1938 De Soto SP5

1947 Studebaker tow truck

This was one of many classic, rare and very modern vehicles in a show on the Wellington waterfront this weekend, celebrating 100 years of the Motor Trades Association.  We'll post more pics over the next few days.

World Press Freedom rankings, 2017

The map shows the picture in different countries according to Reporters Sans Frontierès (reporters without borders).  Palest = best, black = worst. Again we question how the situation in Sweden and Germany can possibly be considered "good" when the media are under threat not to report crimes committed by Muslim migrants, or if they do, the ethnicity and religion of the offenders may not be mentioned.

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Tours train station, France, circa 1970

Dating originally from 1846, this building is from 1898 with four allegorical limestone statues of cities by Jean Antoine Injalbert (Bordeaux and Toulouse) and Jean-Baptiste Hugues (Limoges and Nantes). In 1984 the station was classified as a monument historique.

 Although it looks substantial from the outside, it only has 2 platforms.

vehicles in Belgium, 1951

Location not stated, but it looks like a canal fence in the foreground.  What is that truck on the left?

SNCF 4-8-2

The 241.P 'Mountain' type was built for express passenger trains. A total 35 units were produced by Schneider et Cie of Le Creusot from 1948 to 1952 and used until 1973. This example was seen in 1967. Introduced as large scale electrification of the SNCF was already underway, they were the last new class of passenger steam locomotives in France.

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Union Pacific EMD SD9043MAC on the point of a freight train in Utah

Taken near Lake Point, Utah. (Union Pacific photo)

national motorbike races championships at Lausanne, Switzerland, 1939

Yugoslavian train theme stamp, 1949

Although it features a PLM 2C2+2C2 of France from 1937, see earlier post.

1974 Mercury Cougar XR-7

boats on the Tiber River, Rome, circa 1900

An area called San Michela Ripa.

tyre monster of Lake Bumbunga, South Australia

Another great Aussie place name! (iliatorlin.com)

25 April - Anzac Day

Cars pass under the arch of the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch in 1968 (today it is pedestrian only).  This was erected to commemorate the war dead of NZ troops in WW1, which totalled some 18,000 and most towns in NZ have a monument with the names of locals who died, either at Gallipoli or on the Western Front.  Less than 3 decades later the names of those who died in WW2 had to be added; fortunately this was a smaller total of 12,000.  Even more fortunately, other conflicts since have only added a very small number (for example Vietnam was only 37).

Anzac Day is intended to honour all servicemen.

cars in Naples, Italy, 1950s

With Mt Vesuvius in the distance.

the French Presidential election round two is a contest between pro- and anti-EU stances

As predicted by the opinion polls, Emmanuel Macron and Marine le Pen were the two leaders of round one and on Sunday 7 May the choice for French voters will be for one of them.

The two have completely opposite views on most issues, but most notably on France's continuing membership of the EU; and the role of the EU generally.  In the past the highly nationalistic and isolationist stance of Le Pen would have not had the support of more than about a fifth of voters, but the problems caused by Muslim migrants in the last two years have hugely boosted the Front National's status and popularity, and the race between her and Macron is much closer than it would have been a few years ago, although nearly all pundits are predicting a Macron win.

The map above shows who won each département on Sunday.  The candidates for the two main parties, the Republicans and the Socialists, did not pick up many.  Unsurprisingly Le Pen's support is highest in the northeast and the south where the Muslims are the biggest problem.

SNCF autos-couchettes poster, 1964

"I entrust my car and my sleep to the Train Autos-Couchettes"

Italian FS fast trains poster

Age uncertain. No trains depicted; just places with a stylized rail linking them.

cars outside the Post Office in Pomona, California, 1940s

Sweden's Defence Minister vows to defend Sweden against alleged 'Russian threat'

Article

What a complete joke this is -- the country can't even defend its citizens against its Muslim migrants:  at least 55 urban areas are identified as 'no go' zones for kuffar (the Muslim word for infidels), the Swedish Post Office has stopped deliveries to them and ambulance staff won't venture into some of them without Police escorts and protective clothing.

Is this statement simply a ploy to deflect the ire of Sweden's citizens about the deteriorating domestic situation?  Definitely.

Den Oudsten - Daf trolleybus in Den Haag, Netherlands, 1977

The Den Ouststen marque lasted from 1926 -2001 -- info

the last Pacific Electric car at San Pedro, greater L.A., 1958

The last night of service. (Metro archive)

'a book is much better than a smartphone'

tram and Ford Taunus in Den Haag, Holland, 1964

See earlier posts.

the Korean lunatic's big bang wargasm devices

It's certain that he has a submarine capable of carrying his big fire crackers, although whether they would actually launch rather than blow the submarine up is dubious.

The major powers - the U.S., China and Russia - are all getting nervous about whether the lunatic will actually start a war and it's clear that they are all preparing for that possibility.

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Baldwin Lima-Hamilton AS-616 road switcher

Seen in SP's black widow livery; this was one of 8 originally delivered to SP's subsidiary Texas and New Orleans Railroad.

The AS-616 was a Co-Co with a 1,600 hp prime mover, built between 1950 and 1954. Nineteen railroads bought 214 of them (66 to South America); two railroads bought seven cabless B units.

1955(?) Hillman Minx promo art

"How far away is Spain?"
"Nous voulons voir Generalissimo Franco."
"1,000 km?"

1973 Ford LTD

1939 DKW pickup, Australian ad

1970 Dodge Super Bee

Egyptian military kills 19 Islamic State militants including top leader

A Lockheed F16 of the Egyptian air force.  Egypt also has French and Russian built fighter jets.

Egypt’s army has announced on Thursday killing 19 militants from the Islamic State (IS), including a top leader, in airstrikes launched against the group in Central and North Sinai.

According to a statement released by the Military spokesperson, the leader was the head of the Sharia committee in the group and was responsible for interrogations. The strikes launched by the Egyptian Air Forces have also damaged four vehicles owned by the terrorist group.

The army said that 11 of those killed were operating in the Nile Delta Governorates.

The announcement of the Egyptian Army comes two days after IS claimed responsibility for an attack at a security checkpoint that took place near St Catherine monastery, killing one police officer and injuring four others. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced that the militant who attacked the checkpoint was killed in a police shooting.

Full story

1972 Austin Morris 250JU Van

1972 Wolseley Six

1972 MGB convertible

Wallace Trickett on maritime memories

Those who follow this blog will have seen lots of transport paintings (and a few photos) by Wallace Trickett. He also painted the cover to the WW1 ships book Voyage to Gallipoli.

He talks on Coast Access Radio on the subject - here.

The 'Mistral' stops at Avignon in 1973

With a CC 6500 at the front. See earlier posts.

Muslims carry out yet another attack in central Paris; three police officers shot

Report by the Telegraph (UK).

Is anyone surprised?

Will it ever end?

Will people stop calling Trump a racist for wanting to protect the U.S. from Muslim extremists?

No in each case.

1971 Oldsmobile

1928 Graham Brothers trucks ad

1966 Chevrolet Impala

1959 AMC Rambler Custom 4-door sedan

"I think my husband is chatting up that air hostess."
"My husband calls them little moistees."
"Oh they are common."

1958 Commer 'Superpoise' trucks

Zermatt - Gornergrat, Switzerland, mountain electric cog-wheel railway poster, 1898

See an earlier post on the Gornergratbahn. This was produced by Orell Fussli whose publications for a long time included railway books.

1966 Pontiac Bonneville

1938 Federal trucks ad

cars outside a Simons drive in restaurant, L.A., early 1940s

An expertly colorized b/w photo -- source.

'a book can be like having two iPads side by side'

cars at Port Isabel, Padre Island, Texas, mid-1950s

French terrorist police foil 'allahu akbar' plot aimed at the Presidential election

Terror police in France have arrested two men, aged 23 and 29, in Marseille -- Clement Baur and Mahiedine Merabet -- who were known to police as extremists.

Agents from the DGSI, France domestic secret service, found weapons in the Marseille apartment, along with TATP, the so-called 'Mother of Satan' explosives that are frequently used by Muslim jihadis.

Baur is from Ermont, north of Paris, while Merabet is from Croix, near Roubaix, and close to the Belgian border.

The pair were arrested as part of an investigation opened in Paris for 'criminal association and breach of arms legislation in connection with a terrorist enterprise'.

Each was well known to the security services and had been tailed for a number of months. The operation to bring them to justice was stepped up last week.

Full story

And while on the subject of elections, British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a snap general election for 8 June.  No doubt she thinks it's a good time while Jeremy Corbyn is still the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

1956 Beadle Commer TS3 bus