"On Shed" June 2011 edition.

"Preserving the steam locomotive legacy..and more..on film"

FRONT PAGE COVER

4492 (4464/60019) passes Danzey Green on the returning William Shakespeare Charter from Stratford upon Avon to York 12/05/11 (C) Martin Creese

CONTENTS
WELCOME...and site news...
Video Highlights
Photographic Highlights
Downpatrick Heritage Railway - nvtvbelfast
Royal Trains for three Victorian Royal Weddings
ON THIS DAY IN RAILWAY HISTORY.
Aubrey Smith Southern Railway History
The Italian Rail Scene
Their Finest Hour S01 Ep05 Death on the Railway
The Lost Railway
Interview with Nigel Harris of RAIL Magazine
(Courtesy: Winchesterjournalism)
STEAM ON THE SETTLE, (PARTS 1,2,3)Courtesy: BorderFilmArchives
A tour of the Eccles Rail Center
The Iron Horse - an epic film!
The PowerHaul Story. (FreightlinerGroup on YouTube)
Around The World In 80 Railways. No 13: Beijing to Shanghai
Heritage Railway Directory, Mainline Steam Info, TRC
From Christian Wolmar- Latest Newsletter

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A warm welcome to this June 2011 edition of "On Shed", Steam Tube’s monthly news and features magazine.

There are now 592 Steam Tube members, enjoying 11,618 photographs and 2,658 videos.

During April we had a total of just under 60,000 page views for our three sites. - .Steam Tube, the SMJ site, and The Railway Chronicle.

It has been particularly impressive to see the lengths you all go to in order to get the photographs and videos to us to enjoy. Just take a good look!!

In this month’s edition of "On Shed", we take a look at the Downpatrick Heritage Railway celebrating 20 years of volunteer supported activity. The Royal wedding prompted David Turner to look at the railways involvement in Victorian Royal weddings..a fascinating read.

An interview with Aubrey Smith of the USA’s Southern Railway and a tour of the Eccles Rail Center provide "On Shed " with an American slant.

European Railway history and development is featured in the film clip of the Bologna to Florence High Speed Railway..and an interesting photograph of an Italian locomotive with a Franco-Crosti pre-heater and right sided chimney…..Thanks to Valerio Varriale for this unique photograph.

Lovers of UK preserved steam will enjoy the 3 part feature on Steam on the Settle and Carlisle line (courtesy of BorderFilmArchive) ..as well as the documentary on the railways finest hour in World war 2.

Along with other regular features, we learn of the travails of the railway publications editor…A Winchesterjournalism interview of Nigel Harris , renowned editor! I can sense your sympathy from here!!

So, enjoy…and do get back to us with any comments and suggestions…….
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Steam Tube (TM) Video Highlights:





Steam Tube (TM) Photographic Highlights






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Downpatrick Heritage Railway - nvtvbelfast


Ireland's only full-size heritage railway is celebrating 20 years. Entirely run by volunteers, this unique railway allows you to enjoy the beautiful countryside of County Down on board vintage passenger trains and sample the atmosphere of an early 20th Century railway station.

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Reproduced by kind permission of David Turner
Royal Trains for three Victorian Royal Weddings
What with all the fervour surrounding the Royal Wedding, I thought that I would look through some 19th century newspapers for evidence of how the Victorian railways played a role in royal weddings of the past.

The first wedding I encountered was Princess Victoria’s (Queen Victoria’s Daughter) marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia on the 25th January 1858. This took place at the Chapel Royal in St. James’ Palace. After the Wedding Breakfast at Buckingham Palace, the couple left for Windsor. In 1858 Windsor had two stations owned by two companies, and the couple were carried by the Great Western Railway (GWR) from Paddington Station. Leaving the station at 5pm, they arrived at Windsor at pm and were greeted by dignitaries, fireworks, the firing of a canon and a guard of honour.[1] A few days later the couple travelled back to Paddington, and then by the South Eastern Railway (SER) to Gravesend where they were to depart for Prussia. All through their journey crowds gathered at the stations they passed to cheer them on, and on arrival at Gravesend Station they were greeted by speeches and cheers.[2]

At the same time, many from around the nation wished to celebrate the wedding and excursion trains were provided to London. Indeed, this was a period when the railway industry was just starting to exploit large events for financial gain by running 'specials' to them. Thus, it is known that the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) provided special excursion trains from Southampton to ‘enable sight-seers to witness the preparations for the marriage ceremony.’[3] Other instances of special trains have not, however, been found. Yet, it is plausible that they did exist.

In July 1862 another of Queen Victoria’s daughters, Princess Alice, got married to Prince Louis of Hesse at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Because of the death of Prince Albert in December 1861, the Royal Family was still in mourning. For this reason the wedding was not common knowledge amongst the public. After the event, the couple travelled from the pier at Gosport to Vauxhall by the L&SWR. ‘So little did the public know about the event’ reported The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, that when the 5pm Southampton to London express train was shunted into a siding to let the royal train pass, the passengers had the strong impression that there had been an accident ahead. Indeed, when informed of the purpose of the stoppage they refused to believe it. Yet, reassurance came when they saw the royal coaches ‘with the visitors at the wedding seated in it, all at mourning.’[4]

Prince Edward, Queen Victoria’s eldest son and the future King Edward III, was married on the 10th March 1863 to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Alexandra had arrived only four days previously at Gravesend and had been conveyed by the SER to the Bricklayers Arms Station. She was then transported Windsor by the GWR from Paddington.[5] After the wedding the couple departed for Southampton via Basingstoke by the GWR. Jackson’s Oxford Journal reported that ‘the passage of the train from Windsor was welcomed at every station through which it passed by a display of flags, words of welcome and floral decorations.’ On arrival at Southampton the royal carriage was detached from the train, and to the sound of cheers six horses pulled it into the docks. It was from here that they took the Royal Yacht to the Isle of Wight and Osborne House.[6]

Unlike the wedding of Princess Alice, Edward’s wedding, like Prince William’s, was celebrated by many around the country. Naturally, some people wanted to visit Windsor and special trains were laid on by the GWR from Paddington. However, the number conveyed is unknown.[7] In addition, festivities were held nation-wide. In Edinburgh bonfires were lit, famous buildings and monuments were illuminated and fireworks were let off. As such, special trains were run to the city from Newcastle, Dundee and Glasgow, with return workings run after the illumination had finished.[8] Thus, special trains were laid on throughout the country to transport individuals to regional events.

Overall, Britain’s railways clearly played a role in broadening the appeal of royal weddings and making royal couples into celebrities in early Victorian Britain. Stations, particularly, were the focal points for the celebrations, as they were the only places where many people could see the royal couples personally. Indeed, in all of these cases, bar that of Princess Alice’s marriage, royals were subject to celebrations at either end of their journeys, as well as at the stations through which they passed. Additionally, railways had the effect of allowing those that lived far away from the weddings to celebrate where the ceremonies were, or at regional festivities. Thus, while not all weddings were located in easily accessible places, like Windsor, the special trains detailed here indicate that there was significant interest in them. Thus, I have to ask, did the railways start the hype around the royal weddings that we have today?

[1] The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties, Wednesday, January 27, 1858; Issue 1415
[2] The Bristol Mercury, Saturday, February 6, 1858; Issue 3542
[3] Daily News, Friday, January 22, 1858; Issue 3647
[4] The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Thursday, July 03, 1862; pg. 4; Issue 2412
[5] Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle etc, Saturday, March 7, 1863; Issue 3309
[6] Jackson's Oxford Journal Saturday, March 14, 1863; Issue 5733
[7] The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Wednesday, March 11, 1863; pg. 7; Issue 2626
[8] Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Sunday, March 8, 1863; Issue 1059

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ON THIS DAY IN RAILWAY HISTORY.

??/06/1909
George Whale retires as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Western Railway; he is succeeded by Charles Bowen-Cooke.

--/06/1931
The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee in Ireland (3 ft (914 mm) gauge) introduces the first diesel engined railcar to enter regular passenger service in the British Isles

02/06/1944
Soham disaster..exploding munitions wagon http://britainfromtherails.bradtguides.com/category/rail-history/

03/06/56
British Rail abolishes Third Class coaches on trains

04/06/1906
Francis Webb, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Western Railway (b. 1836).

05/06/1883
The first Express d'Orient is operated between Paris and Wien.

06/06/32
“The “Cheltenham Flyer” with 5006 Treganna Castle (Driver Ruddock and Fireman Thorp) in charge, reaches record average speed of 81.6 mph over 77 miles between Swindon and Paddington.
(5006 Tregenna Castle. Built June 1927. First shed allocation Old Oak Common. August 1950 shed allocation Cardiff Canton. March 1959 and last shed allocation Carmarthen. Withdrawn April 1962. Source: The Great Western Archive)


GWR 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe passing through Penkridge on its way to North Wales
(C) mick lockley
07/06/1924
London, Midland and Scottish Railway opens the luxury Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland

10/06/1931
The German rail zeppelin (Schienenzeppelin), an experimental propeller driven railcar, sets up a new world railway speed record of 230 km/h on its way from Hamburg to Berlin which was not surpassed by any other train for 24 years.

18/06/1914
The Carrbridge rail crash in Scotland kills 5 people

20/06/1947
Devon Belle Pullman train with observation car introduced

21/06/1880
Josiah Stamp, Chairman of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
1926-1941,born.

22/06/1907
Opening of the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway in London, a deep tube railway which now forms part of the London Underground's Northern line.

27/06/1900
Central Railway(“Tuppenny Tube”)opens from Shepherds Bush in west London to the Bank The Official opening of the Central London Railway, core of the Central Line of the London Underground, means this is the third deep-level electrified "tube" railway in the city

27/06/1933
First Stanier design LMS 4-6-2 (6200 Princess Royal) introduced.


LMS Princess Class 8P No.46201 Princess Elizabeth travelling light engine, tender first, from Tyesley to Stratford-upon-Avon on the first of two return test runs. Later in the day, another test run, this time with ECS. 17th March 2011 (C) P.S.Lewis


29/06/1927
Great Western Railway (England) takes delivery of its first 'King' Class 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive from its Swindon Works, No. 6000 King George V

(C)Maureen Arnold. The Blue King Edward II (6023) at Didcot, 2nd May 2011
28/06/57
British Rail announces a £16.5 million loss in 1956

29/06/1937
6220 Coronation Scot reaches 114 mph between Whitmore and Crewe.

30/06/1906
24 passengers and 4 railwaymen die as the result of the Salisbury rail crash on the London and South Western Railway of England when an express train passes through Salisbury railway station at excessive speed.

30/06/1911
First Great Western Railway 4300 Class 2-6-0 locomotive is turned out of its Swindon Works, England. The class, designed by George Jackson Churchward, will comprise 342 members and see overseas service during World War I.

An afternoon at the big Great Western Railway 175 year anniversary event on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire museum railway. 8 steamers connected to the GWR in steam, 5 of them in mainline service Toddington - Winchcombe - Gotherington (line to Cheltenham Spa race course closed due to landslide). Between Winchcombe and Gotherington a second loco was added to the trains. Locos include GWR 3717 "City of Truro", ROD 5322, GWR 7802 "Bradley Manor", 3803 and LMS 8274 as 8476. (C) Roni

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Aubrey Smith Southern Railway History
HistoricalTruth101 on YouTube
Here is a fascinating insight into US railway life and work...


World War II Veteran Aubrey Smith Southern Railways post World War II to present. The complete interview will be available at http://www.historicaltruth101.com soon.

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The Italian Rail Scene

Here are a couple of interesting items from Italy...
The first is a clip featuring the newly constructed high speed line between
Bologna and Florence, uploaded to YouTube by Impregilospa.

Bologna - Florence High Speed Railway


The second item concerns a preserved steam locomotive...and there are only a few in Italy...



Italian engine FS 741.120, 1st May 2011 in Sant'Angelo Scalo (Ferrovia Val d'Orcia, Tuscany). The engine has a Franco-Crosti preheater under the boiler and a strange chimney on the right side. She is the only surviving one of her class (rebuilt 1959 from class 740). From Valerio Varriale   
This detail from Wikipedia discusses the Franco-Crosti boiler..
When the locomotive is started, cold water is fed directly into the main boiler which operates normally with the exhaust gases flowing out of the main chimney via the smokebox. Once the boiler is producing steam, the exit from the smokebox into the main chimney is closed and the exhaust gases instead flow through the feedwater heater and exit via the secondary chimney located towards the rear of the locomotive. Water fed into the boiler is now pre-heated in the feedwater heater and enters the boiler at higher than normal temperature and pressure

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Their Finest Hour S01 Ep05 Death on the Railway

A UKTV programme, uploaded by SuperBostyn on YouTube
Copyright acknowledged.




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The Lost Railway

An excerpt from the highly acclaimed movie The Lost Railway. This feature length movie documents fond memories of this local branch line which served communities between Shoreham and Horsham for over 100 years. A careful combination of rare archive filn linking the past to the present, the full version can be purchased online at http://www.offtherailsigns.co.uk

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Interview with Nigel Harris of RAIL Magazine

Interview with Nigel Harris of RAIL Magazine by Chanin LLoyd

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STEAM ON THE SETTLE, (PART 1)Courtesy: BorderFilmArchives

STEAM ON THE SETTLE, (PART 2)Courtesy: BorderFilmArchives

STEAM ON THE SETTLE, (PART 3)Courtesy: BorderFilmArchives


With grateful thanks to the University of Cumbria, custodians of ITV Border material.
The Border Film Archive spans a period of nearly 50 years of regional news production for the majority of Cumbria, Southern Scotland and the Isle of Man as served by the Border Television Studios in Carlisle between 1961 - 2009.

Held within it are News reports from the last five decades encompassing all areas of local life within the Border region from lighter community led features and sports reports to hard national news stories.

Included are individual clean unmixed news reports, on air logs of the nightly Lookaround programme, extensive generic stock footage from across the region and complete camera rushes from some of the major stories from Borders history including the Lockerbie Disaster, Foot and Mouth and the Carlisle Floods.

The collection though still the property of ITV, is under the custodianship of the University of Cumbria as a non profit facility and can be utilised for independent research, or broadcast sales.

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National Rail Day (US) May 7th 2011
A tour of the Eccles Rail Center
Courtesy: GoldenSpikeRLHS



Historian Dan Kun gives a walking tour of the Eccles Rail Center at the Utah State Railroad Museum. He tells the history of Gas Turbine X-26, D&RGW SD40T-2 5371, UP Centennial 6916, and UP FEF-2 833.
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The Iron Horse
(WesternsOnline on YouTube)


Maintaining the USA theme, this film is quite an epic (2 hours and 28 minutes...)
Springfield, Illinois. Brandon, a surveyor, dreams of building a railway to the west, but Marsh, a contractor, is sceptical. Abraham Lincoln looks on as their children, Davy Brandon and Miriam Marsh, play together. Brandon sets off with Davy to survey a route. They discover a new pass which will shave 200 miles off the expected distance, but they are set upon by a party of Cheyenne. One of them, a white renegade with only two fingers on his right hand, kills Brandon and scalps him. Davy buries his father... Years pass. It is 1862 and Lincoln signs the bill authorizing construction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways. Marsh is principal contractor and Miriam is engaged to Jesson, the chief engineer... Crews of Chinese, Italians, and Irish work to build the railway while resisting Indian attack. When the pay train is delayed by Indian ambush, the Italians go on strike. Miriam persuades them to return to work.

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The PowerHaul Story. (FreightlinerGroup on YouTube)
Story of the build and creation of the first PowerHaul locomotives for Freightliner by GE Transportation.



The latest addition to UK rails has been the Class 70s.
This promotional film from Freightliner Group extolls the virtues of the "Bulldog" or "Predator"...although the nickname "Ugly Betty" has been known!

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Around The World In 80 Railways
No 13: Beijing to Shanghai
(enzhus on YouTube)

Take overnight train, D309, from Beijing to Shanghai

For complete information for the traveller in China http://www.seat61.com/China.htm is the answer!

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http://www.british-heritage-railways.co.uk/
British Vintage Railways  provide an independent guide to Britain's Preserved lines.
Please make good use of it when planning for your future visits to a heritage railway!
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UK Steam Info is another excellent site listing all known mainline steam excursions..
Very useful for obtaining times and locations.....!

  http://www.uksteam.info/tours/
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The Railway Chronicle..for your railway news.......


Go To: http://rtn-news.blogspot.com/

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From Christian Wolmar- Latest Newsletter


I was trying to wait for the McNulty report to come out before sending out this newsletter, but now it appears that it will not be until May 17th at the earliest. After a quiet time when all news has been buried by a marriage, an earthquake, a war and various tornadoes, suddenly transport, and especially the railways, are coming to the fore again.

The McNulty report will certainly be controversial. When I met him, he emphasised that he would not be putting forward a programme for massive closures, but according to a Tory source, Hammond has been making speeches emphasising that the railways are full of financial basket cases. The fact that a White Paper on railways now appears to be on the agenda is somewhat ominous but in truth the likelihood of widespread closures actually happening is, I think, very low. They would be very unpopular especially as critics could point out to the billions being spent on HS2 and, indeed, shutting lines would weaken support for HS2. And they would tend to go through Tory constituencies.

Indeed, with the government so ready to do U-turns on issues ranging from forest sales to the NHS, proposed closures would be, I suspect, a one day wonder with rapid retreat of stout parties. However, rail supporters will need to be on their guard, and ready to mobilise in order to campaign against any suggestion to close lines.

In other breaking news, as they say on TV, we’ve just heard that First is not going to take up its option of three more years, from next spring, on the Great Western franchise. This was hardly a surprise, as predictable as Manchester United finishing in the top four. First have been losing money on the franchise ever since it agreed to extra investment following the debacle in the Bristol area a year into the contract, and it was never going to agree to pay the premium payments required in the final three years. That does, however, make a nonsense of the Department for Transport’s boast about the fantastic deal it got when the franchise was let, and indeed about the whole franchise process. The Wolmar question, ‘what is franchising for?’ is ever relevant.

Because transport has been so out of the news, and I no longer do my Transport Times column, there are only three new items on the website: the two Rail columns on, respectively, the structure of Network Rail and the prospect for co-ops in the railways, and a Thunderer comment for The Times on the crazy plan to build bi-mode trains.

I am still trying to clear the space under my bed – I have just got in a supply of Blood Iron & Gold paperbacks, for £8 plus £2 50 p & p, and there are still the Fire and Steam hardbacks, which make a great prezzy, at £5 plus £3 p & p. Just email me at christian.wolmar@gmail.com to find out where to send cheques, or pay by PayPal at xian@pro-net.co.uk .

Next month’s newsletter will, I suspect, be earlier in the month and contain much more news.

Christian Wolmar
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"On Shed"  acknowledges the following  for the news items that appear in The Railway Chronicle

www.railway-technology.com         http://www.transportinfo.org.uk/      http://www.youtube.com/

...and many others duly acknowledged..
Thank you.
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And as a final treat for this month.........

Tornado, in BR Green(!) at the NRM...(C) Nic Burden

Till next month....

Peter S. Lewis (Editor)