Thursday, July 30, 2020

early view of traffic outside Sydney station


Obviously before the present Central station was built in 1906.  However, as the practice of postcard publishers in those days was to remove overhead trolley lines above tram tracks, it's hard to determine how much earlier.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Dahabeah (Dahabeeyahs, Dahabiya) on the Nile, Egypt, circa 1900


These are shallow-bottomed, barge-like vessels with two or more sails, that have existed for thousands of years.  More info

will ferries help beat Israel’s traffic jams?


(Original article on The Times of Israel)

New Transportation Minister Miri Regev has given the green light to set up a series of sea shuttles along the Mediterranean coast in a bid to ease Israel’s chronic traffic jams, Channel 12 news reported Monday.After taking office in May, Regev, reportedly asked for out-of-the-box solutions to try and ease the congestion.

One idea presented was for a series of sea shuttles that would link coastal cities like Netanya, Hadera and Ashdod with Tel Aviv, similar to commuter ferries in Manhattan, Bangkok and Istanbul.

According to the proposal, a ferry from Ashdod to Tel Aviv would take 26 minutes, compared to a 41 minute car drive during rush hour, or 51 minutes by train.

Similarly, a ferry from Netanya to Tel Aviv would take 20 minutes, compared to an average commute of 49 minutes by car, or 29 minutes by train.

Regev reportedly told officials that she wants the shuttle system to be government subsidized like bus services.

The report did not give a time frame for setting up the sea shuttle system or detail costs or what infrastructure would need to be constructed.

Israel’s coastal area, particularly around Tel Aviv, faces constant traffic woes that a series of new highways and interchanges have failed to alleviate. The city’s perennially delayed light rail system is not expected to inaugurate its first line until mid-2022.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Paraparaumu Aviation Museum, NZ


This shows the historic control tower from 1947 (replaced with a modern structure in 2017 in a different part of the airport) and the small building which houses the museum's artifacts and displays.  The Museum is open on Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm.

NZR Ed 102 in Wellington yard circa 1939


The first built locally by Hutt Workshops after the class leader Ed 101 was delivered by English Electric. A photo likely taken when new. For lots more, see our books.

Monday, July 20, 2020

the world's oldest intact ship, Egypt


Jeep decor


It's probably safe to say the owner is someone into WW2 memorabilia.

1936 Studebaker Dictator



This was made from 1927 to 1937 when the model was dropped: 'dictator' had unwanted connotations by that stage.

1930 Oakland Eight


A GM marque which took over the original company, founded in 1907, in 1909. It lasted until 1931 when it was discontinued in favor of Pontiac. According to the US Inflation calculator, $1045 in 1930 would be $16,132 now.