RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.hpmrs.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/
** Next week's issue will be the last until 29th April due to the Editor's holiday.
**
NETWATCH
============
The Keith and Dufftown Railway:
http://www.keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/
The Branch Line Society:
http://www.branchline.org.uk/
The Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association
http://sarpa.info/index.html
(Spotter: John McCrickard)
Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway
http://www.bwlr.co.uk/index.php
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
Funicular railway web magazine:
http://www.funimag.com/Funimag-oldissues.htm
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
Another victim of the fotopic debacle is Paul Bartlett, whose wagon site
has been hugely popular over the years. He is slowly rebuilding the site
on Zenfolio:
http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/
Andy Gibbs has done likewise with his British Rail through the '70s and
'80s gallery:
http://andygibbs.zenfolio.com/
Goods & Not So Goods - an overview of railway freight operations for
modellers:
http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/
Inland waterways of Ireland - history and "online heritage centre":
http://irishwaterwayshistory.com/
============
Videos...
Great Central Railway 3850 Charter, 11th March:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzGbayQ36ac
The Battlefield Line, 19th March:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ngTDRAnfFk
North Norfolk Railway Spring Steam Gala:
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgIzoMaJSyQ
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIKRsKkktEA
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
Time-lapse photography of the arrival of BR Standard 2-6-0 78019 at
Wirksworth, from the Great Central Railway at Loughborough, in order to
inaugurate services over the newly reopened line to Duffield at Easter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxlnr-Qe1NU
And leaving Wirksworth for the first time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-dG8FE59Bg
(Neil Ferguson-Lee)
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
National Rail
The railways are attracting record numbers of passengers. With 1.32bn
journeys made by train in 2010, they carried more passengers in a
peacetime year than at any time since the late 1920s.
http://tinyurl.com/4azh8vk
London Crossrail
To access a detailed map of a particular section of the route go to
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/near-you
You can then enter a station from a drop down list or alternatively an
address or post code.
North London Line upgrade
An item in Branch Line News summarises signalling control as follows:
Liverpool Street IECC
The former NLL Workstation was closed as it was on a different floor to
the rest of the workstations.
A new Temple Mills Workstation on the main floor controls High Meads Jn to
Highbury & Islington (exc), Stratford platforms 11 and 12 to Coppermill Jn
(exc - signals prefix S) and Barking (exc) to Wanstead Park (signals prefix L).
Upminster IECC
The Eastern Workstation controls Stratford platforms 1 and 2, Stratford
Central Jn (exc) and High Meads Jn to Highbury & Islington (exc - signals
prefix NL).
The Central Workstation (signals prefix also NL) controls Highbury &
Islington to Acton Wells Jn (exc), Primrose Hill (exc), Willesden Jn Low
Level (exc), Harlesden Jn (exc), Mitre Bridge Jn (exc), Copenhagen Jn
(exc) and CTRL links at Camden Road. In conjunction with New Cross Gate
SCC (signals prefix ELL) it will also control the Transfer Line at
Highbury although, at present, the overhead doesn't meet the third rail in
platform 2.
SER Canterbury - Whitstable
Canterbury City Council has given Sustrans and the Crab and Winkle Line
Trust the go-ahead to build bridges over the main London-Ramsgate line and
across Old Bridge Road and Teynham Road in Whitstable.
http://tinyurl.com/64eprjd
Chichester
The third phase of an interchange scheme, designed to increase public
transport use locally, that involves moving the city bus station from its
present site to the railway forecourt has been put on hold. It is thought
that the forecourt area may not have the capacity to cope with the bus
usage.
http://tinyurl.com/6g8rnby
GER Saffron Walden branch
News that work has started on a project to provide a transport interchange
at Audley End reminded me that this was the start of the 7 mile line to
Bartlow and that in August 1968 the last remaining section of track at
Bartlow was used for the film "The Virgin Soldiers". Black 5 4-6-0 44781,
disguised as a Malayan Railways tank loco, was derailed for the jungle
ambush scene and, despite attempts to preserve it, was cut up on site the
following year.
Yarmouth Vauxhall bridge
The threat of demolition has been lifted following the award of some
funding by the County Council and a 250,000 matching grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund.
http://www.96ktalkback.co.uk/vauxhalllinks/
Swindon
On 26th March 2011, it will be 25 years since the former GWR locomotive
and carriage works closed with the loss of more than 2,000 jobs.
LNWR Northampton - Peterborough
The western end of the Nene Valley Railway was used during the first week
of March to film a "spectacular stunt" for a forthcoming episode of the
BBC1 series "Casualty", scheduled to be broadcast at the end of June.
Notts/Leics
The development arm of the Great Central Railway has applied for a 2.5m
grant from the Government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF). If successful, it
will go towards the estimated 15m cost of building the missing link
between the two sections of preserved railway.
The Foxfield Railway
Branch Line News reports that the target date for passenger services
between Dilhorne Park and Foxfield Colliery continues to slip. April 2011
was to have been the month, but it is bound to be later following
suspension of services after an accident investigation.
http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/
Chesterfield station
Branch Line News reports that the new third platform on the down goods for
emergency use is now complete. Constructed largely of steel, it extends
south of the adjacent platform 2 and appears long enough for an HST. It
is separated from platform 2 by fencing and gates.
Cleethorpes
Thanks to a 250,000 grant, empty buildings at Cleethorpes station are to
be renovated and turned into a social centre and museum.
L&YR Horwich branch
It has been noted that Bolton Council supports the demolition of a large
part of what remains of the former Lancashire & Yorkshire loco works to
create space for 1,600 new homes. Now the council has organised a month-
long public consultation exercise on the proposal. It also wants to
provide factory units to create 4,000 new jobs, but this would require the
lifting of conservation restrictions.
http://tinyurl.com/5rptdho
NER Harrogate - Northallerton
Under Sustrans "Connect2", Bilton-Ripley will form a cycle route; in
December 2009, North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Council agreed
to complete a "Bridleway Creation Order" and construct the route, but
there remained considerable concern from landowners. Now, following a
public enquiry, a planning inspector has approved this controversial
400,000 footpath and cycleway. The new path will also follow part of the
Pateley Bridge branch.
http://tinyurl.com/5vnwknm
Glasgow-Edinburgh
Drumgelloch, Caldercruix and Armadale, the three stations that were not
completed in time for the December reopening of the Airdrie-Bathgate line
are now open.
http://tinyurl.com/62ruyy9
Glasgow to Dumbarton Central
Partick Housing Association has secured planning and funding approval for
a 14m development on former railway land close to the new Glasgow
Transport Museum. 87 flats will be created at Ferry Road on the banks of
the River Kelvin where once a spur from Kelvin Hall station (closed 1964)
headed south, crossed the river and ended alongside the still operational
ex-NBR line (from Glasgow Central and Queen Street Low Level to Patrick)
just north of Yorkhill station (closed 1921).
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14m-new-homes-for-partick-site-1.1086565
NBR Peebles - Galashiels
This line will be adapted to create a walking and cycling route between
Peebles, Cardrona and Innerleithen. The first phase, between Peebles and
Eshiels, including the restoration of the tunnel under the A72, was
completed in May 2010. Included in the next stage is a new bridge over
the Tweed, presumably to replace the missing structure at Woodend.
http://tinyurl.com/487hhlz
NBR Inverbervie Branch
Work is now underway to build a two-mile extension of the cycleway in
Montrose to link up to the North Water Viaduct using the disused trackbed
through Kinnaber, and skirting around the west side of the fields
immediately south of the viaduct to avoid conflict with farming.
http://tinyurl.com/4mxw3al
Northern Ireland
The first of 20 new class 4000 trains, supplied by CAF of Spain for
Northern Ireland Railways and representing a 114million investment,
arrived at Belfast Docks on 14th March 2011. It was taken to Translink's
York Road depot and after acceptance testing will operate on the line to
Larne.
http://tinyurl.com/674bbbq
Meanwhile work (delayed for over a year negotiating purchase of non-
railway owned land) has started on a dedicated traincare facility for the
new units; it is located at the former Belfast Adelaide freight yard.
Algeria
The Algerian government has awarded a consortium a 1.2bn-euro contract to
build a 66km line linking the city of Tlemcen (500km west of Algiers) with
the frontier post at Akkid Abbas forming part of the planned line
connecting Oued Tllat to the Moroccan border. The first two-thirds of
the route in western Algeria will require the construction of 34 viaducts
and 9 tunnels.
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110315054043
India
In an effort to boost rail tourism and specifically promote steam
locomotives to provide tourists with an experience of a bygone era, Indian
Railways plans to operate nine steam locomotives, currently housed at
Rewari steam locomotive shed in Haryana, on selected routes.
http://tinyurl.com/47tsz4z
UK firm Mott Macdonald is to conduct a pre-feasibility study into building
a 993km high-speed line along the Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna route.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5058571
============
IN THE NEWS
Greater Anglia Franchise:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12853304
Shortlist of tenders for WCML franchise:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-12853867
ECML near Peterborough closed overnight by lineside fire:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-12858395
Complaints over narrow seats:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12819180
Potters Bar train crash charge against Jarvis dropped:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12783737
Station expansion work reveals railway history:
http://tinyurl.com/5ugt5qt
London Midland train crew strike ballot:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12809656
Bombardier's Derby output surpasses LMS and BREL:
http://www.railpro.co.uk/news/?idArticles=746
Lives put at risk in cable gang's railway crime spree:
http://tinyurl.com/6ehnyt2
Conductor says wrecked train was speeding:
http://tinyurl.com/5wttknz
Stoke on Trent platform extensions:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-12825586
FGW Control:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/mar/19/working-life-railway-controller
RAIB report on Earl's Court engineering train derailment:
http://tinyurl.com/66483ls
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12830123
RAIB report on accident at Cheshunt March 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/4v7vxa9
Edinburgh Haymarket ferret 'took London train':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12820220
Borders to Edinburgh railway 100m loan deal agreed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-12816773
Conon Bridge station set to re-open:
http://tinyurl.com/63pqm9h
Power failure at Cardiff Signalling Centre:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12816516
Port Talbot station upgrade:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12807279
East Anglian Railway Museum opens new heritage centre:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12731737
Stainmore Railway boosted by cash boost:
http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/teesdale-news/story,3247.html
Rosedale (North Yorks) railway celebrates 150th anniversary
http://tinyurl.com/6gcbjbh
http://www.rosedalerailway.org/
Manx railway rolling stock row:
http://www.manxradio.com/newsread.aspx?id=50869
Nottingham tram extension to use old GCR route:
http://tinyurl.com/5w63top
News of the Sheffield Supertram/Train:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-12844983
London to Frankfurt high-speed rail link back on track:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/mar/20/europe-rail-transport
Flying into Japan when the earthquake happened:
http://tinyurl.com/4aac4bp
A400M test flight to Filton:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12850440
Cargo ship grounded near the Needles:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12800649
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12802756
Forth Bridges from the air:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12706015
New route Derry to Paris:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12827274
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, ted Millward, Reg Nerps,
Ralph Rawlinson
TV and RADIO
27/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 4/6
27/03/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Formula One's 60th Anniversary"
27/03/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Grand Prix: the Killer Years"
28/03/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"The Way We Travelled" TV travel shows 3/3
28/03/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" The BFI's stock of flammable film
29/03/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"The Yorkshire Dales on Film" Archive film
30/03/11 BBC1 1830-1900
"The Boat That Guy Built" Renovating a narrow boat 5/6
30/03/11 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Swanage to Lands End
31/03/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Making light bulbs and silencing cars
01/04/11 BBC2 1900-1930
"Britain on a Bike" The Highlands
01/04/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"The British at Work - 1995-now"
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.
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
02/04/11 Belper Model Railway Group Open Day
Strutts, Derby Road, Belper, Derbyshire
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/
04/04/11 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) Slideshow
The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG
Each a Memory, Keith Marshall
A nostalgic look at the early 1990s.
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
08/04/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Grand Opening Weekend
10/04/11 After over 10 years of effort, the line opens throughout
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/