From A Similar Era ...
Airfix also produced a "Prestwin" wagon. Also based on pressurised control of powder products (e.g. cement), this style offered two vertical tanks. The full-sized version below ...
... was more like that sold by Lima (Italian company) in the UK.
Although optimistically labelled "Blue Circle" it had no counterpart on the UK rail network. Hornby's model was much better.
Next, along came "Cemflow".
These had a higher capacity that either Presflo or Prestwin and consisted of a horizontal near cylindrical tank which just about makes it a candidate for fbb's collection ...
... and fbb's pre-owned Triang Hornby version is on its way. The model in yellow was produced by Hornby from 1972 to 1976.
But a new 2022 version is soon to be produced. How will they compare?
Super Stock For Southend
It used to look like the above; but when fbb rode the train on Southend Pier is looked like this:-
New stock arrived in a dark blue livery ...
... but this has now been eclipsed by new state of the art stock reverting to the "traditional" green and cream. It has "battery electric" power.
Now named St David Amess, after the assassinated local MP, this little video gives you a good introduction to the experience.Worth a visit.
Back in the day, proper boats ran from central London to Southend, Ramsgate and Margate ...
... providing Londoners with a grand day out. Nowadays you can catch a chuggaboat ...
... to more local destinations including a run round the Redands Forts, a WW2 remnant.
At Last First ...
fbb has voiced anguished frustration about poor publicity for First Bus in Weymouth, notably at the railway station, also run by First! fbb has already reported on the pop-up enquiry hut on the sea front, but now can confirm something has happened c/o the trains!
On each of several visits made since First took over the South West railway business, fbb has never seen any bus publicity at the station. But all that has changed. There is a bright and noticeable posted in the booking hall area ...
... and a much bigger display outside.
Talking Of Bus Publicity
Northampton correspondent Alan was in Nottingham recently and has confirmed photographically that the excellent displays of plentiful bus leaflets are still highly visible on the station concourse. Nottingham City Council promotes integration ...
... Nottingham City Buses are all there ...
A Famous Poster
Even Timmy and Siddy have commented on the celebrated but incomprehensible posters by Man Ray. Designed to be displayed at a pair ...
... no one was ever really sure what the planet Saturn had to do with keeping London going. The poster spawned a number of re-purposings ...
... with theblatest being a plug for the Elizabeth Line line!
But now - IN COLOUR!
Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky; August 27, 1890 to November 18, 1976) was an American visual artist who spent most of his career in Paris. He was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal. He produced major works in a variety of media but considered himself a painter above all. He was best known for his pioneering photography, and was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. He is also noted for his work with photograms, which he called "rayographs" in reference to himself.
What Comes Round Goes Round
"Rosebud" was the brand name of Nene Plastics Ltd, based in Raunds, Northamptonshire - not far from fbb's childhood home.
There was considerable excitement when Rosebud announced a range of model railway plastic kits.
Rosebud Kitmaster is the brand name of a short-lived but critically acclaimed range of plastic assembly kits. Introduced from May 1959, the range rapidly expanded to include 34 models of railway locomotives and coaches in OO, HO and TT scales, and eventually, one motorcycle in 1:16 scale.
The assets of Rosebud Kitmaster were sold to Airfix Products Ltd in late 1962.
Many of the Airfix/Kitmaster models are still sold by Dapol. A few weeks back, Dapol announced the rebirth of Kitmaster, but now called Kitmaster Genesis.
But the kits are wildly different from the Kitmaster of old.
They are not OO - they are O. So you might say, "Oh?".
They are not plastic - they are laser cut pre-coloured card with plastic parts e.g. windows.
The are not locos and coaches - they are buildings.
They are not cheap - they are expensive BUT big!
Other than those minor points, they are a rebirth of the Kitmaster brand. If you want models for your O gauge layout, these look stunning. All you need is glue. (click on the pic for a better view)
Based on Oakworth station
Opened in 1867 by the KWVR
Leased by the MR in 1881
Absorbed into the LMS in 1923
Closed by BR in 1962
Reopened in 1968
Footprint size 522mm x 144mm
{1 foot nine inches by 6 inches)
Price £295
And just like the real thing!
Political Note:
Thursday is the by-election for the Tiverton and Honiton constituency; the fbb's are invited to elect their new MP. As the old crocks are both committed Christians, they would like to elect the candidate whose private life, public life and political views most closely match Biblical morality and teaching.
Or, maybe in desperation, the candidate who strays the least from those principles.
Tough question!
Early readers will have seen that this note read "Tomorrow". It has now been corrected to "Thursday". Turnip-head fbb doesn't know which day of the week it is!
Next Truly Fascinating blog ? : Weds 22nd June
Fat Fingers besets FBB!!
ReplyDeleteIt is actually Red Sands Forts . . . and here is a link:
https://londonist.com/2013/05/the-abandoned-estuary-sea-forts-from-wwii.
And it was (sadly) SIR David, rather than St David.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt was Cemflo wagons which caused the Thirsk railway accident in 1967 which killed 7 people and destroyed the DP2 locomotive. These wagons were prone to "hunt", especially when their wheels and springs were getting worn; as a result of earlier derailments their maximum permitted speed had been reduced from 60 to 40 mph. Afterwards they were only allowed to run at 35 mph if loaded and 50 mph unloaded. Bogie wagons were clearly the way ahead. I believe too that the installation of continuously welded track contributed to the accidents as the joints in the older track tended to damp down the oscillation. However rail joints themselves caused problems and a broken rail-end brought about the Hither Green disaster just a few months later.
ReplyDelete