London Transport Museum
CAS Weekly: 07/06/15
Visit Rothley in the new Heritage Journeys series by CAS.
Modelling
- Bachmann and the London Transport Museum have teamed up to launch a OO-Gauge model of the new S-Stock. They’ve also confirmed they’re suitable for at least 2nd radius curves. ALL THE EXCITEMENT!
- Hornby have some fancy new graphics of their upcoming GWR Collett coaches.
UK Rail
- Engineers in Cardiff use giant “Lego” bricks to reduce engineering work disruption.
- Network Rail strike. I’ve lost track of how many times it’s on again off again… Well, It’s off after unions accepted a 2% pay increase. Let’s hope it’s the last we hear of that…
- FANFARE! The 26 miles of Crossrail tunnelling is now complete! Good. Let’s fill it up with Pringles.
- …and the completion of Crossrail can’t come soon enough as rail journeys increase 70% in a decade!
- A Class 66 has been named after one of the campaigners for the new Borders Railway.
- Class 315’s are getting the Overground treatment…
- …whilst Eversholt Rail are to refurbish the Class 321’s.
- Three bidders have been shortlisted for the troubled East Anglia franchise.
- LocoYard take a look at the dependable Hunslet Austerity’s at the East Lancs Railway.
- Peter Gray explores the history and success of GWR’s extra loooong coaches.
- Get your mits on some cracking Railway themed artwork.
World Rail
- Boris will surely be keeping a close eye on Delhi’s new driverless trains.
From The CAS Team
- Check out Andy’s new series Heritage Journeys, with new films from The Great Central and East Lancs Railways.
- Edward investigates the underground footprint of Nottingham Victoria station and how it influenced the construction of a shopping centre in the city.
- How many Mechanical Lever-Frame are left in the UK? More than you’d think.
– Compiled by Edward Kendall and Andy Carter
S Stock By Bachmann
Needless to say I’m super excited by the announcement of a factory motorised S-Stock set from Bachmann. So much so that this info couldn’t wait for the Weekly to feature on CAS, so here comes it’s own article…
Image From LT Museum Shop
Although 1:76 models of tube trains have been available for a number of years from other manufacturers (notably EFE), none have come pre-fitted with motors. Bachmann will offer a starter 4-car train pack which will set you back £280 or the full 8-car formation for a whopping £439. They’ll also offer a number of intermediate cars for £39.99 each so you can make up S7 and S8 formations from a starter 4-car pack in your own time…
“Why has the Museum commissioned this model?
London Transport Museum is a Registered Charity and all the money raised from the sale of these models (and all other Museum commercial activities) helps to preserve, exhibit and promote our world class collection and support our charitable activities.”
Those might be eye watering prices, and whilst I’m sure Bachmann are going to take a cut, at least your money is in part going to the good cause of railway preservation. It’s also worth considering that the prices are comparable to what you might pay to make up a full HST-set.
There’s nothing in either the Bachmann or LT Musuem press releases to suggest these sets will be limited but they will only be sold exclusively through the Museum Shop so expect them to be popular, with potential to sell out quickly!
Pre Orders are currently being taken and the models will be available from the Museum Shop in early October.
Read the full press release here: S Stock Model Underground Train | London Transport Museum Shop.
– Andy Carter
CAS Weekly 20/02/15
Image by Phil Sangwell
Modelling
- IC82 is back this Sunday with a new YouTube series.
UK Rail
- GBRf are enlisted by Serco to haul the Caledonian sleeper for the next 15 years. They’ll be using a mixture of Class 90’s, 47’s and refurbished 73’s during their stint.
- The East Anglia franchise, currently operated by Abellio, is out for tender.
- A recent survey highlights the continuing decline of rail customer satisfaction…
- …And surprise surprise, the rise of Social Media as a tool for passengers to voice this dissatisfaction.
- But what we really want to know is, which train operator has the best ticket punches?
- And which train operator went all gooey for Valentines Day?
- …in a time where critics are calling for the return of nationalisations, the BBC’s Timeshift will take a look at the golden age of BR next Thursday.
- Speaking of which, The Beauty of Transport is doing a series on British Rail’s corporate identity.
- London Underground’s D-Stock trains could find a new life for themselves in Manchester.
- Whilst back home The Victoria Line will be part closed for a month.
- Danny Dyer has a go at tube announcements. Warning: It’s dreadful.
- The London Transport Museum will host Londonist’s Matt Brown, who will be talking about Tube Secrets at the Hidden London Treasures Exhibition in April.
- This article surfaced on Twitter this week, showcasing this rather quirky Brighton curiosity: The first every Electric Railway in Britain.
World Rail
- A Crude Oil tanker train derails in the US and causes untold carnage.
CAS Weekly 13/02/15
Image from Northern Rail
UK Rail
- Spanish firm CAF win bid to build new sleeper cars for the new Caledonian sets.
- Manchester Airport has a new platform.
- Whilst Birmingham Snow Hill is mooted for a rebuild.
- London Reconnections take you through the Crossrail Launch Plan.
- Commute London revamp their website. Find out how the capital’s rail franchises are fairing on social media.
- Abandoned tube tunnels could be turned into cycle lanes…
- …but I tell you why this is dreadful idea.
- Virgin will replace the East Coast Loyalty Reward system with Nectar when they take over the franchise. Regular customers are upset.
- A sneak peak of the Class 319’s being kitted out in Northern Rail livery.
- Diamond Geezer rides a ghost train to West Ruislip.
- …and Arsenal fans are concerned about their slip down the table after a visit to the Transport Museum.
World Rail
- Imagine driving down the highway with a Steam Train barrelling towards you. Turns out you can in California…
- US Freight rail network to get a hefty investment.
- More stunning rail architecture from the states. A study of Newark Penn Station by The Beauty of Transport.
Feature Image by David Chandler.
