212 Packed Pages ...

And Packed Is The Word!

Not all of the 212 A4 pages are as packed as the above but even the author was concerned that fbb might struggle with the small print. "But it was the only way," he wrote in his e-mail, "to cover the topic effectively".

When fbb started his Biblical Studies course at Sheffield University, he was advised to buy two books to supplement Professor Payne's two year course on The History of Israel. One was by John Bright and the name was appropriate. Although lacking any pictures, the text was easily understandable and needed only a modicum of effort to assimilate.

The other was by respected German scholar Martin Noth (pronounced 'Note') and it was really hard work to read. In fact, fbb simply didn't!

fbb wondered how he might react to this volume ...

... kindly sent by the author for possible review.

Two things are important to grasp before you start with £15 from your hobby budget.

This is not a book of pictures although there are plenty of them.

This is not a book about bus routes, there are very few maps.

But it us a book about buses, and this volume is from a fascinating time in the history of the Capital's public transport. As operators move from horse bus to various forms of motorised passenger carriage vehicle, Richard Rosa delves deep into the formative tears of the internal combustion engine.

Goodbye horses and hello horse power ...

... and, as we now know, what a profound and eventful period of change it was.

In the pre 1904/5 years of Part A ...

... the variety of the humble "omnibus" was astounding. For those of us just about familiar with the type B ...

... or even its less well known predecessor, the type X ...

... the scope of the book is amazing.

Even the range of buses in use in 1905 was varied ...

... even mind boggling.

Reviewing a book that is so detailed and so thorough would be a challenge to any enquiring mind and Mr Rosa is right to be concerned about small print and fbb's ARMD.

Your visually limited blogger will need some advanced technology ...

... and some stamina!

Here is just one small paragraph without context.

It effectively shows the breadth and depth of the author's research.

All fbb can do is to extract snippets from its various chapters as a means of understanding the near academic level of the work.

Tomorrow's snippet will, in part, explore buses powered by technologies other than little explosions inside metal pots. There was steam, of course, but what about today's power ways craze? 

Be amazed!

To be continued.

=====================

 

It's  one of THOSE weekends again. Good Friday morning service at Church; helping (actively but in sedentary mode) with children's Easter 'happening' at church on Saturday. 

Sunday and Monday are the fbb's monthly Fellowship meetings, with church prayer meeting on Monday morning.

Son and daughter-in-law are visiting (camping nearby) for the weekend.

Other than that, just a pleasant and peaceful Easter weekend.

Of course, with a brief blog or two to compose!

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Judas gets a bad press being labelled the "betrayer" of Jesus. It is not quite as clear-cut as that. The authorities were uneasy about arresting Jesus while the passover festival was in full swing or "the people might riot".

The bribe of ...

THIRTY

... pieces of silver was a generous fee for guiding the arresting party to Jesus in the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane.

At Thursday's "Last Supper", Judas left early, told by Jesus to "go and do what you have to." Surprisingly, Jesus was very much in charge of his own destiny.

Judas returned the money and hanged himself in guilt and remorse. But he did what he had to buy God's plan!

But at sunset on Thursday, Friday happened ** and more people let Jesus down ...

... notably three (missing names) who fell asleep while their Master was deep in anguished prayer for the events of Friday.

One of those three went further and let Jesus down three times in a row.

Jesus had said that he would. The disciple said he never would; but by the time this avian creature spoke up, he has fulfilled that prophecy.

One of the surprises in our world is that many, many people want God to do something about all the nastiness in the world, yet they continue to let Him down by breaking His code of conduct.

But it will all be resolved today, the oddly named GOOD Friday!

** FACT : in Jewish thinking, days ran from sunset to sunset.

====================

 Next Variety blog : Saturday 4th April 

Tram Troubles : Trading Troubles

Replacement Buses Rag Bag

Back in the days when Stagecoach operated South West Trains and painted their units in bright distinctive liveries, their Hampshire company has a fleet of buses in SWT livery to match the trains.

Some of them had been repatriated from Hong Kong. Thus, the overall image was maintained, despite the frustration of disruption.

What might you expect to see on tram replacement services in Sheffield now that the mayoral authorities the trams? 

Apparently, anything with a wheel at each corner. 

The contractor has to move his buses all the way from Wakefield. Do drivers have to travel, or are casual people recruited from Sheffield?

The pale blue one, seen here at the Herdings bus turning circle ...

... which was once with First on the York Park and Ride! 

It did get a dark blue paint job.

There is no need to investigate the ancestry of this decker ...

... also snapped in the Herdings turning circle. But you would not immediately spot this livery ...

... as being ex London. For that you need the reg. Number and the Internet!

This rather gloomy grey Merc ...

... was once a more cheerful maroon with YourBus ...

... briefly an intruder in Derby and Nottingham. Shopaholics will spot the frontage of John Lewis ...

... occupying the footprint of part of the former Nottingham Victoria station. 

But the best historic timeline applies to this bus.

Previously it wore a plain yellow yellow for the ailing Bournemouth Transport 'Yellow Buses' business ...

... but, even further back it was with Bus Vannin (that's Isle of Man to ye and me!) ...

... with an obviously "furrin" registration plate.

Now, were fbb running Supertram, and were he planning the consequences of digging up a huge section of track, he would want his replacement bus services to look reliable and confidently professional.

A multi-coloured collection from the queue for the scrapyard does NOT inspire confidence in the hearts and wallets of the paying customer.

Negative house points are awarded to Travel South Yorkshire and a dunce's cap for big cheese Oliver Coppard.

Must do better!

Thanks to Sheffield correspondent, Roy, for pictures of the replacement vehicles.

The End Of Yorkshire Buses

It sounds dramatic, and it is for a small company mainly involved in tendered work. This was its on-line announcement ...

... and a full text version.

It is with a truly heavy heart that we share this news.

After much thought and consideration, the continued rise in costs which includes fuel and many other significant increases has made it no longer sustainable for us to continue operating. This has not been an easy decision, and it is one we have fought hard to avoid however with further cost increases forecast on the horizon the decision has had to be made sooner rather than later.

From the very beginning, Yorkshire Buses has been about more than just transport. It has been about community, connection, and the people we have had the privilege to serve every single day.

We want to take this moment to sincerely thank each and every one of you, our passengers, nurses, supporters, staff, and partners and the rest for your loyalty, kindness, and support over the years. Your encouragement has meant more to us than words can express.

To our incredible team, past and present, thank you for your dedication and hard work. You are the heart of everything we have done.

While this chapter is coming to a close, we will always be grateful for the journey we have shared together.

Thank you for being part of our story.

As is often the case with this sort of business, the company has operated a variety of routes in West Yorkshire over recent years.

These have included a vintage open topper!

Likewise, the fleet has been varied. Here are two versions of allocation on service 61/61A, small ...

... and larger.

Here is a timetable extract for the 61/61A.

The 116 and 212 are hourly and more main line in character.

One operation over the border in Doncaster was the Sunday service on Arriva's 51.

Currently, West Yorkshire Metro is scurrying around trying to find alternative operators.

=======================

A huge part of all four gospels deals with the last week or so of Jesus' life. So much challenge and encouragement is packed in to well over one third of the written account. So it's all important.

So we have seen triumph (of a sort, Palm Sunday); anger at the corruption of God's House, anguish at the future that was waiting for both the temple and Jerusalem (both destroyed in AD70).

The foolish virgins (better word, bridesmaids) who wuere locked out of God's eternity because they were not ready.

But from now on things become very personal.

A woman (unnamed in Matthew's account) poles expensive ...

PERFUME

... over Jesus' head. She is rehearsing the anointing of his body for burial, a self sacrificing act of worship and commitment.

True commitment to God (to Jesus if you like - both are the same) is what makes a difference.

But sometimes that commitment is beyond us.

What is missing here ?

≈======================

Next book review blog : Fri 3rd April

Trams Need Rails (2) [mini blog]

 Excellent Publicity

The diagram is helpful for regulars, but the accurate geographical map (see yesterday's blog) is much better, especially for those bamboozled by necessary  deviations from the tram route. Also, for the unwary, buses cannot always stop at tram stops!

The web site does, however, provide a list of stops served by the replacement bus.

Even better, you get local maps guiding you from tram stop to bus stop.

They are accurate and helpful.

Unlike Manchester, where tram timetables are a closely guarded secret, Sheffield has always published proper timetables for its tram route, as per the example sample below.

The PURPLE route was once every 20 minutes, then cut back to every 30 minutes, now reduced to a really useless hourly service.

The full BLUE service usually runs every 12.

During the rail replacement fortnight, the PURPLE hourly tram service is replaced by a bus every 15 minutes; but the bus is also a cover for the BLUE trams.

It fills the gap between the two continuing bits of the BLUE. trams, one running from Malin Bridge to the railway station ...

... with frequency reduced to every 15. The Gleadless to Halfway section is also every 15.

Is there a replacement bus timetable?

Of course there is!

Note that the green shading highlights connection FROM Malin Bridge and TO Halfway. 

Unusually, times are given for every stop, very continental!

In each case there is a five minute connection time, This, combined with slower bus turning times, will make a cross city journey at least 15 minutes slower than a through tram.

Painfully tedious, but very necessary to ensure track is well maintained.

Tomorrow we explore the buses that are operating this essential replacement service. Readers may remember the appearance, in the past, of a couple of bendibuses, one red, one sky blue filling in for withdrawn trams.

Will these be climbing the hill once again through the Norfolk Park estate ...

... like wot buses did when fbb was a lad and Norfolk Park still had tower blocks?

 Meanwhile, in Leeds ...

The company operates tendered services in Leeds and Doncaster, of which more anon.

====================

As well as seemingly to provoke antagonism, Jesus tells parables (ostensibly simple stories with a challenging message) that are "full of surprises" - and how!

The other five had not taken a refill of oil for their ...

LAMPS

... so when their evening accompiament duty serving the bridegroom, were required, they were not ready, could not join the procession and were shut out of the wedding feast.

History tells us that the authorities of the day were not ready for the Jesus message but the parable is a more far-reaching challenge.

Everyone who heard this story would know that it was about being ready, not for the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, but for the return of Jesus at the end of time.

But being ready for the ultimate is all part of what Easter is about.

Really!

One woman was keen to make sure Jesus was ready for his self-provoked death and burial!

Ready with what?

=====================

  Next tran replacement blog : Thurs 2nd Apr