NETWATCH
============
Yet another victim of the demise of Fotopic was Geoff Plumb. Like many others, he is slowly
rebuildung his site on SmugMug:
http://www.plumbloco.co.uk
An excellent site for planning European rail travel, which offers the most extensive range of
train tickets throughout Europe:
http://www.raileurope.co.uk
(Spotter: Stephen Dias)
The Station Colours website - featured before, but worth another mention:
http://www.stationcolours.info/
(Spotter: Mark Ingamells)
Recent "explores"...
Brierley Tunnel, H&BR:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=60810
Queensbury-Halifax branch:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=60435
Connaught Road Tunnel, Dockland:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=60400
Dunton Basset Tunnel, Leicester:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=60073
Photo Essay on Cornwall's abandoned mines:
http://weburbanist.com/2011/05/29/brawns-age-cornwalls-scenic-abandoned-mines/
============
Videos
Audio slideshow: The Restoration Game:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13567574
============
Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup
London Thameslink
The final phase of the programme includes plans to create a bigger and better London Bridge
station. The number of through tracks will increase from six to nine (with a corresponding
reduction in the number of terminating ones). The listed train shed roof on the terminating
(LB&SC) side of the station will be demolished, whilst a massive new concourse will sit
underneath the tracks with two new entrances provided on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street.
South London
Birse Metro has been awarded the 75m contract to build the extension from Surrey Quays to
Clapham Junction, the final part of the London Orbital network. Work has already begun on just
under one mile of new railway between Silwood Junction (south of Surrey Quays station on the
ELL) and the site of Old Kent Road Junction (north of Queen's Road, Peckham, station on the
existing South London line). A new bay platform will be built at Clapham Junction (from the
existing platform 2) creating two platforms for London Overground. Meanwhile, the 14.5m
makeover of Clapham Junction station, that included a new entrance from St John's Hill, has
been completed and was officially opened on 19th May 2011.
http://tinyurl.com/6ckvc3z
Clapham Junction
Work commenced earlier this year on track and signalling alterations affecting the working of
the line between Clapham Jn and Kensington Olympia, which is under the control of Victoria ASC
located at Clapham Junction. It includes the redoubling of the Latchmere Curve and new points
(secured OOU pending commissioning) have been been installed on the Up and Down West London
lines at Latchmere No 2 Junction (00.68ch) and at (1m 02ch) forming part of a crossover south
of Imperial Wharf station.
East Kent Resignalling
Works on the East Kent Resignalling project covering
Sittingbourne-Faversham-Ramsgate/Shepherd's Well continues. Commissioning is scheduled for
January 2012 when Canterbury East, Faversham, Margate, Ramsgate and Shepherd's Well signal
boxes plus Teynham Crossing box will close.
GWR Culm Valley Light Railway
According to the Devon newspaper "The Herald" there are proposals to convert the disused
Hemyock branch into a cyclepath. This line, aka the Culm Valley Light Railway, ran for seven
miles between Tiverton Junction and Hemyock and lost its passenger service in 1963.
http://tinyurl.com/3wvt9hl
Severn Bridge Station Signal box
The Midland type 4a signal box at Severn Bridge station on the GW/MR joint line from Lydney to
Sharpness opened in 1911. It presumably closed at the same time as the line on 26th October
1960, resulting from the collapse of the bridge after being struck by the 229-ton tanker
Wastdale. The box reportedly spent many years in West London but has now, along with its
long-term owners, moved to the Somerset village of North Brewham (close to the West of England
main line NE of Castle Cary).
GWR Monmouth - Chepstow
Further to last week's post, Sustrans says it is dismayed that Monmouthshire County Council
officials still have not advised their planning committee on the application, lodged nine
months ago, to secure a cycleway along the disused line between Tintern and Chepstow, but has
vowed to fight on after the delay led to a funding cut. Full report at:
http://tinyurl.com/4xy9e6c
South Wales
Five miles of the main line between Swansea and Llanlelli were singled in 1986, and today this
constrains service frequency. NR has therefore decided to redouble the track, but the
1852-built, Grade II listed, 235yd-long, timber trestle, Loughor Viaduct will first have to be
replaced, because it is too week to support loads associated with double track.
Didcot
The GWR Steam Railmotor No 93, restored at Llangollen, was put through its paces at Didcot last
Saturday 28th May.
http://tinyurl.com/3eqq7jf
Thames Valley Signalling & Control Centre
Signalling Solutions has been selected to deliver new interlocking on the GW main line as part
of the Crossrail project. The 'Crossrail Surface Signalling West Inner' relocking project will
see the existing 13 solid state interlockings (SSI) at Slough replaced by four of the parent
company's Alstom Smartlock 400T interlockings to be controlled remotely from TVSC at Didcot.
The area concerned extends for 12 miles from Paddington-West Drayton including the Heathrow
branch and should be up and running by Christmas 2011.
Nuneaton
Work on the 25m 1,580yd single track Nuneaton North Chord, mostly on embankment to carry
freight traffic from the Leicester direction over the four tracks of the WCML (reported in
Raildate 13th August 2010) started this Spring. It is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Full details, maps and photos at:
http://tinyurl.com/3kvodl6
Staffordshire
The WCML bottleneck at Norton Bridge, north of Stafford, has featured in Raildate several times
over the past eight months, but now Network Rail have announced its preferred plan to solve the
problem. The chosen scheme will take Birmingham to Manchester trains up and over the main line
rather than across it, and includes a new 4km section of track to the west of the existing main
line.
http://tinyurl.com/3srend2
Ambergate - Matlock line
In the vicinity of High Peak Junction, aqueducts carried the Cromford Canal over the MR main
line south of Lea Wood tunnel, over the River Derwent and (the long disused Lea Wood branch)
over MR line again at the north end of the tunnel. Rail magazine reports that the 163-year-old
iron aqueduct over the Derby-Matlock line at Cromford is to be renovated at a cost of 450,000.
The five-month programme of repairs has been approved by English Heritage.
Manchester East Control Centre
Ashburys and Guide Bridge, the two ex-GC signal boxes that control the line from Manchester
Piccadilly to Glossop and Hadfield from just east of Ardwick to a point between Newton and
Godley, are to close. Ashburys (formerly Ashburys East Junction) also controls the line SE
towards Romiley Jn (Up Main to Belle Vue, Down Main from Brinnington) whilst Guide Bridge
(formerly Ashton Junction) also controls the lines towards Stalybridge and Woodley. Both were
built in 1906 and both had a NX panels installed in 1984. Amey Rail has been awarded a 6.48m
contract to transfer control to what NR describes as an "interim" Manchester East Control
Centre housed in the Manchester South Signalling Centre at Stockport.
North West
Up to seven Blackpool-Liverpool Lime Street trains have been extended to Liverpool South
Parkway.
Leeds
Construction of the 14.4m scheme to provide a southern access to Leeds station from the
Granary Wharf area of the city by building a futuristic southern entrance is expected to start
in March 2013 with completion the following year, not 2012 as claimed at:
http://tinyurl.com/3hk7y2s
Renfrewshire
The station buildings at Fort Matilda, on the Gourock branch, are to be converted into a model
railway clubhouse following a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust's Station Regeneration
Fund.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-franchise/scrf
Dublin Luas (trams)
On 3rd May, driver training started on the 4.2km Belgard-Saggart branch off the Red Line (The
Point-Tallaght). Full passenger operation is expected to start during the first week in July.
Europe
The European Commission has adopted a new standard that requires harmonised computerised
timetable and fare data to be available on the Trans European Network. This is likely to lead
to compatible systems operating for entire national networks.
http://www.rssb.co.uk/EUROPE/Pages/TSI.aspx
Germany
DB has signed a contract with Siemens for up to 300 new high speed ICx EMUs to replace
conventional loco-operated InterCity trains, and eventually the ICE1 and ICE2 fleets as well.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/db-and-siemens-sign-icx-contract.html
Bulgaria
Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is to be restructured with the aim of stemming losses and
privatising commercial activities.
http://tinyurl.com/3cwxu5s
It has, however, lost a court battle trying to cancel an order for 30 sleeping cars with
Turkey's state owned manufacturer Tuvasas.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=128658
Romania
The Transport Ministry is recommending the closure of 1,474km of the countries state-owned CFR
17,691km network to reduce public expenditure.
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romania-to-close-railroads
============
IN THE NEWS
Deltic locomotive back in service due to freight demand:
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13592652
http://www.royalscotsgrey.com/index.php
Wires down Peterborough - Grantham:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-13585134
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13587278
Stratford remodelling complete:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13609428
RAIB Update - EMT Meridian derailment Market Harborough:
http://tinyurl.com/yarygh5
RAIB Update - Runaway freight at Shap August 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/63jr39b
RAIB Update - Derailment caused by Ice in Summit Tunnel December 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/65xofew
Flying Scotsman unveiled at National Railway Museum:
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-13573408
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13582357
Meet the staff keeping the National Railway Museum on track:
http://tinyurl.com/6fat3no
Push/pull working on the Swanage Line:
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news743.htm
Severn Valley assistance for G&WR:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13589265
Bure Valley Railway crash:
http://tinyurl.com/655z9jg
G&WR volunteer driving on the Talyllyn:
http://tinyurl.com/6y3c7op
Riverside Museum in Glasgow:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13608109
NIR class 4000 diesel units:
http://www.translink.co.uk/NI-Railways/New-Trains/
New bus station for Slough:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13527006
Titanic: How can a disastrous ship be celebrated?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13593391
Belfast remembers Titanic launch:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13602851
Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/13598405
Cruise ships visiting Belfast:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13584003
Inquest into Biz-jet crash near Biggin Hill 30th March 2008:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13603149
Aberdeen to Azerbaijan air service:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13600787
Spotters: Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps
TV and RADIO
04/06/11 BBC2 1840-1910
"Dad's Army" The Royal Train
04/06/11 BBC4 2225-2325
"African Railway" A look at the Tazara Railroad
05/06/11 BBC2 1810-1900
"Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections" 5/6 The Space Shuttle
05/06/11 BBC4 1900-2000
"Britain's Park Story" Dan Cruickshank
05/06/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"Coast" New series 1/6 London to Antwerp
06/06/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Between the Lines: Railways in Fiction and Film" With Andrew Martin
07/06/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"The Country House Revisited" Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, Down
08/06/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Explosions: How We Shook the World"
10/06/11 BBC2 1930-2030
"Coast" New series 1/6 London to Antwerp
10/06/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers" 4/8
10/06/11 BBC2 2100-2130
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 2/4 The Worcester & Birmingham Canal
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
04/06/11- Leawood Pumping Engine Steaming Day, Cromford Canal
05/06/11 Engine in motion 1200-1700
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
05/06/11 Twyford Waterworks: Industrial Railways & Communications
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
05/06/11 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
05/06/11 Andover Bus Rally
05/06/11 Cheltenham Coach Rally
05/06/11 Middleton Top Winding Engine, Cromford & High Peak Rly
Engine in motion 1300-1630
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
05/06/11 Churnet Valley Railway: Alf Tunstall Classic Bus Rally
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
06/06/11 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) Slideshow
The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG
Another Round Britain Tour, John Morten
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch
12/06/11 Strawberries and Steam
Copythorne, nr Southampton
12/06/11 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Rolls Royce Meet
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
12/06/11 Churnet Valley Railway: Cream Tea & Steam
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
16/06/11 Bynea and Llwynhendy Local History Society: talk
Red Cow, Bynea, Carmarthenshire SA14 9LP
"Brunel in South Wales" by Stephen Jones
Begins 1900
18/06/11 Solent Railwayana Auctions
Community Centre, Mill Lane, Wickham, Hampshire, PO17 5AL
Viewing: 0800, Start: 1000
http://www.solentrailwayana.com/
18/06/11- GWSG Exhibition
19/06/11 Abbeywood Community School, New Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8SF
(approx 10 minute walk from Bristol Parkway station)
1100-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
Adult: 6.00, GWSG Members: 5.00, Partners & U16: Free
Refreshments available will include hot snacks
18/06/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Triumph Car Meet
19/06/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
19/06/11 Copythorne Strawberries and Steam
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.