DavidB-AU

Mind the paws: Hello Kitty bullet train debuts in Japan https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/01/fast-feline-hello-kitty-bullet-train-debuts-in-japan

There was only one of these, a 25NC with David Wardale's modifications. The Red Devil could produce over 4000hp at 100km/h. Cheers David

Here's the full restoration series.

An interesting day in Brisbane today. Last night at about 21.30, NGR722 damaged about 1200m of overhead between the west end of Roma Street and Central. It cane to a stop still half in the tunnel at Central with the overhead arcing onto the roof. Passengers were stranded on the train for nearly an hour before it was safe to exit. As a result, all trains were suspended between Bowen Hills and South Brisbane. This morning the train had still not been moved. All Beenleigh and Gold Coast trains were running via the Tennyson loop, with Gold Coast trains stopping additionally at Moorooka. Cleveland trains were also running "express" from Roma Street to Buranda via Tennyson, but were actually stopping at Yeerongpilly. Plus all freight which would normally go via South Brisbane was also sent via Tennyson. This made for a very busy day around Sherwood. Here is some footage I took out the window, first on a Gold Coast to Brisbane train and then on a Brisbane to Cleveland train. Excuse the dirty window and shaky phone. Rather than wait and go via the scenic route a third time I bailed out at Buranda and got a bus back to Altandi. The disabled NGR was eventually hauled dead (by diesels) out of Central early afternoon. In addition to all this, a pair of diesels was running to Holmview tutoring drivers for the resumption of cattle trains. Cheers David

CAF Civity EMU for TransPennine Express on test at Velim https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/caf-civity-emu-for-transpennine-express-on-test-at-velim.html

Amtrak has issued a request for information seeking to explore options for ‘all types of rail vehicles including coach cars, trainsets and self-propelled units’ that could eventually replace its Amfleet I coaches. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/amtrak-plans-amfleet-i-replacement.html

There were small petrol and paraffin locos available after WW1. Motor Rail and Kent Construction rebuilt some 40hp Simplex types as standard gauge. Cheers David

I had an unsolicited email from somebody a few years ago asking if I wanted to invest in this. Pumped hydro requires a lot less infrastructure and you lose a lot less from friction. Cheers David

A new standard gauge line for 320 km/h operation. Cheers David

3526 in its new green livery and 3642 on its last run before retirement.

Bety running in Brisbane today.

First look at Japan's new Hello Kitty Shinkansen https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hello-kitty-shinkansen-train-japan/index.html

A memorandum of understanding on the construction of a rail link between Tibet and Nepal was signed in Beijing on June 21 by China’s president, Mr Xi Jinping, and Nepalese prime minister Mr Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli. The link would be a continuation of the line between Tibet’s capital Lhasa and second city Xigaze, which was completed in 2014. https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/asia/china-and-nepal-plan-trans-himalayan-rail-link.html

Sensible suggestion: Sandwich it between a pair of inspection saloons. Silly suggestion: Invent some test cars to run with it. Spline Defrobulation Car, Infinite Improbability Drive Car, Timey-Wimey Manipulation Car, Carbonite Freezing Car, Unobtanium Detection Car, etc. Cheers David

A Hello Kitty Shinkansen 500 http://tetsudo-shimbun.com/article/topic/entry-1443.html

Bety's test run to Grandchester after getting new bearings.

16,500 hp, 101 wagons. Cheers David

Not quite cars but you might find this interesting. Wearing my day job hat I came across this photo of a "new" fire engine for the Mount Isa (Queensland) Fire Brigade, c 1970. It looks like it's a conversion of a Bedford VAM! https://www.flickr.com/photos/queenslandstatearchives/42930223651/ EDIT: Via another forum the chassis is probably a Ford, but the front looks very Bedford. Cheers David

North-south rail services between Belfast and Dublin could be upgraded over the coming years, under a three-stage development strategy agreed by Irish national operator Iarnród Éireann and its Northern Irish counterpart Translink. Launched in Belfast as part of Northern Ireland’s Bus+Train week initiative, the plan envisages investment in both rolling stock and infrastructure to reduce journey times for Enterprise services on the 183 km route from the current 2 h 10 min to ‘potentially 90 min or less’. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/cross-border-upgrade-plan.html

Yesterday I was sent a meme on how to choose your perfect heavy metal name, i.e. a stage name to make you sound like a great heavy metal musician. First name is the name of a detity of your choice. Second name is the name of a metal. Odin Steel is a good heavy metal name. So is Thor Thorium, especially if you're in a Norwegian death metal band. Until I pointed out some flaws in the concept. Chronos Copper doesn't sound very heavy metal to me, Quetzalcoatl Molybdenum is just ridiculous and Mercury Mercury breaks it completely.

Siemens unveiled its Velaro Novo concept for the next generation of high speed train on June 13, saying the first sets could be in service in 2023. The 8 MW Velaro Novo is designed for operating speeds of between 250 and 360 km/h, and would set ‘new standards’ for efficiency and sustainability, using 30% less energy when running at 300 km/h, Siemens said. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/siemens-reveals-velaro-novo-360-kmh-train-concept.html