Quite Interesting?
Escalators feature in the above, quite interesting, volume. The very first saddle-chain invention ...
... provoked the need for some tender loving care for its adventurous riders!
One of the early patents for an escalator (never built) was for this ...
... designed for the Otis company by pioneer Charles Seeburger. Somewhat later, London Underground built this ...
... and installed it in a typical vertical shaft. Clearly it was impractical, but a few bits remain in the London Transport Museum's shed at Acton (?).
Some eighty years after Seebureger's theoretical double helix, Mitsubishi (Japan) solved all the problems, and you can now have two separate single helix jobbies, if you have the cash.
The principle seems the same as a straight version but with more cleverer gears and step design. (enlarge the sketch below to see what happens.)
Of course, for many years, London's Underground escalators were all faced with wood ...
... and some modern installations have replicated this timber tradition. Wooden-tread escalators were progressively removed after the tragic Kings Cross fire, but, look on-line ...
... and you will be told that one such still remains
Its location, the note says, is at Greenford, where the Central line connects with the West Ealing to Greenford branch operated by First's Great Western Railway.
But that is old news. The remaining wooden-tread escalator has been removed and replaced by a "diagonal" lift.
The new equipment is installed on the foundations of the old escalator.
For the record, the GWR service is a 30 minute shuttle ...
... connecting with local trains from Paddington at West Ealing. As this shuttle is totally self-contained, running from its own bay at both terminals, train enthusiasts are mystified by the odd-minute variation in journey times.
Any explanation from ferroequinologists more knowledgeable than fbb?
Not Quite Interesting But Ferry Interesting?
The fbbs are on the Isle of Wight for a state visit; with neighbour and neighbour's dog plus the fbb's cat guarding their extensive property ...
... the cat alert as ever and ready to repel intruders!
This time the route chosen was Lymington to Yarmouth; the vessel Wight Sun. The ship provides a slightly disconcerting surprise for some of its car-driving users. You drive on unsuspectingly.
Then you find yourself in a cage which lifts you ...
... upwards and into a totally enclosed box.
It is called the "Garage Deck" and it hides you in the middle of the passenger lounge. Of course it has lights and four doors leading direct to the seating area BUT there is no daylight nor even windows through to the caff and lounge.
Not ideal for those of claustrophobic tendencies, but superb if you don't like steps, as you are already in place for coffee and snacks.
If you a trying to work it all out, the "Garage" is in the middle of the area behind the run of windows below the bridge and the open passenger deck.
Sadly you don't get a choice. Most cars, however, are conventionally stored on decks with delightful daylight!
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ADVENT CALENDAR 1
Even we Christians accept that CHRISTmas, for most of the population, had lost any meaningful link with the "Christ" whose "mas" (festival) is celebrated (or, more likely, is NOT celebrated) on 25th December.
There is even a trend, as illustrated by this on-line card from the TV show NCIS ...
... to avoid tainting the season with all that weird "religious" stuff by removing the title completely!
Mind you,"holidays" are, of course, "holy days", so the hint is still there. This year's "Advent calendar" will look at what is traditional as a reason for the season; and what might make a real and lasting difference to peoples' lives.
One thing is without debate. It is highly unlikely that Jeshua Ben Yusuf (Jesus the son of Joseph) was born on 25th December.
The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.
Why 25th December? It was chosen to match an existing midwinter knees-up centred on the winter solstice.
Which leads us to man with a long cloak and a beard.
Ho Ho Ho??
What God requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.
There is even a trend, as illustrated by this on-line card from the TV show NCIS ...
Mind you,"holidays" are, of course, "holy days", so the hint is still there. This year's "Advent calendar" will look at what is traditional as a reason for the season; and what might make a real and lasting difference to peoples' lives.
One thing is without debate. It is highly unlikely that Jeshua Ben Yusuf (Jesus the son of Joseph) was born on 25th December.
The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.
Why 25th December? It was chosen to match an existing midwinter knees-up centred on the winter solstice.
Which leads us to man with a long cloak and a beard.
What God requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.
The Old Testament prophet Micah suggested a better place to start than just "Happy Holidays".
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Next mixed bag blog : Sunday 2nd December
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