Logology And Other Stuff (5)

Logology - a P.S.

fbb came across a pictures of two Sealink ships. The front vessel carries the "normal" British Rail "zot" whilst the biggie at the rear has the "right hand drive" version. Eventually the standard version became standard for vessels as well as the railway business.

Logology - Another 5

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Identify these logos/brands from transport operators. Answers tomorrow.

Chariots For Hire?

It's all a bit confusing. The trail begins in the January 2018 edition of buses. There is a picture of a Ford minibus cloaked, dismally, in contravision.

The headline is self-explanatory, but the Buses article goes on to say, "It operates in US cities including San Francisco, Austin and New York." Apparently Ford bought out the "start-up" company for $63 million for which they got nothing except an idea.

fbb has lots of ideas but sees little chance of selling them for 63p, let alone $63 million!!

This is what Chariot says of itself.

Building sustainable mass transit.

At Chariot, we're focused on creating the world's first self-sustainable mass-transit system that relieves congestion while offering a comfortable, personalised commuting experience.

The core of our mission is universal access to better transportation. We envision cities where every - commuter takes Chariot to work and home - regardless of income or location =which is why we prioritise affordability and flexibility as we expand. When the world runs on smarter routes, lower costs, and better ride experiences, we'll collectively take cars off the road and transform our twice-daily frustration into a part of your day you actually look forward to.

There is a picture on the Chariot Twit site showing people enjoying it!(?)

There is also a video of a line of Chariots, queueing ...

... and several stills of a whole fleet "at work" ...

... with fleet number 627 at the front. The London start-up picture above shows fleet number 594.

But finding details of what services operate is not so easy. There is a pictures (well posed) in New York ...

... and this was written back in Summer 2017.

Chariot plans to have 60 vehicles on the road by this fall in NYC, and it’s currently operating over 200 in SF, and around 50 in Austin. The company still employs less than 100 non-driver staff, which is impressive given the size of its operation, but expect that to shift up as its New York presence grows.

During an hour or so of diligent on-line searching, fbb kept being taken back to just one Chariot site, that for SF (San Francisco). Search for New York Chariot, for example and the SF pages are all that appear.

It implies that passenger "vote" for the routes they want to use ...

... and the company will then turn up and run a service.

Only one of the sample six routes on the SF web site had more than a handful of "supporters" ...

... although the map shows plenty of routes in operation.

Communication is by way, inevitably, of a Mobile Phone App.

fbb tried to download it, but it seemed to need an SF phone number so, no go.

Prices are quoted as below for multiple journey "passes" ...

... and monthly "seasons".

fbb has no idea how that compares with, say, Uber.

The main point of the Buses article, however, was to reveal that dynamic boss-man Ali Vahabzadeh ...

... has applied to start in London from 29th January 2018. His list of routes, all will entertaining names, is here below.

There is, currently, no other information available.

If any blog readers have pictures of operation in US cities, fbb would love to publish them.

Logology - Yesterday's Answers

1. Germany Post Bus/Post Office

2. Basel City Transport (tram)

3. Calmac Ferries (Caledonian Macbrayne)

4. Eastern National bus (pre Badgerline?)

5. Brand for services in Bedford operated by ex-London Routemasters

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    Post-Advent CALENDAR - 29     

It is Matthew's Gospel that records the arrival of the Magi; from which we learn that they came some time after the Nativity ...

When Herod realised that the visitors from the East had tricked him, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood who were two years old and younger - this was done in accordance with what he had learned from the visitors about the time when the star had appeared.

... up to two years later. By which time Joe, Mary and Jesus were living in a rented house.

They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him.

Not only that, but there is no mention of the numbers three.

Soon afterwards, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem.

You must assume that the three gifts might make the ancient story-enhancers plump for three.

Poet T S Eliot assumes camels and winter (both wrong) but his description of the Magis' journey seems to ring true.

A cold coming we had of it,

Just the worst time of the year

For a journey, and such a long journey:

The ways deep and the weather sharp,

The very dead of winter.

And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,

Lying down in the melting snow.

There were times we regretted

The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,

And the silken girls bringing sherbet.

Then the camel men cursing and grumbling

And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,

And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,

And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly

And the villages dirty and charging high prices:

A hard time we had of it.

At the end we preferred to travel all night,

Sleeping in snatches,

With the voices singing in our ears, saying

That this was all folly.

But it wasn't folly and they were able deliver their gifts.

... and wear their silly hats - NOT!!

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 Next models and real blog : Saturday 30th December