tram in Malmo, Sweden, 1970

The system was standard gauge and closed in 1973, although a 2 km museum line exists today. A bit of info here, and, of course, see our books for more.

traffic in Copenhagen, 1963

Tram tracks but no trams, a 1950s Citroen van and maybe a couple of Volvos of different years on the right.  The street not identified.

'I like to read a book, not silly messages on a cellphone'

1-donkey power for the Range Rover

the North Korean Dear Leader's equally deranged newsreader

from the library - 'Pacific Electric: from Railway to Freeway'

This book was published in 1984 and, as is obvious, covers the gradual conversion of the one-time 1,000 mile Pacific Electric interurban railway system in the greater Los Angeles region to rubber-tired transport.  The use of buses by Pacific Electric began in the WW1 era and continued into the 1960s by which time the last railway line -- L.A. to Long Beach -- had closed, see earlier posts.

The hardback book has 196 pages full of bus pictures, including maps and timetable brochures, great for historic bus enthusiasts!

Trump tells the Dear Leader in Pyongyang that the U.S. Military is Locked and Loaded

The U.S. is ready with "military solutions" for the North Korea threat, President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning, promising they are "locked and loaded," and adding, "Hopefully, Kim Jong Un will find another path."

Trump's escalating rhetoric kicked off Tuesday with a vow to meet Pyongyang's nuclear aggression with "fire and fury." On Thursday, he warned North Korea that if it "does anything" to the U.S. or its allies, "things will happen to them like they never thought possible." In contrast, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Thursday that war with North Korea would be "catastrophic" and said diplomatic efforts were yielding results.

Story

As has been commented before, the people of the Hermit Kingdom are now so poor, backward and indoctrinated in aggression that neither South Korea nor China want them and are quite happy to leave the Dear Leader's regime alone, provided it leaves them alone.  Because the media in N Korea is totally controlled by the regime and most of its citizens are unaware of what exists beyond its borders, Trump may be hoping that his firey remarks will get reported there in a hope that those further down the ranks will be made aware of how awful their government is.

an unusual customer in the drive-through

a 4-8-4 leaving Wellington art

Painted by Peter Baker in 1968, using a similar vantage point to the photo in the post a couple of days ago. The Ka class has probably headed trains out of Wellington more often on fan trips in the last 3 decades than they did during the steam era, as by the time the class appeared in strength the electric wires were in place for the Ed's.

For lots more, see our books.

the SS 'Monowai' art

A famous ship in NZ maritime's history. The Union Steam Ship Company ship is the subject of a Sunday 13th and Thursday 17th broadcast called New Zealand Maritime Memories on Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM. The program will also feature music by Hans Zimmer from the movie Crimson Tide.

The oil painting by Wallace Trickett shows her in peacetime duties on a cruise around Milford Sound in the South Island. It was purchased by the Otago University History and Culture department in Dunedin.

For lots of details about the Monowai, see our books.