Tuesday, June 30, 2015
trams in King Street, Sydney, 1900s
It has changed a bit in the meantime: this seems to be the same intersection, the building with the tallish thin turret-corner is still there.
Short S23 Empire Flying Boat 'Canopus'
The first such aircraft of Imperial Airways, shown here in a 1936 brochure in the Middle East before services had actually commenced. These departed from the coast off Southampton, England. See earlier posts.
'Locomotive Study' art
By Frank Vietor (1919-2006). Much of his art was set in his home state of Indiana.
the 'Navua' ship from 1955
Seen in Wellington, a cargo ship of the Union Steam Ship Company, built in Leith shipyards, Scotland.
Length 250 ft (76.2 metres)
Capacity: 1,952 grt
Propulsion: Single prop from a 5 Cylinder Sulzer 1500 hp engine
More info
Monday, June 29, 2015
steam train at night through the Pancorbo Pass, Spain, wood engraving art, 1877
And while on the subject, here is an artwork entitled "Pancorbo Passing Train" by Dario de Pegoyos (1857-1913) now in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Muslim beheads his boss in an attack on a French gas factory
On the same day that two ISIS sympathizers shot 39 tourists on a beach in Tunisia, a delivery man with known Islamist connections beheaded his boss and left the body, daubed with Arabic writing, at the site of a U.S.-owned gas factory in southeast France before trying to blow up the complex.
The assailant rammed his delivery van into a warehouse containing gas canisters, triggering an initial explosion, and was arrested minutes later as he tried to open canisters containing flammable chemicals, prosecutors said on Friday.
Police found the head of the victim, the 54-year-old manager of the transport firm that employed the suspect, dangling from a fence.
"The head was discovered hanging on the factory's wire fence, framed by two flags that included references to the shahada, or (Muslim) profession of faith," Paris public prosecutor Francois Molins told a news conference.
More plus video
LOT Polish airline poster 1948
It seems that at the time LOT's fleet only comprised twin-engine aircraft so it's not clear what this is meant to depict. The airline was formed as the result of a merger at the beginning of 1929.
1935 Brough Superior
Seen in Wellington some years ago. Approximately 85 cars named Brough Superior were built between 1935 and 1939, powered by Hudson engines and they had a Hudson chassis. More
Saturday, June 27, 2015
ersatz bicycle tyre
Need makes inventiveness
In WW1 there was no more rubber. The people still wanted to ride bicycles. The alternative shown here was eagerly used so as to still be mobile. Bicycles were in Germany at the time of WW1 very popular. This conversion set was made in factories and sold in big quantities.
Today this type of tire has become extremely rare. On untared field paths this principle works without problems. On asphalt, cobblestones or similar, less so."
Friday, June 26, 2015
black SP tunnel motors at Alta, California, mid-1980s
On the Donner Pass route, an SD45T-2 on the point; they look to have spent a lot of time in tunnels, see an earlier post on Rio Grande units equally black.
revolving rail bridge over the North Sea Canal, Velzen, Netherlands, 1933
The Noordzeekanaal from Amsterdam to IJmuiden, cutting through ‘Holland at its narrowest’, was dug between 1865 and 1876.
Avoiding scams and touts in Delhi, India
India is one of several countries that none of us has visited and never intend to, and this article found on the traveldudes.org website provides some of the reasons why. It is nevertheless a fascinating country for 'armchair travel':
*****
First of all, the chances are really high that you will be scammed anyway. :) But perhaps this travel tip helps you to recognize them earlier. Many first time travelers to India find themselves falling victim to scams and touts, and unfortunately Delhi has a lot of both. Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or travel advice. Take any advice from taxi and auto drivers with a grain of salt, particularly if they tell you the place you want to go to is closed, dangerous, etc. If this is your first time to India, do not openly admit it as this will make you a mark for scam artists. We found out that if people start a conversation out of nowhere and offer their assistance, that it was very wise to be watchful. We made very good experiences when we were the ones who chose who to speak to, ask for help or assistance. Delhi is an increasingly unsafe place for women. It is not uncommon to receive lewd remarks or even physical touching. It helps to dress conservatively (preferably in Indian clothing so as to blend in). Learn to shout and consider carrying mace/pepper spray. Police vehicles (called PCR vans) are parked on almost every major intersection. Dial 100 in case of emergencies. A common travel tip is to carry your cash, passport, and cards in a secure money belt, with only enough cash for a few hours at a time in your wallet or other accessible place. Some travelers recommend carrying an expendable wallet with a few ten rupee bills in it in an obvious place such as your hip pocket as a decoy to Delhi's ubiquitous pickpockets. As a general rule, expect anyone handling your cash in Delhi to attempt to short-change you. You may be favorably surprised once or twice during your visit. Learn the currency, count out your payment and change carefully, and be insistent in any dispute. Several tourist agencies have been known to swindle tourists, such as change their travel plans or charge them extra commissions and fees. Consider going to the Official Indian Tourist Office. There is a separate travel tip with infos about it here: www.traveldudes.org/... Do not take a personal touring car as the agency will most likely charge you ridiculous prices, for example, 7 rupees/km of the trip. The driver will most likely take you to sites, restaurants and accommodations that you did not request to see in order to pull more money out of your pockets. Choose also here the infos of the Official Tourist Office. The best way to secure train tickets is by navigating through the India Rail website. Otherwise, prepare to spend a good hour sorting through the charges that the tourist agency will rack up, most likely several hundred dollars in convenience charges or unspecified taxes.
cars in Buenos Aires, Argentina, early 1950s
If you think it could almost be Paris, you won't be the first to make that comparison. Some nice sloped car rears to identify...
trams in Vaclavske Namesti, Prague
They look like Tatras and with the lack of any other vehicles, probably during the late communist era.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Hong Kong single deck tram circa 1910
In the days when these were about the tallest buildings; these days you have to look a lot higher. De Voeux is now spelt Des Voeux. See earlier posts on Hong Kong.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
steam goods train at Hawera, probably interwar period
It could be a passenger car near the other end, thus a 'mixed' train.
the return of Clarkson, Hammond and May, formerly of 'Top Gear' (UK)
An article and teaser video here
There is also an American version of the Top Gear show, produced by the BBC there with different presenters, a bit tamer than the UK version with this trio, but also worth watching particularly if like us, you're besotted with American classic cars.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 996 cabriolet
"I was going a little bit fast, can you help me get out of here?"
The 966 model was produced 1999-2004. (topspeed.com)
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