RAILDATE: the weekly newsletter of the Hursley Park Model Railway Society:
http://www.ibmhursleyclub.org.uk/ss/hpmrs/


NETWATCH

============

The Great Western Railway Paddington Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_drYv7IyEs

Politeness on the Underground (not!)
http://www.jonathanmacdonald.com/?p=4024

(Spotter: Richard Buckby)

============

We've seen several claimants to the "World's Largest Model Railway"
title, but perhaps this one has the strongest case:
http://www.northlandz.com/
(Spotter: Terry Bye)

============

Fascinating report on the condition of the Cromford Canal's Butterley
Tunnel:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tina.cordon/Butterley%20Tunnel%20Survey.pdf

And another historic canal tunnel:
http://www.standedge.co.uk/index.htm

============

Ralph Rawlinson's Railway Roundup

Birmingham
Birmingham's New Street's £600m Gateway project to convert the 1960s
station has begun. Platform 10 is no longer available for passengers and
a tender has been advertised for the removal of the multi-storey car park.
Thirty new escalators and 15 new public lifts are to be installed whilst
the concourse will be three times bigger. When completed it will have
double the present passenger capacity whilst eight entrances will provide
better links through the station.

Wingerworth
Part of the £172m reclamation and redevelopment of the former Avenue
coking works between Chesterfield and Clay Cross includes plans for a
new park-and-ride station at Wingerworth.

Leeds
There is no access to Leeds station from the Granary Wharf area of the
city and to rectify this, a futuristic southern entrance is to be built
with completion expected in 2012. New stations are also planned at
Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge and Low Moor.

Eurotunnel Services
Liberalisation of rail lines within the European Union from January 2010
means that Eurostar is likely to face a stiff challenge from other
European operators. Deutsche Bahn is planning links from Frankfurt and
Cologne whilst Air France is keen to introduce a high speed service to
London.

Poland
Poland's future rail network:
http://polishrail.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/polands-future-railway-network/

Austria
Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) claim that the double track 20 mile-long
Koralm railway tunnel between Graz and Klagenfurt will be in operation by
the end of 2020. It will form an important part of Trans-European
transportation corridor VI stretching from the Poland's main industrial
area to northern Italy. Construction of the tunnel's first stage on its
Styrian side has already begun whilst the 12-mile long second stage, "the
heart of the tunnel", would begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2010
with tendering for its third stage on the Carinthian side occurring next
year.
http://tinyurl.com/yjwcoxw

Albania
Albania studying railway link to Kosovo:
http://www.eciks.org/english/lajme.php?action=total_news&main_id=950

Cambodia
A senior railway official has confirmed that work to repair the country's
decrepit rail network is on track but construction of the vital Cambodian
segment of a planned trans-Asia network is "years away" from beginning.
http://khmernewstoday.blogspot.com/2009/10/rail-network-repairs-on-track.html

China/Nepal
Nepal would like China to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (connecting
Beijing and Lhasa) to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. An extension from
Lhasa to Shigatse in Tibet is scheduled to be completed in 2010 and there
are plans for a further extension from Shigatse to Gaze, a border town of
Nepal, 20 kilometres north of Kathmandu but construction will be difficult
because the Himalayan Mountains lie between the two countries.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6784371.html

India
Indian Railways has chalked out a comprehensive plan to build rail links
with Nepal and Bhutan in an apparent bid to counter the recent Chinese
move to build rail links in South Asia (see above).
http://tinyurl.com/yk2vtkh

Standard gauge (4ft 8½ins) track is to be used for the first time in India
on the second stage of the Delhi Metro. The new system is being expanded
rapidly and will open in stages, starting this year with the 14-mile line
to Delhi's international airport.

Indian Railways travel guide:
http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/india-railway-reader-tips.jsp

Virginia
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has chosen Keolis Rail Services America, an
offshoot of the French company, to operate its trains from Fredericksburg
and Manassas into downtown Washington. It gives the foreign-owned company
a high-profile launching pad for its first US rail operations while
abandoning Amtrak, which has run and maintained the trains since VRE
began.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/64645922.html

============

And finally - Neil Kearns provides some background to the stranded tube cars
shown last week:
http://tinyurl.com/yg3krsh

The ex Jubilee line cars have been on the top of the NLL bridge abutments
in Great Eastern Street for about 7 or 8 years. The new line in the
background is the extended East London Line where it joins the former
North London Railway Broad Street to Dalston Jn formation. The location
is about 100 metres from the new bridge crossing Shoreditch High Street.

============


IN THE NEWS

Rail closure plans unveiled for Christmas in Southampton:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4690261.Rail_closure_plans_unveiled/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8314298.stm
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_southampton+tunnel200910.htm
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=4156

Explosives alert closes line through Stockport:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8319319.stm

New "S" class stock delivered
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8317749.stm

Tour trains being 'damaged' by Scottish trees:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1445186?UserKey=

Millionth passenger on reopened Ebbw Vale line:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8315327.stm

Spending the day with Swanage Railway volunteers:
http://tinyurl.com/ykrta8p

Beyer Peacock photos online:
http://emu.msim.org.uk/htmlmn/collections/online/search.php?type=images

Tram dispute in Nottingham:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/8313038.stm

Traffic reduction after Malahide bridge collapse:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8315508.stm

Possible investment in the Port Elizabeth-Avontuur narrow gauge line:
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2006/11/24/news/n12_24112006.htm

Apple Express tourist trains:
http://tinyurl.com/ykngsck

Further financial trouble for Vulcan XH558:
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/

Spotters: Richard Buckby, Neil Kearns, John McCrickard, Reg Nerps


TV and RADIO


24/10/09 Five 1200-1230
"Mean Machines" Submarines

24/10/09 BBC4 1900-1930
"Art Deco Icons" 1/4 - Claridges Hotel

25/10/09 Five 1200-1230
"Megastructures" Bridge-building technology

26/10/09 Five 1930-2000
"How Do They Do It?" Warsash Maritime Academy

26/10/09 BBC4 2000-2100
"The Twenties in Colour: the Wonderful World of Albert Kahn"

27/10/09 BBC2 2000-2100
"James May's Toy Stories" Much hyped - looks good!

27/10/09 BBC1 2100-2200
"Around the World in 80 Days" Trans-Siberian Railway

28/10/09 BBC Radio 4 1100-1130
"M1 Magic" 50th anniversary of the M1

28/10/09 BBC2 1900-2000
"Coast" Anglesey to Blackpool

28/10/09 BBC4 1930-2030
"The Golden Age of Liners"

28/10/09 BBC4 2030-2100
"Art Deco Icons" 2/4 - London Transport HQ

28/10/09 BBC2 2100-2200
"Andrew Marr's the Making of Great Britain" 20th century

28/10/09 BBC4 2100-2200
"High Flyers - How Britain Took to the Air"

29/10/09 Five 1930-2000
"Building the Ultimate" Submarines

29/10/09 BBC4 1930-2000
"Art Deco Icons" 2/4 - London Transport HQ

29/10/09 Five 2000-2100
"Big, Bigger, Biggest" The Large Binocular Telescope

29/10/09 BBC4 2100-2200
"The Men Who Built the Liners" Clydesbank shipyards

30/10/09 BBC2 0020-0145
"The 39 Steps" 1935 Robert Donat version

30/10/09 BBC2 1900-2000
"Andrew Marr's the Making of Great Britain" 20th century


EVENTS

For up-to-date information on many of the tours mentioned in Raildate (and
others) often with timings, see the Steam Tours pages at:
http://www.uksteam.info/index.shtml and also
http://railwayherald.co.uk/railtours/

All details are correct to the best of my knowledge. No responsibility is
taken for inaccuracies or changes.

23/10/09- Bluebell Railway: Giants of Steam
25/10/09 http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/

24/10/09 Beckenham & West Wickham MRC "Model Railshow 2009"
St John's Church, Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3JN
1000-1700
http://www.bwwmrc.co.uk/exhibitions/StJohn09/index.shtml

24/10/09 The Battlefield Railway: Hallowe'en Bonfire Express
http://www.Battlefield-Line-Railway.co.uk

24/10/09 Steam Rally for World Heritage Discovery Day
Silk Mill Museum, Derby
http://tinyurl.com/yzo9tkj

24/10/09 Railway heritage walk around Derby station to include newly
restored roundhouse and various other railway buildings for
World Heritage Discovery Day
Starts 1400
http://tinyurl.com/yzo9tkj

24/10/90 West Wales 0 Gauge Group, Model Railway Exhibition
Community Education Centre (behind Library)
Furnace Road, Carmarthen SA31 1EU
1030-1630

24/10/09- Swanage Railway: Family Fun Week
31/10/09 http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk

24/10/09- Mid Hants Watercress Line: Wizard Week
01/11/09 http://www.watercressline.co.uk

25/10/09 Colne Valley Railway: Colne Valley Gala
http://www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk

25/10/09 Kidderminster Toy & Train Collectors Fair
Forest Glades Leisure Centre, Bromsgrove, Street, DY10 1PP
1030-1500

25/10/09- Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Wizard Week
30/10/09 http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

29/10/09 Talk on the Cromford & High Peak Railway by Andy Pollock, Head
Ranger at Middleton Top for World Heritage Discovery Day
Gothic Warehouse, Cromford Wharf starting at 1900
http://tinyurl.com/yzo9tkj

30/10/09- Foxfield Railway: Hallowe'en Specials
31/10/09 http://www.foxfieldrailway.com/

30/10/09- Bluebell Railway: Wizard Weekend
01/11/09 http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/

30/10/09- Kirklees Light Railway: Halloween Ghost Trains
01/11/09 http://www.kirkleeslightrailway.com

31/10/09 Colne Valley Railway: Wizards Evening
http://www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk

31/10/09 Dean Forest Railway: Hallowe'en Ghost Trains
http://www.deanforestrailway.co.uk

31/10/09 The Battlefield Railway: Hallowe'en Bonfire Express
http://www.Battlefield-Line-Railway.co.uk

31/10/09 Churnet Valley Railway: The Ghost Train at Hallowe'en
http://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

31/10/09 Crich Tramway Village: Starlight Halloween
http://www.tramway.co.uk

31/10/09 Welsh Highland Railway: Hallowe'en
http://www.whr.co.uk

31/10/09- Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Day Out with Underground Ernie
01/11/09 http://www.steamtrain.co.uk/

31/10/09- Leawood Pump Steamings, Cromford Canal, Derbyshire
01/11/09 World Heritage Site Discovery Days
http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/

01/11/09 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

01/11/09 Guided walk around Cromford station by Glynn Waite for World
Heritage Discovery Day, starts 12noon
http://tinyurl.com/yzo9tkj

07/11/09 Mid Hants Watercress Line: Sponsored Walk
http://www.watercressline.co.uk

08/11/09 Poole & District Model Railway Society Exhibition
Ashdown Technology College, Adastral Rd, Canford Heath, Poole,
Dorset, BH17 8RE
1030-1700

11/11/09 Remembrance Day Event at Marylebone Station
"Valour" will be in attendance - starts 10.30


Cheers, Howard.
editor (at) raildate.co.uk (spam-proofed)

Previous issues of Raildate 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 and Hursley Park Model Railway Society 2009.

The external edition of 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://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RAILDATE/