binesrail Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 On April 16th 2011, James May will be going for a second try at building a model railway from Barnstaple to Bideford! Railway Heritage Museum will be open with displays on the history of the Barnstaple - Bideford line. Childrens' vintage fairground rides. Restored signal box and Tarka Tearooms open all day. Books, DVD's and lots more for sale. FREE ADMISSION! Cheers Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted April 8, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 8, 2011 IS it going to be televised? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Hi Yes later this year on the BBC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
owentherail Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 James may is doing it again on saturday 16th April, a race against germans!! 7am start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted April 14, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 14, 2011 more info here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles2 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Thanks for posting, I've not seen this open day advertised anywhere else, have been to a couple of these before and enjoyed them very much... A few pictures I took...... Also came to an open day in 2004. My first acquaintance with the line was in 1975....... 25 161 and 25 224 heading away from Crediton. Barnstable Heading out of Instow towards Bideford Torrington and Torrington again heading back between Bideford and instow Looking forward to Saturday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
owentherail Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 LOL................ i can see me in pic of bus at 1997 open day. owen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_Apollo Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 LOL................ i can see me in pic of bus at 1997 open day. owen Is that you in the red shirt? You wouldn't happen to be an ex-cricketer per-chance? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
owentherail Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Yes...... and yes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_Apollo Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Yes...... and yes. Thought so! Have sent you a PM old friend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles2 Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 A few snaps from my visit to the Bideford open day and the filming for James May's attempt to run trains between Bideford and Barnstable again. This says it all..... The signal box and PMV which serves as an exhibition of photos, relics, models and history of the line. Its a shame the shunter Kingsley was not operating brake van rides, but I was told more mechanical work and a public licence is required. Nothing to disturb Kitty on the line End of the running line. Inside the box Today was the second attempt that James May has made to run OO trains along the Tarka Trail, which the track bed to Barnstable has now become this was being filmed, to be televised later in the year Three trains were being run from each end, with double track laid at Instow and Fremington for passing. James May was helping with the three trains from Barnstable, while a German crew were operating the trains from Bideford, with some colourful characters amongst them. Last time the track was powered by 12v car batteries at intervals along the line, this time the locos were powered by batteries in wagons and I think radio controlled The problem was the battery wagons were rather top heavy and........CRASH.. This is the old platforms which served the Royal Hotel The train was soon back on track and under way again and heading for Barnstable backwards, note the spare track length on the bike rake. Three trains were running from each direction with a map to update their progress Work carried on at Bideford on the finish board for the trains from Barnstable Instow box and double track and station platform Instow box the double track towards Fremington The bridge at Fremington double tracks at Fremington Network Rail were looking after the line at Fremington! Did the trains make it? Was James May's attempt successful? We'll just have to watch it on TV wont we . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted April 17, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2011 Thanks for posting these pics- awaiting the results with anticipation! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Hi, Well 16th April has been and gone, any news on what happened? Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Apparrently yes - see this Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bideford-Railway-Heritage-Centre/182307775146286 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Western Stalwart Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 If the locos were battery powered, what was the small i.c. engine for? Looks to me as if it was connected to an electric motor. Maybe to keep the batteries charged or was this powering the loco motor itself? Cheers, Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 The inevitable question: did anybody try to nick anything during the stunt? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Were the german team the guys from Miniatur Wunderland? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 The Bideford bugle Saturday 16th April 2011 THE Great Race! At the start of the day clouds hung low across Instow estuary and the dawn looked as if it would bring rain a weak sun was trying to brake through, this event was being staged by Mr James May and friends, for Toy Story 2 for the BBC. The tracks had been laid over night on a most igneous contraption, a golf buggy with a brave chap sitting on the back, with a large box of track and fitting them together, two tracks where laid this way. Three Locomotives would be used from each end of the line, the Germen locomotives would start at Bideford at 7.30am and the British one would come from Barnstaple a distance of 10 miles. The sun had now pushed the clouds away and the weather looked set to be warm, news came down the first Germen train locomotive had a problem and had been sent back in to the shed for an inspection. This did not look good for the Germen railway Company in their attempt to be the first to finish, mean while the BR May locomotive had left on time and was making good running. The race was on to see which locomotive would get to the end first; Bideford signal box rang the bell in Instow box, to say the Germen Railway locomotive had left, the DB Ice train was on its way they had set their second Loco down as a replacement. The Germen railway loco was approaching Instow box and the Signal men: Mr C .Bines pulled off the signal to allow the GR railway loco to pass, The ICE loco shot through Instow at high speed! The ICE train took Instow Viaduct without losing a step and moving at a fair old pace, and was pulled up for a pit stop on the other side of Instow level crossing. The Germen loco engineers set to work and cleaned and inspected the loco, giving the wheels a fine cleaning, this was done with total precision and the loco was back on the track within a minute! The signal man pulled the signal off and the Germen train was on its way again. No news from the BR May! All had gone quite from BR May and with the ICE train had already gone through Instow things looked worrying , But then new came through that BR May had come off the rails The crowed held their breaths. Then busting from Instow tunnel came BR May loco, they had got her back on the track, the HST was moving fast with two powers cars. The HST had now done nearly 7 miles at Instow and was moving along with no problems, and was making good time. Miniature Wonderland where in the lead as BR may pass Instow box, and doing well. As the day came to a close all six trains where doing well, given a few derailments. The last train to pass was the Flaying Scotsman, with Mr May ridding in the dinning car, and making good time. All loco made it the full run to the rejoicing off large crowds, and the winner was? You will have to see on TV….. All the best Darren Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wollastonblue Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 The guy is from Minatur Wunderland. Gerrit, I think his name is. I get the facebook updates from there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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