The whole trip took over 12 hours, today the Eurostar takes 2 hrs 16 min. Info
1955 poster with BR and SNCF.
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Autocars PLM in Le Vivarais poster, circa 1925
An autocar (coach) is there, but requires a bit of examination to find it.
not the safest way to work under a 1960s Triumph Herald
"She'll be right, mate" was a standard Australian/NZ saying; but Occupational Safety and Health has largely ended it.
NZR 4-8-4 Kb at Cass on the Midland Line in August 1941
Another pic (by D. Hinman) in the NZ National Railway Museum collection with a little colorization by us. Both the Ka and Kb series received what is termed 'streamlining', but the flat to the wind shape would have had the opposite effect, unlike a bullet nose. Unsurprisingly it was removed in the late 1940s.
Chemin de fer du Nord poster, France, 1920s
"Speed-luxury-comfort" -- although luxury suggests comfort.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
NZR Fiat railcar departs from Moana beside Lake Brunner, May 1977
This remains one of the most picturesqely situated railway stations in NZ. With less than a year left in service, an articulated twinset continues its journey to Greymouth, now on the route of the Tranz Alpine. For lots more, see our books. (David Jones photo in the NZ National Railway Museum collection)
the Royal Train of Queen Elizabeth II passes through Mt Colah near Hornsby, NSW, in 1954
There were no overhead wires at this time. A woman and dog seem to be the only crowd waiting to wave at the Queen and the Duke at this point.
French railway poster, 1920s
We think this is a recruitment poster for technical design staff -- "a little sand on the rails saves considerably on combustion fuel but it's necessary to think about it: can you suggest improvements in your service or your studio?"
Friday, April 28, 2023
Chile 2-6-0
(via Historical Railway Images)
1982 Mercury Capri, Lynx
The Capri was the US continuation from 1979 of the European Ford Capri which was made from 1970-1978.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
trams in Surabaya, Indonesia, 1920s-1930s
electric multiple unit in the Wellington railyard, 1958
Colorized photo by us. For lots more, see the book Wellington Transport Memories.
a southbound tram trundles along Upper Willis Street, Wellington, circa 1906
The church is still there, everything else has been replaced. For lots more, see the books Wellington Transport Memories and Wellington: a Capital Century.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
cars at the gasoline depot, Soerabaia, Indonesia, 1920s
Now spelt Surabaya. At the time Indonesia was officially the Dutch East Indies.
0-8-0T 2ft gauge sugar cane locomotive, Phillipines
Victorias Milling Co. steam locomotive No 7-H, Henschel-built in 1928 shunting in the yard at the Victorias Sugar Mill in Victorias, Negros, Philippines, in 1994. (John Ward pic)
a new internal combustion six
Nowadays, any car company introducing a new internal combustion engine is big news. Especially noteworthy is Mazda, which is introducing a new internal combusion engine that has six cylinders.
From Eric Peters at ericpetersautos.com:
The first person who took off his “mask” – it was always put that way, to emphasize the false possessive – or better yet, never put one on, in spite of the signs and the pressure – helped hasten the day when everyone else was free to take off their “masks.”
Maybe what Mazda is doing will do the same.
Hold onto you helmet, now. A new six is on deck. Not a new turbocharged 2.0 liter four (the engine that has been replacing sixes in almost everything; viz the 2023 Lexus RX350, which is now functionally the RX240 but is still called what it’s no longer got).
The six is straight, too – another thing that seems to be falling by the wayside.
But the take home point is Mazda is bringing out a new six – rather than retiring one. A 3.3 liter straight six will be the new standard powerplant in the 2024 CX-90, Mazda’s new rear-wheel-drive-based crossover SUV.
The latter also a change for the better in that it’s a change away from front-wheel-drive practically everything. Front-wheel-drive has its advantages, of course. It is helpful in the snow, for instance. But it is – fundamentally – an economy car layout. Not that there is anything wrong with economy cars. But it was once the case that average people regularly drove rear-drive cars that were similar-in-layout to the expensive cars driven by the affluent. This was once possible because rear-drive cars were once affordable. You could drive an economy car if you wanted to.
Not necessarily because you had to.
These rear-drive cars of the past also almost always came with at least a six. Often, a V8 engine was available, optionally. A good example – one of many – being a car like the Chevy Nova of the ’70s and also the Dodge Dart of the same era. These were not expensive cars but they were rear-wheel-drive and they came standard with a six cylinder engine; both offered V8s, too.
Continue reading
From Eric Peters at ericpetersautos.com:
The first person who took off his “mask” – it was always put that way, to emphasize the false possessive – or better yet, never put one on, in spite of the signs and the pressure – helped hasten the day when everyone else was free to take off their “masks.”
Maybe what Mazda is doing will do the same.
Hold onto you helmet, now. A new six is on deck. Not a new turbocharged 2.0 liter four (the engine that has been replacing sixes in almost everything; viz the 2023 Lexus RX350, which is now functionally the RX240 but is still called what it’s no longer got).
The six is straight, too – another thing that seems to be falling by the wayside.
But the take home point is Mazda is bringing out a new six – rather than retiring one. A 3.3 liter straight six will be the new standard powerplant in the 2024 CX-90, Mazda’s new rear-wheel-drive-based crossover SUV.
The latter also a change for the better in that it’s a change away from front-wheel-drive practically everything. Front-wheel-drive has its advantages, of course. It is helpful in the snow, for instance. But it is – fundamentally – an economy car layout. Not that there is anything wrong with economy cars. But it was once the case that average people regularly drove rear-drive cars that were similar-in-layout to the expensive cars driven by the affluent. This was once possible because rear-drive cars were once affordable. You could drive an economy car if you wanted to.
Not necessarily because you had to.
These rear-drive cars of the past also almost always came with at least a six. Often, a V8 engine was available, optionally. A good example – one of many – being a car like the Chevy Nova of the ’70s and also the Dodge Dart of the same era. These were not expensive cars but they were rear-wheel-drive and they came standard with a six cylinder engine; both offered V8s, too.
Continue reading
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
'City of Los Angeles' Streamliner poster
The train ran from 1936 to 1971 under UP auspices when it was taken over by Amtrak and renamed.
See earlier posts and this webpage
1912 R-C-H
1944 Brogan Doodlebug
It probably wouldn't cope too well with potholes, though. In Britain at that time 'Doodlebug' was the name given to the German V1 flying bombs, so it would have needed a different name there.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
New York Central 4-6-4
Info on the class on Steam Locomotive.com (R.R. Malinoski photo)
Wife Informs Husband the Minivan has suffered a 'Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly'
Satire from the excellent Babylon Bee satirical website -- read the text
Saturday, April 22, 2023
EH Holdens on the production line, 1963
The EH model saw the debut of the first hot factory Holden which was known as the EH 225 S4. It was the first EH to combine the 179ci Holden six-cylinder red motor with a manual gearbox and was Holdens first attempt at building a Bathurst Special.
The EH Holden holds the record for the fastest selling Australian made car of all time, with 256,959 EH Holdens sold in just 18 months. Also, in 1963 a new engine plant and foundry began operations at Fishermans Bend which had a capacity to produce 700 engines a day.The price when new for a 1963 EH Holden Special 149ci six-cylinder three speed manual sedan: £1051 or $2102.00. (from Remembering our Australian car industry)
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