RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
NETWATCH
============
The Rail Archive website:
http://www.railarchive.org.uk/
Stainmore Railway Company:
http://www.kirkbystepheneast.co.uk/
Fundraising for a Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Baldwin 2-4-2:
http://www.762club.com
A former banker with 10m in hand, and more in pledges, plans to open 26
disused tube stations and tunnels as tourist attractions and conference
centres. Many firms have already expressed interest, including a proposed
museum of a miniature Europe, Kevin Spacey (Old Vic Artistic Director),
energy firm EDF (wanting space to house infrastructure), night clubs and
conference centres. He has backing of London Mayor Boris Johnson. The
plan, which is subject to TfL approval, will be at no cost to Londoners.
http://tinyurl.com/38jqkhn
http://www.theoldlondonundergroundcompany.com/
(Spotter: Richard Maund)
Young people from Grey Court School are demonstrating their creative skills
next month at an exhibition celebrating historical transport posters of the
borough. Twenty three year nine pupils worked with artists Rachel Craddock
and Eleanor Pile to create their homages to train and tube posters. Their work
will be displayed alongside historical posters from the London Transport
Museum as part of the "Transported: Posters for the Arcadian Thames"
exhibition at the Riverside Gallery from March. The project was made
possible by the Thames Landscape Strategy. The exhibition runs from 5th
March - 28th May 2011.
Riverside Gallery, Old Town Hall, Richmond - free admission.
http://www.richmond.gov.uk/arts
CSV files have been released that contain information about objects from
the collections of the Science Museum, the National Media Museum and the
National Railway Museum. These datasets include many items not on display
in their galleries, as well as authority records about related people and
organisations, events and image files.
http://api.sciencemuseum.org.uk/documentation/collections/
A new supplier for model smokebox numberplates (more to come?):
http://www.pacificmodels.ws/HOME
============
Videos...
California Sierra Shortlines:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3THQsZgnk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X5KGzDcffQ
Transport Secretary's statement on Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and
electrification of GW main line and Cardiff Valleys.
http://tinyurl.com/5tdf3ul
(Spotter: Ralph Rawlinson)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
GWR Moretonhampstead branch
Track is still in situ over the 4m 43ch between Newton Abbot and
Heathfield and on 23rd April 2009, it was placed temporarily out of use
with a stop board and sleepers chained across the line at 0m 53ch, the
location of the OTW board. Network Rail has now announced that it is to
remain OOU for another two years.
Cornwall - Treffry's Tramway
Branch Line News reports that a heavy deluge of rain during November 2010
washed away much earth, stone and numerous wooden sleepers on the upper
part of this line revealing further original parts of the the track
formation. Soon after passing the junction of the Cairns Quarry line, two
groups of wooden sleepers have accumulated on the east side of the line.
From there the centre of the formation has become a small gulley along
which water flows. As the gradient steepens to around 1 in 30, many stone
blocks have been revealed on each side of the formation and, as the
junction of the Colcerrow and Carbeans Quarry lines is approached, long
lengths of 'baulk road' have been exposed.
GWR Exminster signal box
Because it is too large, the 1913 timber box from Exminster, dismantled in October
2006 and moved to the Gloucestershire/Warwickshire Railway at Winchcombe,
will not now be erected at Broadway. It may instead go to Toddington and be
turned into a museum.
http://www.broadwaysignalbox.org.uk/
S&DR Templecombe - Poole
The North Dorset Railway Trust reports that a new signal box (to the original
design) has been built at Shillingstone, and a 16-lever frame from Liss to will
shortly be installed. Large quantities of track are also arriving for installation.
http://www.shillingstone.addr.com/Latest%20News.htm
Essex
The dramatic new Southend Airport station on the Southend Victoria line is
expected to open with the May 2011 timetable.
http://www.southendairport.com/
Closed lines in the Notts Coalfield
The numerous collieries between the LD&ECR Shirebrook-Tuxford line in the
north, and the Midland's Mansfield-Rolleston Jn line in the south, were
served by both ex-LNER and ex-LMS branches. Network Rail now plans to
officially close Clipstone Jn-Rufford Stocking site, the last remaining
section of line served from Clipstone Junction on the former LD&ECR line.
Leeds
The plan to provide a southern access to Leeds station from the Granary
Wharf area of the city by building a futuristic southern entrance has been
given the go-ahead.
http://www.wymetro.com/news/projects/projectdetails/leedsstationentrance
MR Guisley (Rawdon Jn) - Yeadon
The West Yorkshire PTE plan to convert the Leeds-Harrogate-York and Ikley -
Bradford lines to tram-train operation includes a new line serving Leeds/Bradford
Airport. It would leave the Leeds-Harrogate line north of Horsforth station, serve
the airport, and join the Ilkley-Bradford line at Guisley, forming a Leeds-
airport-Bradford loop. It is not actually mentioned, but the western end will
probably utilise most of the Midland's former goods-only branch to Yeadon.
http://tinyurl.com/6bppbpd
http://tinyurl.com/6fvxazs
L&Y/LNWJt Poulton-Fleetwood
The disused station at Thornton Cleveleys, between Poulton le Fylde and
Fleetwood, has been lovingly restored by a new local group, the Poulton
and Wyre Railway Society (PWRS). The group is continuing with plans to
reopen the former branch and has secured funding to help with relaying
track, constructing a new platform at Poulton, building new rooms at
Thornton station, bringing Burn Naze back into use and rebuilding
Fleetwood station.
http://www.pwrs.org/index.php
Tyne & Wear Metro
A 20m modernisation of the route between Byker and Tynemouth will see a
23-day closure 12th March to 3rd April 2011.
http://www.nexus.org.uk/metro?NewsID=624
Northern Ireland
Plans to upgrade an eleven mile section of of the Belfast to Dublin line
between Knockmore and Lurgan have been dropped.
http://tinyurl.com/6ccmhye
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Railways has appointed BAM to upgrade of the
Portrush branch. Re-railing the six miles will will involve complete
closure between 12th and 27th March 2011 with the line reopened by the end
of April.
http://tinyurl.com/5wxyxkq
Republic of Ireland
Subject to planning approval Iarnrd ireann plan to start work in the
summer of 2011 on two new stations on Ireland's Western Rail Corridor.
They are at Crusheen (County Clare) and Oranmore (County Galway). The
Limerick-Galway service commenced in March 2010, and the numbers using the
service continue to increase.
France
In February, track laying was completed on the first phase of the 140km
Rhin-Rhone LGV. It runs from Petit-Croix and is the first LGV that does
not go to or thorough the Paris region. Test running was due to start
this month and is due to open in December 2011. Journeys from Strasbourg
to Lyon by TGV should then be reduced from 4h 35m to 3h 15m. Construction
of a further 50km from Belfort-Mulhouse is planned.
http://tinyurl.com/68kewem
Austria
A five year investment plan for Austrian Federal Railways includes
completing capacity and speed enhancements for Salzburg-Vienna, including
the new line being built between St Poltern and Vienna plus work on the
new Vienna-Graz-Klagnefurt (Koralmbahn) line. Construction of the new
55km-long twin-bore Brenner base tunnel is also to start in 2011.
http://tinyurl.com/6gatx2l
United Arab Emirates
Latest news from Union Railway (UR), the railway network project that will
connect all seven emirates.
http://tinyurl.com/67wpv4b
Russia
The new line connecting the Yamal Peninsula with the rest of the Russian
railway grid is open. Regular operation of the 572km long line to its
Karskaya station terminus was launched on 15 February 2011.
http://www.barentsobserver.com/arctic-railway-launched.4892021-116321.html
(See also Raildate dated 2nd October 2009.)
Bermuda
The Bermuda Railway operated between 1931 and 1948. In its 17 years of
existence, the 21.7-mile railway line provided frequent passenger and
freight service over its length spanning most of Bermuda, from St George's
in the east to Somerset, in the west.
http://bernews.com/2011/03/bermuda-railway-old-rattle-and-shake/
============
IN THE NEWS
Chiltern Line upgrade 'delayed by cost claims and poor planning':
http://tinyurl.com/4pwurl9
Planning application for proposed Three Bridges Thameslink depot:
http://tinyurl.com/4zpxd9f
SWT energy efficiency programme:
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/energyefficient.aspx
Accrington man falls under train, and lives:
http://tinyurl.com/6f9ddpr
Last wagon returns:
http://www.theadvertiserseries.co.uk/news/8896834.Last_wagon_returns/
Derby engineers to restore Brighton Belle (videos):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/derby/hi/front_page/newsid_9411000/9411800.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/front_page/newsid_9401000/9401747.stm
London Midland disruption feared as drivers refuse overtime:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-12706554
Parking charges on Derwent Valley Line from April 3rd:
http://www.friendsdvl.btck.co.uk/News/LatestNews4
Public ScotRail investment across Glasgow stations:
http://tinyurl.com/5wzc5ue
Commuters blast ScotRail 'discrimination':
http://tinyurl.com/49gb6mw
Demand for night trains ban in Inverness:
http://tinyurl.com/4uvbype
Rail link doubles services:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/rail-link-doubles-services-1.1088954
http://tinyurl.com/4hkh4ly
Northern Ireland track renewals deferred:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12614127
Take a behind-the-scenes look at Swanage Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/4ovtpmd
Naval volunteers help out with railway preservation:
http://tinyurl.com/4zzxvkp
Bluebell Railway Blog:
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html
Tip clearance progress - East Grinstead:
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/extprog.html
Heritage railway steaming ahead in North Wales:
http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=63175
Manx railway cable theft 'crime against heritage':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-12656191
LUL may run overnight during Olympics:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12664270
Go-ahead for 290m Glasgow subway modernisation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12687499
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12699329
Stopping road users weaving round barriers:
http://www.ibarrier.com/120307.html
Japan's newest bullet train makes its debut:
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-12655826
Hopes stay high for Blackpool tram link to station:
http://tinyurl.com/6xxmapl
Mediation over Edinburgh tram works:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12671253
Titanic exhibition opens at Royal Crown Derby:
Video:
http://tinyurl.com/6awfnbj
Spitfire over Southampton:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12655770
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12655848
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-12647366
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12656520
Vulcan XH558 passed fir for displays this summer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-12656670
DIY Kenyan aircraft:
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12660650
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps
TV and RADIO
13/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 2/6
13/03/11 BBC2 1900-2000
"The Real Italian Job: James Martin's Mille Miglia"
14/03/11 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Norway and Svalbard
14/03/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"The Way We Travelled" TV travel shows
14/03/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Fastest street legal car in the world
15/03/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Stansted: the Inside Story" 6/6
16/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 3/6
17/03/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"The British at Work - Them and Us: 1964-80"
18/03/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"African Railway" The Tazara railroad
18/03/11 BBC2 2200-2230
"Great British Railway Journeys" Portillo in Lancashire
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.
Until "Harry Beck and the London Tube Map" Exhibition
27/03/11 Church Farmhouse Museum, Greyhound Hill, Hendon, NW4 4JR
1000-1300 and 1400-1700 (1400-1730 Sundays)
Admission free
Nearest tube: Hendon Central, Northern Line
http://www.churchfarmhousemuseum.co.uk.
12/03/11 South Western Circle: Talk
"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
14/03/11 DARC Technology Club: Talk
Weston Village Hall, Weston-on-Trent, Derby, DE72 2BL
"The Tornado Project" by Tony Lord
Cost to non-members: 3 including refreshments
Meeting starts 1930
http://www.darc-tech.org.uk
14/03/11 Peak Railway Association (Derby Branch) Slideshow
The Brunswick Inn, Station Approach, Derby, DE21 2RU
"Reservoir Railways of the Derwent Valley" by Ted Hancock
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/DerbyBranch.html
14/03/11 North East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeological Society
Friends' Meeting House, Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, S40 4AG
AGM followed by...
"Clay Cross Tunnel Construction - Plans and Reality"
by Philip Cousins
Commences 1930
15/03/11 Peak Railway Association (Chesterfield Branch) Slideshow
New Inn, 229 Mansfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, S41 0JJ
"Buses, Trams and Trains" by Andrew Firth
Review of 2010 & Preview of 2011, Roger Hallatt
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/ChesterfieldBranch.html
19/03/11- Swanage Railway: Behind-the-scenes Weekend
20/03/11
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk
19/03/11- Nottingham Model Railway Exhibition
20/03/11 Harvey Hadden Sports Complex, Bilborough Park, Wigman Road, NG8 4PB
19/03/11- Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating days
20/03/11 Also "Cab It" weekend (Sunday: 1300 to 1530 only)
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
24/03/11 Hursley Park Model Railway Society Annual General Meeting
1230 in the Osman Room
Several more retirements this year mean that the future
viability of the Society must be discussed - please make
every effort to attend
26/03/11- London Festival of Railway Modelling
27/03/11 Alexandra Palace, London
http://www.model-railways-live.co.uk
26/03/11- Churnet Valley Railway: Diesel Gala
27/03/11
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 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://groups.yahoo.com/group/RAILDATE/