would an elevated light railway work in Wellington?

The Chicago L along the Wabash Avenue side of the rectangular downtown loop. (Geoff Churchman)

As noted in the book Wellington Transport Memories, the answer is yes, but it would be unpopular.  In Chicago the elevated or "L" loop around the downtown area is now a civic icon, but it is noisy and it blocks the view of the buildings at street level - although the noise could be significantly reduced with new technology.  However, the unpopularity of the Sydney monorail is a lesson. 

As noted before, the dedicated right of way through the Lambton Quay or Featherston Street thoroughfares option would result in plenty of objections too. So the best option really is for an underground system.

Maldives 20th century transport milestones stamps from 2000

Actually the locomotive in the top right is from the 19th century, but hey it's rail transport so they can be forgiven! Enthusiasts will recognise them all.

the bulk freighter 'Wilfred Sykes'

Another of the Great Lakes ore ships, the Wilfred Sykes was built in 1949 for Inland Steel Company, the first new American-built Great Lakes vessel constructed after WW2. At the time of her launch, she was the largest vessel on the Great Lakes. Apparently she is still in use.  

Wilfred Sykes, the president of Inland Steel Company from 1941 to 1949, was born in New Zealand and educated in Australia. He went to the US in 1909.

More info and lots of pics here

centenary of the French 231 K8 'Pacific'

A postcard issued in France a couple of weeks ago to mark the centenary of this ex-PLM class, showing a preserved example, presumably the livery here is the original.

Santa Monica, 1959, and now

A postcard showing a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville convertible approaching the camera and the same scene today: things have changed quite a lot.


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railway station in Russia, 1967

A postcard published in Moscow in 1967, although not of the main Moscow station; the description simply stated "railway station"; perhaps stations were considered militarily sensitive at the time; a reader may be able to identify it.

early US transcontinental railroad on a chocolate card

At least that presumably is what Chemin de Fer du Pacifique is a reference to.

1938 Packard V12

tramway of Bonsecours, France

Bon Secours is now spelt as one word, and the department of Seine Inferieure is now known as Seine Maritime. Its tramway lasted from 1892 to 1953; there was also a funicular which departed from the faubourg d' Eaulpet on the right bank of the Seine to reach the Esplanade de la Basilique Notre Dame de Bonsecours; a distance of 400 metres and an ascent of 132 metres above the Seine. More info and pics on this webpage

Thomas Built school buses

Saf-T-Liners seen in Chicago; these are equipped with a Cummins ISB 200-260 hp engine and there is a hybrid option.

Thomas Built Buses Inc., based in High Point, North Carolina, and since 1998 a subsidiary of the German Daimler AG, produces school buses, Multi-Function School Activity Buses and commercial buses; both small and full-size.

The business traces its history to 1916, when it was incorporated as the Perley A. Thomas Car Works in High Point, North Carolina and specialised in electric streetcars; as buses superseded them in the middle of the 20th century, Thomas switched to bus production, primarily school buses. By the 1970s, Thomas Car Works had become one of the major school bus manufacturers in North America. Since 1972 the company has used its current name. (Geoff Churchman)