by country (top 10):-
United States 33,355
Germany 3594
United Kingdom 2852
New Zealand 2356
France 2340
Russia 2275
Australia 1357
Canada 1003
Brazil 233
Netherlands 222
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
vehicles in Amagertorv, Copenhagen, 1960s
As well as the bus, a Ford Consul MkII, a Mercedes Ponton, VW Beetle and a Opel Kapitan P2.
can you realistically do anything about Muslim terrorist public transport bombers?
The latest Muslim attacks in Russia (and there are certain to be more) make you wonder if you were traveling on a bus, tram or train that had a Muslim suicide bomber on it, could you do anything to stop it? And how long should you allow before you tell the conductor about a briefcase, backpack or bag that someone has left unattended?
The answer to the first question seems to be nothing. These people hide their explosives under their clothes with detonator at the ready and if you accosted them they would simply trigger it.
The answer to the second depends on whether there is a restroom or lounge car that the person could be in; if it doesn't have such, then report it straight away. On the L.A. Metro last year a train two of us were on was stopped and cleared while the suspicious item was removed - it didn't take long. If there could be a legitimate reason for something left where it is, a few minutes should be allowed. The conductor should remember if the person in that seat had a ticket for a destination beyond where you are.
Panama Pacific Line ships poster, circa 1930
The three ships stated on the poster - which had steam turbo generators and turbo-electric transmission — California, Virginia and Pennsylvania — came into service in 1928–29, replacing all the other ships on the intercoastal service. The California to New York via the Panama Canal service ended in mid 1938.
the Detroit Electric car, 1910s
The Detroit Electric car was produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company in Detroit, Michigan; 13,000 electric cars were built from 1907 to 1939. At top is an advert from the Wellington agent for these cars and at bottom one being charged up from mains power in the US. more
and now a day later, Muslim terrorists blow up a trolley bus in Volgograd
Monday, December 30, 2013
the 'Maori' in Lyttelton circa 1910
This Union Steam Ship Company ship from 1907 was the first ship in the fleet to be specifically designed and built for the Lyttelton - Wellington interisland overnight service. For more, see the book Strait Crossing: the ferries of Cook Strait through time
paddle steamer 'The Duchess of Fife'
Built for Clyde service, Scotland, and in operation 1903-1953, this ship made four English Channel/Manche crossings during the evacuation of British and French soldiers from Dunkirk. Dimensions: 210.3 ft x 25 ft (64 x 7.6 metres), 336 Gross Registered Tonnes. Propulsion type: Paddle two crank triple expansion engine More info and pics
Muslim terrorist bombs Volgograd railway station, Russia
The female suicide bomber blew herself up in the entrance hall Sunday, killing at least 15 other people. See an earlier post on this station, known as Stalingrad station until 1961.
Johnsonville and the Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington, 1934
As can be seen the gorge at that time was a long way from the 6 lane expressway it is now. The railway yard is at the bottom right. For lots more, see the book Wellington Transport Memories.
cars outside Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, circa 1960
The building may qualify for the boring postcards category, but those cars are a different matter.
mule streetcar in Matamoros, Mexico, early 20th century
The driver with the sombrero makes it a very Mexican scene. Brownsville, Texas, is just across the Rio Grande river.
Port of St Malo, France, poster
The Emerald Coast which you could reach by the Chemins de Fer de l'Etat.
Rio Grande narrow gauge 2-8-0, Colorado
Another Baldwin built engine for Rio Grande's 3ft gauge system. This one, manufactured in 1882 and seen on the Sapinero Branch in June 1955, is now on display at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
steamer 'Ancona'
a Fokker F.10 trimotor over L.A. City Hall circa 1929
The year after this iconic building was completed. It was the tallest building in the city until 1964.
vehicles on The Esplanade, Exmouth, England, 1960s
Including a Ford Consul Mark I, a Commer Cob van and an electric milk cart.
bringing streetcars back to Downtown L.A.
Advanced plans for a 4-mile rectangular route between 1st and 11th and along Broadway and Hill with a portion on Figueroa are detailed on this website
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| streetcars were fundamental to the growth of Los Angeles - a streetcar on Ninth and Grand View Avenue, ca.1900 |
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| a streetcar heads south on Broadway in early 1963. (pic courtesy of the Electrical Railway Historical Association of Southern California) |
Dunedin tram outside the Law Courts, 1900s
The trams are history but this building is still standing, almost opposite the Dunedin Railway Station. See earlier post.
Odessa port poster, Ukraine
Obviously produced during Soviet days for French speaking Europe, age uncertain.
Cosulich Line posters, Italy
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| it looks like the ship is cresting an enormous wave |
This steamship line that was based in Trieste, Italy was founded in 1903. In 1932, the Cosulich Line and fellow Italian passenger companies Lloyd Sabaudo and Navigazione Generale Italiana were merged into the state-owned Italia Flotte Riunite (United Fleets of Italy), or Italia, though Cosulich was able to maintain its own management from Trieste. When Italia was liquidated in 1937, Cosulich was absorbed into the replacement Italia Societa Anonima di Navigazione, or Italian Line.
Cadillac Ranch, Texas
Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm. It consists of what were either older running used or junk Cadillac automobiles, representing a number of evolutions of the car line (most notably the birth and death of the tail fin) from 1949 to 1963, half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
crossing the Buller River by manual ferry, Westland, 1900s
The "Nine Mile" probably refers to its approximate distance from Westport which was established in 1861 at the river mouth. The ferryman used a pole to punt the pontoon across. For more see our books.
fun with a Griffon, 1900s
The tricar looks like a significant workout for the puny motor here, moving four people. The advert mentions motos, i.e. motorcycles and that is probably what the brand is most associated with. The company was absorbed by Peugeot
in the late 1920s but Peugeot built machines under the Griffon marque until
at least 1956. An article here
ships in the Yangtsze Gorges, China, posters
Age uncertain - the Butterfield & Swire partnership was established in Shanghai in 1866. Four years later a Hong Kong branch was also opened. In 1953, four years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Butterfield & Swire closed all of its China offices. The Butterfield was dropped from the name in Hong Kong in 1974. Swire remains a major English business today.
NAC Boeing 737 circa 1968
A postcard issued at the time these were introduced. For details see the book The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and affiliates since 1940
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Makatote Viaduct view circa 1909
NSW Garratt engine with a goods train near Fassifern, 1959
Road number illegible. See earlier posts. Pic by the late great French railway photographer Marc Dahlström
Titanus Poliziotto
An Italian movie from 1977 described as "virtually a non-stop succession of car chases". Poliziotto is Italian for cop. The poster is a little odd as the curve is in the wrong direction for a two wheelie and could only be achieved anyway in a car with a low center of gravity if the right side has just been up a ramp.
in the mood for TSA
We have a suggestion - employ agents who look like this, and there may be a lot fewer objections...
