RAILDATE - your free weekly guide to what's happening, what's new and what's on
NETWATCH
The Preserved Railway Stock Search aims to locate and identify all the locomotives and rolling
stock still extant in the UK, including private and industrial sites and everything from
main-line steam to grounded van bodies. You can search the current database here:
http://www.uklocos.com/preservedrailwaystocklist/
A recent exploration of the Great Northern Railway warehouse at Derby:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=69174
Great Western Railway Autotrailer No 169:
http://www.auto169.co.uk/
The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust at Midsomer Norton:
http://www.sdjr.co.uk/
A selection of videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sdjrmsn
North Yorkshire Moors Railway: spring Gala 12th May:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n11oGEr7I-A
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
The Army helps the Aln Valley Railway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9AJuyxzyoE
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
The Cooma Monaro Railway, New South Wales:
http://www.cmrailway.org.au
The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society
http://www.sbrhs.org/
The Model Tree Shop:
http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
============
BOOK NEWS
Views of a Changing Railway: Edward Hopper - Railwayman from 1925 to 1968
by Maurice Hopper
Covering a wide sweep of the railway story in the twentieth century, this book chronicles an
insider's view of the changing scene. Joining the Southern Railway in 1925 as a junior clerk,
Edward Hopper left the railway in 1968 from the position of Training Officer at the 222
Marylebone Road headquarters. He was a railwayman through and through, being involved with and
committed to all aspects of railway life. He was especially concerned to bring about a
reshaping of the railway through the development of its staff and good decision-making.
The story illuminates a neglected part of the railway: the way it trained, informed and
consulted with its staff, often with approaches that were advanced for their time. This
changing process is illustrated both by the example of his early career as well as the later
responsibility he had for the education and training of railwaymen. At times this story may
offer new insights for the more traditional reader of railway history.
Chris Green (formerly of Inter City and Virgin Trains) says the book "paints a fascinating
picture of the contrasting life in a private and nationalised industry, with pithy examples
from the time, but above all because it traces the life of one senior manager at a time of huge
change and shows just how much a determined individual can achieve in a large organisation.
Edward Hopper was one of those modest men whose achievements were in danger of being forgotten
by history. I commend his family for preventing this from happening and for ensuring that both
his achievements and his memory will live on. I commend their book as an excellent and
worthwhile read."
ISBN 978-0-7552-1439-6
E-book: 4.95, traditional book: 14.95
http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/bookshop.php
Printed copies may also be ordered at any good book shop
============
IN THE NEWS
Merseyrail trains to be replaced
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-18056511
Manchester prepares bid for rail franchise control
http://tinyurl.com/8xah6pk
RAIB investigation into fatal accident near Mansfield
http://tinyurl.com/7fsne9m
Crewe Works update
http://tinyurl.com/7hmgky3
East Midlands Trains sees sixth strike day
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18093280
RMT may join ASLEF/EMT dispute
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18062066
SWT extra rolling stock as viewed by Surrey CC
(The transferred stock will come from Southern routes - in Surrey!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18094440
SWT to take over 456 units
http://tinyurl.com/75m5g6p
Diamond Jubilee livery on c2c
http://tinyurl.com/6pad5m5
Diamond Jubilee livery on FGW
http://tinyurl.com/7g4ezo3
Blackadder star helps staff learn train announcements
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18050473
Optimism at St Andrews rail link feasibility study
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-18038394
Publicity for Scotrail sleeper services
http://tinyurl.com/cwpzmw9
Station upgrade is just the ticket
http://tinyurl.com/bn78al6
Scottish Cup final: Hibs and Hearts fans to travel on same trains
http://tinyurl.com/cnbpe3u
Fishguard and Goodwick train station officially reopens after 48 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18047255
Railway crime falls in Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18097815
Scrap thieves target Downpatrick & County Down
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18048450
Runaway Northern Line Tube train: Charges brought
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18096501
Quarry Hunslet Hugh Napier restored
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-18021924
Corfe Castle's new railway signal box opens
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18100253
The No 925 Cheltenham chugs back on to the rails after 50 years as Britain's rarest steam train
returns to service
http://tinyurl.com/ct8loyn
(There's just too much wrong with that headline, as the comments after the article attest!)
Weardale Railway accountant denies 36k fraud
http://tinyurl.com/c64qb8j
The bungalow that's built around a 130-year-old railway carriage
http://tinyurl.com/8y6yydo
Restored Porthmadog steam train back on track
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18041256
The train that connected the West to Berlin
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18044695
Is it cheaper to put Greek train passengers in taxis?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18032721
Indian Railways abandons TV channel
http://tinyurl.com/cvtz9g3
First tram-train gets go-ahead for Sheffield to Rotherham
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-18100674
http://tinyurl.com/8y5te4p
New Nottingham tram design
http://tinyurl.com/chqa37b
Coventry's vintage buses on display at museum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18045965
Jersey vintage bus route to occupation war tunnels
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-17227820
London 2012: Olympic torch relay sponsors' vehicles unveiled
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17726382
American racing legend Carroll Shelby dies at 89
http://tinyurl.com/btdejd3
http://www.carrollshelby.com/
London's new cable car tested ahead of summer opening
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18080615
Connected sky: Surfing the web above the clouds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18021468
Hornet moth returns to Manchester - Ringway
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18105430
World War II fighter found in Egyptian desert
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18038650
For sale: Vickers Supermarine Spitfire F.18 with Rolls Royce Griffon engine
http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!__spitfire-griff
Us lesser mortals can just watch (and listen to!) the video
Royal Navy 'Top Gun' pilots train to fly US fighters
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18041297
Ditched Super Puma 'suffered main gearbox oil leak'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-18043685
Beached ship scrapped at Rhyl
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-18040143
New aircraft carrier section begins move to Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18078016
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Ted Millward, Reg Nerps
============
TV and RADIO
19/05/12 Channel 4 1805-2145
"Titanic" James Cameron's 1997 feature film
20/05/12 BBC2 2100-2200
"Coast" New series 2/6 The Scillies, Devon, South Wales
21/05/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks" 2/4 The Worcester & Birmingham Canal
21/05/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One"
22/05/12 Channel 5 1900-2000
"Dirty Great Machines" 4/4 Mining and tunnelling
22/05/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Great British Railway Journeys" Norfolk
22/05/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Story of British Pathe" 4/4
23/05/12 BBC Radio 4 1100-1130
"Lives in a Landscape" Return of steelmaking to Redcar
23/05/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Great British Railway Journeys" Ledbury to Holyhead
24/05/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"Munro: Mountain Man" Nick Crane on the 3000-footers
25/05/12 BBC Radio 4 1100-1130
"Mapping Britain's Underworld" Mapping our pipes, cables and sewers
25/05/12 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Mega Builders: The Floating Bridge" 5-lane floating bridge in Canada
============
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
18/05/12 Newbury and District Transport Group
Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 1JA
David Brace will talk about his occupation as a tour operator
Non-members welcome
Admission and car parking free, but donations towards expenses welcome
1930-2200 (approx) - doors open 1900
18/05/12 West Somerset Railway: Exmoor Mystery Tour
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
19/05/12 American Model RailRoad Group, Gosport: Public Running Meet & Mini Exhibition
St Mary's Church Parish Centre, Green Road, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12 2ET
Opens at 1030
Adult: 1 adults, Child: 50p
http://www.freewebs.com/gosportrailroadgroup/
19/05/12 West Somerset Railway: Art Train Day
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
19/05/12 Railway & Canal Historical Society, East Midlands Branch: Heritage Day
Trent 150: Trent Station 1862-1968
18.00 for the day
http://www.northants-iag.org.uk/emiac.html
19/05/12- AEC 100th Anniversary, Milestones, Basingstoke
20/05/12
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/milestones/
19/05/12- Severn Valley Railway: 1862 - A Victorian Experience
20/05/12
http://www.svr.co.uk/
22/05/12 Railway Industry Memorial
British Transport Pensioners Federation dedication of memorial to railway staff
National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire, DE13 7AR
http://www.btpf.org.uk/News.htm#National Memorial Arboretum
http://tinyurl.com/cg5fkz4
25/05/12- Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Bodmin Branch 125 Gala
27/05/12
http://www.bodminrailway.co.uk
25/05/12- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway:Heritage Diesel Weekend
27/05/12
http://www.kwvr.co.uk
26/05/12 West Somerset Railway: Come and See Peppa Pig
West Somerset Railway: Summer Evenings at the Seaside
West Somerset Railway: Murder Mystery
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
26/05/12- Welsh Mines Preservation Trust: Heritage Weekend
27/05/12 Ystrad Einion Mine, Ceredigion
Free car park at Dyfi Furnace:
http://tinyurl.com/ca29ngu
27/05/12 Portsmouth "Back to the '70s & '80s" Bus Running Day
27/05/12 Aldershot & District Centenary Bus Running Day
http://www.adbig.co.uk/
27/05/12 Final departures from Cheltenham COach Station
Free coach rides and static display
02/06/12 West Somerset Railway: Fish & Chip Specials
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
02/06/12- Leawood Pumping Station Open Day
03/06/12
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
02/06/12- Middleton Top Engine House Open Day
03/06/12
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/
02/06/12- Crofton Beam Engines in steam
04/06/12
http://www.croftonbeamengines.org/
02/06/12- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Wirksworth Carnival and Jubilee Open Days
05/06/12
http://www.e-v-r.com
02/06/12- National Railway Museum: Rail Festival
10/06/12 National Railway Museum, York
Hoping to be Britain's largest railway event
http://www.nrm.org.uk/railfest2012
03/06/12 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
03/06/12 Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Festival of Transport
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
03/06/12 Andover Bus Running Day
03/06/12 Clacton Bus Rally
Clacton Factory Outlet
03/06/12 Harrington Gathering, Amberley
http://www.amberleymuseum.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.