Check out the latest updates from my new layout project. In this edition: backboards, retaining walls from Wills and ModelRailwaySolutions, 3rd rails from Peco and signals from TrainTech.
Bachmann
CAS Weekly 06/10/15
After a week of many things happening which sadly kept me away from the site, the CAS Weekly is back!
Modelling
- The Bachmann S-stock is finally out! Have you got one yet? What do you think?
- How Hornby re-invented themselves and went after their competitors.
- Dapol make changes to O Gauge Terrier release.
UK Rail
- GWR is back. (It’s First Great Western in disguise).
- A freight derailment in Dundee is causing week long delays.
- Electrification is back on!
- …both up North and out West…
- Chiltern are testing out a shiny new piece of track they’ve built that’ll connect Oxford Parkway and Marylebone.
- Meanwhile, the renovated Manchester Victoria station re-opens. Boy did it need it!
- Lick of paint too for the Class 73’s.
- The Victoria Line was upgraded this summer, here’s what they’ve been doing.
- Tube trains and Underground stations now in environmentally-friendly harmony as regenerative braking is put to recycled use.
- If you’ve been stuck on the never ending delays on The Central Line recently, here’s a headline for you: The Tube is too fast!
- Travel on Virgin services and experienced delays? No problem. You’ll get automatic refunds…
- 66757 gets all tarted up for the West Somerset Railway’s birthday.
- Old Derbyshire industrial railway gets reprieve.
- Are Monorail stories justified in the Weekly? Here’s one anyway: What if London had a Monorail network? It almost did…
- Why not add a Deltic horn to your car?
World Rail
- China encouraged to build HS2. Eventually.
- Rail Life takes a journey on The Coromandel Express.
From The CAS Team
- How to get a train on a boat. Edward has the answers.
- Catch Andy’s interview with London Reconnections Editor John Bull for Underground London Radio.
Compiled by Edward Kendall & Andy Carter
CAS Weekly 23/09/15
The race to Norwich is on. Image by Lewis Collard
Modelling
- Bachmann have shot a new promo video for their Dynamis Ultima… I’m not sure why?
UK Rail
- UK one step closer to a renationalised rail network…
- …right after the government privileged Network Rail… *sigh*
- The Great Race to…. Norwich?
- More trouble down at Dawlish…
- Darleks have been visiting and doing the announcements at various tube stations… (and scaring the life out of me on deserted corridors after night shifts!).
- We love a Crossrail story here don’t we! Canary Wharf Station: Done.
- Scotland racks up worst station for social behaviour record.
- New New Street station open for business!
- The Flying Scotsman: Coming back to a route near you sometime soon!
- TfL don’t trust you with THE GAP!
- Wales is next on the hitlist for Vivarail’s D-stock-rehashes.
- Not long left to vote on your favourite piece of London Transport Design.
- Like maps? Like Railways? You might need this.
- The LT Museum and Heathrow Express Depots have a joint Open Day this weekend.
World Rail
- China is going to build the US’s High Speed Rail network.
From The CAS Team
- Edward on preparing for railway adventures.
- The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations: What they mean for the UK’s rolling stock in the next 5 years.
– Compiled by Edward Kendal & Andy Carter
CAS Weekly 09/09/15
Image by Hugh Llewelyn
Modelling
- Dapol announce they will be producing the Class 68 in ScotRail Livery.
- Gaugemaster also have images of Dapol’s upcoming Pullman liveried Class 73.
- The Class 117 and 121 are coming to Bachmann.
- As well as a DCC Sound Class 20 if you’re in the Collectors Club.
UK Rail
- Union of South Africa being readied for today’s royal visit to the opening of the new Borders railway in Scotland.
- Edinburgh already looking to expand newly opened tram network.
- Even more from Scotland as ScotRail unveils their restored Class 158s.
- Victoria station is taking the p***. Literally.
- And if you use Paddington, don’t breathe in!…
- The results of the Bakerloo Line Exension public consultation have been published.
- HS2 delayed. Is that really a surprise?
- If it ever gets built here’s what the Euston end might look like… Canary Wharf anyone?…
- Looking for cheap train tickets? Well First Great Western don’t care!
- Liverpool could get new city centre station.
- …and The Welsh Highland Railway could get one too. (In Caenarfon… not Liverpool…)
- Network Rail gets “New Workshop on Wheels.”
- …whilst Merseyrail seeks investment for upgrade of their fleet.
- New software developed by the University of Birmingham allows engineers to model and simulate complex signalling and timetabling.
- Mad archetectural visionaries, NBBJ, suggest we get rid of the Circle Line and replace it with travelators… No comment…
- London Reconnections study the original route plan of the now Jubilee Line – The Fleet Line.
- The Beauty Of Transport on BR Railfreight corporate identity.
World Rail
- Denmark halts rail links with Germany to hamper migrants trying to cross into Scandinavia.
From The CAS Team
- Edward hunts down the former life of Toton Yard.
CAS Weekly 19/08/15
Modelling
- A history of the Hornby Railroad brand and it’s ethos.
- The benefits of operating your exhibition layout from the front by grahammuz.
UK Rail
- Northern cities conned by false government promises…
- …which must be a kick in the teeth as feasibility studies look into new links for Brighton and The South…
- …whilst HS2 – It looks like it’s actually going to get built then?
- The North, fear not, because it looks like some new, albeit slightly secretive, upgrade work is taking place to ease congestion around Stafford.
- Meanwhile the so called “pause” (or let’s face it, cancellation) of proposed rail upgrades could have adverse affects on the ambitions of the Great Central Railway…
- What’s it like to repair and maintain Britain’s railway bridges? Especially those spanning water…
- UK’s biggest boring machine gets to work. (And shock it’s nothing to do with Crossrail!).
- If you thought I’d gone soft on Crossrail news then think again… Here’s something particularly gruesome as we go digging for the plague…
- Farewell to Midland Metro’s first tram.
- Attention London: The DLR services are changing!
- Interested in Unrebuilding a Merchant Navy Class? Follow the story here.
- A bite-sized yet facilitating history of The Deltics (Class 55) from 2E0MCA.
- Have you heard of the ‘Rail Speeder’ craze? This looks awesome!
- Take a heritage ride on The Underground!
- Did you see the BBC News story that features a fictitious photo-shopped livery? Do correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure Class 67’s are not in Grand Central Trains’ arsenal…
World Rail
- Work starts to connect Dublin tram lines.
From The CAS Team
- Andy continues the DCC fitting series with a look at the Bachmann Class 25.
- Edward is in a Quest for Speed.
Compiled by Edward Kendall & Andy Carter
Calling All Stations 