|
Roding Valley Model Railway Group
RVMRG will hold their 2005 Exhibition at Leytonstone Methodist Church on Saturday 21st May.
This has been an excellent event in past years so mark the date in your diaries!
January 2005
New Photographs
More photographs showing the departure of L11 from Acton works have been
added to the L11 page. Many thanks to Don for providing these
pictures.
The Tube Series II
A second series of the ITV documentary on the London Underground begins on Thursday 19th August.
Underground Crime - 7.30pm ITV 19th August
Mind the Gap - 7.30 ITV 26th August
Under Pressure - 7.30 ITV 2nd September
The Ups and Downs - 7.30 ITV 9th September
Open All Hours - 7.30 ITV 16th September
All Change Please - 7.30 ITV 23rd September
We hope that the moving of L11 from Acton to Epping will feature in one of these programmes.
Uxbridge Centenarian
The 'Starlight Express' 1938 Stock was in action on Sunday 4th July.
Photographs are here.
(July 2004)
Dates for your Diary
A reminder that the CHTL AGM will be held on Saturday 24 July at the Harvester Restaurant, Beehive Lane,
Ilford, commencing at 3pm. Only members may attend - now is a good time to join, the AGM is an excellent
opportunity to meet other members.
We are seeking to arrange an Autumn railtour with the Cravens unit. Sunday 26th September
or Sunday 3rd October are possible dates.
(July 2004)
Epping - Ongar Update
As the 10th Anniversary of clousure approaches efforts continue to be made to restart services.
Negotiations continue between the Pilot Developments (the current owner) and Essex County Council.
A detailed explanation can be found in a
press release by Epping Forest District Council.
It has also been reported that EOR may receive one of the class 205 or 207 demus recently replaced on
Connex South Central services by class 170 Turbostars.
(July 2004)
Uxbridge Centenary Railtours
The Centenary of the Uxbridge branch will be marked by railtours on Sunday 4th July.
The LT Museum's 1938 TS will make two return trips departing Uxbridge at 1112 and 1526, visiting Harrow-on-the-Hill,
Wembley Park and Amersham returning at 1419 and 1819.
To reserve tickets on the special trains contact M M Patel, Group Station Manager on 020 7918 9414.
(June 2004)
L11 Arrives
L11, the Acton Works shunting loco was delivered to it's new
home at Epping in the early hours of Thursday 15th April. L11 will now be restored
for static display. It is visible from the car park.
(15th April 2004)
2004 AGM Reminder
Members are reminded that the CHTL AGM will now be held at The Harvester,
Beehive Lane, Ilford on Saturday 24th July. This is a change of both venue
and date.
(March 2004)
L11 Fund Raising Success
There has been a tremendous response to the appeal to fund the
transportation and conservation of L11. The fund currently stands at around £1300.
Many thanks to all those who have already made a donation.
(March 2004)
L11 Update
London Undergound have offered to transfer L11
into the care of CHTL subject to a long term agreement. We now need to raise
sufficient funds for transportation of the locomotive to Epping and initial conservation work.
(Feb 2004)
1972 TS Removed
Four cars of 1972 TS were removed from Hainualt by road on Sunday 11th January.
It is expected that the remaining cars will be removed in the very near future.
A picture of '72 TS and '59 TS in Booth's scrapyard can be found
here
(Jan 2004)
Starlight Express In Passenger Service
The LT Museum owned 1938 Stock has returned to passenger service. A CTC was granted and on Tuesday 5th August
the train made a test run to Watford. Following this success the train was used on 24th September to convey a school party
from Acton Town to the museum at Covent Garden. On Sunday 5th October members of the public were able to enjoy
travelling on the unit for the first time since 1990. Two Ealing Common - Uxbridge round trips
operated as part of the 'Depot' Open Weekend.
Members of CHTL were glad to assist with the stewarding of these special trains. We should like to thank
those members of LUL and LT Museum staff whose hard work made such an enjoyable event possible.
An account of the trip on 24th September and some photographs can be found on
District Daves website.
(Oct 2003)
Metro-Cammell Update
With the good weather over the summer attention turned to the outside
of the cars. Work included cleaning and painting the solebars and
linishing the body work.
(Sept 2003)
Cravens Unit Update
The Cravens unit has been inspected and issued with a 3 year CTC instead of the
one year certificates issued in the past.
(Sept 2003)
Pump House Open Weekend, 20th-21st September
The Pump House Steam & Transport Museum at Low Hall in Walthamstow will be
open as part of London Open House Weekend.
(Sept 2003)
Pump House Open Day, 7th September 2003
The Pump House Steam & Transport Museum at Low Hall in Walthamstow will be holding an open day
to mark 70 years of London Transport. For more information on the Pump House see the
preserved stock page or the Pump House's own
website.
CHTL will have a stand, members will be on hand to talk about our trains and the
Signal Cabin. Come along to find out how you could get involved.
(August 2003)
1938 Stock Photos
Some photos of the 1938 Stock on the Isle of Wight are now on the website -
Click Here
East London Explorer Success
The long postponned East London Explorer Railtour operated on Sunday 18th May.
Participants enjoyed a round trip of over 100 miles, the outward journey from Uxbridge to
Upminster was via Baker Street. During the long lunch break at Upminster passengers were able
to visit the signal cabin. After lunch the train returned to central London, travelling right
around the Circle Line before reaching Shoreditch on the East London Line. Return to Uxbridge
was via Acton Town.
Once again our thanks must go to those members of CHTL and LUL Staff whose hard work makes
such events possible. Photographs from the tour have now been posted.
If anyone has pictures of the tour they would like to contribute please
contact me.
(May 2003)
Leytonstone Model Railway Exhibition
Roding Valley Model Railway Group will be holding it's 2nd Model Railway exhibtion on
Saturday 31st May. More information on RVMG and the exhibition can be found on their
website. There
will be a CHTL stand, members will be on hand to talk about our trains and the Signal Cabin.
Come along to find out how you could get involved. The Exhibition also features LUL layout
'Houndsditch'.
(April 2003)
The East London Explorer
Our long postponned railtour will now take place on Sunday 18th May. For more
information and a booking form please contact Garry Thorp, The Thatched Cottage, High Wych Lane,
High Wych, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 0JN, 01279 722213.
(March 2003)
Railtour Latest
It is hoped that the long postponned railtour will now take place in May.
More news will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
(Feb 2003)
Cravens Film Debut Imminent
Dead Gorgeous, the TV drama which involved scenes at Aldwych using the Cravens
unit, will be shown on Carlton TV at 9pm, Monday 21st October.
(October 2002)
Railtour Plans
Engineering work on the Metropolitan and Circle lines has prevented the rescheduling of the
East London Explorer Railtour in September. It may now take place in Spring 2003.
(Sept 2002)
Website Updates
Photographs of the successful filming work on the Aldwych branch and the
Bank Holiday shuttles on the Northern Line have now been posted on the website.
(Sept 2002)
Northern Line Shuttle 26th August 2002
On Bank Holiday Monday 26th August the Cravens Unit will operate a public shuttle service
on the Northern Line between East Finchley and High Barnet. Passengers must be in possession
of a valid LUL ticket or travelcard.
We hope also to operate a sales stand at High Barnet.
It is hoped that the postponed "East London Explorer" railtour will take place in September -
more details as soon as they are available.
(July 2002)
CHTL to Preserve L11?
The possibility of preserving the unique electric shunting loco L11 is to be investigated.
L11 was built in 1964 by joining 2 standard stock DMs together to create a double ended shunting
loco for Acton Works. The loco has remained in storage on the Acton works site but the space is now
required for other purposes. If a new home for L11 cannot be found then it will be scrapped.
If preservation is practical L11 would be placed on static display at Epping Signal Cabin.
(July 2002)
Cravens Unit to star in film!
With the CTC (Certificate of Technical Conformance) obtained the Cravens unit was scheduled to be used
for filming work on the Aldwych branch from 25th June.
Before leaving Ruislip depot the train was given a through wash and brush up. The train was expected
to remain on the branch until mid July.
(June 2002)
News from Hainault
Over 30 members turned out to boost the restoration work on the '62 train stock at Hainault
on 13th January. Subsequent working parties have been well attended. Work on removing
the frame from the signal cabin for re-use at Epping has also begun. This work now has
added urgency since LUL have now identified a new use for the signal cabin.
Long withdrawn 1960 Stock DMs 3908 and 3909 together with 1938 trailer cars 4921 and 4929 were removed by road to
Booths of Rottherham in November.
(Jan 2002)
Repairs Completed
Cracks found in the underframe of DM 3906 have now been repaired. When all the paperwork
has been completed it should be possible for the unit to run again. It is hoped to
organise a day running on the Chesham branch in the spring
(Dec 2001)
Railtour 2001
Regrettably our September Railtour had to be cancelled because of unexpected
repairs to the Cravens unit.
(Sept 2001)
Railtour 2001
Our next railtour has provisionally been scheduled for Saturday 29th September. More details to follow
(July 2001)
Epping Signal Cabin
A lease with LT Property for Epping Signal Cabin has now been agreed. Costs and use of the signal
cabin will be shared with Ongar Railway Preservation Society. Renovation work on the cabin can
now begin. Volunteers are sought!
(June 2001)
The "Mars Bar"
Sadly it was not possible to find a home for unit 1044, the heritage unit
of 1959 Stock, also known as the "mars bar", to be preserved intact. The DMs 1044
and 1045 are to go to the Alderney Railway in the Channel Islands. They will replace the
cars of 1938 Stock that have been used there since the mid 1980s. Trailer car 2044 will go to
Mangapps Farm Railway Museum in Essex.Only NDM 9045 will be scrapped.
(June 2001)
Epping Signal Cabin
A draft lease for Epping signal cabin was recieved in August. Subject to clarrification of a
few issues we hope to soon reach an agreement with LT Property.
(Dec 2000)
Epping - Ongar
The Epping - Ongar situation is being closely monitored. Pilot developments have now
reported that they do not intend to proceed with the re-introduction
of a commuter service. Discussions have been held with ORPS
over proposals for the future.
(Dec 2000)
The Centenerian
The Centenarian on 30 July tour was a great success. Organised to celebrate the 100th aniversary of
the openning of the Shepherd's Bush to Bank section of the Central line, the tour had to take place during the
early hours of Sunday morning because the Cravens unit is not equiped with ATP. The tour
traveled over the entire Central line, from West Ruislip to Epping
via Ealing Broadway, returning via Woodford and Hainault. Highlights
of the tour included a stop at the long closed Wood Lane Station.
(Aug 2000)
| 
