President Trump issues presidential permit authorizing $22B railway between Alaska and Alberta

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a presidential permit granting approval to a $22-billion freight rail project connecting Alaska and Alberta.

The president had tweeted his intent to issue the permit on Friday, based on the recommendations of Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, before officially granting the A2A Rail project the go-ahead on Monday. 

The permit issues A2A Rail permission to "construct, connect, operate, and maintain railway facilities at the international border of the United States and Canada."

The project would build a new rail line from Fort McMurray, Alta., through the Northwest Territories and Yukon to the Delta Junction in Alaska, where it will connect with existing rail and continue on to ports near Anchorage. 

The 2,570-kilometre railway could move cargo like oil, potash and ore, container goods, or even passengers.

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old days at Opapa, NZ

Actually only about a decade ago with a J1211 excursion returning from Gisborne, but apart from the Track Warrant Control sign could easily be in the late 1940s. 

traffic in Hastings Street, Napier, 1910s

A postcard view probably taken not long after electric trams began on 8 September 1913 when a Napier council-owned service opened to Port Ahuriri.

The destruction caused by the 1931 earthquake (which also ended Napier trams) makes it hard to relate to this scene today.

For more, see our books.

Pennsylvania Railroad yard in Baltimore 1949

A particularly atmospheric capture of the steam era which, as can be seen, was used as the cover shot for a book of A. Aubrey Bodine photos published a couple of years ago. 

More examples of his photos are on this webpage

When a steam train nearly became a submarine?

Melbourne area, 1907. The problem is that if the water reaches the firebox, it will go no further.

1964 Fiat Abarth

"The story goes that it actually began life as a 1961 Fiat 500D assembled locally by Torino Motors in Otahuhu NZ (hence reverse opening doors used on earlier models).

"In 1957 renowned Italian tuner Carlo Abarth had released his first 'hot rod' upgrade kit for the Fiat 500 which turned them into the 595 SS (or Essesse) and it is believed this was one of 2 cars that were converted to 595 SS spec using Abarth crate kits from new for competition use. The car was not registered for road use until 1964 and was later upgraded."

Fiat railcars at Breil sur Roya, France, 1980s

With a freight train on the track next to the station building. The railcars provided the link between Breil and Ventimiglia in Italy. See earlier posts.

https://goo.gl/maps/jPU11NMAq2WDB2FWA

ships and trains in Lyttelton port NZ, 1900s

Says Mike Pryce: The big ship at left "Looks like either Athenic, Corinthic or Ionic of 1902 vintage, three sister ships owned by Shaw, Savill & Albion."

 As for the maroon hull by the colorist -- "Maroon? In those days, then hulls of most ships were BLACK!"

'what I love: an indepth real book to read, not a smartphone'

 

early Douglas motorcycle

A photo taken somewhere in NZ, the extent of the details.

From Wikipedia: "Douglas was a British motorcycle manufacturer from 1907–1957 based in Kingswood, Bristol, owned by the Douglas family, and especially known for its horizontally opposed twin cylinder engined bikes and as manufacturers of speedway machines. In 1935 they were taken over by BAC, Bond Aircraft and Engineering Company.

"Motorcycle production continued into World War II and was extended to generators. In 1948 Douglas was in difficulty again and reduced its output to the 350 cc flat twin models. In 1955, 350 cc Douglas Dragonfly was the last model produced; a flat-twin with chain rear drive. The Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Ltd bought Douglas out and production of Douglas Motorcycles ended in 1957. 

Douglas continued to import Vespa scooters into the UK and later imported and assembled Gilera motorcycles."

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Budds at Braintree, Massachusetts, early 1950s

With a speeder at right. This area is now part of greater Boston and has changed completely.

objects that cause punctures

Perhaps the message is be careful driving around construction sites?

'Mile High Blériot' by Russell Smith

"...depicts a flight of the Vandersarl brothers' homebuilt Blériot outside of Denver, CO in 1911. This aircraft is now part of the Smithsonian Air and Space collection on display at the Udvar Hazy centre near Washington DC."

More info and artist portfolio 

Armstrong-Whitworth AW650 Argosy

Two separate aircraft, built in 1959 and 1965 respectively.

Aircraft info. 

Thorneycroft sheeptruck circa 1920

Location not stated, probably A/NZ.

1928 Oakland Six ad

 The company existed from 1907 to 1931 when it was discontinued in favor of Pontiac.  It had been owned by General Motors since 1909.

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cars on I-90, Northern Ohio, early 1960s

bookshelf-themed car seat covers

Especially for those who enjoy books on transport...

cars in Omaha, Nebraska, 1965

 The movie screening at the Orpheum, Shenandoah starring James Stewart, was released that year.

Daimler YC-type water flusher tanker, Parramatta Council, Sydney, ca. 1926

 

'do you want to read a real book instead of that smartphone?'

cars in Hochstrasse, Halle, DDR, 1970

early Wellington double saloon tram at Motat in Auckland

One notes the colours of cream and chocolate rather than the later cream and red.

Monaco stamps featuring French locomotives, 1968

French trains have always run through Monaco's tiny territory. 

fishing vessel ornament

For a people-based history of NZ's commercial fishing vessels, see the Nets, Lines and Pots trilogy by the late Emmanuel Makarios.

Handley Page Dart Herald advert, 1959

 

From a commercial viewpoint it was not a successful model and after the prototype in 1955 only 50 of these twin turboprop aircraft were produced by Handley Page of Reading, England, between 1959 and 1968 -- info

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1955 Packard 400 2-Door Hardtop Coupe

French car makers poster for school use, 1950s

Great Northern Train into and from the Horse Shoe Tunnel, Washington

History. Now on a rail  trail -- info

1932 Fiat Simca poster

 Info

'a real book is much better than a smart phone'

traffic on Warsaw's Most Poniatowskiego, 1930s

A 506-metre long, 21.4-metre wide bridge over the Vistula River built between 1904 and 1914; it was substantially damaged in both World Wars and rebuilt after each.

Indian Railways class WDP-4D

A numerous diesel-electric class / subclass of over 700 units built since 2001, this example is a Co-Co type with a 4,500 hp prime mover -- info

1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II

 

former caboose tiny house graphic

Or just a converted box car.

Source 

outrigger canoe in Fiji, circa 1900

It looks like a sail is in the process of being raised.

1953 OM Il Leoncino art

2019 Porsche 911 GT2RS

steam locomotive mug

 Available commercially.

Wellington tram on Riddiford Street, Newtown, circa 1908

The church has been rebuilt in the same place but is now smaller and next to where McDonald's on Riddiford Street is, the Post Office building has been replaced with a three-story shops and flats block.

For lots more see the books Wellington: a capital century and Wellington Transport Memories.

Semarang, Indonesia, Djomblang tram-train station, 1910

See earlier posts.

'I wonder if there are any transpress nz books here'

1971 Chevrolet Corvette

1980 Pontiac promo graphic

a painting from 1962 that seems rather prophetic in 2020

by Walter Molino.