CAS Weekly 19/03/15

March 19, 2015August 23, 2016Andy Carter 1 Comment

By Matt Brown from London, England (Looking along the running track) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Modelling

RailwayModellers.com are looking for knowledgeable moderators for their forum board.
Hornby are going to do another production run of their popular BR 4-6-2 “Exeter” West Country Class

UK Rail

TfL announce the ordering of two Tunnel Boring Machines for the Northern Line Extension to Battersea.
Meanwhile on the Bakerloo Line, refurbishment of the 72 Stock is going to be more costly than LU expected whilst they wait for the NTfL in 10 years time.
Do you find Oyster charges confusing? When are you better off getting a season ticket? When are National Rail journeys more expensive? This useful site has the answers!
Programmer Will Gallia has created this wonderfully hypnotic animation of daily Tube journeys. A must watch!
It’s a week of Tube based creativity as these beautiful watercolour sketches from 2013 of Leslie Green arcetecture by Artist Emily Pulham surface on my Twitter timeline.
From art to photography, check out these cracking images showing the development progress at Manchester Victoria in GM News.
An unexploded bomb closes the Folkestone to Dover line.
RailwayManiac has done an excellently detailed study of the maze of railway lines that once graced the Bury area. Certainly worth a read whether you’re from that part of the world or not!
The Heathrow spur of HS2 has been dropped.
First are looking to get in on the East Coast action.
Whilst The end of the InterCity 125 is nigh…

World Rail

Support 100 Trains‘ Round The World Rail Journey here!
Could a 1000mph train become a reality?

Fictional Rail

After the sad passing of Terry Pratchet, London Reconnections pay tribute with their Ankh-Morpork Transport Committee review.

Shameless Self Promotion

With over 40 of the total 42km of Crossrail Tunnels now completed, I ask – Just how many Pringles can you fit in Crossrail?
In fact so popular was this post that it appeared on Londonist’s Daily News Roundup! *Smug face*

Cover Image by ObaJak from Discworld Novels.

Review: Hornby Class 50

March 9, 2015August 30, 2015Andy Carter 4 Comments

Every modeller no doubt has a ‘wish list’ of locos he or she wants to buy. Usually they are very long wish lists and of course I am no different. Every model I have reviewed thus far had previously featured on my list of desirables. Today, however, something different… Something of which I’m sure every other modeller has done too… The Impulse Purchase!

Let’s see if it’s any good…

Continue reading →

CAS Weekly 01/03/15

March 1, 2015August 23, 2016Andy Carter Leave a comment

Oswald Lawrence (BBC)

Modelling

Hornby showcase some prototypes at Model Rail Scotland.
Adding crews to your locos from Jonathan Malton @ LocoYard.

UK Rail

East Coast rail franchise back in private hands as Virgin takes over running of the line this morning.
Take a look at this moving piece from the London Short Film festival by Luke Flanagan: ‘Mind The Gap‘ the tale of Oswald Lawrence.
The government promises that Northern Pacers will finally be out of service by 2020…
…whilst it looks likely Class 150 Sprinters will be refurbished and live on.
How does TfL close all it’s ticket offices? Diamond Geezer has the answers.
Banbury depot to be brought back into use.
The UK’s first third-rail compatible ballast cleaner has been ordered at a price tag of £50 million.
RailwayManiac looks at what might have happened had Nottingham Victoria survived closure.
Stations that look like other stations by TheBeautyOfTransport.
Geoff Marshall now has a mailing list where you can sign up to hear about the latest ‘Tube Tours’ that he runs.
Commuters using Brixton tube station: Beware!

World Rail

Japan testing hybrid trains.
World Rolling Stock Market roundup.

Coming Soon!

My trip to the world’s largest model railway in Hamburg… watch this space.

Cover Image by Virgin Trains East Coast showing proposed new IEP trains.

CAS Weekly 02/02/15

February 2, 2015August 23, 2016Andy Carter 1 Comment

London Upside Down! Or is it?

Modelling

Windcutter takes a look at one of Hornby’s new wagon releases. Find out if it’s any good.
Hornby also release some snaps of it’s upcoming Class 92 release.

UK Rail

Crossrail tunnelling has reached Liverpool Street. Next: Central London.
The Londonist’s Geoff Marshall has the latest on this month’s DLR route and timetabling changes. Diamond Geezer also gets in on the action.
More on the NRM’s Playing Trains exhibit. How the dolls house influenced model railways.
Happy 100th Birthday to Kilburn Park and Warwick Ave.
(and happy 100th post to me!).
Did you know there was more than 500 miles of heritage railway in the UK? You do now. A nice write up of The Kent and East Sussex Railway and their planned expansions from LocoYard.
London is upside down! Or is it?
The Mirror claimed there was ‘shock and disbelief’ one morning as commuters were greeted by a Polar bear. They failed to mention it was staged at a disused part of Charing Cross.
The real shock was that part of Thameslink had flooded.
Have you seen Britain’s longest train?
And a British Rail Flying Saucer? No really.

Featured image “Whistle” on K&ESR by Oast House Archive.

CAS Weekly: 19/12/14

December 19, 2014August 23, 2016Andy Carter Leave a comment

Croxley Green Station by Nigel Cox

Modelling

Hornby announce new 2015 range.

UK Rail

Network Rail are offering unique tours to the top of the Forth Rail Bridge next March to mark the bridge’s 125th anniversary.
The Londonist’s Secrets Of The Underground DVD by Geoff Marshall is now shipping.
Derailed train travels at 100mph as passengers report bumpy ride! Network Rail to investigate.
Diamond Geezer takes a trip to abandoned Croxley Green station.
UK Rail Freight is in boom.
Northern Rail’s Guide Bridge station gets major revamp…
…whilst South West Trains’ The Island Line gets a £2million boost to help repair recent storm damage.
Manchester Metrolink trams are to be kitted out with free wifi.
and an impromptu Erasure sing along breaks out at Kentish Town Tube Station.

World Rail

Poland’s first high-speed train, an Alstom Pendolino, entered service on Sunday.
Have you seen CTA Chicago’s Christmas Train? Time Out want TfL to introduce something similar in London.

Image by Douglas Rahden

Calling All Stations

Railways: Modelling, Discussing, Exploring

Hornby

CAS Weekly 19/03/15

Modelling

UK Rail

World Rail

Fictional Rail

Shameless Self Promotion

Review: Hornby Class 50

CAS Weekly 01/03/15

Modelling

UK Rail

World Rail

Coming Soon!

CAS Weekly 02/02/15

Modelling

UK Rail

CAS Weekly: 19/12/14

Modelling

UK Rail

World Rail

* * * Merry Christmas from Calling All Stations * * *