Tuesday, August 11, 2026

two NSW SRA 86 class electrics near Bell in the Blue Mountains, 1988


NSW's electric locomotives all now belong to history, because the system is 1500 V DC rather than high voltage AC.  For lots more info, get the book Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand.

el coche motor Ferrostaal, Chile, late 1960s


Seen at the Constitucion terminus of the 88 km, meter gauge Talga--Constitucion branch line is a Ferrostaal SB-56 diesel railcar of German origin from 1961. It had a maximum speed of 60 km/h, a 180 hp diesel engine, pneumatic brakes, and was composed of a power car + trailer with a capacity of 80 seats. Total total weight was 30.3 tons, length 25.5 meters and was Economy Class only, 1 WC with toilet and sink.

New rolling stock for the line was announced in 2024 and was reported arriving in 2025.

Rio Grande 2-8-2 in a Rocky Mountains canyon in Colorado digital art

Impressive nature and impressive man-made creations!

Monday, August 10, 2026

'I love big good real books'

preserved narrow gauge Swedish 2-8-0


Designated by SJ as Gp 3119, this an historic 891 mm (Swedish 3-ft) narrow-gauge 2-8-0 built by Motala Verkstad in 1937 for the Västergötland-Göteborgs Järnvägar (VGJ) narrow-gauge network.

It was taken over by the state-owned SJ in 1948, reclassified and transferred to Småland's narrow-gauge lines in 1954 before being retired from active commercial service in 1965. It was bought by the Skara local authority in 1967 (prompted by Föreningen 29:an) with initial intentions to serve merely as a static monument.

Enthusiasts restored the heavily-worn engine back to working order, bringing it under steam by 1971. The efforts to save and run VGJ 29 directly sparked the creation of the Skara-Lundsbrunns Järnvägar (SkLJ) museum railway, keeping the spirit of the old Västergötland narrow-gauge network alive.

Philippines National Railways GE UM12C road switcher, MRR 2000 class

These were Co-Co type and had V12 turbocharged prime movers rated at 1,320 hp. Seen at San Fernando, Pampanga Station in 1959. 

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Kenworth Australia K200 cab-over semi-truck


On NZ's 'Desert Road' (Waiouru to Turangi) with a snow-covered Mt Ngaruhoe in the distance. (Suzanne Vetter pic)

Philippines tram and railway stamps

Manila Railroad Class 2000, 20 built 1955-1956, GE UM12C model

The top one is from 1971 and the others from 1984.

Bristol Lodekka FS double-deck bus


The model had a flat-floor, short-wheelbase, and a rear-entrance, built with bodywork by Eastern Coach Works (ECW). The British bus operator, Eastern National is historic. On the left is a Bristol MW or Bristol RE single-deck bus (also featuring ECW bodywork).



streetcar in Ruthven, Ontario, Canada 1911

Perhaps "rural lane car" would be more appropriate. 

The historical "streetcar" connected to Ruthven, Ontario refers to the Windsor, Essex and Lake Shore Rapid Railway (WE&LSR). This historic electric radial interurban railway operated through Essex County, connecting small rural communities with larger urban hubs. The electric interurban rail line operated from 1907 to 1932. 

The railway spanned 37 miles (60  km) of single track from Windsor through Maidstone, Essex, and Kingsville, heading right into Ruthven before terminating at Leamington. Past Kingsville, the track followed the shore highway until it reached a point just south of Ruthven. It then made a sharp turn north directly into the heart of the town, swung southeast back toward the lake, and continued straight north to enter Leamington via Erie Street. The postcard captures one of these classic electric cars turning off County Road 45 just north of Union, facing east toward Ruthven and Leamington. 

The majority of the heavy, wooden-bodied interurban electric motor cars and trailers used along this route were manufactured by the Niles Car and Manufacturing Company out of Niles, Ohio, as well as cars sourced from the Ottawa Car Company in Ontario, Canada.

This network provided crucial passenger and freight transit for farmers and commuters in southern Ontario who were otherwise unserved by major steam railroads. Due to the rise of personal automobiles and the Great Depression, the line permanently closed in September 1932. Today, nearby Windsor preserves this regional transit history with its fully restored Streetcar No. 351 on display along the waterfront.