Tracks the monthly magazine of the Inter City Railway Society websites: icrs.org.uk & icrs.fotopic.net at the start of a prolonged cold spell eastbound ScotRail 170424 is seen approaching Keith through the snow, which started falling on the 18th and was still falling into the New Year the security fencing and lighting on either side of the line is associated with the numerous bonded warehouses (out of view)…full of whisky 20 December 2009 Volume 38 No.1 January 2010 Inter City Railway Society founded 1973 The content of the magazine is the copyright of the Society No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the copyright holder President: Simon Mutten (01603 715701) Coppercoin, 12 Blofield Corner Rd, Blofield, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 4RT Chairman: Carl Watson - [email protected] 14, Partridge Gardens, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 9XG Secretary: Gary Mutten - [email protected] (01953 600445) 1 Corner Cottage, Silfield St. Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9NS Treasurer: Gary Mutten - [email protected] details as above Membership Secretary: Trevor Roots - [email protected] (01466 760724) Mill of Botary, Cairnie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 4UD Editorial Manager: Trevor Roots - [email protected] details as above Website Manager: Mark Richards - [email protected] (01908 520028) 7 Parkside, Furzton, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK4 1BX Editorial Team: Sightings: James Holloway - [email protected] (0121 744 2351) 246 Longmore Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3ES News: John Barton - [email protected] (0121 770 2205) 46, Arbor Way, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 7LD Wagons & Trams: Martin Hall - [email protected] (0115 930 2775) 5 Sunninghill Close, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6LS All Our Yesterdays: Alan Gilmour - [email protected] 24 Norfolk Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2HJ Europe (website): Robert Brown - [email protected] (01909 591504) 32 Spitalfields, Blyth, Worksop, Notts. S81 8EA Magazine Distribution: Peter Britcliffe - [email protected] (01429 234180) 9 Voltigeur Drive, Hartlepool TS27 3BS Publications Team: UK Combine / Pocket Book: Carl Watson - [email protected] details as above UK Wagons: Scott Yeates - [email protected] Paul Eveleigh (contact via Scott) Name Directory: Eddie Rathmill Publications Distribution: Carl Watson - [email protected] details as above Website Assistant: vacant Contents: Officials Contact List ........................................ 2 Stock Changes / Liveries ...................... 26-27 Society Notice Board .................................... 3-5 Traffic and Traction News ......................... 8-9 Publications ............................................. 5 & 28 Wagon Corner ...................................... 25-26 Current News / Sightings: Feature Articles: Gloucester / Stirling Sightings .............. 16-19 All Our Yesterdays .................................... 19 Light Rail and Metro News ........................ 25 Preservation Scene ..................................6-7 Open Day News ........................................ 10 Railway Globetrotters ........................... 20-24 Out and About Sightings ........................ 9-10 Ramblings of a Rail Enthusiast ............. 11-15 £1.25 where sold separately (post free) Printed by Ords Group, Progress House, Usworth Road Industrial Estate, Hartlepool TS25 1PD 2 Society Notice Board Editor’s Comments: Hope you all had a good festive season, which for many turned out to be white. It certainly did up here and it aint stopped yet !! Whilst it is expected to see snow and extreme low temperatures north of the border, it has been coldest Dec in 30 years and has snowed continually since the 18th December with no thaw in sight and so is getting very deep… and there is still 3 months of winter to go yet. The following photos whilst not railway related are for those who only briefly saw or haven’t seen any of the white stuff yet or are basking in sultry above zero temperatures. Got 6” more overnight on 4th and is still falling as I write this with many other parts of UK now paralysed, so no intention to dismiss others hardship. after 18 days of virtually continual snowfall this is the scene across my property on 5 Jan 2010, did I mention it has been cold…awesome icicles underneath the deep snow it is still ice with alongside A96 fed from a natural spring 18” on roofs, more on ground. the rockface is about 12’ high !! I mention the extreme weather only in that it has taken up my time, along with the usual festivities and badly affected my intention to prepare another Location ‘Spot’light…next month. Apologies for that, but I have included an extra helping of Ramblings of a Rail Enthusiast to compensate. Hopefully I will get back to reporting on the modern world with news on the many recent developments in the Feb issue. All I’ve got to do now is dig my Mom’s car out of its igloo (above) to drive her back to the south coast.… STOP PRESS: (mag was at printers and managed to get this in and worsening weather above) I went over to Inverness on 4th Jan to photograph the inaugural run of DBS / Stobart service having taken over from DRS…an hour later 66048 ‘James the Engine’ in pristine Stobart livery became first major victim of weather and trashed itself in Carrbridge Station. I hope to go and photograph it but weather appalling at present. I’ll tell you more next month with photo of 66048 before it’s demise. Publications Strategy: As stated last month, we are well on our way to getting our first book printed totally under the control of ICRS (see pages 5 & 28). For those members who do not buy any ‘spotting’ books, you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. For those active enthusiasts amongst the membership our strategy is to still publish the best books possible, a goal harking back to our formation. To this end we have taken back in house the compiling, quality control, printing and publication of the ICRS book portfolio. What must be stated is that those books we do will be by the existing dedicated team, but more help is always welcome. As stated though, this initially will be less than many members have been used to, but whatever books are produced, they will be as comprehensive, accurate and up to date as we can possibly make them. So no matter what other similar competitive books there are, we intend ICRS books to be market leaders. For those who are still confused by the production of recent similar books by HB Publications, they are a totally separate business now who produce spotting books for their own profit, as do Platform 5, AEB Rail, Gardner etc. and therefore should be treated as such. We will publish our books with independent printers at the best possible commercial rates to give the quality we demand. So after the necessary expenses of printing and posting, all sales profit will be for the direct benefit of all members, allowing improvements over time to Tracks, the website and the production of further titles. We hope this helps further explain the situation, but if you have any concerns or questions please ring or email Carl (Chairman) or Trevor (Membership Sec). 3 Errata: I knew if I started to add reporting codes I would slip up, so I’m indebted to a couple of members for putting me right over 59002 on last months cover. It should be 6V17 Harwich – Acton Yard. Membership Matters: Membership Rates: Annual: £16.00 Five year: £75.00 (saving £5.00) Joint: (with GB Bus Group saving £3.00): £26.00 ICRS Membership gives you: • a high quality monthly magazine ‘Tracks’ - covering all aspects of railways: UK past and present, wagons, preservation, European scene, trams and Location ‘Spot’lights – how to get there and what to see. (the photos can be viewed in colour through the Members Area on the website). • an informative website, with access to previous editions of the magazine. • a 10% discount on lan Allan publications and first time magazine subscriptions (not additional to discount for IA Subs Club members). Joint ICRS / GBBG Membership also entitles you to: • GBBG magazine, ‘Trident’ & website gb-bg.co.uk • a 20% discount on all transport book titles published by HB Publications (direct orders only) Payment: If paying by cheque / postal order, please make payable to ICRS for all types of Membership. You can also renew or join quickly and easily online via the website, using our PayPal facility. In a few clicks you can be signed up for another year, or take advantage of the 5-year subscription, saving £5 on annual fee, or take a joint membership with GB Bus Group, saving £3 on the normal combined annual membership subscription rate. Select ‘Join ICRS’ from the menu on the homepage at icrs.org.uk Membership Cards: On membership cards generally, please remember on renewal, your new card will be sent out with the next issue of Tracks. Now this may mean that you might wait up to 5 weeks if you’ve just missed the end of month cut off when I send cards out for distribution. So there is no need to send a separate sae for card. The way I’m sending out renewal forms and issuing cards now means that assuming you renew at first request, your existing card will always be valid until new one arrives. Unfortunately I can’t speak for previous cards issued. But bear with me and in another 7 months everyone should be on this new system. Also many of you will have already received the new look card, which I hope you approve of. New Members: (* joint members with GBBG) The following new members have joined this month: Guy* (Orpington), Graham Ford* (Impington), Paul Huggett (Chesterfield), Michael Jefferies (Bristol), Alan Lillford* (Pontefract), J Miles (Rugby), Ben Muldoon (Rugby), Brian Rose (High Wycombe), Stephen Silcock* (Newcastle upon Tyne), Raymond Taylor* (Bournemouth), Arthur Woodcock (Dundonald) - a warm welcome to you all.