NETWATCH
============
On 12th May 2011, Cymdeithas Aberaeron will commemorate 100 years since the opening of the
Lampeter to Aberaeron railway line, and launch a series of events and activities.
http://tinyurl.com/6cuepcn
The 1903 Electric Autocar Trust:
http://www.electricautocar.co.uk/index.html
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
The Royal Arsenal at Woolwich covered two square miles, within which were once 130 miles of
railway, 70 of which were 18-inch narrow gauge. In the early 1960s, some of the NG equipment
survived scrapping by going to the Bicton Woodland Railway near Budleigh Salterton, and 10
years ago, the ex-Royal Arsenal locomotives and rolling stock at Bicton were sold to the
Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills in Essex. That equipment will return to South East London
from 18th May 2011. when it is transferred to Crossness pumping station, beginning with
Avonside 0-4-0T 1748/1916 "Woolwich" and possibly the boiler of Vulcan Foundry 0-4-2T 1160/1885
"Mars".
http://www.crossness.org.uk/
London Underground station name anagrams:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/50/atmpublish.png
(Spotter: Neil Kearns)
Fleet Air Arm Museum:
http://www.fleetairarm.com
Wimborne Model Town:
http://www.wimborne-modeltown.com
Corfe Castle Model Village:
http://www.corfecastlemodelvillage.co.uk
============
Videos
Railway maps of the world - bringing people together:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13340942
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London Blackfriars
The two LCDR crests at southern end of Blackfriars bridge can no longer be seen. The original
bridge was dismantled in 1985, but the shields on the southern abutment were restored in 1990
with the abutment and shields listed Grade II in 1995. In March. contractors dismantled the
150-year-old cartouches (each weigh 16,100kg) and, after they have been cleaned, repaired and
painted, NR intends to have them reassembled and installed back-to-back above the western side
of the south station entrance of the new cross-river Blackfriars station being built for the
Thameslink Programme. One of the matching shields which originally stood on the northern
abutment now adorns the garden of railway enthusiast Sir William McAlpine.
http://tinyurl.com/3dapq58
SER Folkestone Harbour branch
The final passenger train on 13th March 2009 was the Golden Arrow tour from Waterloo, hauled by
Britannia pacific 70013 "Oliver Cromwell", and Orient Express services now terminate at
Folkestone West following a 1.4 upgrade. In June 2009, the Rememberance Line Association
(RLA) announced that it opposed plans for a new marina, university and 1,400 homes. Instead it
planned to reopen the line for trains to visit from all over the country. More recently the
RLA has made it clear that its aims are to preserve, maintain and operate the Folkestone
Harbour Railway and its entire infrastructure, including buildings and permanent way, as well
as serving a new cross-channel ferry service. To this end negotiations are in progress with
the Folkestone Harbour Board, local authorities, Network Rail and other interested bodies.
http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/
S&DJt Bath - Midsomer Norton
The New Somerset & Dorset Railway (NS&DR) was formed in 2009 as a land purchasing and lobbying
group with the ultimate ambition of reopening the whole of the S&D. Following its purchase of
the site of Midford station, the NS&DR has undertaken extensive tree and vegetation clearance.
They are also about to begin the rebuilding of the station which will, at first, serve as an
information point, shop, office and refreshment room. There is no intention to lay track
initially, although Midford will be a working station again in the future when the Bath to
Midsomer Norton section is reopened.
http://www.somersetanddorsetrailway.co.uk/about-us/
S&DJt Shillingstone signalbox
An item in the June edition of the Railway Magazine reveals that a new signalbox has appeared
at Shillingstone, between Templecombe and Broadstone, in rapid time. Construction began
shortly before Christmas when a team of volunteers identified suitable recycled timber, and the
box was virtually complete by Easter.
http://www.shillingstone.addr.com/Latest%20News.htm
Chiltern Services
Chiltern Railways is to significantly expand its loco-hauled operations between Marylebone and
Birmingham Moor Street from the 22nd May timetable change by returning a number of the
redundant Wrexham & Shropshire Mk3 sets to use. These include 08.20, 13.20, 16.30 and 18.30
ex-Marylebone and 05.43, 06.14, 10.55 and 15.55 ex-Birmingham Moor Street.
Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
In preparation for extending their line further south, the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway has
renovated Ludborough signalbox. The project included an overhaul of the mechanical and
electrical equipment plus painting the exterior GNR cream and brown.
http://tinyurl.com/6ghn58f
Leicestershire
In April, two 70ft bridges, made redundant by the recent upgrade at Reading, were donated to
the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd by NR. They are earmarked to be used side-by-side
to span Nottingham Road (A60) at Loughborough where the original bridge is almost life-expired.
GW/MRJt Halesowen - Longbridge
The disused line into the former Rover factory at Longbridge, the last remaining part of the
joint line from Halesowen, has recently been lifted, and a substantial metal fence erected
across the line at Halesowen Junction (adjacent to the main Birmingham-Gloucester line). The
junction points remain, however, and the former Longbridge ticket office on the A38 overbridge
is still in situ.
LNWR Walsall (Ryecroft Jn) - Lichfield City
This line lost its passenger service in 1965 and Ryecroft Junction-Anglesey Sidings closed to
goods in 1984. The 4 miles between Anglesey Sidings and Lichfield is officially OOU but
hasn't seen any traffic for ten years! Recently, however, track in the vicinity of Anglesey
Sidings has been used for Quattro Road-Railer vehicle training.
Video:
http://tinyurl.com/5w7rpus
Staythorpe Crossing
Staythorpe Crossing, a 35 lever 1950 LMS box located three miles west of Newark Castle on the
line from Nottingham, has been refurbished. It retains all mechanical semaphores, including
two heavy pulls for two distant signals. The connections into the down reception sidings are
still in situ, but clipped and padlocked OOU. There has been talk of these sidings being
brought back into use for delivery of oil to the new Staythorpe power station, but as yet
nothing has transpired.
South Wales
Proposals for an elevated monorail system (similar to the one in Wuppertal, Germany) have been
discussed between Cardiff City Council and London based company Monometro. If approved it
would run between Central station and Mermaid Quay.
http://tinyurl.com/6hskwol
South Wales Signalling & Control Centre (SWCC), Newport Area
Phase 1b covering the resignalling of the South Wales main line between Llanwern Works West and
Marshfield (6 miles east of Cardiff Central) and northwards to around MP37 (boundary with
Little Mill Jn) and to Park Jn is expected to be completed on 16th May 2011. The new main line
signalling is four-aspect LED to around 161.25, then modified existing four-aspect signals to
Marshfield 163.60, but on the Up lines it is only three-aspect east of Maindee West Jn. Park
Jn-Gaer Jn is upgraded to passenger status in anticipation of a Newport-Ebbw Vale service. The
tracks through Newport station are now to be known as Up main (P4), Up & Down (P3), Down Main
(P2) Up Relief, Down Relief and Up & Down (P1).
Ellesmere Port area, Cheshire
Branch Line News reports that the old Cawood's siding has been relaid 20 years after it closed
to bring in sand destined for the Quinn Glass Plant in Elton. Of equal interest is that,
because material has to be transported the final five miles by road, there are plans to serve
the factory directly by reinstating the line from West Cheshire Junction to Ince Marshes that
formerly served Kemira Fertilisers.
NER Malton - Driffield
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway Restoration Project has secured funding from LEADER (a European
Commission initiative supporting the development of rural areas across the European Union) to
assist with their initial plans to install a visitor centre formed of track and rolling stock
at the former Sledmere and Fimber station site. LEADER are also funding a
recently-commissioned feasibility study into this project and the proposed longer term
reopening of part of the route as a steam railway.
http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/
North Yorkshire
Removed by British Railways in 1952, the roof of Pickering station (the southern terminus on
the North Yorkshire Moors Railway) has been restored to its former glory - the culmination of a
project that has stretched over more than 10 year.
http://tinyurl.com/3ue5mo8
Durham Coast Line Resignalling
The signal box at Seaham survives for the present to control a foot crossing, but in April an
underbridge was being installed. Once completed the crossing and the box can both be closed.
NER Wear Valley branch
The heritage line between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope utilises parts of two former lines:
Bishop Auckland-Crook and Wear Valley Jn-Wearhead. The Weardale Railway that operates the line
is considering building two new stations at Witton Park and Witton-le-Wear.
http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/
NER Alnmouth - Alnwick
In addition to helping the Yorkshire Wolds Railway (above) LEADER has provided the Aln Valley
Railway with a grant of 129,000. Northumberland Estates has also contributed 30,000 (with
further annual donations) to help the reinstate the line. The revived railway will commence on
a greenfield site, (Lloyd's Field) adjacent to the A1 Alnwick bypass, to be known as Lionheart
station with road access to this site requiring a new link from the existing Lionheart
Enterprise Park. At Alnmouth, a new car park will assist access when the line reaches a new
terminus to be built alongside the ECML station. Planning permission for the new line includes
provision for a cycletrack alongside.
http://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk/
Glasgow
Automatic ticket barriers are to be installed at selected stations in Glasgow including Central
High and Low levels.
Limerick Junction
The February edition of the Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society gives details for the
commissioning of Iarnrd ireann's new signalling at Limerick Junction, the last location of
semaphore signals on the Dublin-Cork line. Limerick Junction South cabin closed on 11th
December 2010 and Limerick Junction North cabin closed on 13th December. Control was passed to
mainline CTC at Dublin Connolly at 04.10 on 13th December.
Germany
Work on putting Stuttgart Hbf terminus underground to replace the exiting Hbf terminus as a
through station (Raildate 1st October 2010) has been put on hold. Local opposition started
last summer but heavy-handed policing of demonstrations by around 30,000 people, quickly turned
the project into a major political issue.
Israel
Deutsche Bahn has withdrawn from its supportive role creating more political problems for
Israel's $2b Jerusalem-Tel Aviv high speed line.
http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2010/11/oy-vey-high-speed-rail-line-cuts.html
Sri Lanka
The newly built Colombo-Kankasanthurai Northern line along with Omanthai station is due to open
on 27th May 2011.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11/May01_1304264734KA.php
China
Full-scale trials along the entire 1,318km length of the Shanghai-Beijing high-speed railway
line will begin on 9th June 2011 with scheduled services starting later that month. Journeys
between Shanghai and the capital will cut from 10 to 18 hours at present to around five hours.
http://english.eastday.com/e/110507/u1a5876783.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-05/11/c_13869523.htm
Canals
A new charity is to take control of English and Welsh canals and waterways.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/30/uk-waterways-charity
============
IN THE NEWS
Station manager sacked for moving trolley off line:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-13360741
FGW requesting longer franchise periods:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-13372900
Lifting barrier installation at Winning signal box:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/limitofshunt/sets/72157626504458107/
Crackdown on scrap metal thieves in North East England:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-13321758
Increase in cable theft in Wales:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13338595
Dispute over painting a water tower at Cardiff Central:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13358449
Cambrian Coast rail Closure for Porthmadog bypass work:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-13281587
In praise of. LTC Rolt:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/12/in-praise-of-ltc-rolt
Kielder scenic railway viaduct to reopen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-13337791
Staff redundancies on Isle of Man Railways:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-13303431
Vatican railway reopens:
http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=486328
US rail investment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13337557
Edinburgh Trams budget problems:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13380580
Canal bridge gets 450,000 restoration:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-13326095
Restoration of Thames tug:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-13297969
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Mike Price
TV and RADIO
14/05/11 Channel 4 2000-2100
"The Untold Battle of Britain" Story of a Polish squadron
14/05/11 BBC4 2305-2335
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 2/4 The Worcester & Birmingham
15/05/11 BBC2 1910-2000
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" 2/6 Formula One
15/05/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Secret Life of the National Grid" 2/3
15/05/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"Operation Crossbow" Story of a secret RAF operation in WW2
16/05/11 BBC4 2030-2100
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 3/4 The Kennet & Avon Canal
16/05/11 BBC4 2100-2200
"The Golden Age of Canals" Post-WW2 documentary
16/05/11 BBC2 2320-0020
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" 2/6 Formula One
17/05/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"Britain by Bike" North Devon
17/05/11 BBC2 2320-0020
"Operation Crossbow" Story of a secret RAF operation in WW2
18/05/11 BBC4 1930-2030
"Indian Hill Railways" 3/3 The Shimla Railway
19/05/11 ITV1 1930-2000
"The True Cost of a Car" The escalating cost of being mobile
19/05/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Golden Age of Canals" Post-WW2 documentary
19/05/11 BBC4 2100-2200
"A303: Highway to the Sun" Basingstoke to Honiton by road
20/05/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers" 1/8
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.
14/05/11- ExpoEM
15/05/11 Bracknell Leisure Centre
14/05/11- Derby Model Railway Exhibition
15/05/11 Moorways Sports Centre, Moor Lane, Derby, DE24 9HY
14/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Weekend
15/05/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
16/05/11 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) Filmshow
The Library Theatre, Tudor Square, Sheffield, S1 1XZ
Railways Remembered - the 1950s, Rob Foxon
Starts 1930 (doors 1900)
Tickets: 6.50 (6.00 concessions) on the door.
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
17/05/11 Peak Railway Association (Chesterfield Branch) Slideshow
New Inn, 229 Mansfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, S41 0JJ
Bass Railway Trips, Rodney Pearson
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/ChesterfieldBranch.html
18/05/11 Churnet Valley Railway: Scenic Evening Passenger Service
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
21/05/11- Winchester Cathedral: "Models & Music"
22/05/11 GWR model railway and local GWR exhibition
At the Undercroft, next to the Education Centre in the Inner Close
Admission by donation - proceeds to the Cathedral Music Fund
1000-1730
21/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Steam Weekend
22/05/11 Includes Bachmann Model Club "Trackside 2011" event, 21st May
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
28/05/11 Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating day
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
28/05/11- Winchester Cathedral: "Models & Music"
29/05/11 GWR model railway and local GWR exhibition
At the Undercroft, next to the Education Centre in the Inner Close
Admission by donation - proceeds to the Cathedral Music Fund
1000-1730
28/05/11- Hayle Model Railway Club Exhibition
29/05/11 Hayle Day Care Centre, Commercial Road, Hayle, TR27 4DE
1000-1600 both days
http://www.haylemrc.org.uk/
28/05/11- Aylesbury Railex
29/05/11
http://railex.org.uk
28/05/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Wirksworth Carnival Open Days
30/05/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
29/05/11- Middleton Top Winding Engine, Cromford & High Peak Rly
30/05/11 Engine in motion 1300-1630
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
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/
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.
