Saturday Variety

 Wonderful Pictures

Kings Cross station - superb! and below is the HST disguised as the Midland Pullman.

It is the reflection that gives a rather ordinary shot of the front of the train a character all of its own.

Remember Stagecoach Chesterfield's tourist bus route (with bike trailer) that runs from the Derwent Reservoir to Blue John Cavern in the hills above Castleton. fbb drooled over the magnificent Winnats Pass up and down which the H2 runs weekends and bank holidays only.

Here is a view looking down the pass.

In the distance is one of Derbyshire's most notable non-ancient monuments. This is the chimney for the Hope Valley Cement Works; a visual delight for all!

Wonderful Experience - NOT

Above is Rick Jackson, journo on the Portsmouth local rag, The News. (Good original title, eh?) He has occasionally written about his own "vintage" bus and the joy and delight it brings him, seen here providing entertainment for a 40th Birthday.

Here is the "Olly" (Leyland Olympian for the uninitiated) in service with Southern Vectis.

Just before Rick bought it, it was with Emsworth and District.

Indeed, owning a bus can be fun - but sometimes it can be just the opposite. In his latest article for the paper Rick asks one plaintive question.

He describes how, on a recent trip out, the bus ran slower and slower and would hardly go up a hill. (Sounds like you've lost a gearbox band, mate!). He just managed to get it back to its yard!

After telling the sad tale of the "wheezing" he concludes ...

But that's not the least of my worries. I now have to tell my wife what's happened and that the bill may mean no holidays for a while.

fbb knows the feeling well from when he ran open topped buses on the Isle of Wight. One reasonable season could become an unmitigated financial disaster when something big and expensive broke, fell off or blew up.

Wonderful Technology - Perhaps?

National Express West Midlands Travel West Midlands has been proudly parading its hydrogen powered bus.

Did they pinch the paint style from another local operator?

It is worth repeating that, currently, the only viable and cost-effective way of cooking up the hydrogen produces more emissions than a diesel!

Wonderful Models - Maybe?

fbb once made a little row of low relief thatched cottages for the layout being developed for a model railway club that he once attended - somewhat half heartedly, it must be said. He sandpapered the half timbering off two Airfix/Dapol kits and chopped them about a bit. The idea was that they were in the process of being re-thatched with work on-going on one of the single deck buildings.

He had glued them together in a not-quite-straight line, as can often be found in such accumulations of old buildings.

He returned to the club after a break, only to find that another member had repainted and re-arranged his models.

In particular, this person had repainted all the thatch to make it "more realistic". The row had also be straightened to "make it look neater".

Any comments?

What does thatch REALLY look like? Here is a painted but unmodified Airfix kit.

Most modellers will make the window frames look better by sticking them in backwards from behind the walls.

The same modeller also got sniffy with fbb on another observational "difference of opinion". The purchase was an old Triang diesel shunter, bought very cheaply.

fbb gently suggested that the model was very unrealistic and was promptly accused of "nit picking". 

Any comments?

Of course a modeller can do what he wantd - it is a hobby after all. Some modellers run completely fake models set in fake countries. Hornby are producing Steam Punk versions of some of their sets.

But, if it is on a layout being exhibited to the public as an example of modelling skills, some level of scenic accuracy may be expected ...

There have been plenty of oddities in reality!

Perhaps Hornby's steampunk or Triang's inaccurate Class 08 are not so weird after all?

It's All On Line - No 537

Hulleys X98 (Saturdays) and X99 (Sundays and Bank Holidays) as advertised on Hulleys web site,

Travel South Yorkshire

Above, updates list ... below, timetable search.

Traveline

Derbyshire

Guess which local authority enters data into Traveline for Hulley's services?

GoTimetable Sheffield

All together, now ...

IT'S ALL ON LINE

... but only if you are clever enough to know where to look.

And A Puzzle Picture

It pops up on Google Streetview; but where is it? All will be revealed in Monday's blog.

BUT, all together, now ...

IT'S ALL ON LINE

A Bargain? A Wonderful Model?

Pre-owned and a modest £150. Nah! Too risky. Best by the latest new narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway model from Heljan.

ONLY £203.96.

 Next Variety blopg : Sunday 8th August