During 2015 Jon Hemsley Network Chairman found time to record this video promoting the Network Volunteers from the Railway Network helped to organise this excellent series of events:
- Richard Flint organised a visit to the Chiltern Railways Depot at Aylesbury. Clive Kessell produced this blog and images from the event.
- In March, Roger Short and Andy Heath gave an evening seminar on Railway Signalling Research – how the past made the present up in Derby which attracted an excellent audience.
- In May the Network teamed up with the other Transport Networks for an evening seminar organised by Peter Sheppard on Sacred Cows - Revisiting Fundamental Safety Principles
- In June the YP Group organised their annual Railway Quiz night with Peter Sheppard once again taking control of the questions in a uniform and badge kindly supplied by Chiltern Railways
- Mid-June also saw the return of the popular Measurement Train visits organised by Brendan Rice this time on the Midlands Mainline.
- Peter Sheppard gave a presentation on ‘Mostly Harmless – a review of qualitative analysis approaches to safety up in Birmingham in November which was well received.
- On the 17 November the Network hosted the Annual Railway Lecture and Dinner for the first time in several years, with a presentation by Jerry England from Network Rail on the Digital Railway.
- The Network ended their 2015 programme with a visit to the Tfl Neasden Depot organised by Graham Neil and colleagues from Tfl.
2016 promises to be a busy year for the Network:
- Due to popular demand Richard Flint has organised another visit to Chiltern Railways Depot on 10 February 2016, watch the emails and online for further details and how to register.
- On 12-13 May 2016 they will be hosting the International Conference on Railway Engineering in Brussels which has a theme of ‘Enhancing Railway Operations’. Further details on the event will be uploaded soon, but in the meantime please watch this video recorded by John Easton Chairman of the Technical Review Panel on why you should attend.
- The YPs are planning to hold their Quiz Night in June again with Peter Sheppard driving the engine once again as Quiz Master. Keep an eye out for the pre-quiz teaser anagram, which will be publicised in due course. Once again Peter’s managed to source a new uniform!
- The Railway Lecture and Dinner will be hosted again, this time at IET Savoy Place and we hope once again to welcome both company tables and individual railway professionals. Further details will be publicised via email and online in due course.
- Peter Sheppard is also looking to organise a visit to the Basingstoke Campus NR/SWT Training centre. Again please keep an eye out for further details via email.
The Network will be continuing to support the IET Events team with their excellent programme of seminars/courses. They are also involved in supporting the following projects/organisations:
- Routes into Rail project set up by the RSSB
On behalf of the Railway TPN I would like to wish you all the best for the New Year and hope that you will continue to give your support to the volunteers who dedicate their time in organising this activities by coming along to an event or visit in 2016 or watching some of the content they’ve recorded from events etc. If you have any suggestions for future events/activities please contact me or add comments to this blog.