Polish 2-8-2 tank locomotive

The PKP series TKt48 was originally used in suburban traffic, and later on the front of passenger and freight trains on the central mountain ranges in southern Poland. Top speed was 80 km/h in either direction. A total 191 were supplied to the PKP between 1950 and 1957 (plus 18 factory use examples) and were still used up to the late 1980s in large numbers. Only with the decommissioning of most branch lines in Poland since 1989 were they retired and scrapped. Ten have been preserved.

Lockheed Electra at Palmerston North airport, late 1930s

See earlier posts and, of course, our books.

website dedicated to the Turkish genocide of Armenians, 1915-1916

We have mentioned this episode, in which an estimated 1.5 million+ Armenians died, in a couple of previous posts. This was largely forgotten by the world, except by Hitler and the Nazis to whom it gave a example to follow. Stalin was probably influenced by it, too.

A comprehensive website about it is here

Turkey officially denies it took place and complains bitterly about those who bring it up, see this article

train from Milan to Geneva at Gallarate, Italy, 1950s

cars outside the Mt Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Ceylon, 1920s

Now Sri Lanka.

Italy to close hundreds of small mosques to fight Islamic extremism

According to this article, the Italian government intends to close down clandestine mosques in the country as part of the fight against terrorism, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano announced Friday.

"In Italy, we have four mosques and over 800 places of Muslim worship," said Alfano.

"We are going to close the clandestine and unregulated places, not to hamper the religion but so that it can be practiced in places which are in order," he added in comments published by the local press.

In this it will be following Egypt which is reported to have closed 27,000 mosques of under 80 sq metres (860 sq ft) for the same reason.

Velosolex cycling poster, Switzerland, 1950

India is the world's worst air polluter

And it's going to get worse: the annual quantity of coal burned is expected to triple in the next 15 years.

Just one of several articles on the web about this subject:

India may be lagging behind China on several economic indicators but when it comes to environmental degradation, the country has definitely outsmarted its giant neighbour.

Of the world’s top 20 polluted cities, 13 are in India compared to just three in China [the list below gives 14 in India, none in China]. Air pollution slashes life expectancy by 3.2 years for the 660 million Indians who live in cities, including Delhi. In China, the corresponding dip is marginally lower at three years.

non-Indian cites:  Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Doha (Qatar), Khorramabad (Iran), Igdir (Turkey)

The Ganga and Yamuna are ranked among the world’s 10 most polluted rivers. China has just one. An evaluation in February ranked Vapi in Gujarat and Sukinda in Odisha among the 10 most environmentally-degraded zones in the world. China had no entries on the list.

The two nations have seen furious economic growth in the past decade fuelling a rapid rise in pollution. China leads the world in carbon emissions and India is in third position. But one important difference between the two emerging economies lies in China’s ability to manage the impact of breakneck economic growth on its environment much better than India. The effect of China’s success is most visible in its air and water, both of which have a direct bearing on public health.

Read the rest

Another article which compares India, China, Europe and America (the USA rates a lot better than Europe).

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Powered by a 7-liter V8 engine, the 505-hp Z06 was the fastest Corvette the company has produced.

fastandsexy.com (fairly safe for workplaces)

Indonesian D52 class Mikado

A total of 100 were supplied by Krupp after WW2; they looked similar to the DRG Baureihe 41.

Finnish carrot postcard

See earlier posts.

2001 Pontiac Aztek

The first model year.  It was made until 2005 when its commercial failure saw it dropped.

a little Portuguese puzzle

In fact it is a pocket size calendar; the puzzle is why it was produced in Portugal and what that picture is supposed to be.  A sort of hybrid between an NZR J series and a K series steam engine with a green hue (they were black), and none of either series dated from 1900.

An item considered for, but not used in the book New Zealand Railway Memorabilia.

bull train at Palmerston North, 1954

Along with Taranaki, Waikato is one of NZ's prime dairy farming regions. This is an NZR photo of Ka 944 at the head of a train of cars taking Waikato Rugby Union supporters south on 27 August 1954 to hopefully witness their team win the Ranfurly Shield.  Palmerston North was one of NZR's legendary 'Refreshment Stops'.

Union Pacific 'Challenger' near the Hermosa tunnel, Wyoming, 1956

On the famous Sherman Hill route. Hermosa Tunnel is at an elevation of 7,960 ft (2,430 metres).  Some info here

Dufferin Terrasse slide, Québec, Canada

"Located on the magnificent Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk, overlooking the St. Lawrence River and beside the world-famous Château Frontenac, this unique toboggan slide with 3 lanes from 1884 attracts thousands of visitors each year."

See more  

'this transpress nz book is so good'

a Canadian National 4-8-4

Number 6167, a class U2e, built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1940, now preserved at Guelph, Ontario.  More info here

cars in Gladstone Road, Gisborne, 1940s

Maybe a Vauxhall on the left.

Indian motorcycles poster for Holland, 1920s

buses in Moscow, Russia, 1970

ships in Greymouth, 1910s

At least 9 visible.  Before the Midland Line was completed in 1923, Greymouth was dependent on coastal shipping, and often on trans-Tasman ships.  For more, see our books.

sardine fishing boats at Morgat, France, poster late 1920s

Go to Quimper on a Paris-Orléans company train and then a bus from there.

Finistère translates as the end of the earth.

traffic in Palmerston North Square, December 1958

Including a steam train.  See earlier posts, and our books, for more. (Jack Creber)

Turkey buys a lot of oil wholesale from ISIS and sells it on to other countries

Which is the reason why it doesn't like Russia's attacks on ISIS.  Turkey isn't alone in buying oil from ISIS -- article

And lots of people think Turkey should now be kicked out of NATO -- article 

cars in Grants Pass, Oregon, 1940s

Alice Springs fire brigade vehicles, Australia, 1963

Air NZ DC-8-52

For more, see the book The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and affiliates since 1940

1965 VW Karmann Ghia

SS 'Orontes' of the Orient Line

This was a 20,097 grt liner built in 1929 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Barrow-in-Furness, England, with a length of 664 ft (202 metres) and a passenger capacity of 1,612. Installed power consisted of two steam turbines, 20,000 shaft horsepower (15,000 kW), with two screws (propellors).

The Orontes lasted until 1962 when she was scrapped at Valencia, Spain.

More

Southern Pacific depot, San Antonio, Texas, 1918

Opened in 1903 and still standing, now called the Sunset Station.

An article with lots of pics on the Texas Transportation Museum website

early view of the Flöibanen funicular in Bergen, Norway

See previous post.

map of Muslim conquest battles v. crusade battles in history

"In Europe over 580 Muslim slave raids, slaughters, looting, robbing and jihad attempts plagued the European countries and is the cause of the tragedies that continued into our current age in Eastern Europe.

"These relentless attacks destroyed the entire European Classical civilisation stretching for more than 1,000 years and forced Europe to rebuild itself.

"That was Islam’s contribution to Europe. [This is perhaps a little unfair; there is some interesting Moorish architecture in Spain]

"And how many 'brutal Christian crusades' were committed in defense against the constant stream of Muslim attacks and provocations? 17."

video by Bill Warner PhD on YouTube

Indian motorbike poster, 1921

the first two trams on Devon Street, New Plymouth

Numbers 1 and 2 side by side.  For more, see earlier posts, and of course our books.

Syrian rebel 'allahu akbar' attack on Russian rescue helicopter near border with Turkey

Well, if there was any doubt about this particular Syrian rebel group, this should dispel that doubt, and confirm the Russian position about them -- just another Muslim terrorist bunch along with ISIS and Al Nusra (Al Quaeda).

Daily Mail (UK) article and video on the episode

'I wish I could find a transpress nz book'

1971 Ford LTD

ALCo RS-3 of Norfolk and Western from 1956

Mentioned in a couple of previous posts, but we're partial to them :-)  One of the 8 delivered to N&W is preserved at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, webpage

Deutsche Reichsbahn (DDR) freight car model

Although it has a stove in the center, for people or animals?  Made by Exact-Train, HO scale.

Whiteway's cider label featuring a steam train, Devon, England

Age uncertain, but probably 1930s

Sweden looks to house Muslim migrants on cruise ships

Willis Åberg, accommodation chief of the Swedish Migration Agency, said that several shipping companies have been in touch with the agency to offer ships.

“I expect that cruise ships will provide thousands of places for refugees,” Åberg said.

Full article

Gallipoli artwork installation in Appleton Park, Wellington, lasted 10 days before being vandalised

It was a 'field' of 860 flexible glowing lights, to symbolise poppies, one to mark each ANZAC soldier from the region killed at Gallipoli.  It was illuminated on 11 November, but was vandalised on Saturday night -- stuff story

the 125th anniversary of NZR steam special from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass and back

This took place in October 1988.  This train also went from Christchurch to Timaru, but it is seen here crossing the Waimakariri River bridge on the Midland Line.  It was headed by 'Mountains' J 1211 (leading) and Ja 1250.  Only the first 3 passenger cars were painted in the traditional red, so most photographers captured them only.  For lots more see our books, particularly On the TransAlpine Trail.

1953 Ford Anglia 100E advert

The model was launched at the Paris Motor Show of that year  It featured a triple bar grille until 1957.  The model was superseded by the 105E in 1959.

Was the car as big as it seemed in this cinema ad?  No.

1965 Ford Fairlane 500 sports coupe

Soviet sport cycling poster

1964 Chevrolet Impala