1935 Volvo LV82-83 truck

a very expensive 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo

That's because it was driven by Princess Diana of Britain from August 1985 to May 1988; it was sold to a UK buyer at auction on Saturday for £650,000 ($US 764,000).

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1935 Volvo PV36

'only real books for me'

1935 Mercedes Benz 540K cabriolet

AEC Reliance buses advertisement, NZ, 1964

impressive French HO scale model layout

 

cheap small family transport

Not very suitable when the streets have potholes though...

VW, Coca Cola and girls promo pics

Ages uncertain.

biggest oil tanker ever visits NZ

 
STI LILY (IMO: 9838242, MMSI 563070900), a Crude Oil Tanker,  was built in 2019 and currently sails under the flag of Singapore.

cars in L.A. neighborhoods, early 1950s

 

cars in L.A., 1946

 

trucks and a tram on Thorndon Quay, Wellington, circa 1925

The nearest one looks like a Chevrolet. The Railway Hotel on the right was later destroyed by fire in May 1929. In the distance is the former Lambton Station.

For lots more, see our books Wellington: a Capital century and Wellington Transport Memories.

arrival of a passenger train in rural Vietnam, circa 1908

In French colonial days and the metre-gauge system. The inscription says it's a train from Bien Hoa near to the bridge over the Donai river, now spelt Dong Nai and this area northeast of Saigon is no longer rural.

British Railways short wheelbase hopper car, 1960s

Someone got lost in the bush, NZ

 

Hobart trams, Australia, late 1950s

Hobart had a 17 mile (32-km) electric system in cape gauge that operated from 1893 to 1968.

"The Hobart tram network was successful for much of the early twentieth century, but by 1960 it had decided to close the tramways in favour of electric-powered trolley buses. By 1968, the trolley buses had also been replaced in favour of a completely bus-based network. The Hobart tram network was the first in the southern hemisphere to be electrified, and was the first in the world to operate entirely double-decker trams. It operated on eight lines for 67 years, before it was replaced by a bus network operated by the Metropolitan Transport Trust."

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parked taxis on Thorndon Quay, Wellington, circa 1934

A view looking east of taxicabs parked up at the depot of Grey + Black & White taxi companies on Thorndon Quay looking east. Just visible on the left is an edge of the old Thorndon Railway Station -- this and the Lambton Station further along were replaced by the central railway station opened in 1937.

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

'I like to read a good real book at every opportunity'

Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company 2-6-0 'Mogul'

It's not clear if this is information about it as the road number is different -- on steamlocomotive.com

horse-drawn wagon of the 'Wild West'

AEC Regal buses advertisement, Wellington, 1950

A pic taken in Post Office Square off Jervois Quay, at the place where City Sightseeing buses left from, which was the initial use of these new arrivals. This kiosk building still exists.

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

NZR southbound coal train leaving Granity in Westland in the early 1950's

A classic pic by Eric Ashenden of a by-gone era with a tank engine hauling a line of 4-wheel wagons. Coal trains still pass through Granity but they look rather different to this. 

2 coupled 3-part DSB pre-WW2 lyntog sets in the Danish countryside, 1950s

See earlier posts.

NZR double-headed steam locos on the 'South Pacific Steam Safari,' 1972

Two 'mountains', J 1236 and Ja 1250, at a photo stop. This pic appeared on the cover of an LP sound recording of this long distance event. For more, see our books.

1969 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Coupe

1972 Chrysler Royal Hardtop Sports Coupe

1972 Chrysler Newport

'I like guys who like real books, not little devices'

Launceston, Tasmania, trolleybus

An early 1950s view of one of the thirty British United Traction RETB/1 model acquired for the system, which were bodied in Adelaide by J.A. Lawnton & Sons, each being trialed on the Adelaide network before being sent to Launceston. 

In 1964, five were sold for further use on the Hobart system

The Launceston trolleybus system opened on 24 December 1951 from the Launceston city centre to Quarantine Road via Wellington Street replacing a tram service. A second line opened to Mowbray Heights on 13 September 1952, being extended to Newnham Park on 21 November 1952. 

Further lines opened to Basin Road and Quarantine Road via Talbot Road, both on 24 February 1957 to form a cross-city service, followed by Norwood on 27 November 1961. The network closed in stages in 1968.

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1983 Pontiacs -- Parisienne, Bonneville Brougham, and Grand Prix Brougham

British Railways 22 class diesel loco and Diesel Multiple Unit on Biston Flyover, Monmouthshire

Art by Robert Jognston. Details on the 58-member 22 Class, B-B type Diesel-hydraulic built over 1959–1962 and known as "the Baby Warship" are here.  All were scrapped.

cars and buses in Pariser Platz, Berlin, early 1930s

With the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) obvious.  This pretty much is the heart of Berlin, in divided Berlin days, just on the DDR side. At right is the French embassy, which had to be rebuilt because of the destruction in WW2.

farewell to Auckland's Diesel Multiple Units

From TV One NZ:

Unit ADL 804 at Auckland Railway Station in 2004. This was the appearance after they arrived second hand from Perth in the 1990s before the modifications to the front.

Auckland's Papakura to Pukekohe diesel train service will run for the last time on Friday night.

It comes as KiwiRail works to modernise the city's rail network, with buses replacing the service till electric trains take their place in 2024.

Auckland Transport’s Raymond Siddalls, who played an integral role in introducing diesel passenger trains in New Zealand 30 years ago, says it's "the end of an era".

Siddalls told 1News the move to electric trains is sad but it's progress. "It's sad in some ways to see them go because they've been so successful."

He said the other major factor is that electric trains are better for the environment.

Read the rest

an NZR Fiat articulated railcar and a Standard railcar cross at Manakau south of Levin, May 1955

The Fiat was brand new, undergoing trials from Wellington, the Standard dated from the late 1930s. The station at Manakau has long gone.  For lots more, see our books. (NZR photo)

NSW class 47 Co-Co type diesel

This was a class of 20 units built over 1972-1973 by A. Goninan & Co. in Broadmeadow, NSW. They  were numbered 4701 to 4720, prime move was a 4-stroke Caterpillar 16-D399TA rated at 1,126 hp. Six are preserved.

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Rogers 4-6-0 from 1891

"Preserved at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California, Sierra Railway No. 3 has appeared in more motion pictures, documentaries, and television productions than any other locomotive. It is undisputedly the image of the archetypal steam locomotive that propelled the USA from the 19th century into the 20th.

"The locomotive returned to operation in July 2010 after a fourteen-year absence from service and a three-year-long overhaul, requiring the replacement of its original boiler."

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cars descend Lombard Street, San Francisco, 1970s

Arguably the most famous Street in San Francisco after Market Street.  See earlier posts.

'reading a real book, not a little device, is a serene experience, '

Comox Log & Lumber co. 2-8-2 steam loco, Vancouver Island, BC

 A postcard published in the 1980s stated "The locomotive was built in 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works [Eddystone, PA.] (Ser# 67409), purchased by Comox Logging in 1937 and used in continuous service until 1961, hauling logs between Nanaimo Lakes (about 12 miles or so west of Nanaimo) and Ladysmith. Following retirement in 1962, it was overhauled and put on display in Ladysmith. Currently, the loco is sitting in derelict condition around 616 Oyster Bay Drive, in Ladysmith."

1973 Morris Marina poster (Switzerland)

1972 Grand Prix of the U.S. poster

Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington 2ft gauge heritage railway, Alna, Maine

Built by the Portland Company in 1891 in Portland Maine, locomotive 9 originally ran for the Sandy River Railroad as engine #5. It later operated on several different railways with different road numbers, such as SR&RL #6, Kennebec Central #4 in 1924, and as WW&F #9 in 1933. Acquired from the WW&F Railway in 1995 where it went through a twenty-year restoration, it returned to active service in the spring of 2016 where it now operates excursion trains for the railway.

from its webpage:

The WW&F Railway Museum in Alna, Maine (just north of Wiscasset on Route 218), celebrates Maine’s Sheepscot Valley narrow gauge. Come ride our historic steam train for a trip back in time. Explore our facilities and shops where exploration is encouraged and inquisitiveness is rewarded. Experience the nearly-lost art of running and maintaining a steam powered narrow gauge railroad.

The WW&F Railway traces its roots to 1894 when the Wiscasset and Quebec Railroad constructed a two-foot “narrow” gauge railroad northward from the bustling wharves of Wiscasset. Far short of its international delusions of grandeur, the railway of “big dreams and little wheels” only reached Albion, Maine.

Heavily burdened with debt and with very little business, the railroad reorganized as the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington. Like Quebec, the destinations of Waterville and Farmington were never realized. Winding through the wild pine forests, farmlands and hamlets of the Sheepscot Valley to connect the interior of Maine with the coast, the WW&F served the businesses and residents of rural Maine until 1933. Ultimately, the railroad was closed, scrapped, and nearly forgotten.

Brought back from extinction, today’s railway connects you with a Maine that has all but slipped away. See why the WW&F’s attractions and special events are some of the best things to do in the Midcoast. Bring the kids and enjoy authentic Maine – a tour of a simpler life from a century ago. It is yours to discover and explore – we will take you there.

97 Cross Road
Sheepscot Station
Alna, ME 04535
207-882-4193

The WW&F is ten minutes off US Route One in Wiscasset.
Take Route 218 near Red’s Eats (mmm Maine lobster rolls.)

See you on the narrow gauge!

DDR museum steam locomotives in 1986

Although described as "museum" it's not clear if this meant preserved in operational order, of which there were quite a few in addition to these in the DDR. 

1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 2-door Hardtop

Berna automobiles poster 1903

Berna was founded in Bern, Switzerland, (hence the name Berna) in 1902 by the designer Joseph Wyss, who himself designed the company's first car: the "Ideal Vis-à-vis". In 1903 the "Unicum", the car shown on this poster, was built with the engine at the front. In 1905 the company started to produce trucks. It was taken over by Saurer in 1929.

1906 Daimler D4 mini-bus

Hintersee (Lake) is close to Berchtesgaden and the German/Austrian border.

morning freight trains at the Frost crossovers - Victorville, California

 

"Besides the famous Cajon Pass, the Frost Crossovers are one of the more unique places along the BNSF Cajon Subdivision, which runs between San Bernardino and Barstow, California. 

"The Frost Crossovers are located between the cities of Victorville and Hesperia, and provide a unique flashback look at former left hand railroad operation. Constructed in the early 1900's, the crossovers were designed to provide easier grades for trains climbing and descending the Cajon Pass. A hill lies on the Southern end of the crossovers, providing a great vantage point from above to watch the action along the busy BNSF Southern Transcon. 

"Unfortunately, this vantage point will soon be history, as a road project is proposed to run directly through the hill. In this video, you'll see some busy Union Pacific and BNSF freight action on a beautiful Winter morning at the Frost Crossovers." 

Video and Content by MichaelLovesTrains, June 2020

traffic in San Antonio, Texas, circa 1949

 

'what can be better than a good real book outdoors in the summer?'