Sunday February 13th 2010 - May you live in interesting times
Hello.... its me again, I know its been a while forgive me :). Hopefully you will be reading this having managed to get into the site using the NEW front door. If you are one of these people that just use the Index 2 page as a bookmark then why not go and take a look at the new front to the site, it took me over 2 days to sort the scripting out for it. You can see it HERE
The script allows the display of several images as a slideshow on the page. I could have just included it in the normal index page but, I wanted to bring a new feel to the entrance of the site. So after a few hours, around 6 to be precise over two nights, of trawling and trying several templates from off the tinterweb I decided to use the index2 page as a template. I managed to edit it to the way I wanted it to look and keep the pictures at a reasonable size. So this is how the front door now looks. There's also direct links to my Twitter, Facebook and You Tube accounts so you can follow, add and subscribe to all 3 (if you want), any future developments, news or whatever to the site or me.
So apart from the new front door to the site what's new. One or two areas have had small insignificant updates but thats about it. But these have been made when the new front to the site went up a few days ago. The News, Links, Events, Dorset Freight, POTM have all been updated. Three more pages have been added to the January - June 2010 Poole Gallery also. So what more can we see onto the site. I hope to have a new section where my non railway related photos will find a home. I have taken some photos already for putting in the gallery but not sure when it will be built.
So thats it for this month hopefully more news next month and not 5 months down the line.
Sunday February 14th 2010 - Testing Testing 1, 2, 3!!
Its February already. What a month January was.... The first eleven days were a bit slack, but we started off with a 31 & DBSO on a test train, MPV on a De-icing train, TNT 66 on engineers train 2 more test trains (one which was the first HST on our patch since around 1997!!), a 37 even a class 108 DMU!!!
66596 dominated January on the Wool Sand train. Since the beginning of the year we have had five different 59's on the Hamworthy stone which has run literally once a week since the second week of January on a Friday. So its been a tad busy down here, and yes you've guessed correctly as I never managed to get any photos of anything that visited. Well working stupid hours I cant get out to photograph them. So Mr Dorset Rail has kindly donated some of his photos you can find them in the 2010 January - June section of the Poole Gallery.The Class 108 move was from Swanage to Eastleigh for specialist welding and fitting of OTMR & TPWS, so when Swanage Railway actually do get a regular passenger working through to Wareham (or Bournemouth on Summer Saturdays!!!) the DMU would be used. Perhaps fitting of a headlight and Front Yellow ends are in the works as well?
Hopefully the passenger service from Swanage to Wareham will be sooner than later. I for one would love to travel from Poole - Swanage on one train at some point before I kick the bucket!! Not much of an update for this month, just a few sections have been updated. Playing Modern Warfare 2 is taking a lot of my time up during the week, "why?" I hear you ask, its a great game and I like playing it really. Meet great friends and some rather other annoying people but hey enjoyment is the spice of life...apparently. Also I have been watching the 4 seasons of Prison Break (I bought the box set) its absolutely fantastic and would recommend it to everyone. Last 2 episodes to night to watch then i move onto Family guy season 2!!!
Site News
A thank you to people who have sent me email's about the new layout to the Freight page and the stats. it's a big job to try and collate all the info and keep it in one place for a year and to publish at the end of it. But its a nice little pleasure reading some of the email's with the thanks and Kudos from some of you. Cheers :)
So what has been updated in this update? read on......
Poole Gallery (Jan - June 2010)
Events
Dorset Freight
News
Pic of the month
You Tube / 15 mph Productions
I haven't managed to get around to finishing off the videos. But will do at some point. When thats done I will update & upload the 15mph page.
Tours
Steam Dreams have 3 tours down here this year. Two with Tangmere (1 to Swanage & 1 to Weymouth) and Oliver Cromwell to Weymouth. The two Weymouth tours are slightly different this year as The first tour comes down to Weymouth via Yeovil and comes back via Poole. The second Weymouth tour goes via Poole and goes back via Yeovil. I think this cuts out the need for the steam loco (+ diesel assist) to goto Yeovil for turning and servicing and then get delayed on the single line to & from Yeovil.
The thought of having Tornado down twice in a matter of weeks was short lived as Pathfinder's Tour to Canterbury on June 12th. It has since materialised that Tornado's run will indeed not start at Poole as first thought but instead the leg from Poole to London Victoria will be diesel hauled and tornado takes over at Victoria. I was seriously thinking of doing this tour with the thought of haulage behind Tornado from Poole but wont bother now. As its from Victoria. Still we have the Purbeck Tornado a week later in June.
Thats it more news next month.
January 18th 2010 - I know its late but....
Happy New Year from the Hentis Rail team of web monkeys :)
So what a year 2009 was. The first ever passenger trains to Swanage, 10 plus railtour's either originating or passing through Poole. My first ever Swanage Diesel Gala and another Eastleigh Open Day. I only hope 2010 can be better. With nine rail tours already earmarked for 2010 including 2 appearances of A4 Peppercorn Steam locomotive 60163 Tornado (the wierdo's will be coming out of the woodwork for that one). I want to try and get out a little bit more this year than I did last year but again by the looks of it its going to be hard. With no pay rise in site again at my place of work, it looks as though I will have to try and win the lottery. Still two of the main things I want to photograph this year is the Lymington slam door units on the Lymington branch and also the movements of the Wool sand being loaded at Wool, as well as the usual trip(s) to London, Eastleigh as well as possibly the Swanage diesel Gala in May.
I wanted this update to be done just after the new Year but due to the possibility of heavy snow (that was forecasted) in my local area and never appeared I thought I would hold off a couple of days to see if I can get a few shots. Well we only had a dusting of snow that lasted a few days but not as bad as most of the other country received, which some say we should think ourselves lucky for.
Site News
I start off this month by announcing an update to the Dorset Freight section of the site. Its a new page design that allows the provision of the previous years statistics. But still provides the necessary workings and abbreviations. Also the links to the Open Office (only) spreadsheet, and several pdf files are located in plain view.
Poole Gallery - 2009 July - December Page 2
Poole Gallery - New 2010 section added
Links
Dorset Freight
News
You Tube / 15 mph Productions
I am currently working on two Memoirs of Eastleigh videos. One has been finished and the other is in the final stage of editing. I have another video planned for the next few weeks as well. But nothing that is ready for uploading. Hopefully by the next news update these will be ready and uploaded.
More news next time.
December 20th 2009 - Happy Christmas. Now you see em, now you dont - Get them while you can
Well another successful year is nearly over. We have had our allotted railtours, rumours and weird workings and I really am looking forward to what next year holds. Still there's a few more days left in this year to go and there is a little bit of news left to write so here goes.
On November 25th 66516 was despatched to Poole to rescue stricken 66 66602 after it was declared a failure on Parkstone bank just North of Parkstone station whilst hauling the 15:22 6M42 Wool - Neasdon loaded Sand. 66516 ran into Poole Carriage sidings to work up to the rear of the stricken train. The idea was that if they could not get the train going by using 66516 as a banking engine then they would have to haul the train wrong line back to Poole Carriage sidings and being split into two trains. Eventually 66516 was able to push 66602 off the bank and the whole train managed to clear the 1:60 bank and continue onto Neasdon unhindered if somewhat late. 66516 came off the rear of the train at Southampton Maritime. The cause of the loco stalling was put down to poor railhead conditions due to the fact that the line had been sprayed using RHHT some 6 hours previous, but rain, wet sand a combined train weight of around 2352 tons up a 1:60 climb does tend to take its toll. Other companies were asked for help. Southwest trains being one of them with a SWT 73 but apparently it was in no fit state to come to the aid. Not that a 73 even on Juice would be able to push or pull that amount. DBS were also asked if they could provide assistance but were unable to help.
With the introduction of the Class 70's in the UK mainland word has got out of at least 30 class 66's going off lease at some point. Some have already been earmarked for going off lease and some to go to Poland. It brings up an interesting point. As someone who still likes to take numbers as well as Film and photograph the loco's, With the ones that go off lease to other operators and get renumbered how will this effect our (the spotters) records. The same applies to any that go overseas. Locos that I have not seen and are despatched abroad then I shall not include in any of my "needs" list, whether they are still listed on TOPS or in spotter books. For me its the "if I see it, I see it. If I dont then too bad" applies here. For other people it will be get them while you still can.
Site News
Updates to the site this month include:-
The Poole gallery July - December page updated
Pic of the month
Events
Dorset Freight
15 mph
Loco Wants
News
Index page
The site is due for another update later on in December or early January this is due to a number of sections that will need updating. One of these will a " most frequent visitor through Poole" doc towards the end of the year. This is just a compilation of all the loco's / trains that visited or passed through Poole over the last twelve months. What do you think it will be? All will be revealed towards the end of the year. Again the pdf documents and and spreadsheet will be made available to download as an archive again around January time.
You Tube / 15 mph Productions
Just one video uploaded this month:-
Tangmere's Xmas Tours Poole November 2009
Tours
Just one tour added on this update and a first for this loco as well. 601653 Tornado is due to visit Swanage on June 16th 2010 with a train from Victoria. Full details can be found in the events section. I still await most of the tour operators 2010 lists. Hopefully more news on this in the next update.
Thats all the news for this month. Have a happy and safe Christmas, Thanks for visiting and hope to see you in 2010 around the place.
November 23rd 2009 - Snatch!! :@
Sitting down here writing the news for this months update I really haven't thought much about it to be honest. I am just sitting down here doing the site update and watching Snatch on DVD on the other PC, haven't watched it in a while and forgotten how good funny this film really is. Its also stopping me from doing the upset as its so funny to watch. Anyhow on with the update.
Nice to see the Class 70's, GE's new Powrhaul locomotives designed in collaboration with Freightliner. Affectionately known as Bettie's from Ugly Betty fame these loco's (30 in total) will be introduced on various Freightliner workings around the UK. Mainly these will be used for the Intermodal duties but one hopes they get seen around here on the local sand workings, But I think we will have to wait and see.
2010 sees the start of the construction of the twin sail lifting bridge across Holes bay to replace the delapidated harbor bridge, As well as more work on the Weymouth bypass taking shape. Hopefully this might see more stone coming through Poole to the Hamworthy stone terminal. Obviously this is pure speculation and nothing has been decided. So again we will have to wait and see. There's not much of an update this month I have been playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 for the PS3 so work on this months update. I am working on another section to go up on the site but its not rail related. But I dont know if and when this section will completed.
Site News
Updates to the site are as follows:-
The Poole Gallery July - December has a 2nd page added.
Events
News
Pic of the month
The Links page
Dorset Freight
and the News section
You Tube / 15 mph Productions
Nothing to report this month again. Mainly to the fact I have not really been out anywhere. Although I hope to be out later this week for the final two rail tour's for 2009.
More News next month.
Tours
No more tours have been added for 2009 although 5 have been penciled in for next year. Currently there are two bound for Swanage two for Weymouth and one starting from Poole. Check out the events page for more info.