From Auscision models -- webpage
For details on the prototypes, the book Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand is good.
Friday, September 30, 2016
for NSW railway modellers - V interurban electric sets in HO scale are available
From Auscision models -- webpage
For details on the prototypes, the book Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand is good.
was the Hoboken, New Jersey, train crash the work of Muslim terrorists?
Speaking to reporters at a Thursday press conference, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo raised the possibility that Thursday’s horrific train crash in Hoboken, New Jersey was somehow the work of “enemies” of the United States of America. “I would like to take this opportunity to say that these are difficult times over these past weeks and months between terrorist attacks and natural disasters,” Cuomo told the gathered crowd of reporters.
Full article
Syrian rebel HQ in Daraa gets the 'allahu akbar' treatment
Although the heading says 'suicide bomber', it seems more like a stick of dynamite was thrown, and there is a clear sound of gunfire following it.
the Holland America Line 'Ryndham II' (1951)
This was 15,015 grt, had a length of 503 feet (153.3 metres) and a passenger capacity of 39 first class and 836 tourist class passengers.
More info and pics
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Western Australian S and W class on a passenger excursion train, 1970
Obviously a photo stop. See earlier posts on both classes.
BIC bus, France, 1950s
A promotional bus which reflected the popular space age theme of the era. The BIC company's products are fairly obvious!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Oregon Short Line Depot in Boise, Idaho
The OSL was a Union Pacific subsidiary for most of its life until the name disappeared completely and was replaced by UP in 1987.
The depot was demolished in 1947. For more, see this webpage
New Caledonia aircraft stamp, 1950s
Maybe depicting a DC6. The geological feature is known as the "Bonhomme et la roche percée", a pic of it below from this webpage
1946 Volvo bus
As it mentions the chassis (and the motor by implication) presumably coachwork was done by other firms. Göteborg = Gothenburg which is where Volvo is based.
Egyptian MP: Victims of Capsized Migrant Boat ‘Deserve No Sympathy’
Egyptian member of parliament Elhamy Agina has said that the victims of the migrant boat that capsized last week en route to Italy “deserve no sympathy” due to their participation in an illegal activity, Parlmany reported.
A boat carrying as many as 600 migrants capsized off Egypt’s northern shore near Burg Rashid, a village in the Beheira province, just hours after setting sail. According to the country’s health ministry, the death toll has risen to 211, while several of the migrants who were on board remain “missing.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi vowed to punish those responsible for the sunken boat, saying that they took advantage of both Egyptian citizens and foreigners. Sisi also called on his government to take steps to support more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for Egyptian youth in order to provide more opportunities for those seeking to emigrate.
Walmart now employs more people in West Virginia than the coal industry
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| Norfolk Southern GE C44-9W's with an empty coal train in Bluefield, West Virginia |
Walmart has been the biggest employer in the state since 1998, but it seems it now employs more people than coal mines collectively. As well as not being good news for mine workers, it's not good news for the railroads either as they have traditionally hauled the lion's share of the commodity to users.
According to Time magazine:-
"U.S. mines produced about 900 million tons of coal last year, a nearly 25% decline since 2008 and the lowest amount of production since 1986, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The change has come as energy companies have built up their natural gas and renewable capacity. The decline in coal production has led the industry to hemorrhage workers, with 50,000 coal-related jobs lost between 2008 and 2012, according to a study from last year. And that’s just the latest in a downward slope in the industry since the 1980s due to mechanization that displaced human labor. The coal mining industry directly employed more than 140,000 in 1989 and and only 85,000 a decade later, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report."
Air NZ DC-8 cargo plane
For details, see the book The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and Affiliates since 1940 by Paul Sheehan.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
1947 Berliet Interurban diesel bus
We think the 7 is a reference to a 7 tonne tare weight. The "33 to 57 places" seems a large variation in the number of seats.
KB 965 with freight at Arthur's Pass, circa 1960
From the West Coast, the KB 4-8-4 would have been attached to it here. For lots more, see the book New Zealand 1950s Steam in Colour
'The Big Bus' (1976) movie
Monday, September 26, 2016
Alco S-1 switcher
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Märklin catalog cover art, 1932
With what looks like a DRG E17 class electric in the centre-right, although they had the middle headlight just below the roof level rather than on the hood.
1941 Pierre Faure Type PFA biplace électrique
One in a Czech museum. Another one of these, of which only about 20 were made, was put up for auction in February and was apparantly sold to a Russian buyer for 43,000 Euros!
From the auction details:-
"La voiturette de Pierre Faure fait partie des nombreuses réponses à la pénurie de matières premières, pendant la deuxième Guerre Mondiale. Dotée d'un châssis poutre et d'un moteur électrique alimenté par six batteries, elle pouvait atteindre 40 km/h et son autonomie était estimée de 50 à 70 km. La voiture que nous présentons a été achetée neuve par Yves Le Bihan, ingénieur de l'école Centrale et ancien directeur de la Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Nord. Passionné d'automobile et de moyens de propulsion (il avait déposé un brevet de moteur à combustion, mais aussi pour une machine qui mesurait la force d'un cheval en chevaux vapeur !), il a fait l'acquisition de cette voiture pour des raisons économiques, pendant l'Occupation et elle est immatriculée 7858 FJ 3. Témoins de cette sombre période, elle dispose encore de son "Ausweis" ("Laissez-passer") que l'on fixait derrière le pare-brise, et les phares sont encore équipés des obturateurs. Après la guerre, la voiture a été entreposée chez son fils, en Bretagne, dans une ancienne écurie, et elle n'en a plus bougé. C'est en vidant le local où elle était stockée que cette voiture s'est rappelée aux bons souvenirs de la famille, et c'est très précisément à cet endroit que nous l'avons retrouvée. La petite-fille d'Yves Le Bihan, qui était enfant dans les années 1950, se souvient avoir joué à bord de cette étrange machine, partant pour de longs voyages imaginaires. Elle est complète (à l'exception des batteries), le pare-choc avant est démonté et l'ensemble est en strict état d'origine, seul le capot et l'aile avant gauche étant abîmés à la suite du stockage. Même la burette d'huile se trouve encore dans le compartiment moteur, et les clés pendent au tableau de bord. Les chaînes de transmission ainsi que deux couronnes de remplacement et des pignons accompagnent la voiture. Elle constitue un rare et émouvant témoin d'une période difficile où l'ingéniosité compensait la pénurie. De plus, elle a traversé les ans sans être cannibalisée et mérite une belle remise en état."
(The Pierre Faure buggy was one of many responses to the shortage of raw materials during WW2. With a tubular chassis and an electric motor powered by six batteries, it could reach 40 km/h and its range was estimated from 50 to 70 km. The car that we present was bought new by Yves Le Bihan, engineer of the Ecole Centrale and former director of the CdF duNord. An enthusiast for cars and propulsion means (he had filed a patent combustion engine, but also to a machine that measured the strength of a horse in steam horsepower!), he acquired this car for economic reasons during the occupation and it was registered as 7858 FJ 3. Testimony of this dark period, it still has its "Ausweis" ("pass") which is fixed behind the windshield and the headlights are still equipped with shutters. After the war, the car was stored at his son's place, in Brittany, in a former stable, and it moved no more. In emptying the room where it was stored this car recalled fond memories of the family, and it was precisely here that we found it. The granddaughter of Yves Le Bihan, who was a child in the 1950s, remembers playing on board this strange machine, leaving on long imaginary journeys. It is complete (excluding batteries), the front bumper is removed and the assembly is in strict original condition, only the hood and the front left fender was damaged after storage. Even the oil can is still found in the engine compartment and keys hang on the dashboard. The transmission chains and two replacement crowns and pinions accompany the car. It is a rare and moving witness of a difficult period where ingenuity compensated for shortage. In addition, it has gone through the years without being cannibalized and deserves a beautiful restoration.)
Through the Netherlands with an 8-day railways pass poster, 1930
Saturday, September 24, 2016
1940 Beck Mainliner bus
As used by Pony Express between L.A. and Salt Lake City via Las Vegas. This seated 29 passengers and had a 401 cubic inch or 6.57 liter International engine.
bus in Latvia circa 1936
Obviously a scenic photo stop. We're not sure what the bus model is, possibly a Mercedes but the symbol is missing from the grille.
the stoush in Syria and Iraq in maps
Wellington station scene, 1927
What at the time was called Lambton station. The new station mentioned, which replaced both this and the Thorndon station further up the road, wasn't opened until 1937.
For lots more, see the book Wellington Transport Memories.
Friday, September 23, 2016
SAI KZ III light utility aircraft, Denmark
This model was used by the Danish Air Ambulance Service and Danish Air Force.
The first flight was on 11 September 1944, when Denmark was still under German occupation (the Germans permitted an aircraft to be built for Danish Air Ambulance Service).
The plane had a high wing and was of mixed construction, canvas- and plywood-covered.
This example was built in 1946 and is now in Danmarks Flymuseum in Stauning.
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