Sunday Variety

Abertawe Implies AI Actually Ignored

Most sensible bus people are still reeling from the Absolute Insanity of First Bus' Appalling Investment of £4 million on "Artificial Intelligence" software to manage their timetables. The results were, as can be seen above, Astoundingly Incompetent an delivered Amazingly Impossible timetables.

A recent glance at First Cymru in Swansea (Abertawe In Welsh) found services running at sensible fixed intervals, but shown on weird PDF timetable pages.

So when fbb read that times were a-changing in May "to improve reliability", his heart sank! This was First's Apparent Impetus for Approving Investment in this crackpot and Anti-passenger Implementation.

When fbb looked at the Appropriate Issue of current timetable details he found the presentation Actually Irritating ...

... but at least buses were running at Acceptable Intervals, in this case hourly at 35 minutes past for all daytime journeys Monday to Saturday,

What might First have done to these Admirably Implimented schedules.

Thankfully NOTHING!

There is no evidence of the expensive softwares's Adverse Interference in a sensible timetable.

And the presentation of May's revised times is Attractively Impressive.

Thankfully the staff of First Cymru have successfully repulsed the English tribes of First Bus and sent them and their new technology packing even before they could cross the River Severn, sorry, Afon Hafren.

Rejoicing in this defeat of Administrative Insanity, fbb will look more closely at First in Swansea in tomorrow's blog.

Narrow Gauge Novelty

Whilst traditional model railways seem to be in decline, companies are still surprising the markets with new products. Hornby's TT120 is expanding with an HST set and a very nice tank engine ...

... whilst news from Bachmann is somewhat more weird.

The company is introducing a range of narrow gauge models but to 7mm scale, not the 4mm size of most narrow gauge models currently available. Bachmann are calling it N7. Some commentators have jumped to the conclusion that it is a "new scale"

It isn't.

But it is the first time that ready-to-run models have been available in this scale and gauge combination.

It used to be called On16.5 which admittedly is a bit of a mouthful. You can translate the jargon. What it actually means is that the trains, wagons and scenery are to O scale (7mm to the foot) but it runs on 16.5mm track which is the same as OO or HO.

Here is a montage with early 3D printed versions.

There are various varieties of a "Quarry Hunslet" loco and a small selection of wagons.

Here is a close-up of two of the loco versions ...

... an a real one for comparison.

There are to be appropriate building models as well.

Bachmann has said nothing about price and colours as yet but they will be expensive.

An interesting development.

There Was A Tavern In The Town

When fbb was "nobbut a lad" he remembers reading about an exciting development on the southern region of BR. 

Mr Oliver Bulleid (Chief Engineer of the Southern Railway) came up with an idea to boost sales on the company's refreshment cars. The result was controversial but intriguing. 

There appears to be no pictures in colour, so a model will have to suffice to bring joy, delight, horror or revulsion to those  who loved the SR (both uses if the letters).

Where would normally be a buffet/restaurant was decked externally in red brick and half timbering complete with a pub sign.

Inside the low roof beams and timber bar completed the illusion.

It sold draught beer!

Although the operator claimed great success and increased sales, this enthusiasm was short lived and the coaches soon reverted to normality.

Shame, it could set a trend. How about a KFC or Maccy D instead of a boring old buffet counter? Or a good old British chippy?

A popular song from the olden days seems appropriate.

All together now ...

There is a tavern in the train, on the train

And there beams can cause you pain, cause you pain

And drinks will make you merry as can be,

And you never, never think of me.

Fare thee well, for I must leave thee,

Do not let this parting grieve thee,

And remember that the best of friends

Must part, must part.

Adieu, adieu kind friend, yes, adieu

The Tavern Car just leaves me feeling blue,

You come back home on the five fifty three,

So sloshed that you won't eat your tea.

Fare thee well, for I must leave thee,

Do not let this parting grieve thee,

And remember that the best of friends

Must part, must part.

... maybe they were TOO successful.

Puzzle Picture

It is part of an ongoing model railway project - but what? Answer later if it works out. If it is a disaster fbb will probably keep very quiet!

 Next Sensible Swansea blog : Monday 22nd April