RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
NETWATCH
============
Fotopic, the photograph hosting site appears to have got into difficulties
and disappeared, taking thousands (millions?) of pictures with it.
Photographers who had used it are now having to find alternative hosts,
and one of the first to do so is Rick Eborall:
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/
Historic photographs of the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras:
http://tinyurl.com/6djgzu6
Large (4.2MB) pdf of an archeological record for Killamarsh Central
station on the GCR main line before it was demolished to make way for a
housing estate:
http://tinyurl.com/6x5ayly
A recent exploration of Rock Ferry-Birkenhead Docks:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=58763
Railstaff newspaper:
http://www.railstaff.co.uk/digital/march-2011/
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
============
Videos...
Bluebell Gala, 12th March 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuT8yr5LYhs
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
A New York Central Budd DMU with a pair of General Electric Boeing B-47
Stratojet engines strapped to the roof. Blink and you'll miss it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK0UzjBzV30
(Spotter: Nick Wheat)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
HS2 Strategy
The DfT says that construction will be carried in stages: Phase 1 (work
commences 2018 and is operational by 2026) London-Birmingham/West Midlands
with an interchange with Crossrail at Old Oak Common and a link to HS1 and
the WCML. Phase 2 (open by 2033) West Midlands-Manchester and Leeds with
a direct link to Heathrow Airport.
Docklands Light Railway
The DLR has been charged with taking forward TfL's 40m proposal for a
cable car across the Thames to Royal Docks to access the O2 arena and the
ExCel exhibition centre. Planning approval has been granted by the London
boroughs of Newham and Greenwich.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12465842
Essex
Encouraged by the prospect of fast and frequent rail services to London
from the purpose-built station at Southend Airport on the Southend
Victoria line, Aer Arann is starting daily flights to and from Waterford
and Galway in March.
http://www.railstaff.co.uk/FeaturedArticles/railstaff/view/150
GW Bridgnorth-Shrewsbury
Shropshire Council has just announced that, thanks to successful
negotiations with the Apley and Willey Estates which own the 6 miles of
trackbed of the former Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and
Coalport, NCN45 has been diverted on to the trackbed between these two
communities. The estates have signed ten year leases with the council, and
the official opening is to take place on Sunday 27th March 2011.
http://www.bridgnorthjournal.com/2011/03/11/charity-ride-to-open-new-path/
ERTMS National Implementation Plan
Network Rail is due to complete the commissioning of ERTMS on the Cambrian
Line at the end of this month. With the Harlech-Pwllheli section already
operational, the entire route between Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth/Pwllheli will
be closed between 19th-27th March to allow the rest of the system to be
switched on and tested. If all goes well the line will be reopened under
full ERTMS control on Monday 28th March 2011.
http://tinyurl.com/6xfl4ge
On-train WiFi
WiFi is now available on all East Midlands Trains' main line services.
There is a small charge for second class passengers but it is free in
first class.
Midland Main Line Electrification
The Transport Secretary has stated that the future of this project is
dependent upon HS2. Once the Government has confirmed its HS2 plans,
following public consultation, firmer plans could be made on the St
Pancras-East Midlands/Sheffield route.
NSR Stoke - Leek Brook Jns
Announcing a new 400,000 share issue David Kemp, a director of both the
Churnet Valley Railway and the Moorlands & City Railways, said "Having
re-opened the line to Cauldon last November we now intend to restore the
rest of our main line from Leekbrook to Stoke. We expect to start work in
June and if everything goes to plan it could be completed within 12 months."
http://tinyurl.com/6cltzj3
Manchester Metrolink
In Oldham, plans published for the new Mumps stop, that will be in use
next year, show that it will also interchange with buses and offer
extensive car parking facilities.
http://www.metrolink.co.uk/constructionworks/index.asp?id=430
In Manchester, plans for a second city-centre tram line, between G-Mex and
Victoria station, include a new line to be built alongside the existing
route through St Peter's Square; this will involve moving the Cenotaph.
http://tinyurl.com/674qd6m
Borders Railway update
The A7 (Carlisle-Edinburgh trunk road) bridged the Waverley route between
Galashiels and Edinburgh just south of Falahill Summit but after the line
closed the bridge was removed and the road realigned. It has been
announced that the local authority has approved a further realignment and
the construction of a new bridge to enable the reopened line to once
again pass under the A7 at this point.
Glasgow Queen St - Edinburgh
Scotland's biggest rail park-and-ride facility at Croy station was
officially opened on 23rd February 2011. Almost 1,000 spaces are now
available.
http://www.spt.co.uk/news/110223_croy.aspx
Spain
A 205m euro contract has awarded for a connection between the Valencia-
Barcelona route and the Madrid-Barcelona high speed line, replacing single
track through built-up areas between Vandells and Tarragona.
http://tinyurl.com/6z5kmhk
Italy
A 700m euro contract for construction of the Treviglio-Brescia second phase
of the Milano-Verona high speed line was signed by RFI and the Cepav Due
consortium on 7th March. The first 27 km of the Milano-Verona route as
far as Treviglio was completed in July 2007, and planning is underway for
the next stage to Verona, 140 km from Milano.
http://tinyurl.com/64vnrrm
Algeria
A 417m euro design and build contract for the Saida-Tiaret section of the
High Plateau line has been awarded to a joint venture in which Italian firm
Astaldi has a 60% stake. Work is set to begin shortly for completion
within 36 months.
http://tinyurl.com/62bgw27
Nigeria
The Federal Government is to concession the existing network of narrow
gauge railways after their full rehabilitation. It would cover the
eastern, western and central railway networks covering Port Harcourt to
Maiduguri, Lagos to Kano and Itakpe in Kogi to Warri in Delta through
Ajaokuta, also in Kogi.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/fg-to-concession-railways/
============
IN THE NEWS
Possible London Midland ticket office closures:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12734942
First Group may give up Great Western Franchise early:
http://tinyurl.com/6cbd97z
http://tinyurl.com/666gmso
Protests over railway radio masts in Devon and Cornwall:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12726652
Serious bridge bash in Chesterfield:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-12744093
http://tinyurl.com/6cy32rp
North to South Wales rail link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-12692948
Police death link to Abermule crash:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-12701922
Spa Valley Railway reopening to Eridge:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12730454
http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/SpaLatestNews.htm
Restoration of Ivatt Class 2MT No 46512 complete:
http://tinyurl.com/6kt5we2
http://www.strathspeyrailway.net/news.html
Ross-shire new steam train venture is rolling:
http://tinyurl.com/4pht7k6
Tsunami damage in Japan:
http://tinyurl.com/5ugc2ml
Marine life on a lost sunk container:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12718251
Fred Dibnah's traction engine named:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12722332
Fire at XelaBus depot in Chandlers Ford:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12725905
Check progress of a flight:
http://flightaware.com/live/
FlyBe changes at Manston:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12764240
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Mike Price, Nick Wheat
TV and RADIO
20/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 3/6
21/03/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"The Way We Travelled" TV travel shows 2/3
21/03/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Container ships and a giant magnet
21/03/11 Channel 4 2000-2100
"Dispatches: Train Journeys from Hell"
22/03/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"Blackpool on Film" Archive film of the resort
23/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 4/6
23/03/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"Behind the Scenes at the Museum" Commercial vehicle museum
24/03/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Moving a giant drilling platform
24/03/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"The British at Work - 1980-1995"
25/03/11 BBC2 1900-1930
"Britain on a Bike" The Cotswolds
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.
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/
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
01/04/11 Derbyshire Archaeological Society: Talk
William H Barlow - His Life and Works by Chris Lewis
Barlow was Engineer in Chief to the Midland Railway
St Mary's Parish Hall, Darley Lane, Derby
Starts 1930
03/04/11 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
03/04/11 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Mother's Day Special
http://www.wyvernrail.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/