RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
NETWATCH
============
A webpage about the Westerham Valley Railway, Kent:
http://bullfinchclose.co.uk/WesterhamFlyer/westerhamflyer.html
A webpage on the Three Bridge-East Grinstead line:
http://tinyurl.com/5ugtfzv
The Norfolk Orbital Railway:
http://www.norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/
Another East Anglia railway photograph archive:
http://geoffsangliaphotos.fotopic.net/
Rail photos by Elliott Waters:
http://www.elliottwaters4474.fotopic.net/
John Law's "Everything on Rails" website:
http://johnlawontherails.fotopic.net/
Dave Rowland's guide to the Ian Allan ABCs:
http://thefamousabcbooks.fotopic.net/
And further information on the SR ABCs from Graham Muspratt:
http://www.semgonline.com/misc/sthnabc-1.html
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway:
http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/
Another Catesby Tunnel exploration:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=57345
Appeal for funds to repair latest G&WR embankment collapse:
http://www.gwsr.com/news/chicken-curve-collapse.aspx
1864 map of London:
http://london1864.com/stanford45.htm
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
============
Following the link last week to a large photographic collection by Peter J
Vincent, I was interested to receive additional information about this
prolific photographer from Philip Miller. Philip points out that this
is the most comprehensive site on the carriages and wagons of the former
Victorian Railways Department (VR) of the State Government of Victoria,
Australia. Peter has over 300,000 photos of VR wagons, and his database
is so extensive and detailed that the VR engaged him to update their wagon
stock register. Peter was a Suburban Electric Train Driver at the time.
Philip first met Peter around 1980 whilst he was a Special Class Signalman
at Flinders Street, Melbourne, and at that time he would wear out a Pentax
SLR camera every year; he later bought Nikon SLRs and still wore them out
in a year! For anyone modelling the VR, this is the website to answer all
your rolling stock questions, and Philip likens it to Paul Bartlett's
British wagon site on Photopic. Peter is still sorting and uploading
photos onto his website - Philip reports that he has a new "gizmo" that
lets him set up a copy run where he inserts the slides, presses a button,
and away it goes for a few hours!
http://www.pjv101.net/
The Association of Tourist Railways (Victoria state) has a website from
which you can download a regular electronic publication, "The Electric
Telegraph" that carries news of happenings on heritage railways within the
state.
http://www.atr.org.au
============
Videos...
Great Central Railway Winter Gala:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjKysd9g5E4
Last journey of Wrexham and Shropshire train:
http://tinyurl.com/6koq2bf
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
Poulton & Wyre's Fowler running, but going nowhere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqnPFLj05f8
(Spotter: Peter Nicholson)
Last Train Home a US steam video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmJdCpEPIWs
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
Snow clearance in Manitoba:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr2qoag8yZU
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
Newcastle Mining Institute:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/9386393.stm
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
Lines that should reopen
The Campaign for Better Transport have compiled a list of lines that
people are campaigning to have reopened - or at least protected from
development so that they can later be reopened.
http://tinyurl.com/68z3gxt
They have also compiled a priority list of the top 36 that should reopen.
http://tinyurl.com/647u8ur
Great British Railway Journeys
DVDs to be won:
http://tinyurl.com/4cycvtf
London Underground:
LUL has begun consultation with the City of London on plans for major
improvements to Bank station. Plans include extensive re-tunnelling to
increase capacity on Northern line platforms and interchange passageways
to meet future passenger demand. If agreed work will start in 2015 on a
new entrance in King William Street and four high-capacity lifts.
http://tinyurl.com/4fjjd4m
The High Street Kensington - Edgware Road section of the Circle and
District lines will be closed between 23rd July and 23rd August 2011 to
allow tracks and drains to be renewed.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/17684.aspx
Hertfordshire
Construction of a new 3.8m cycle and pedestrian underpass at Coombes
Hole, Royston will start in March 2011.
http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/news/underpass_plans_upset_residents_1_767231
Chiltern Services
One of the improvements to upgrade the Chiltern route to 100mph running
has been the reinstatement of the through line at Princes Risborough which
will allow non-stop trains to pass through the station at speed. The
centre road has been reinstated from the London end but in mid-January was
awaiting the removal of a signal to enable it to be extended north and
reconnected to the running line.
Skegness station
A 21m series of improvements betwen Boston and Skegness includes the
demolition of disused station buildings at the fomer GNR terminus opened
by the Wainfleet & Firsby Railway in 1873. At the end of January the work
was well advanced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12252137
http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=18723847
GWR Wellington - Buildwas
A redundant bridge, removed from Honeybourne, has been delivered to the
Telford Steam Railway at Horsehay, following purchase from Network Rail
for 1. It will eventually be used to span the A4169 at Lightmoor in
connection with the TSR's ambition to extend south towards Ironbridge
power station.
http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/history.php
GWR Monmouth-Cheptsow
Latest news on the planned cycleway between Tintern and Wye Valley Jn.
http://road.cc/content/news/30254-clock-ticking-wye-valley-cycle-path-plan
Cheshire
According to councillors and business leaders, the acquisition of the
former Royal Mail sorting office adjacent to Crewe station is a tremendous
opportunity for the council and its partners to deliver a new 'rail
gateway' for Crewe and a potential transport interchange for the wider
region.
http://tinyurl.com/6a7dv67
Manchester Metrolink
Girders for the bridge over the Manchester-Todmorden line at Rochdale were
lifted into place on 1st January 2011.
http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9005951?submenuheader=3
Cumbria
A reminder to anyone planning to use the Carnforth-Barrow line later this
year. The 500-metre long Arnside Viaduct over the estuary of the River
Kent is to close for 16 weeks from 26th March to 18th July 2011 while it
receives a new deck. During this time, Network Rail also plans to carry
out repairs to Lindal tunnel and refurbish Ulverston station.
Irish Railways
The Irish language TV channel TG4 is running a series of documentaries on
Irish Railway history (Boithar Iarainn). Last Sunday's program (No 3)
featured the West Clare Railway, and it can be seen in two 15-minute
segments (with English subtitles) at:
http://live.tg4.ie/main.aspx?level=Faisneis
(There are other railway/transport related videos on this site, but it is
not clear how long they remain available for viewing.)
In connection with the West Clare Railway, it was reported recently that
objections to a road and rail museum at Moyasta and reinstating the level
crossing across the N67 road continue to put the long proposed extension
in doubt. The National Roads Authority successfully appealed against
Clare County Council's approval on grounds of unacceptable reduction of
safety.
http://www.westclarerailway.ie
China
Three more high-speed lines are due to start operating in 2011. Beijing-
Wuhan, the capital city of the central Hubei province; Beijing-Harbin the
capital of the NE province of Heilongjiang, and Tianjin-Qinhuangdao, a
coastal city in the northern Hebei province. This is in addition to the
previously announced 820 mile line linking Beijing to Shanghai.
http://tinyurl.com/4uekbcl
============
IN THE NEWS
Rail travel at highest peacetime level since 1928:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12320817
Sea defences will keep a railway line 'viable' in Devon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-12306539
Railway cable thieft:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-12356764
Final day of the c2c blue livery:
http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/bluetrain/final_day_of_the_c2c_blue_livery
RAIB report issued on Carstairs near-miss ("near-hit", shurely...):
http://tinyurl.com/5rnmb3l
RAIB report on Staff injury at Torworth, Nottinghamshire:
http://tinyurl.com/6hmgh4m
BT Police at Oxford:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-12308025
Dispute over repairs to the Mechanic Institute in Swindon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12321934
Bishop Auckland branch given Community Rail status
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12318591
NRM launches 35,000 appeal for Winston Churchill funeral locomotive:
http://tinyurl.com/5ue8vpv
Timetable and ticket prices for first Wirksworth-Duffield public trains:
http://www.e-v-r.com/opening2011/
http://tinyurl.com/6zzdx3e
National Railway Museum at Shildon announces new arrivals:
http://tinyurl.com/4wdrnjz
Monsal Trail closed for tunnel reopening work:
http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/news/news-display-page.htm?id=24164
Woodstock's old station saved from demolition:
http://tinyurl.com/5s5fe32
MSP call for more power to help alay rail fears:
http://tinyurl.com/4kfght3
Chill wind blows on Highland rail line
http://tinyurl.com/4ge9pnl
Fresh trouble for delayed Borders rail link:
http://tinyurl.com/4tkvdjs
Tree felling project signals start of work on Borders Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/6ytcuk6
Homes on redundant Railway land at Newport (Alexandra Dock Jn):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12296427
Thieves steal tools from Oswestry's Cambrian Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/67gqa8v
Sprinklers in Channel Tunnel:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-12340538
Channel tunnel threat to high-speed London-Frankfurt link:
http://tinyurl.com/4gh66q5
Denmark opts for sea tunnel to Germany:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12347525
German rail crash:
http://tinyurl.com/48y9xvj
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110130-32755.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12082035
http://tinyurl.com/6c2lu4t
Video:
http://tinyurl.com/6bvttux
Ticket barriers on Tyne & Wear Metro:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-12319320
Glasgow's museums body 'mislays part of tram':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12324685
Cobham Bus museum developments:
http://www.lbpt.org/news.html
Last Devon-London plane takes off:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-12321528
BMI to close Glasgow - Heathrow service:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12324693
M Shed Museum in Bristol Docks:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12330276
Loch Lomond water bus:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-12339004
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Ted Millward, Reg Nerps
TV and RADIO
06/02/11 BBC4 1900-1930
"Coast" The Hebrides
07/02/11 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"On Your Bike" History of the bicycle 1/10
07/02/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Johannesburg's new underground railway
07/02/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"Children of the Revolution" The Industrial Revolution
07/02/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"Horizon: Surviving a Car Crash"
08/02/11 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"On Your Bike" History of the bicycle 2/10
08/02/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Stanstead: the Inside Story" 1/6
08/02/11 BBC4 2000-2030
"Britain by Bike" The Isle of Wight
09/02/11 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"On Your Bike" History of the bicycle 3/10
09/02/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"The Boats That Built Britain" Landing craft vehicle
09/02/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Angel of the Valleys" Commemorating a 1960s mining disaster
10/02/11 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"On Your Bike" History of the bicycle 4/10
10/02/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"Top Trumps: Earthmovers"
10/02/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Men who Built the Liners" On the Clyde
11/02/11 BBC Radio 4 1545-1600
"On Your Bike" History of the bicycle 5/10
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/tours/index.htm
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.
05/02/11- Stafford Model Railway Show
06/02/11 Bingley Hall, County Showground, Nr Stafford
06/02/11 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
09/02/11 Marple Transport Society - Talk
Navigation Inn, Marple, Cheshire
"Traffic Patterns of PO Coal Wagons" by Ken J Smith
Starts 2015
http://www.marple-uk.com/community/transport.htm
19/02/11 Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating day
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
21/02/11 Friends of Cromford Canal - Talk
Ironville Church Hall, Casson St, Ironville, NG16 5NN
"Rails to Ripley" by Howard Sprenger
Starts: 1930
http://www.cromfordcanal.org.uk/
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/ripley.htm
23/02/11 Romsey & District Railway Modellers Society - Talk
10th Romsey Scout Headquarters Hut, Braishfield Road, SO51 0PB
"The Longmoor Military Railway" & "The Carriage of Tanks"
by Mike Walshaw
Starts at 1930
25/02/11- Model-Rail Scotland
27/02/11 Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow
1100-1800 (Fri), 1000-1800 (Sat), 1000-1700 (Sun)
http://www.modelrail-scotland.co.uk
26/02/11- Eastleigh Model Railway Show incorporating Eurotrack 2011
27/02/11 Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh SO50 9NL
1000-1730 (Sat), 0930-1630 (Sun)
http://fdelaitre.perso.sfr.fr/Smrg.htm
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 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/