Wednesday, August 28, 2024

the 'Graf Zeppelin' in Los Angeles, 1929


On August 26,1929 the giant German dirigible Graf Zeppelin landed in Los Angeles at a remote place called Mines Fields, that would one day become Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The Goodyear Blimp is parked next to it for scale. In ten years the Graf Zeppelin made 590 flights around the world without a single problem. Berlin to Buenos Aires to Karachi. It had a perfect safety record. Back then, lighter than air ships were considered much safer than airplanes. (from Lost Angeles)

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

1935 Mercedes Benz Stromlinien (streamliner) bus model

O scale, made in China by Premium ClassiXXs.




The pic of the real thing seems to have been taken at a motor show that year. It's unclear how many were made or if there is an extant example.


ex-Wanganui Baldwin-built steam tram



Seen at Motat in Auckland.
 
"Steam tram no. 100 was built in 1891 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, U.S.A. The motor arrived in Sydney on S.S. Henley and was the last of 100 motors built for the New South Wales steam tramways, so it received the fleet number 100. The tram operated out of the Bridge Street yard until 1905, when electric trams replaced steam services. However, it remained in Sydney for five more years as the backup for the private Saywell Tramways.

"The tram was brought to Wanganui in 1910 for construction of the Gonville and Castlecliff Tramway Board’s electric tramway extensions to the Wanganui system. It was rarely used after 1912, but famously re-entered service during a 3-month failure of the Wanganui power supply in 1920. It was then commemoratively brought out again during the closing weeks of the system in 1950.

"The tram’s engine is now rare. Of the roughly 500 similar tram-motors built for street railways throughout the world, no.100 is the only one still operating and with limited modification to its original form and equipment."

It is the subject of a book available at good outlets.

a 25NC 4-8-4 with a freight train near De Aar, South Africa

No date.  Info on the 137 member 25NC class is here

1983 Pontiac models


'I like to relax with a real good book when I get home from work'


Kriegslok in Polish snow


Monday, August 26, 2024

Interflug Ilyushin Il-18B, now a hotel in the Netherlands


This was delivered in 1960 as 493/DM-VAX to the East German Air Force. In 1964 it was painted as DM-STD in Deutsche Lufthansa colours and transferred to Interflug, the DDR airline same year. It was reregistered as DDR-STD 1981 and withdrawn at Berlin Schönefeld in 1986. After reunification it was moved to Harbke, Germany for use as restaurant in 1991. It was moved to Teuge, Netherlands 2009 as a hotel. It had a red radome fitted.