DavidB-AU

Watched episode 4. It's really finding its feet now. The Porsche vs BMW segment was really well done. The challenge was like TG in its heyday - superficial, impractical and very funny. Cheers David

Some of you may have seen a shorter, edited version of this ad for a Polish online shop. But you can see why it has over 8 million views. Slight language warning but watch it to the end. Cheers David

Some narrow gauge action around Townsville, including the new intermodel facility which opened just over a week ago. Cheers David

If it was so stale then why was it watched by 300 million people worldwide and earning the BBC £100 million per series in foreign sales. And why would Amazon throw $250 million at the same four people to create a show as similar as possible without stepping on the BBC's intellectual property? Anyway, if you don't like it then don't watch it. Cheers David

Turn this up loud! Cheers David

Watched episode 3. I think it's finally finding its feet. The modern grand tour was very much like the old TG and the DB11 is absolutely stunning. A bit more about the cars and a bit less about the stunts (apart from the last segment). The running gags weren't quite as overdone this time. The crowd in Vicenza was real but the reason for it wasn't quite how it was presented. I tend to agree that these 3 car challenges are carefully selected and aimed squarely at the Amazon Prime demographic (who statistics show have much more disposable income) and slanted a little more towards the American audience. Whether or not you personally like the show or liked the last few series of TG, I think Amazon is on to a financial winner here. Nice to see NYMR got a cameo in the opening credits. Cheers David

I agree the special ops bit went on too long. The repeating joke wore thin after the first few times. Personally I think it would be better off kept to an hour instead of 71 minutes. But I'm still going to keep watching. There are enough laughs and enough of the interpersonal jibes to keep me interested. One thing I did like is how they played up to the South African audience with local humour. It's going to be interesting to see if they ca keep this up as they move around the world. Cheers David

Meanwhile in Australia, this is one way to stop bills being delivered.

It's not being liquidated yet and may not come to that. It's in voluntary administration and some of the non-operational rollingstock is up for sale to see if they can clear some of the debt. Cheers David

And now there has been a 6.3 off Hawke's Bay!

Some hirelings wearing new clothes. Cheers David

And if anybody wants some memorabilia with the theme of episode one... https://goo.gl/HZWvnB Cheers David

It's the best bits of pre-Evans TG with a budget of $250 million. Cheers David

Finally had a chance to watch it. Have to agree it was everything that was great about TG. Also agree it could have been tighter but that's often the case when something isn't limited by a broadcast slot. Anybody know if that's true about a WW2 bomb at RAF Wroughton? Cheers David

Some sad news, ARHS ACT has gone into voluntary administration and Canberra Railway Museum has closed. Operational steam locos 6029 and 3016 have been relocated to Thirlmere for storage. 4403 and 4807, owned by Transport Heritage NSW and part of the State Rail Heritage core collection, have been returned to Eveleigh. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-18/canberra-railway-museum-closes-doors/8037072 http://citynews.com.au/2016/canberra-railway-museum-steam/ Cheers David

Some more of the South Island Main Trunk showing it could have been a lot worse if this had happened during the day. http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/55/01/73/11804361/7/1024x1024.jpg http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/55/02/54/11807490/7/1024x1024.jpg http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/55/01/75/11804510/3/1024x1024.jpg http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/55/01/70/11804179/7/1024x1024.jpg EDIT: Cook Strait ferries have resumed for foot passengers only and KiwiRail is reported to be seriously looking at a Wellington to Lyttelton ferry. Cheers David

A ferry service is problematic at the moment. Wellington and Picton sustained damage to the ports. Lyttelton has reopened and the line to Christchurch has been cleared for operation, but at the moment KiwiRail aren't running anything on the south island. Nelson and Blenheim are have resumed limited operations but the roads in and out are damaged. Dunedin, Bluff and Greymouth are still operating. Kaikoura is completely cut off and could be for months. The only way in or out at the moment is by helicopter until HMNZS Canterbury gets there. Cheers David

The blue line is where the track is supposed to be. The red line is where the landslide pushed it. https://mcaspian.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/kaikoura-rail-line-2.jpg Shows how strong CWR can be! A lucky escape for this train crew. Note the rubble on the road. Half a minute earlier whole train could have ended up in the ocean. http://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980w/public/images/methode/2016/11/14/6b87ca9c-aa40-11e6-a45e-e639c32a4ac5_1280x720.jpg Cheers David

Didn't put any glue on the flex track and just dumped the scenic material. https://twitter.com/emtvnews/status/797934833477394432 Cheers David

A model of one here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/27456-maunsell-2-6-2t-proposed/ Cheers David