RAILDATE - your free weekly guide to what's happening, what's new and what's on
NETWATCH
Open Train Times site - select a station and a time and day. If you go to 'Settings' and click
on 'Advanced' it will show you passing times, train reporting number and maximum speed, etc.
It works for freight trains too. (try TOTONC next Tuesday at 15.00 for instance). Click on the
'i' for passing times.
http://www.opentraintimes.com/
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
Killamarsh Heritage Society, which is hoping to restore Killamarsh Central station, now has its
own website.
http://killamarsh.org/
The Cob is being widened at the Porthmadog end over the winter months to allow the building of
separate platforms for Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland trains. The work is being recorded on
video and posted to YouTube. Day 1 is here - follow the links to see further progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oedU6Fw14yg
(Spotter: Michael Prince)
A January 2012 exploration of the unfinished GWR Pontardawe tunnel.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=68043
And one of Pencader Tunnel, Carmarthenshire.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=68079
(Spotter: Tom Baldwin)
A recent exploration of Wolverton Carriage Works.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=810833#post810833
(Spotter: Nigel Callaghan)
"Picturing Britain" - Adil Ray explores British life through the lens of some of the country's
photographers. Urban explorers creep through tunnels and drains, scale cooling towers and
climb into abandoned buildings to get into parts of the country that are off-limits. Adil
joins Li as he photographs a derelict military site, clambering through nettles and decaying
buildings to document a hidden side of Britain. Although unusually Li has permission to
photograph, Adil is still on his guard, tiptoeing through the crumbling ruins and jumping at
every sound. (Programme should be available for at least a week.)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015mvs4
Moving History - a guide to the UK's twelve public sector moving image archives.
http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/
(Spotter: Mike Price)
An animation (with voice over) reconstructing the history and process of a late-19th century
metal mine at Ystrad Einion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BsTf6O24m8
Rick Eborall's photos of a TPO charter with "Oliver Cromwell" on 18th January.
Daytime shots:
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p729400298
Night-time shots:
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p795817499
East Lancashire Railway 21st January
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvccbvTbI94
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
An online biography of Thomas Green, one-time Station Master at Winchfield, LSWR. If there
doesn't appear to be very much on the page... page down!
http://tinyurl.com/7jvyoao
============
Swiss railway roundup by Neil Kearns
Harzer Schmalspurbahn Web cams (and weather reports)
http://www.hsb-wr.de/hsb_barrierefrei/webcams/
SBB real time travel information
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/help.exe/en?tpl=showmap_external
Rhaetian Railway goods services
http://www.rhb.ch/Goods-railway.19.0.html?&L=4
There's been a lot of snow at Realp, Furka-Bughstreche Bahn. Some interesting pictures on:
http://www.dieselcrew.ch/fotos/2012winter/index.html
Also, snow clearance in previous years on:
http://www.dieselcrew.ch/fotos/schnee/index.html
Rhb train stuck in snow (links to Swiss Railway modelling forum in German). On Saturday
morning the RhB trains didn't get to Disentis (and MGB had ceased service even earlier, due to
danger of avalanches). Train 1223, 06:15 from Disentis, the second train over the line, was
stuck in snow. The driver has posted some pictures he took:
http://tinyurl.com/6qzm9w3
He said that the few passengers were brought to the nearby level crossing where a taxi could
fetch them. He returned to Landquart at 19:00 instead of 09:00. That's working with a
mountain railway! (And no, he didn't go to the secretary of the union to ask for better
working conditions - he was simply impressed by the force of nature.
============
IN THE NEWS
Brockenhurst level-crossing - woman drives along tracks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16741868
Level crossing accident on Newquay branch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16640983
HS2 could release capacity on WCML
http://tinyurl.com/7x9v98k
Clearance of old Great Central route in Nottingham starts
http://tinyurl.com/7walgyt
Staffordshire Police encouraged to use buses and trains
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-16642990
Man sentenced for throwing man at train in Shrewsbury
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-16755863
Police release CCTV after 8ft high graffiti is daubed on Derby station
http://tinyurl.com/7latltv
Software for gauge clearance calculations
http://www.therailengineer.com/2012/01/12/mind-the-gap/
Signalling technology developments
http://www.therailengineer.com/2012/01/16/stamp-and-other-acronyms/
West Coast Franchise proposals
http://tinyurl.com/766xtbp
Suggested improvements at Ely North Jn (Returning to pre 1990 layout)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16731397
Train ticket from Carlisle to London could cost more than flight to New York
http://tinyurl.com/7rvxbjl
Thousands expected to attend Railfest 2012 at York's National Railway Museum
http://tinyurl.com/8xa298f
National Railway Museum to repatriate A4s from US and Canada
http://tinyurl.com/83gmgjw
Drainage work at Swanage station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16715251
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-16581220
ScotRail still guilty of keeping travellers in dark over delays
http://tinyurl.com/6szzhsy
Possible viewing platform on Forth Rail bridge
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16671719
Boost for sustainable transport in Scotland
http://tinyurl.com/6lhmdne
School train on Kyle line during road blockage
http://tinyurl.com/6s99xma
Kilted haggis puts station on red alert
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2611954
HS2 - Scottish view
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16733149
3.8m project to bring Perth railway station into the 21st century
http://tinyurl.com/87j4536
Whitland level crossing collision train delays
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16676597
'Trainspotter' faces terror charges over Ballykinlar pictures
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16760464
CP investments
http://tinyurl.com/8xokus6
On heritage run, world's oldest locomotive puts up a better show
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2835098.ece
$24 Million upgrade of Melbourne tram depot
http://tinyurl.com/7t9xz2j
Trent Barton blames rising costs for bus fare increases
http://t.co/tECOirKI
Silk Mill museum in Derby may be thrown lifeline
http://t.co/roAuFpX2
Welcome for first boat on new stretch of canal
http://tinyurl.com/7tclvzu
Hybrid powered boats in Hong Kong
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16686260
Fuel removal from Costa Concordia
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16696801
RAF Northolt may be sold by MoD to raise funds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16741144
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Mike Price
============
TV and RADIO
28/01/12 BBC4 2335-0035
"Airline: The Story of Pan-Am"
29/01/12 BBC4 1900-2000
"Timeshift: The Last Days of the Liners"
30/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 21/25 Bray to Dublin
31/01/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 22/25 Enfield to Drogheda
31/01/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Climbing Great Buildings" The Liver Building
01/02/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 23/25 Dundalk to Portadown
01/02/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Climbing Great Buildings" Coventry Cathedral
01/02/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"High Flyers: How Britain Took to the Air" The '20s and '30s
02/02/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 24/25 Belfast to Whitehead
02/02/12 Channel 4 2200-2305
"Confessions from the Underground" Lifting the lid on the tube
03/02/12 BBC2 1830-1900
"Great British Railway Journeys" 25/25 Ballymoney to Londonderry
============
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
28/01/12- Southampton Model Railway Society Exhibition
29/01/12 Barton Peveril College Eastleigh
http://www.smrs.hampshire.org.uk/
04/02/12- Alton Model Railway Group: FebEx 2012
05/02/12 Eggars School, Alton
Raildater Derek Gillkerson will be exhibiting Zwiesboden
http://www.altonmrg.co.uk/
04/02/12- Stafford Model Railway Exhibition
05/02/12 County Showground, Weston Road, Stafford, ST18 0BD
http://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/
05/02/12 Romsey Signal Box Open Day
Admission free (donations welcome!)
1000-1600
ex-Romsey Infants School, Plaza Parade, Winchester Rd, Romsey, SO51 8JA
Car park in old school grounds
http://www.romseysignalbox.org.uk
11/02/12 Newbury Model Railway Club Exhibition
St Bartholomew's School, Andover Road, Newbury
http://www.newburymrc.co.uk/common/home.htm
11/02/12- Festival of British Railway Modelling
12/02/12 Doncaster Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, Doncaster, DN2 6BB
https://www.model-railways-live.co.uk/
Cheers, Howard.
editor(at)raildate.co.uk replace (at) with @
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Issues of Raildate up to and including 18th December 2009 are at:
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This page includes a master catalogue of items that have appeared in previous editions of
Raildate.
(C) Howard Sprenger 2012.