DavidB-AU

I've seen some good ones. Industries such as a rubber chicken factory and a bagpipe factory, and (one for the Carry On fans) a station called Long Hampton. But if you look at the Whacky Signs thread, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Cheers David

According to Vivarail, the range of 230002 is 40 miles with an 8 minute charge or 50 miles with a 10 minute charge. At only 8½ miles from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, in theory it should take less than 2 minutes to charge at each end. IIRC the turnarounds are 5-8 minutes. Cheers David

Surely this would be one of the lines where a D-train would be useful. Cheers David

First CAF Civity EMU for Northern on test at Velim THE first CAF Civity class 331 EMU for British operator Arriva Rail North (Northern) began dynamic testing at the Velim test centre in the Czech Republic last week. https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/first-caf-civity-emu-for-northern-on-test-at-velim.html

Very similar to the Victorian Railways L class built by EE in 1952-53. http://www.railpictures.net/photo/278350/ Cheers David

More of the C17 transfer to Gympie. Cheers David

Siemens has unveiled the Class 717 Desiro City electric multiple-units which it is building for Govia Thameslink Railway. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/great-northern-class-717-emus-unveiled.html

May the 4th be with you.

In a case of life imitates Monty Python... https://www.dailysabah.com/football/2018/04/29/wigs-and-fake-beards-iranian-women-sneak-into-stadium-to-see-their-team-lift-a-trophy

C17 974 is finally on its way to Gympie today, only 6 months late! Cheers David

Looking a bit sad and sorry after 32 years exposed to the elements and wildlife. EE Canberra Mk 20 A84-238 first flew in 1956 and entered service with No.2 Squadron RAAF. It saw combat in Vietnam in 1969-71 and in 1973 was one of 6 RAAF Canberras converted for cartographic survey work. Last flew in 1982 and in 1985 was prepared for transfer to a proposed Vietnam War museum. But it it never went ahead and 238 was plinthed at Willowbank, Queensland in 1986. Interestingly there is another even more derelict Canberra (A84-248) in an adjacent paddock and only just visible from the road. Cheers David

Don't know if anybody knows the S-100 bus song by Frank Hayes. And when they turn the power on It's sure to dim the lamps At plus and minus 15 volts And 1400 amps. Cheers David

Guess which computer is more powerful. EDIT: The Elliott 405 was delivered to Norwich City Council in 1957 at a cost of £85,000 (£2 million in 2018 prices). The Raspberry Pi Zero is about 1 billion times more powerful and costs £4.

Uranus smells like rotten eggs https://www.gemini.edu/node/21050 Not saying anything else about that.

Does anybody happen to have the Solent and Sarum fleet manager manual? I can't find it anywhere online. Cheers David

Fans of classic Doctor Who and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy may recognise some of the sounds. Cheers David

GREAT Western Railway (GWR) has reached an agreement with Porterbrook Leasing to lease 19 class 769 Flex multiple units, which will be capable of operating under diesel, 750V dc third rail and 25kV ac overhead electric power. The trains will enter service in spring 2019 [and] will primarily be employed on Reading - Gatwick Airport and Reading - Oxford services. https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/gwr-to-lease-tri-mode-class-769-multiple-units-from-porterbrook.html

TransPennine Express unveils Mk5a coaches THE first set of CAF Mk5A coaches for British operator TransPennine Express (TPE) was unveiled to the media at the Velim test centre in the Czech Republic on April 12. https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/transpennine-express-unveils-mk5a-coaches.html

ITALIAN State Railways (FS) rail freight subsidiary Mercitalia has unveiled plans to launch high-speed rail freight services in a bid to gain a share of the market for high-value time-sensitive goods. The service, branded Mercitalia Fast, will begin operating in October, with a modified ETR 500 high-speed train linking the Caserta Marcianise and Bologna Interporto terminals. The journey time will be 3h 20min with an average speed of 180km/h. https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/freight/italian-high-speed-rail-freight-plan-unveiled.html

This may surprise a lot of people but this is one of the non-dangerous animals even though it looks one of the scariest. The huntsman will sometimes give a defensive nip if provoked but is usually scared of anything bigger than itself. It is beneficial because it feeds mainly on cockroaches. Cheers David

aka "Sweden outdoes James May with full size Scalextric". https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/12/worlds-first-electrified-road-for-charging-vehicles-opens-in-sweden

Worth noting that Broad Street had relief main line services to Cambridge until the 1950s. A WR Minories somewhere in London could have relief services to, say, Oxford or Bristol. Cheers David

Last week's test run of C17 974 follow repair work after it broke down in November.