300
           "Murder on the Orient Express"  New TV adaptation

26/12/10    BBC Radio 4  1445-1500
           "The Bus Pass Roadtrips"  The final journey 5/5

27/12/10    C5  1600-1705
           "Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers"  1/6

27/12/10    BBC2  1745-1845
           "James May's Top Toys"  Not Jonathan Ross

28/12/10    C5  1805-1900
           "Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers"  2/6

28/12/10    BBC1  2100-2200
           "Britain Goes Camping"  History of life under canvas

29/12/10    C5  1805-1900
           "Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers"  3/6

29/12/10    BBC1  1930-2000
           "Dig 1940"  Looking for a German WW2 bomber in Bristol

29/12/10    BBC4  2100-2200
           "Wellington Bomber"  Archive footage and personal recollections

30/12/10    C5  1805-1900
           "Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers"  4/6

30/12/10    BBC2  1900-2000
           "Coast"  Anglesey to Blackpool

31/12/10    BBC2  1730-1830
           "James May: My Sister's Top Toys"  Not Jonathan Ross's sister

31/12/10    C5  1900-2000
           "Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers"  5/6


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.

18/12/10    Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Carol Evening
           http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk

22/12/10    Churnet Valley Railway: Mince Pie Winter Warmer
           http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

24/12/10    Churnet Valley Railway: Mince Pie Winter Warmer
           http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

26/12/10-   Mid-Hants Railway: Christmas Leave
27/12/10    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

26/12/10-   Swanage Railway: Mince Pie Specials
02/01/11    http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk

27/12/10-   Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Mince Pie Specials
28/12/10    http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk

29/12/10-   West Somerset Railway: Winter Steam Festival
30/12/10    http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

01/01/11-   Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: New Year Trains
02/01/11    http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/

01/01/11-   Kew Bridge Steam Museum: New Year Grand Steam Up
03/01/11    http://www.kbsm.org

02/01/11    Friends of King Alfred Buses New Year Running Day
           Free travel on heritage buses in and around Winchester
           Note: NOT 1st January this year
           http://www.fokab.org.uk/

02/01/11    New Forest Book Fair
           The Community Centre, High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NY
           http://www.fairharebooks.com/

02/01/11-   Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway: Mince Pie Specials
03/01/11    http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk

02/01/11-   Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Winter Steam-Up
03/01/11    http://www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk

10/01/11-   National Railway Museum
16/01/11    Nostalgic Cinema - screenings of rarely-seen railway-related
           films from the NRM collection
           http://www.nrm.org.uk/PlanaVisit/Events/filmweek.aspx

15/01/11-   St Albans Model Railway Exhibition
16/01/11    The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD
           1000-1800 both days
           http://www.cmra.org.uk/stalbans.html


Santa Specials

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-   Dean Forest Railway: Santa Specials
19/12/10    http://www.deanforestrailway.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/

18/12/10-   Mid-Hants Railway: Santa Specials
24/12/10    http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

18/12/10-   Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Santa Specials
24/12/10    http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/

18/12/10-   Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: Santa Specials
24/12/10    http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk

21/12/10    Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Santa Specials
           http://www.steamtrain.co.uk

22/12/10    Churnet Valley Railway: Santa by Starlight
           http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

22/12/10-   Didcot Railway Centre: Thomas and Father Christmas
23/12/10    http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk

22/12/10-   Swanage Railway: Santa Specials
24/12/10    http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk

23/12/10-   West Somerset Railway: Santa Specials
24/12/10    http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

23/12/10-   Peak Rail: Santa & Steam Specials
24/12/10    http://www.peakrail.co.uk/

24/12/10    Dean Forest Railway: Santa Specials
           http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/

24/12/10    Churnet Valley Railway: Santa Specials
           http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk


Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk  replace (at) with @

Issues of Raildate up to and including 18th December 2009 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/