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NOTE - next week's issue will be published on THURSDAY 12th July
BOOK NEWS
Civil Engineers Wagons Volume 2 - Early British Rail: 1968-1977
by David Larkin
The first five Kestrel Railway Books volumes by David Larkin looked at the revenue-earning
wagon fleet operated by British Railways and its immediate successor, British Rail. This
volume is the second of three looking at the substantial fleet of specially-designed wagons
that were used for track maintenance, and focuses on the many forms of early mechanized
on-track plant, such as ballast cleaners, cranes and track relaying units, all of which were
hauled to site. It also covers the self-propelled machines that preceded or followed the
ballast trains, such as track recorders, tampers, liners and consolidators.
As for the wagons themselves, only three new types were introduced in this period, all bogie
ballast hoppers, but there was a mass repainting of the existing fleet and the introduction of
TOPS codes. The book includes build details, the telegraphic code names used to identify the
Civil Engineers wagons throughout the period and details of the number series for each type.
There is quite an overlap throughout the three volumes in this series, but this volume
concentrates on the period from 1968 to 1977 - a very different period from the previous twenty
years. Local gangs disappeared and were replaced by mobile gangs that arrived by road
transport. Although cranes had always been in use by the Civil Engineers, and some early
tamping machines had been tried out, there was no push towards mechanization until the late
1950s, when track relaying units began to appear. These were followed in the 1960s by ballast
cleaners and tamping machines. All these are fully covered in this volume.
Softback: 96 pages with 188 photographs
273 x 215mm
978-1-905505-24-1
Price: 15.00
http://www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk
http://twitter.com/kestrelrailway
http://www.facebook.com/KestrelRailwayBooks
============
NETWATCH
Waverley Route - opening run at Whitrope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc9abFfauOE
Railway Codes and other data - website has relocated
http://deaves47.zxq.net/rail_index.htm
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
On board a real-life 'ghost train'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18644343
(Spotter: Richard Buckby)
An exploration of Wolverton Works
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php/72397-Wolverton-Works-2011-2012
(Spotter: Tom Baldwin)
Rick Eborall's photos of the Princess on the Shakespeare Express
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p96799119
Also some of his collections taken in 2004
http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/recent.html
Southern Railway Films
http://www.youtube.com/user/southernrailwayfilms
Great Central Railway O4 Farewell 24th June
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVkICgR6SoU
Middleton Railway: 200 Years of Steam 23rd June
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odeo0h_6oM
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
Mark Langley - transport artist
http://www.mark-langley.com/transportstudies.htm
(Spotter: Ted Millward)
============
Letter from Romania
On 23rd June the "Friends of the SAR" volunteers group took delivery of a motorized trolley to
complement the unpowered trolley we had received a few months earlier. Both trolleys were
constructed for us by a father and son from Arad who are very enthusiastic about the
Sibiu-Agnita Railway restoration project. They used an old Trabant 2-cylinder, two-stroke
engine with chain drive to both axles through a three-speed-plus-reverse gearbox which gives a
top speed of about 50kph, well above the 20kph line limit in force when the railway was in use
for passenger and freight trains.
First video (14 minutes) was made on 23rd June and is of our first run on the trolley from
Agnita station to a point about 3km west of the station where our progress was halted by
displaced rails due to the fishplates, rail chairs and sleeper bolts having been stolen by
local gypsies.
YouTube link
http://youtu.be/9HaQD_YW6kQ
(Reminiscent of "Muriel" in the early days of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway ...Ed)
Second video filmed on 30th June (2 minutes) shows the motorized trolley coupled to the trailer
trolley for the first time and carrying 11 people! It also shows how we turn the motorized
trolley which I couldn't video on the first trip because I had to take one corner for the
turning operation.
YouTube link
http://youtu.be/mVOjzwWzrfs
Laurie Webb
============
IN THE NEWS
Coventry-Nuneaton upgrade
http://tinyurl.com/cadmw5x
Blueprint for investment in Anglia Route
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18670566
New concrete sleeper factory to be built in Doncaster by Network Rail
http://tinyurl.com/bspsslh
Handling the London Waterloo rush hour on Twitter
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18547819
Extra Southern Trains for Olympic period
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18675521
Labour backs calls to return railway network to public control
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/30/labour-railway-network-state-control
HS1 Channel link leaves 4.8bn debt, says MPs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18733308
HS2: Waterman backs high speed London to Midlands rail
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18688001
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18703928
RAIB investigation into train departed with doors open at Warren Street
http://tinyurl.com/c6lbqa8
RAIB report into final drive failure on a Pacer dmu
http://tinyurl.com/c7zqkbw
Five men jailed for Rugby rail thefts worth 1.5m
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18670144
East and west coast lines reopen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-18649453
Derailment at Currour plus ECML & WCML closed by flash floods
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-18623801
http://tinyurl.com/cnfx3va
Derailment of 6E45 North Blyth-Fort William at Tulloch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18649237
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18682237
http://tinyurl.com/ctl9lu4
ScotRail's coasting trains plan 'will save fuel'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18723220
Rail journey times to be cut between Glasgow and Edinburgh
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18690764
Dundee railway station plans submitted
http://tinyurl.com/c9teysy
New Conon Bridge railway station 'could open by 2013'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18633761
Expansion of railway in north-east Scotland back on track
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2839868/
Train driver Geraint Llewellyn takes safety message to schools after near-miss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18733509
Dereham train crash bill could cost thousands of pounds
http://tinyurl.com/c9oeglu
New railtour operator
http://tinyurl.com/bowe733
Boy, 4, bids to buy real train
http://tinyurl.com/covwldp
EMD locomotive construction moves out of Australia
http://tinyurl.com/cgb7uxz
VIA RAIL Canada to cut 200 jobs
http://www.rail.co/2012/06/28/via-to-axe-200-jobs/
Melbourne Trams
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9733879.stm
Italian Job inspires artist to hang bus off De La Warr Pavilion
http://tinyurl.com/7a4v4oe
M6 Toll coach stopped by armed police
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-18719962
Canterbury couple turn bus into a new home
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18651140
Elvaston Steam rally cancelled
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-18676520
New rail/road 'inland port' to boost East Midlands economy?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18635851
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18664476
P&O marks 175 years with seven-ship Southampton line-up
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18621904
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18686225
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18605901
Vertical ship marks 50 years at sea
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18684075
Isle of Lewis ferry out of use
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18686848
New mooring rules on Kennet and Avon Canal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13559275
Final report into 2009 Air France plane crash expected
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18720915
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18721424
Clean-up begins after Brazilian Mirage flyby goes awry
http://tinyurl.com/cehc6fz
NATS guide to flying near the Olympic sites
http://olympics.airspacesafety.com/
Fatal crash of vintage plain at Old Warden airfield
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18666708
Passenger allowed on wrong flight
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18624228
Waddington Air show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-18663782
Tornado jet crash: Wreckage located on seabed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18737084
The UK's longest zip wire slide is to open in Galloway
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18630857
Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, Reg Nerps, Mike Price
============
TV and RADIO
08/07/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"How to Go Faster and Influence People: the Gordon Murray F1 Story"
08/07/12 BBC2 2100-2200
"World's Most Dangerous Worlds" Siberia
09/07/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Talking Landscapes: The Weald" The sublime Aubrey Manning
09/07/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"Timeshift: The Men Who Built the Liners" The Clyde shipyards
10/07/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Time to Remember" Early 20th century leisure
10/07/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"Timeshift: The Golden Age of Liners"
10/07/12 BBC4 2250-2350
"The Deadliest Crash: the Le Mans 1955 Disaster"
10/07/12 BBC4 2350-0050
"How to Go Faster and Influence People: the Gordon Murray F1 Story"
11/07/12 BBC Radio 4 1100-1130
"Old Photographs Fever - the Search for China's Pictured Past"
11/07/12 BBC4 1930-2000
"Time to Remember" War and peace
11/07/12 Channel 5 2000-2100
"Building the London Underground"
11/07/12 BBC4 2000-2100
"Timeshift: The Last Days of the Liners"
11/07/12 BBC2 2100-2200
"The Secret History of Our Streets" 6/6 Arnold Circus
11/07/12 BBC4 2300-0000
"Timeshift: The Last Days of the Liners"
13/07/12 Channel 5 1900-2000
"Building the London Underground"
============
EVENTS
All details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for
inaccuracies or changes.
07/07/12 Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Midnight Train to Smallbrook
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
07/07/12 Train Collectors Society Sandy Exhibition
Sandy Upper School, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1BL
1030-1700
http://www.traincollectors.co.uk
07/07/12- The Lavender Line: Diesel Gala
08/07/12
http://www.lavender-line.co.uk/
07/07/12- West Somerset Railway: Day Out With Thomas
08/07/12
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
08/07/12 Twyford Waterworks: Miniature Steam Power Open Day
http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/
13/07/12 West Somerset Railway: Exmoor Mystery Tour
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
13/07/12 West Somerset Railway: Cheese & Cider Lunch
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
13/07/12 West Somerset Railway: Steam & Cream Specials
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
14/07/12- Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre: Railway Gala Weekend
15/07/12
http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
14/07/12- Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Island Motor Show
15/07/12
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
15/07/12 Bursledon Brickworks: A Day Out With The Victorians
http://www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk/
20/07/12 Newbury and District Transport Group
Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 1JA
"India Railways" by Geoff Warren
Non-members welcome
Admission and car parking free, but donations towards expenses welcome
1930-2200 (approx) - doors open 1900
20/07/12 West Somerset Railway: Exmoor Mystery Tour
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
21/07/12 Snibston Discovery Museum: All-day event
180th Anniversary of the 1832 Leicester and Swannington Railway
The First Operational Steam Railway in the Midlands
Illustrated talks on the building and operation of the Railway
Followed by a site visit to Swannington Incline
Tickets 5 from Snibston, tel: 01530 278444
21/07/12- Crofton Beam Engines in steam
22/07/12
http://www.croftonbeamengines.org/
21/07/12- CAMRAIL 2012
22/07/12 A light railway and branch line model miscellany
St Margaret's Hall, Bradford-on-Avon
Proceeds to The Railway Children charity
http://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/
Organised by Simon Castens of The Titfield Thunderbolt
http://www.titfield.co.uk/
21/07/12- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Classic Transport Weekend
22/07/12
http://www.e-v-r.com/transportweekend/
21/07/12- Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Day Out With Thomas
24/07/12
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
22/07/12 Middleton Top Engine House Open Day
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.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.