EddieB

From what I can tell, they were built between 1966 and 1971, but all were withdrawn 1977-1978.  It does make one wonder why construction continued over that length of time, when their shortcomings must have become apparent by then.   One survives - DD54-33 (Mitsubishi 1769/1971) at the museum in Kyoto.  Withdrawn in December 1978, it appears to have been added to the present collection in 1984.  Unfortunately as displayed the unusual wheel arrangement is mostly hidden.

My photo from August 2023.

Thirty years on, but I still get something of an icy shudder when watching a race at Imola...

On 02/05/2024 at 22:03, StuAllen said:

Couldn’t resist posting this 

 

I thought Tsunoda on the podium was a step too far - but that was before Q2 yesterday.

Let's hope that the trend towards the whole grid being more competitive continues!

Interesting, but it generally applies that tyre degradation is lower when leading a race, than when following another car.

Yes, it is a Ruston.  Of three surviving 60cm gauge Rustons in France, two are (were?) at St Trojan.  Other than running numbers (4 = 28HP and 5 = 40 HP), dates and builders numbers aren't given in a list of preserved locos (from 2000, so I cannot guarantee present status).

Rustons weren't particularly rare in Western Europe.  The site having the highest concentration of preserved Ruston locos is in the Netherlands.

There are (were?) also three Deutz (nos 1-3) and four Billard locos (6-9) at St Trojan.

From its livery the penultimate picture (FAUR diesel) looks like an ex-Bulgarian BDZ class 55 sold into Czech industry.  Were any numbers visible? 

I tend to agree that some parts of Brussels aren't the most salubrious.  Midi/Zuid station is a great place to watch trains, but it is something of a haven for crime (just take care) and the authorities/security don't seem to know the various back-ways in and out and between platforms.

Antwerp would be better if the trains serving the main stations were more varied.  For that reason, I'd rather base at Antwerpen-Berchem for additional freight traffic (afternoons are better for sun position) and I used to like being able to get around Antwerpen Dam on a quiet Sunday.

I note that Max was in the lead after the race - to be the first to congratulate Lando.  No surprises to see nearly all the other "senior" drivers going to offer their congratulations too.

Lando comes across as a thoroughly nice guy - he's always appeared to get on with team-mates in a sport where rivalry often gets between drivers.  I know that the Safety Car was instrumental, but Lando was able to pull clear of Max after the restart and extend the lead - hopefully an indication that the upgrades introduced have closed the gap to Red Bull.

A long anticipated and well-deserved win for Lando.  Here's hoping that Oscar can also reach the top step (in a full race) in 2024.

Well for once the spraint qualifying and sub-race had its moments, and well done for Lando/his team for their tactical nous to beat one RB in the race proper.

A wet track does indeed level the field, but it did look that the surface was unduly slippery after having being recoated.  Having said that, compared with many/most it's a good circuit, with both expected (DRS) and unexpected overtaking opportunities.  Marshalling could have been better with the time taken to call VSC/SC out for Bottas.

Should Stroll have points on his licence for that incident?  It seems worse than the rather aggressive response from Alonso in the spraint race which was punished.

On 11/04/2024 at 20:39, melmerby said:

Don't EE talk to their masters at BT?

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. 

11 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

This should read 3-230E 960-84  (all SNCF locos have a letter suffix of some kind)

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.