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BOOK NEWS
"The Hidden Railways of Portsmouth and Gosport" by Dave Marden
This book looks at the lines around Portsmouth Harbour that were operated mainly by the
Admiralty and the Military, far from the public gaze. These secretive systems were often
obscured by high walls, and most glimpses would have been through closely-guarded gates, with
the occasional sight of a train joining the main line. This book brings together data,
illustrations and potted histories to give an insight into the locations and operation of these
concealed railways.
Of prime importance to Portsmouth is the naval dockyard which was home to over fifty
locomotives over the years, but other associated facilities included the Naval Armament Depots
at Gosport, the Gunnery School at HMS Excellent on Whale Island and the Army's presence at
Hilsea Ordnance Depot - all of which are included.
Several large-scale construction projects also feature, as do railways and locomotives that do
not quite fit into the Military or Contractors categories, such as the Stokes Bay Pier and the
Lee-on-the-Solent railways. While these were not concealed from the public eye, they are of
interest, and are appropriate to the theme of the book. Included for completeness are the
dockyard branch lines, the industrial railway at Hilsea Gasworks, and Pounds Yard at Tipner.
Although not exactly "hidden", they were beyond public access and fit well into this volume.
Softback: 160 pages with over 175 photographs
273 x 215mm
978-1-905505-22-7
17.95 post free from the publisher
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/
sales@kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk
NETWATCH
UK railway employment records from 1833 to 1963 are now available on the ancestry.co.uk
website:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1728&bm=u
Video introduction:
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/occupations#exclusivevideos
A recent exploration of Devonshire Tunnel on the Somerset & Dorset:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=62999
All you'll ever want to know about rail travel around the world from "The Man in Seat 61":
http://www.seat61.com/
Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway:
http://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk
A series of photos taken between Edinburgh and Girvan:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25795659@N02/
A selection of railway slides by Andrew Bartlett of Stroud, Gloucestershire:
http://www.reallygoodtrains.co.uk/
The very final trains will run on the Mull railway during August - Sunday to Thursday each
week:
http://www.mullrail.co.uk
(Spotter: Mike Hanson)
A Bulgarian ex-BR class 87 features in this holiday brochure, showing off its number (87-004-8)
and white BR Arrow.
http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/gbtb.htm
(Spotter: Doug Maughan)
Canadian Railway Observations:
http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
New model railway ballast that is not discoloured by PVA announced by Stephen Freeman:
http://www.borg-rail.com
Brain Maguire talks about the restoration of London Transport trolleybuss No 1348:
http://1348.eavb.co.uk
(Spotter: Nick Wheat)
Poynton - a Coalmining Village:
http://www.brocross.com/poynton/conten.htm
(Spotter: Neil Ferguson-Lee)
And to go with it, a history of the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway:
http://www.marple-uk.com/railways/index.htm
The National Museum of Wales, Big Pit website - lots of information about mining (from a Welsh
perspective) and articles and magazines that can be downloaded:
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit/
(Spotter: Mike Price)
============
Videos
A Kiss In The Tunnel (1899):
http://www.yfaonline.com/assetDetails.cfm?film=2232
(Spotter: Nick Wheat)
View from an Engine Front, Barnstaple (1898). Featured before but worth repeating:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dziGmOLe3KU
As is the second part of the trip to Ilfracombe, which I think hasn't been mentioned before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyZZiwYTE10
And to complete the North Devon picture, a delightful film of the Barnstaple to Ilfracombe line
in its last days:
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-Nkjrjo_c
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V_FMj66b1k
The Settle-Carlisle Railway, 4th August 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryirTgFmeaQ
Great Central Railway "Mail by Rail" Gala, 23rd July 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFnNBGe6edQ
The Scarborough Spa Express, 26th July 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB1D_39Vtws
The Cumbrian Mountain Express and Waverley, 30th July 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMm2C1N-5Lc
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
============
IN THE NEWS
Network Rail resignalling plans:
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/07/21-4000-jobs-to-go-in.html
Derby County players to wear T-shirts for Bombardier:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-14387375
Thanmeslink petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/202
Gatwick Airport passengers hit by railway line flood:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14365970
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14368158
London Midland unveils new 93m Snow Hill fleet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14372520
Refurbishment of Slough station:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14299435
The next stop in London's railway renaissance:
http://tinyurl.com/43kwoyy
Increased service to East Kent via HS1:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-14386502
Trains for high capacity swap bodies over HS1:
http://tinyurl.com/3zbysl3
RAIB report into Oxshott incident (lorry lands on train):
http://tinyurl.com/3ko5e7c
RAIB investigation onto automatic open level crossings:
http://tinyurl.com/3nompe6
Application from Network Rail to build "North Doncaster Chord":
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6797.aspx
Dining car axe pays off:
http://news.scotsman.com/transport-news/Dining-car-axe-pays-off.6810144.jp
Scotrail fined nearly 500k after failing inspection in key areas:
http://tinyurl.com/3qamcm6
Train disruption after derailment in Edinburgh:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14318187
Extra late trains for the Edinburgh festival:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14372740
Barrier call for Scotland's open level crossings:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-14335989
Suggested Cambrian Line station reopening:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-14293095
Path on former Sully and Lavernock railway in South Wales:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-14331088
Northern Ireland safety campaign:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14378469
Isle of Wight Railway sunset specials:
http://tinyurl.com/44vljqc
Rare railway find uncovered in Sussex:
http://tinyurl.com/3k9gjyy
Sutton taxpayers own a steam locomotive that few have ever seen:
http://tinyurl.com/3wevyz2
33035 to move to Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in early August:
http://pioneer-diesels.co.uk/blog/
D335 returns to service on the East Lancs Railway on 30th July:
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqi5clPGZSU
Investigation into a boiler incident on the Kirklees Light Railway:
http://tinyurl.com/3r2zuxl
APT-P non-driving motor 49006 at Electric Railway Museum on loan from NRM:
http://tinyurl.com/3ccusa6
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=49455
Frustration over Sustrans at Appleby East station:
http://www.applebyeaststation.co.uk/
Llangollen 1960s weekend:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-14349625
Loco working Regional Zug on fire Berlin Ostbahnhof:
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtZ9EYbq5EI
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yvq6aj6sBI
Gautrain route opens in South Africa:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14371113
Indian railways "on-board catering mess":
http://tinyurl.com/4xgpkx4
Possible RATP takeover for Manchester Metrolink...?
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/metro/2011/08/01-french-set-to-take-over.html
Tram proposal for Preston:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14322070
Closure of Plymouth Airport:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-14319875
RBS to sell aircraft leasing and management business:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14257712
Nepal airport runway falls apart for fifth time in two months:
http://tinyurl.com/3wmkojd
HLF grant for White Star Line SS Nomadic:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14272042
Recycling loco ash on the Kennet and Avon Canal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-14267566
Volunteer Lock-keepers required:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14311529
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Richard Maund, Reg Nerps, Mike Price, Nick Wheat
TV and RADIO
06/08/11 Channel 4 1830-2100
"Battle of Britain" 1969 feature film, bags of flak at 500
08/08/11 Channel 5 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Drilling platforms and electric shavers
09/08/11 BBC4 1930-2000
"Grand Tours of Scotland" Rannoch Moor 4/6
09/08/11 BBC4 2000-2100
"Youth Hostelling - the First 100 Years"
09/08/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Monster Moves" Moving an aeroplane in an aeroplane
09/08/11 BBC2 2320-0020
"Town with Nicholas Crane" 2/4 Scarborough
10/08/11 BBC1 1930-2000
"National Treasures Live" Secret tunnels at Dover
10/08/11 BBC4 2230-2330
"The Children Who Built Britain" Children of the Industrial Revolution
11/08/11 BBC2 2100-2200
"Town with Nicholas Crane" 3/4 Perth
12/08/11 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Danger: Diggers at Work" 6/6 Diggers doing stuff...
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
06/08/11- West Somerset Railway: Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally
07/08/11
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/
06/08/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Classic Vehicles Meet
07/08/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
06/08/11 Cromford Steam Rally
07/08/11
http://www.cromford-steam.co.uk/
06/08/11- Leawood Pumping Engine Steaming Day, Cromford Canal
07/08/11 Engine in motion 1200-1700
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
06/08/11- Peak Rail: 1940s Weekend
07/08/11
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/
06/08/11- Cleveland Model Railway Club Exhibition
07/08/11 Redcar & Cleveland College, Corporation Road (A1085), Redcar
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
07/08/11 Twyford Waterworks: Rural Crafts
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
07/08/11 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
07/08/11 Provincial Society Rally
Stokes Bay, Gosport
http://www.provincialsociety.org/
07/08/11 Middleton Top Winding Engine, Cromford & High Peak Railway
Engine in motion 1300-1630
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
13/08/11- Plymouth Model Railway Exhibtion
14/08/11 Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade
1000-1700 (Sat), 1000-1600 (Sun)
http://www.plymouthmrc.co.uk
13/08/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Home Fleet Event
14/08/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
13/08/11- Midland Railway Centre, Butterley: Midland Railex
14/08/11 1000-1630 both days
http://www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk/leaflets/railex.pdf
13/08/11- Churnet Valley Railway: Barney Buffers & Friends
14/08/11
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
14/08/11 Twyford Waterworks Guided Tour Day
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
14/08/11 Middleton Top Winding Engine, Cromford & High Peak Rly
Engine in motion 1300-1630
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
16/08/11 Isle of Wight Bus Museum Running Day
http://www.iowbusmuseum.org.uk/
16/08/11 Peak Railway Association (Chesterfield Branch) Slideshow
New Inn, 229 Mansfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, S41 0JJ
Trams, Trains, Trolleys and Trivia, Frank Greaves
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/ChesterfieldBranch.html
17/08/11 Churnet Valley Railway: Barney Buffers & Friends
Also: Pirates of Consall bay
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
19/08/11- Dean Forest Railway: Day Out With Thomas
21/08/11
http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/
20/08/11 Manchester Victoria signalling school layout operating day
National Railway Museum, York
http://www.nrm.org.uk/
20/08/11- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Tractor Meet
21/08/11
http://www.wyvernrail.co.uk/
20/08/11- Churnet Valley Railway: Barney Buffers & Friends
21/08/11
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
21/08/11 Twyford Waterworks Guided Tour Day
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
21/08/11 Middleton Top Winding Engine, Cromford & High Peak Rly
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 Raildate here:
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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.