Tuesday, April 30, 2013

the old Gare de Vaises, Lyon, France

This original PLM Lyon-Vaise station was destroyed during Allied bombings of 26 May 1944. It was provisionally rebuilt in wood, then a new station was opened in 1956. In 1997, a new multimodal space was built to facilitate connections between train, metro and bus.

the US Navy's "Anchors Aweigh"

When two of us travelled recently on the overnight ferry from Bergen (Norway) to Newcastle (England) they played this as the ship left port.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

General Electric narrow gauge switcher from 1948


As used on the Kauai Plantation Railway on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, one of two owned by this operation which runs a circuit around a 105 acre plantation of various fruits, macadamia nuts and sugar cane (now used only for making rum).  The passenger cars were made in the Philippines and are reproductions of the railway cars of the period of King Kalakaua of Hawaii. (Geoff Churchman pic) 

New York streetcar and steam powered El, 1890s


From a stereoscope scene.  Steam/smoke from the loco is obscuring part of the top of the background building.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

US Marines Tri-Motor aircraft, Nicaragua

A Marine Atlantic-Fokker TA-2 tri motor transport aircraft arrived at Managua, Nicaragua, in December 1927 to support the 5th Marine Brigade to quell a civil war there - the first sustained tactical airlift operation by any American military service branch.  The TA-2 could transport a load in 2 hours that would have taken a mule train 3 weeks to deliver.  (painting by Lt Col Albert Michael Leahy in the National Museum of the Marine Corps)

1938 Buick graphic


25 April - ANZAC Day

The veterans' day in Australia and New Zealand.  A day to honour those who have served and serve in the military to fight for human rights and democratic freedoms against forces of tyranny.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

container ship 'Southern Lily 2'


 
Seen in Pago Pago.  The white building on the left is the mansion of the Governor of American Samoa. (Geoff Churchman pic)

Data: Year Built: 2003;
Length x Breadth: 160 metres x 25 metres
Gross Tonnage: 13,497 grt
Maximum speed recorded: 15.8 knots

famous sailing ships used by Abel Tasman and Christopher Columbus


1952 Mercury advert


strange pictograms on the Tokyo subway


Our guess is that they mean this is a seat for special needs people, but they suggest other things...

Sydney to Melbourne railway centenary FDC

For the completion of the Albury to Wodonga section in 1883.  It wasn't until 1962 that a standard gauge line was extended south of Albury, however, see earlier post.

Monday, April 22, 2013

rowboat for 50 rowers, American Samoa

 
 
Named Fuao, this won the annual race for racing longboats in American Samoa; this one is located in the village of Vatia (second pic). Both photos by Geoff Churchman.

1948 Buick hood ornament


The new age of travel as shown on the cover of this sales brochure.

Boston - now for the book and the movie

In the age of 'quick lit' (see definitions earlier) someone with the necessary law enforcement inside info will be composing a book on last week's events in Boston - and negotiating movie rights...

That a 19-year-old crazy on the loose managed to shut down an entire major city for several hours demonstrates how seriously the threat from Muslim terrorism is taken nowadays, particularly in the US, although of course questions will be asked about why the Russian intelligence given to the Americans on these brothers 2 years ago didn't lead to their deportation to Russia.  No doubt all will be revealed soon.

Friday, April 19, 2013

container and roll-on roll-off ship 'Pacific Islander II'


This operates on the Mediterranean to Pacific Islands routes.  Specifications are on this page.  Pic taken in Nouméa by Geoff Churchman.