EddieB

As far as I'm aware English Electric were never in a business arrangement with British Thompson Houston, despite both being builders of diesel locomotives. There's currently a pretty good article on the locomotives they supplied to Australia in the current issue of "Back Track" - reading it might help calm the stress of getting worked up over fibre optic telephony!

I have a fairly comprehensive stock list from the Österreichischer Museums- und Touristikbahnen (2018), but cannot find an entry for the SR van. I'm wondering whether it may have spent time at the Wien Arsenal/Military Museum before going to Strasshof. Sadly I don't think it has survived. Clearly the provenance and history of the van is likely to be of more interest than its rarity, though its status as an "erratic" (to use a geologist term) ought perhaps to have conferred its preservation.

Swanage 1994 - definitely non-standard livery and numbering!

I don't know whether you've been back to Strasshof since that visit, but the "foliage" you describe has engulfed many of the "long-termed stored" locomotives (including the one behind the ex-SR van); sadly there isn't enough manpower/funding/space to keep the stock in good order. I'm not sure whether the van itself has survived (lost in the undergrowth?). Out of interest, were all four of the ÖMV Fireless steam locos still present when you made that visit (one is behind the black and green steam locos in your fourth picture at Strasshof)? Two appear to have been scrapped by 2008, and neither of the two remaining are in good condition.

A case of quoting from the book referenced without cross-checking (although a photo caption includes the suffix letter as the loco pictured would become)! Interestingly it appears that the fifteen locos taken back to Germany were regarded as "war prizes" and still belonging to France; in 1953 they were allocated SNCF book entry numbers in the series 1-230.E.360+ (i.e. 600 below their previous running number).

Wishful thinking to be sure, but I have a funny feeling it could be McLaren's day tomorrow. Then again, I wouldn't bet against Red Bull.

Whatever happened to "Fergie Time"? In those old days, there would be enough added time to afford Manchester United every opportunity to "get all they deserved" (to quote Radio 5 commentators - not my opinion!), so rather amusing to see the tables turned last night: 3-2 up after 99 minutes, 4-3 down after 102.

Attractive locomotives, twenty-five going to État after the Armistice, with both high and low running-plate variants. According to "Les Locomotives à Vapeur du Réseau de l'État" (Collardey) they were based mainly at Rennes for express passenger and parcels trains (pour tirer sur l'étoile des trains de voyageurs et messageries) on the routes to Le Mans, Saint-Malo, Saint-Brieuc, Redon and Châteaubriant. All were still in service in 1938, becoming SNCF nos. 3-230 960-84. During WW2, fifteen were removed back to Germany (including the prototype of your model), finding themselves in the DDR after the war.

A good race, with the potential for catching/passing right up to the final VSC lap. I'm intrigued that both Lewis and George commented on the speed of Checko's Red Bull. Is there an implication that something isn't quite legal (despite Max's car having passed scrutiny previous time out)?

Another one - which looks to be a South African GMAM Garratt - prototype and available as a scale model: https://www.miniatuurshop.com/en/tekno-scania-next-gen-s530-v8-highline-w-147153207.html#product-images2-6

I'd say that the loco is a Japanese JNR D51 2-8-2 (a Mikado, appropriately enough).

Well, it's nearly Spring again and they're bringing again - and quite surprised to see in the form of a large artic with very impressive artwork on the trailer sides making local deliveries this afternoon. A little Googling found a number of images - and it appears that one well-known diesel locomotive enthusiast is already noted as a fan of these vehicles. Being in the car and with the truck heading off away from us, there wasn't opportunity to get a decent picture - but it was one of those "wow" moments for all of us. Here's a photo of the truck we saw: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcsTAs2MR5O/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D&epik=dj0yJnU9UUZqLS10UWpGV2dZaTNGd1poOS1tamVHM19ySU5sc28mcD0wJm49NF8xTEFzem5ack0tNThFeU84UklfUSZ0PUFBQUFBR1g3Q3ZB (The picture doesn't really do it justice!) Here's another example, perhaps a little more orientated to this site (Flickr link): Possibly a Japanese prototype? Finally, a more familiar locomotive type: https://www.brianmicklethwaitsnewblog.com/2021/04/07/dutch-quality-flowers-lorry-with-locomotive/

...and the one behind is a B12/3 - another Gresley re-boilering of a Great easter Railway design.

Yes, a very real locomotive. Built by BMAG (Schwartzkopff works number 4233 of 1909) as a KPEV (Prussian) G7.1, it was numbered BSL 4476 (i.e. Breslau). Under the unified classification of 1925 it was renumbered 55 545, which it carried into DR (East German) ownership after WW2. At some point it must have been taken out of service or stored, as it is shown as being back in service in 1947/48. In 1959 it was sold into industrial use, becoming WL 11 at Maxhütte, Unterwellenborn. I have no record of modifications or application of slogans, so cannot tell whether they are authentic. Confusingly, its listing as Era III (DR pre-WW2), contradicts the Communist-era (SED) slogans on the tender.

Yes, why not overturn history? If Hamilton were to concede the 2008 title to Massa, then he's surely got a stronger case to be awarded the 2021 title (yes, it still rankles). Then take away the 1994 title from Michael Schumacher after his cynical move to reverse into Damon Hill... (Lewis becomes the sole seven times champion). Why stop at F1? Did Hurst's shot really cross the goal line? Compensate by awarding Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in a later World Cup game against a united Germany. Replay England vs Argentina when Maradona handled the ball and went on to win the World Cup?

First Essex F1 racer since Johnny Herbert (and probably too young to know what an XR3i was)?! One of those rare "in the right place, at the right time" opportunities. Not just a taste of F1, but in one of the more competitive seats. A very mature, respectable, nay remarkable drive - flawless around a challenging circuit, over a race distance far longer than any previous experience. I don't think he could have done better given only an hour (FP3) to get used to the car. Sadly for Ollie, when he does get a regular spot, it's likely to be in one of the lesser teams.

There were two types of electric shunter that survived into the 'seventies on DB - the E60 (160) and E63 (163). The fourteen locomotives of E60 and eight E63 were intended for shunting at major stations in Southern Germany, which is more or less where they spent their entire working lives. After WW2 all passed to DB (none went to the DR in East Germany). As such they were not employed at the major marshalling yards, where the V60 series diesels would be joined by the V90 series for heavy shunting work.

564.25 (or more likely 562.04 in reality) was plinthed across the forecourt from Bukit Mertajam: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@5.3672427,100.4477927,3a,75y,152.54h,82.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smh38pAueMC3mlzxIq6FQ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu I remain sceptical about the viability of the operation!

The top photo is of 601, which I believe remains at Bang Sue - but more recent photos appear to show fire damage. From another place I learn that 555 is displayed at King Mongkut Memorial Park of Science and Technology, Waghor - could that be the location of the second photo?

Surviving steam locomotives in Thailand are quite well documented (see https://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/thaipreserved.htm, for example) but I would say less so for other forms of traction. Thailand was something of a pioneer of diesel locomotives and it would appear that representatives of some of the early designs still survive - but information about current status and location can be quite hard to find. I would welcome responses to add and correct the rather poor outline that follows. 1. RSR 0-4-0DM nos. 21-22 SLM, 1928. Experimental shunting locomotives that saw service until 1964. No. 21 retained for preservation at Makkasan works. Present status unknown. 2. RSR A1A-A1ADE nos. 501-506 Sulzer/Oerlikon/Henschel, 1931 Highly successful, trialled on the Rhaetian Railway and survived into the "modern era": nos. 501 and 504 were sent to the Maeklong line where one was noted in service in 1977. Later nos. 504 and 505 were sold to a cement company at Cha-am (near Hua Hin) apparently working into the 1990s (I wish I'd known at the time). Apparently no. 505 (gutted bodyshell on bogies) was preserved at the site of the cement works, but I would welcome the exact location and if it remains there as I believe there has been a recent change of ownership since reported here: https://www.derbysulzers.com/thailand.html Partner no. 504 (similar state) was saved from a scrapyard at Ratchaburi and spent several years at the "Train Night Market" in Bangkok: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@13.6952397,100.6511727,3a,75y,41.25h,76.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjGrnBtoCb4Ht_9sQAPsA9w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu Recent reports say that it has been sold and removed to an unknown location - where might that be? 3. RSR 2Do2DE nos. 551-556 Frichs, 1931 A rigid alternative to the above, these locomotives suffered from lack of attention during WW2 and were withdrawn from service in the 1950s. Ramaer ("The Locomotives of Thailand", 1984) states that no. 556 was restored and is in the railway museum - which I infer the one at Makkasan that is infrequently open to the public. These locomotives were the metre gauge equivalent of a pair of standard gauge locomotives for the Danish State Railways (DSB) in 1932, class Mx nos. 131-132. Of these no. 132 is displayed at the railway museum at Odense - not in the best location for photography! 4. RSR 2DoDo2DE No. 601 Frichs, 1932 Something of a monster, intended as a rival to Garratt locomotives for heavy goods traffic, and almost a double of the earlier Frichs type. Not repeated, but it did remain in service until 1964, when apparently set aside for preservation at Bang Sue. I believe it may still remain there, in what Google labels as the "train cemetery", possibly having suffered fire damage - here is an image from January 2021: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Train+Cemetery/@13.8157816,100.5447587,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMddnmSFYD7NR1ruQF7BYKLw9v9A72w0_MjSisR!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMddnmSFYD7NR1ruQF7BYKLw9v9A72w0_MjSisR%3Dw203-h450-k-no!7i1816!8i4032!4m7!3m6!1s0x30e29c6596ea7e83:0xd6e542b0d43a32ce!8m2!3d13.8157816!4d100.5447587!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c2pwsbgs?entry=ttu Are there any other examples of these four types still surviving in Thailand, or preservation schemes involving some of the early post-war designs for RSR, any of the Maeklong Railway diesels or industrial diesel locomotives?

As serious as the coco pops stories are, it would be wrong for Whinger to be ousted by an ex-third rate driver with a record of off track violence and a permanent stain in the RB garage. Let RB and the FIA sort it out, not be influenced by Verstappen snr.

I think Esteban Ocon may have a different perspective.

Ok, there’s no denying Max’s talent but looks like it’s going to be a long long season, regardless of the number of races. Carlos with a point to prove could be fun - maranello hath no fury like a spaniard scorned!

The only TV cooks that I could enjoy watching. Never actually met them directly, but I did have a cameo appearance when they were filming Beery Hikers around "Steam on the Met".

A Kansas City* Southern SD40-2 waking up to find itself in Sulphur Springs, Texas? (I fear I'm taking the reference too literally!) *Just to confuse matters, Kansas City isn't in Kansas, it's in Missouri - but at least the Americans spell "Sulphur" correctly in the name of that place!