RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
NETWATCH
============
A recent exploration of the LNWR Oldham-Greenfield, Lydgate tunnel:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=58037
Class 31 photo gallery:
http://www.class31.co.uk/
42 pictures of the FR and WHR taken last weekend:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=54324&id=100000037675773&l=869d742408
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
Footplate Equipment Ltd - everything for the loco and its crew:
http://www.footplateequipment.co.uk
Beckenham railway history:
http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/railwaysinbeckenham.html
A new book by Dominic Beglin about the signalling of the Republic of
Ireland:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1998623
Greater Manchester Museum of Transport:
http://www.gmts.co.uk/
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry:
http://www.mosi.org.uk/
The Nidd Valley Light Railway:
http://www.aucu61.dsl.pipex.com/Nidd%20Valley%20Light%20Railway.htm
The World-wide Wagon Forum
http://www.wwwagons.com/
============
Videos...
The LMS locomotive general repair shop c.1932:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9bd_1296657073
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
A series of films covering various aspects of preparing, driving and
identifying faults on DMUs
http://www.youtube.com/user/g0fqb
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Winter Gala:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPNDcfosaBc
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
Impressive German snow clearing machine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8-mw4Yy8V0
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
A motley collection of videos:
http://www.liveleak.com/browse?user=thecleaner001&page=1
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London Underground: Victoria line
On 31st January 2011 (after various switching to and fro) signalling
control of the Victoria line moved permanently from Cobourg Street to the
new control room at Osborne House, Northumberland Park depot.
http://tinyurl.com/6h4kgpc
LSWR Gosport branch
A legal challenge brought against Hampshire County Council's plan to
convert this line into a bus rapid transit link was rejected by the
Supreme Court on 19th January 2011. The contractor, BAM Nuttall, has now
restarted work.
http://www.go-gosport.co.uk/news/update-on-brt/
Closed lines of the IOW
On Sunday 29th May 2011, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is running a
guided tour, by Bedford vintage coach, visiting sites of some of the
Island's closed railways and stations.
http://tinyurl.com/5utlbw4
Chiltern Services
To reduce the risk of unplanned disruption to passengers, the launch of
"Chiltern Mainline" (which was to have come into operation in May) is
deferred until late summer 2011. The 250m upgrade on the Birmingham to
London Marylebone line will then enable trains to run at 100mph for
virtually the full length of the line, and see the fastest times from
Banbury reduced to 51 minutes, or 46 from Bicester.
http://tinyurl.com/63ok5km
Bath-Midsomer Norton
On Tuesday 22nd February, transport minister Norman Baker will inspect
progress and meet volunteers working on the Two Tunnels Greenway a new 2m
cycle path through Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels. Work is due to be
completed in about a months time.
http://tinyurl.com/67r5ovx
Dawlish
The Grade ll listed 1918 GW box, closed by BR in September 1986, is in the news
again. Network Rail have been trying to dispose of it for a number of years but now
they are faced with a 200,000 bill to make it safe by underpinning. Today the line
between Exeter and Plymouth is controlled by Exeter SC to Totnes (inc) and from
there by Plymouth SC. Exeter also controls the line to Paignton (exc).
http://www.dawlish-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=6417
Cambridge
Network Rail's plan to build a new island platform, together with a
footbridge and lifts, has finally been agreed by Cambridge City Council.
Work on the 16.7m scheme is due to start in April, and is planned to be
completed by December 2011 ready for the introduction of 50% longer NXEA
trains.
http://tinyurl.com/4jq9v3s
Cambridgeshire
Network Rail is to carry out a feasibility study, on behalf of East
Cambridgeshire District Council, into reopening Soham station on the line
between Kennett and Ely.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Ely/Station-plans-to-be-studied.htm
http://www.soham.org.uk/features/trainstation.htm
http://www.soham.org.uk/features/trainstation/trainstationproposal.htm
Lancashire
Fleetwood Festival of Transport (Tram Sunday) will be held this year on
17th July 2011.
http://www.fleetwoodfestivaloftransport.co.uk
Preston PSB area
Huncoat Level Crossing (LCF gate box) located between Accrington and Rose
Grove in East Lancashire (formerly Huncoat Station a L&Y box dating from
1902) is to close. Network Rail plan to convert the crossing and place it
under the control of Preston PSB.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/5439753976/
Waverley Route
Extensive tree felling has started at Heriot, Stow and Galashiels. Two consortia,
BAM and IMCD, are bidding for the main construction which is due to be
completed by 2014.
Douglas, Isle of Man
The future of the world famous horse trams that trundle along Douglas
Promenade is not looking good. A public survey regarding possible
redevelopment of the promenade has asked if it's time the horse tram
tracks were dug up and moved or the historic service scrapped entirely.
http://www.stheliers.im/?p=157
Northern Ireland
Translink has started work on extending the park and ride facility at
Carrickfergus station on the Belfast-Larne line.
http://tinyurl.com/4ofrrof
Czech Republic
A decision is awaited on a list, circulated last year by the Czech
Transport Ministry, proposing for closure around 70 regional lines.
Because funding rests with local government, some cross-country routes,
passing from from one region to another, may become branch lines if only
one region is prepared to fund services on its part of the line.
Russia
Over the next four years Russian Railways (RZD) is set to extend its broad
gauge lines to southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Czech
Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, north Croatia and northern Italy,
with commercial services expected to commence in 2016. The new lines will
enable freight services to avoid the need to transship cargo between
trains at locations where 1520mm (5ft) tracks meet standard 1435mm (4ft
8in) tracks.
http://tinyurl.com/4r5p59d
Former USSR
1520mm (5ft) Russian gauge is currently in use throughout Russia, Belarus,
Ukraine, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgistan Latvia, Lithuania,
Estonia and Finland. At borders with Poland, China and Iran, break-of-
gauge service requires bogie conversion.
Colombia
The China Railway Group is in negotiations to build a railway connecting
Colombia's Atlantic and the Pacific coasts.
http://www.capitalvue.com/home/CE-news/posts/tags/China%20Railway%20Group
Ecuador
The government of Ecuador is investing some US$250m in train services with
the aim of boosting its potential for tourism. Some 446km of tracks are
due to have been upgraded by the end of 2012, with projects set to include
the refurbishment of major stations across the network.
http://tinyurl.com/6fqvtfa
============
IN THE NEWS
Rail company complains about poor profits:
http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/new_transit/news/?id=25779
Revised route for HS2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12514475
Opposition to HS2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12512246
Pete Waterman backing for HS2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12507330
Inquest into fatality building HS1 tunnels:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12543303
Prison for vandals who pushed wheelie bin onto line at Liss:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12512246
London's overlooked rail project:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12480813
Network Rail moves to regional structure:
http://tinyurl.com/4rh8shv
Potters Bar crash: Network Rail to plead guilty:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12526056
RAIB report on incident at Brentwood:
http://tinyurl.com/62236yg
Police, camera, crossing!
http://www.railpro.co.uk/news/?idArticles=702
Freight Company of the year:
http://tinyurl.com/6yvm3t8
Anti-social behavior on North Wales Coast line:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-12491816
Upgrade for Wrexham General:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12511136
RAIB report on derailment of freight train at Carrbridge, Strathspey:
http://tinyurl.com/4uvwmzr
Protests see Scottish freight grant restored:
http://www.railpro.co.uk/news/?idArticles=703
Glory days of Hellifield remembered:
http://tinyurl.com/5s6zrgx
Tanfield Railway celebrates 40 years volunteering:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/front_page/newsid_9400000/9400807.stm
Alnwick to Alnmouth train service given a cash boost:
http://tinyurl.com/66ed7f7
Sandwell Council appeals for locomotive help:
http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/news/article/745/appeal_for_locomotive_help
Behind the scenes event on the Swanage Railway:
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news724.htm
Track relaying on new bridge at Minffordd:
http://tinyurl.com/5ulfeon
Special workings around Porthmadog - between FR & WHR:
http://tinyurl.com/6jzvg28
Will massive debt derail China's High Speed Train plans?
http://tinyurl.com/66zdcs5
The pleasures of German train travel:
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110114-32437.html
Rod Stewarts' model railway:
http://www.rail.co/2011/02/16/rod-stewarts-railway/
Result of Government petition on British Waterways privatisation:
http://tinyurl.com/5sez6uv
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Mike Morant, Reg Nerps
TV and RADIO
26/02/11 BBC Radio 4FM 1530-1600
"The Foghorn: a Celebration"
26/02/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Glamour's Golden Age" Life between the wars 3/3
27/02/11 Channel 4 1725-1830
"Time Team" Hitler's Island Fortress - Jersey
28/02/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" An artificial island
01/03/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Stansted: the Inside Story" 4/6
01/03/11 BBC4 2000-2030
"Britain by Bike" The Highlands
02/03/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"Time to Remember" Early newsreels
02/03/11 BBC2 2350-0050
"The Golden Age of Coach Travel" Coach travel in the 1950s
04/03/11 BBC2 2030-2100
"Britain from Above" 3/3 The industrial landscape
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.
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 Scale '0' Rail
Bolton School Arts & Conference Centre, New Road, Bolton, BL1 4PA
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
04/03/11 Kettering & District Locomotive Society
"The Wirksworth Branch" by Howard Sprenger
Cornmarket Hall, London Road, Kettering
Starts 1945
http://tinyurl.com/6zs3nf3
05/03/11 75th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight
Two will fly over Southampton to commemorate the event
05/03/11 Stafford Railway Collectors Fair
GEC, St Leonards Avenue, Stafford
Starts 1030
05/03/11- Romsey Model Railway Show
06/03/11 Crosfield Hall, Romsey, SO51 8GL
1030-1700 (Sat), 1000-1630 (Sun)
http://www.rdrms.hampshire.org.uk/
05/03/11- Romsey Signal Box Open Day
06/03/11 In association with Romsey Model Railway Show weekend
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
05/03/11- Macclesfield Model Railway Exhibition
06/03/11 Tytherington High School, Manchester Road, Macclesfield, SK10 2EE
07/03/11 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) Slideshow
The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG
35 yrs of Diesels in the Peak District, Phil Lockwood & Enid Vincent
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
12/03/11 South Western Circle
"The Salisbury & Dorset Railway" by Nigel Bray
St Alban's Church Hall, Wood Street, Guildford
Starts 1400
http://www.lswr.org/
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/S&D.htm
12/03/11- Basingstoke & North Hampshire Model Railway Society
13/03/11 Aldworth Science College, Western Way, Basingstoke, RG22 6HA
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
http://bnhmrs.hampshire.org.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 2011.
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/