the NZ interisland ferry 'Rangatira'

This was a short-lived such ferry, although not as short as the Wahine which this was built as the replacement.

Rangatira was built in Tyneside, England in 1972 but was withdrawn after the Union Steam Ship Company decided to end the overnight Wellington-Lyttelton service (for Christchurch) in 1976 and this ship went to the Clyde River in Glasgow before being on-sold. (pic via Paul Strathdee in 1977)

For lots more, see the book Strait Crossing: the ferries of Cook Strait through time by Victor Young.

poster promoting train travel in Parana, Brazil, a century ago

"Paraná is one of the 26 states of Brazil, in the south of the country. It is bordered in the north by São Paulo state, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south by Santa Catarina state and the province of Misiones, Argentina, and in the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay, with the Paraná River as its western boundary. It is subdivided into 399 municipalities, and its capital is the city of Curitiba. Other major cities are Londrina, Maringá, Ponta Grossa, Cascavel, São José dos Pinhais and Foz do Iguaçu. The state is home to 5.4% of the Brazilian population and generates 6.2% of the Brazilian GDP." (Wikipedia)

'I like to read a good real book in the garden, not a smartphone'

Polish ship 'Cieszyn'

This was a general cargo carrier built in 1958 in Stettin, 94 meters long x 13 meters wide, 2567 grt.  There is a more recent ship of this name operating today.

the DB's locos give up smoking poster, 1970s

"We're still going"

1964 Bedford VAL14 scenic cruiser in NZ

According to the Omnibus Society: "The Bedford VAL chassis was launched at the 1962 Commercial Motor Show. It was Bedford's first bus chassis that was not a variation on a truck chassis. It used twin-steer front axles with small (16inch) wheels. Only the VAL14 powered by the Leyland O.400 engine was sold in New Zealand. The VAL was only 2/3rds of the price of Leyland and AEC 11m chassis and weighed a tonne less. However, the twin-steer front axle made it mechanically complicated and only 28 were sold in New Zealand."

This one still exists, used as an RV. The location of the pic is unspecified, but will be in 1964.

1930s Dennis Dart DA bus, England

It had 18 seats.

the Denver and Rio Grande Western in F unit days

impressive model railroad based on the narrow gauge Rio Grande Southerm

Unfortunately, the RGS has long belonged to history, operating a 162 mile (261 km) system in the Rockies from 1891 to 1951. It's had, and has, many admirers and this is a great model layout.

The real thing near Ophir in September 1951.

1906 Lanchester 20 hp 4-door

 

NZR's 'Kingston Flyer' at Five Rivers on the old Kingston branch, circa 1972

The tourist train lasted a bit over 10 years running from Lumsden to Kingston before being truncated to the Fairlight - Kingston portion of the line. See earlier posts and our books.

the Gotham el

A still from the movie Joker (2019) set in Gotham, which generally is taken to be a reference to New York. This could be CGI, but parts of the NYC Subway system do look like this.

'I like to read a good real book for pleasure at home'

 

1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe Club Coupe

More pics

Pacific Electric trolleys outside a commercial block, northwest corner of Lake Ave. and E. Mariposa St., Altadena, greater L.A., ca. 1930

Surprisingly it's still there, as it survived last week's fire.

coverage of the major Bel Air fire, Los Angeles, November 1961

History repeats in a lot of ways, although this was a lot less devastating than last week's fires. The documentary shows a lot of LAFD fire appliances and citizen cars of the time,

flotilla of traditional Pacific vessels, 2019

From left to right: the Pacific va'a tipaerua Fa’afaite from Tahiti, the HMB Endeavour replica from Australia (background), and the Māori waka hourua Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti and Haunui (foreground).

This was the Tuia 250 flotilla -- info

1955 Foden F.H. 8/24 double tipper

 Tipper = dump truck.

classic cars are among the victims of L.A. fires

YouTuber reports have shown several cases where classic cars have been incinerated along with homes and gardens and businesses.  While structures can be rebuilt, that can't be done with the cars which are lost, a shame.

A lot should be and is being said about both the state and city administration and their warped sense of priorities that resulted in all this destruction.

1964 Mercury Comet convertible

1966 Saab advertisement

Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway scene, early 20th century

The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S), often dubbed “The Northwest’s Own Railway,” played a pivotal role in shaping the economic and transportation landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Operating from 1905 to 1970, the 375-mile railway line connected Spokane, Washington, with Portland, Oregon, and provided a critical link through the Columbia River Gorge. Known for its scenic route and commercial impact, SP&S became a vital artery for the region, providing both freight and passenger services.

The SP&S, a major BNSF predecessor, was born from a keen visionary’s dream. James J. Hill, the leader behind the Great Northern Railway (GN), and the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) recognized the need for an alternative to a competitor’s route on the southern bank of the Columbia River.

Continue reading

1973 Plymouth 'Cuda, Duster and Road Runner 340

'even in the water at the beach I like to read a good real book'

Zündapp K800 motorbike and sidecar used by the German army in WW2

The white jackets indicates it's during winter.

The Zündapp K 800-W was the only four-cylinder motorcycle used by the German Army during World War II. It was stylish and innovative with a four-cylinder, opposed piston engine that produced 20 horsepower at 4,000 revolutions per minute. Soldiers in the Wehrmacht loved the K 800-W for its smooth running and powerful motor. However, the K 800-W was designed for motorways and hard ground, and some say it was not well suited for Russian roads.

vintage car toys made out of wood

By the Baldwin Toy Company of Nebraska -- more examples on its website

1978 Plymouth Arrow GT

1950 Scammell Scarab truck advertisement

NZR 4-8-2 at Otira in twilight, 1966

One of the J class in the level freight yard (the passenger station is on a gradient), seen on 22 July 1966. Another Victor Hand pic, original color this one.  For lots more see the book On the TransAlpine Trail.

cars on top of the Paekakariki Hill Road, Wellington, 1950s

A couple of them look to be pre-WW2.  It's hard to appreciate now that this was the main road north out of Wellington until circa 1940 and the completion of the Centennial Highway below.  It looks like there was quite a bit of mist this day; usually it is quite clear with a good view of Paekakariki on the coastline.

Teschen/Cieszyn/Cesky Tesin railway station

Prior to 1920 it was all part of the Empire known as Austro-Hungary, but with the collapse of the empires at the end of WW1 and the redrawing of maps (not only in Europe), this town was split across the Olsa River with the west side being made Czech and the east side Polish.

This station is now Cesky Tesin and still used.  In Cieszyn (pronounced similarly) there is another station which is pretty much the end of a branch line from Bielsko Biala and not substantial.  It's about half a mile from the Czech one.

1992 MAN 10-180 bus

a drive along Sunset Boulevard, L.A., circa 1952 with 2020s comparisons

 It looked better then than it does now.

'1937 Streamliner class' Auckland tram

These were were the last type to be built for Auckland; dark red with a grey roof, 44' 5" long (13.5 meters) and 8' 0" wide (2.4 meters). The seating capacity was 52; 6 of them were built of which 253 was the last.

More info

'do you like my collection of good real books?

1988 Holden Commodore station wagon

cars in Laguna Beach, California, circa 1957

The Hotel Laguna is still there, but without the sign on the turret. Approximate present day view -- https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7tZLKW57MeLfb7P8

cars in Chicago, 1950s

This looks like original color, remastered.

1970 Pontiac GTO

1976 Plymouth Volare

el coche motor T-1024, Chile

In the US these vehicles were given affectionate terms like 'Doodlebug', 'Skunk', 'Toonerville' and 'Putput' but here it is a 'Gondola'. It is run over a 34 km meter-gauge track that belonged to the Central Trans-Andean Railway which linked Los Andes with Mendoza and connected Chile to Argentina. The present railway is from Los Andes to Rio Blanco valley in the mountains, aside the Rio Blanco river.

It is based on a 1920s American built bus, the Yellow Coach Z-26 -- the letter Z is the chassis type and 26 the number of passengers it could carry. What t-1024 refers to isn't clear.

1971 Fiat 124

Obviously covered in sponsorship stickers.

1965 Ford Falcon (USA)

Info

1962 Chevrolet Nova

'I love searching for good real books to read'

cab ride through the Gorges de Moutier, Switzerland

We posted one in the north-south direction 20 months ago, so here is one in the opposite south-north direction in clear weather.

The gorge section starts at the 20 minute point and is only 5 minutes long but is very impressive -- it would be a good railway modeling task or inspiration at the least!