Friday, September 30, 2016

for NSW railway modellers - V interurban electric sets in HO scale are available


From Auscision models -- webpage

For details on the prototypes, the book Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand is good.

was the Hoboken, New Jersey, train crash the work of Muslim terrorists?


Speaking to reporters at a Thursday press conference, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo raised the possibility that Thursday’s horrific train crash in Hoboken, New Jersey was somehow the work of “enemies” of the United States of America. “I would like to take this opportunity to say that these are difficult times over these past weeks and months between terrorist attacks and natural disasters,” Cuomo told the gathered crowd of reporters.

Full article

Syrian rebel HQ in Daraa gets the 'allahu akbar' treatment



Although the heading says 'suicide bomber', it seems more like a stick of dynamite was thrown, and there is a clear sound of gunfire following it.

the Holland America Line 'Ryndham II' (1951)


This was 15,015 grt, had a length of 503 feet (153.3 metres) and a passenger capacity of 39 first class and 836 tourist class passengers.

More info and pics

1947 Dodge trucks


Including a 'cab-over-engine' or COE tractor.

Western Australian S and W class on a passenger excursion train, 1970


Obviously a photo stop.  See earlier posts on both classes.

BIC bus, France, 1950s


A promotional bus which reflected the popular space age theme of the era.  The BIC company's products are fairly obvious!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Oregon Short Line Depot in Boise, Idaho


The OSL was a Union Pacific subsidiary for most of its life until the name disappeared completely and was replaced by UP in 1987.

The depot was demolished in 1947. For more, see this webpage

New Caledonia aircraft stamp, 1950s


Maybe depicting a DC6.  The geological feature is known as the "Bonhomme et la roche percée", a pic of it below from this webpage


1946 Volvo bus


As it mentions the chassis (and the motor by implication) presumably coachwork was done by other firms.  Göteborg = Gothenburg which is where Volvo is based.

Egyptian MP: Victims of Capsized Migrant Boat ‘Deserve No Sympathy’


Egyptian member of parliament Elhamy Agina has said that the victims of the migrant boat that capsized last week en route to Italy “deserve no sympathy” due to their participation in an illegal activity, Parlmany reported.

A boat carrying as many as 600 migrants capsized off Egypt’s northern shore near Burg Rashid, a village in the Beheira province, just hours after setting sail. According to the country’s health ministry, the death toll has risen to 211, while several of the migrants who were on board remain “missing.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi vowed to punish those responsible for the sunken boat, saying that they took advantage of both Egyptian citizens and foreigners. Sisi also called on his government to take steps to support more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for Egyptian youth in order to provide more opportunities for those seeking to emigrate.

Walmart now employs more people in West Virginia than the coal industry

Norfolk Southern GE C44-9W's with an empty coal train in Bluefield, West Virginia

Walmart has been the biggest employer in the state since 1998, but it seems it now employs more people than coal mines collectively.  As well as not being good news for mine workers, it's not good news for the railroads either as they have traditionally hauled the lion's share of the commodity to users.

According to Time magazine:-

"U.S. mines produced about 900 million tons of coal last year, a nearly 25% decline since 2008 and the lowest amount of production since 1986, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The change has come as energy companies have built up their natural gas and renewable capacity. The decline in coal production has led the industry to hemorrhage workers, with 50,000 coal-related jobs lost between 2008 and 2012, according to a study from last year. And that’s just the latest in a downward slope in the industry since the 1980s due to mechanization that displaced human labor. The coal mining industry directly employed more than 140,000 in 1989 and and only 85,000 a decade later, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report."

1947 Berliet Interurban diesel bus


We think the 7 is a reference to a 7 tonne tare weight. The "33 to 57 places" seems a large variation in the number of seats.

KB 965 with freight at Arthur's Pass, circa 1960


From the West Coast, the KB 4-8-4 would have been attached to it here. For lots more, see the book New Zealand 1950s Steam in Colour

1946 M.C.I. Courier 100 bus, Canada


These seated 33 passengers; 76 were built.

Source

'The Big Bus' (1976) movie


"A wonderful spoof of disaster films, The Big Bus is about the world's first nuclear-powered bus - a 75-ton monster on 32 enormous wheels - and its maiden journey from New York to Denver. Jockeying the world's greatest bus, of course, is the world's greatest bus driver. His co-pilot is given to sudden blackouts and has a penchant for driving on the shoulder of the road. A pair of evil-doers vow to destroy the bus at the outset, thus providing lots of hilarious suspense."

Monday, September 26, 2016

Alco S-1 switcher


The S-1 was built between April 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 543 completed. They were a Bo-Bo type fitted with a naturally aspirated 4-stroke Alco 539 prime mover rated at 660 hp (490 kW). This example seen circa 1970 looks to have experienced a long period since its last overhaul.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Märklin catalog cover art, 1932


With what looks like a DRG E17 class electric in the centre-right, although they had the middle headlight just below the roof level rather than on the hood.

1941 Pierre Faure Type PFA biplace électrique


One in a Czech museum. Another one of these, of which only about 20 were made, was put up for auction in February and was apparantly sold to a Russian buyer for 43,000 Euros!

From the auction details:-

"La voiturette de Pierre Faure fait partie des nombreuses réponses à la pénurie de matières premières, pendant la deuxième Guerre Mondiale. Dotée d'un châssis poutre et d'un moteur électrique alimenté par six batteries, elle pouvait atteindre 40 km/h et son autonomie était estimée de 50 à 70 km. La voiture que nous présentons a été achetée neuve par Yves Le Bihan, ingénieur de l'école Centrale et ancien directeur de la Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Nord. Passionné d'automobile et de moyens de propulsion (il avait déposé un brevet de moteur à combustion, mais aussi pour une machine qui mesurait la force d'un cheval en chevaux vapeur !), il a fait l'acquisition de cette voiture pour des raisons économiques, pendant l'Occupation et elle est immatriculée 7858 FJ 3. Témoins de cette sombre période, elle dispose encore de son "Ausweis" ("Laissez-passer") que l'on fixait derrière le pare-brise, et les phares sont encore équipés des obturateurs. Après la guerre, la voiture a été entreposée chez son fils, en Bretagne, dans une ancienne écurie, et elle n'en a plus bougé. C'est en vidant le local où elle était stockée que cette voiture s'est rappelée aux bons souvenirs de la famille, et c'est très précisément à cet endroit que nous l'avons retrouvée. La petite-fille d'Yves Le Bihan, qui était enfant dans les années 1950, se souvient avoir joué à bord de cette étrange machine, partant pour de longs voyages imaginaires. Elle est complète (à l'exception des batteries), le pare-choc avant est démonté et l'ensemble est en strict état d'origine, seul le capot et l'aile avant gauche étant abîmés à la suite du stockage. Même la burette d'huile se trouve encore dans le compartiment moteur, et les clés pendent au tableau de bord. Les chaînes de transmission ainsi que deux couronnes de remplacement et des pignons accompagnent la voiture. Elle constitue un rare et émouvant témoin d'une période difficile où l'ingéniosité compensait la pénurie. De plus, elle a traversé les ans sans être cannibalisée et mérite une belle remise en état."

(The Pierre Faure buggy was one of many responses to the shortage of raw materials during WW2. With a tubular chassis and an electric motor powered by six batteries, it could reach 40 km/h and its range was estimated from 50 to 70 km. The car that we present was bought new by Yves Le Bihan, engineer of the Ecole Centrale and former director of the CdF duNord. An enthusiast for cars and propulsion means (he had filed a patent combustion engine, but also to a machine that measured the strength of a horse in steam horsepower!), he acquired this car for economic reasons during the occupation and it was registered as 7858 FJ 3. Testimony of this dark period, it still has its "Ausweis" ("pass") which is fixed behind the windshield and the headlights are still equipped with shutters. After the war, the car was stored at his son's place, in Brittany, in a former stable, and it moved no more. In emptying the room where it was stored this car recalled fond memories of the family, and it was precisely here that we found it. The granddaughter of Yves Le Bihan, who was a child in the 1950s, remembers playing on board this strange machine, leaving on long imaginary journeys. It is complete (excluding batteries), the front bumper is removed and the assembly is in strict original condition, only the hood and the front left fender was damaged after storage. Even the oil can is still found in the engine compartment and keys hang on the dashboard. The transmission chains and two replacement crowns and pinions accompany the car. It is a rare and moving witness of a difficult period where ingenuity compensated for shortage. In addition, it has gone through the years without being cannibalized and deserves a beautiful restoration.)

Through the Netherlands with an 8-day railways pass poster, 1930

Available in 1st, 2nd or 3rd class versions, although presumably the girl in the yellow hat is a 1st class passenger...

Saturday, September 24, 2016

1940 Beck Mainliner bus


As used by Pony Express between L.A. and Salt Lake City via Las Vegas.  This seated 29 passengers and had a 401 cubic inch or 6.57 liter International engine.

bus in Latvia circa 1936


Obviously a scenic photo stop.   We're not sure what the bus model is, possibly a Mercedes but the symbol is missing from the grille.

the stoush in Syria and Iraq in maps

Plus a general history of the warring factions, including the governments, rebels, Kurds and ISIS is on this BBC webpage

Wellington station scene, 1927


What at the time was called Lambton station.  The new station mentioned, which replaced both this and the Thorndon station further up the road, wasn't opened until 1937.

For lots more, see the book Wellington Transport Memories.

anti-tailgating message


"This is the end of my truck. Let it not become your end. Keep distance."

Friday, September 23, 2016

SAI KZ III light utility aircraft, Denmark



This model was used by the Danish Air Ambulance Service and Danish Air Force.

The first flight was on 11 September 1944, when Denmark was still under German occupation (the Germans permitted an aircraft to be built for Danish Air Ambulance Service).

The plane had a high wing and was of mixed construction, canvas- and plywood-covered.

This example was built in 1946 and is now in Danmarks Flymuseum in Stauning.

Wanganui tram on Victoria Avenue, 1940s

See earlier posts and our books for more.