A Tram Mystery (1)

 Trams In Preston

Like many towns, Preston began with horse trams and moved on to the new-fangled but very popular electricity.

But the internet provides some tantalising pictures of more modern trams in Preston ...

... including a depot shot.

There is even a picture of a very unfamiliar vehicle indeed, complete with appendages!

Even fbb's decaying brain registered that these three might not be the Preston we know and love in Lancs, thanks internet. 

This other Preston is in Melbourne Australia! Today's route is line 11 to West Preston.

For the geographically confused (which includes fbb!) the blue blobs are railway stations "a short walk to a tram stop" according to the code on the tram map.  But, oddly, tram stops are not labelled, that privilege being reserved for interchanges only.

Here is a tram at the West Preston terminus.

It looks like the "good old days" of trams, but with updated vehicles. Readers may be a little uneasy with a recent Melbourne "Art Tram"!

Several boos for Contravision!

Wikipedia offers us a map of trams in Preston Lancs (that's back in the UK!), clearly a small network which closed in December 1935!

But the above map presents fbb with some confusion. None of the tram routes crosses the River Ribble which arcs spectacularly round the southern edge of the "traditional" city.

This blog was inspired by a news item showing designs fior a new "Old Tram Bridge" across the Ribble in Preston Lancs.

"How can this be", thought your befuddled bulky blogger, "if no trams ever crossed the silky silver waters of that great river?

Trains cross the river ...

... and roads cross the river!

But trams never did - honest.

Clearly, as Sherlock Holmes might say, this is a three pipe problem; which fbb will begin to unravel in tomorrow's blog.

Meanwhile Some Snippets

Ryde Esplanade Progress

A couple of snaps from Isle of Wight Alan; of the new caff ...

... and the new entrance portico ...

... both nearly finished.

This is what it looked lke before the changes to bus station, pier approach road and the station buildings.

Too Much Trumpet Music

In case you thought it was a joke, here is a bit about Operation Bumblebee!

A Real Bargain

This is what happens when you buy in too many goods that people don't want to buy.

10800 was one of a clutch of experimental one-off British Railways diesels which never made it past the prototype.

The full sized version was nicknamed "The Wonder Engine" because, each morning, the depot manager would wonder if it would start.

It often didn't.

£105 off is some discount. If only fbb had a bigger layout!

And more spending money!

 Next Tram Mystery blog : Thurs 23rd March 

Weekend Variety Running Late (2)

Not Yet A Book Review

A recent ploppage through the letter box at fbb mansions is the latest from the prolific pen of Keith Shayshutt. Roger French beat fbb in the review race by publishing his as a "bonus" blog on Sunday last, 19th May.

Reading books is now more of a challenge for the old bloke due to his ARMD (simply referred to as "The Macular"!). Your aged blogger's vision has stabilised; but he does need a magnifier for reading small print and, in consequence, the process is much slower. You simply don't have enough hands!

So initially, fbb  took a quick butchers at bits that he could understand easily.

The cover features a 218 to Taunton trundling along Harbour Road Seaton, soon to pass the aforementioned fbb mansions before continuing to Axmouth and on to Taunton.

Using Streetview, fbb has recreated the location today.

The block of flats remains the same although currently it is being dramatically rebuilt and joined to mits neighbour. Trevett's garage (just visible behind the bus) has long since been a shop! although the original forecourt is incorporated into the present premises.

Of notable interest is Seaton depot ...

... recognisable today in the hands of local operator Axe Valley.

The whitewashed edifice on the right was the depot's admin building ...

... which included a small enquiry office. This building did not form part of Axe Valley's depot and was extended over the area where cars were parked (above) and became a retail unit.

It is now a hub for white-van-man deliveries of sime sort.

Seaton depot was closed by Western National under the MAP scheme which led to massive reorganisation and cutbacks of National Bus Company services and is the subject of Keith's book.

Interestingly almost everything on the pre-MAP map that Keith provides for fbb's territory is still served in 2024. The relatively minor exception is that no buses now run to Combpyne (west of Lyme Regis). This was the only station on the former branch line fom Axminster to Lyme and the bus, you would guess, was a rail replacement service which hung on until MAP!

Other pictures show little geographical change. Running eastbound we have Bridport ...

... and Dorchester which both look much the same but, obviously, with First Bus hanging on instead of Western National.

South of Bridport there is no longer any bus to Eype ...

Even in the years covered by Keith, a Saturday bus was all that was offered.

Of course, the main thrust of the book is the MAP (Market Analysis Project) and its consequences. fbb hopes to look more closely at this more detailed content in due course.

Meanwhile, here is Western National at Branscombe ...

... a route served unchanged by Axe Valley today.

In the absence of a full review, fbb needs to emphasise that this book is so so much better than the recent South Yorkshire picture book.

Keith's book is about the bus services and their economics where the nostalgic photographs support the text but do not dominate it. It is a book for any serious student of the bus business of the past and any serious bus enthusiast of the present.

As Roger French said in conclusion - BUY IT!

Slow, Slow, Not Quick, Slow!

Progress on the model rilway has been pathetic these last few months. There are several reasons for this both personal and technical but the wiring for the control panel is now complete and all is working ready for re-assenbly of the scenery. It has been a bit of a slog!

Because the control panel sits ON the layout baseboard rather than beside or below, fbb was minded to disguise it a bit. So he is working on an industrial warehouse converted into a retail business - provisionally named "Trendy Wendy's Bargain Emporium".

So what exactly is going in here?

To answer that question we need to go back about 65 years. When fbb was developing his model railway back at home you could buy cardboard model kits. Bilteeze's were very "flat"...

...with no raised detail. They still are! Superquick came along with more shape but still with no see-thru glazing.

The youthful fbb built the Cinema etc low relief set - a model which is still available today.

Then along came Airfix plastickits and card was abandoned!

When fbb's present layout was outside, plastic was the only suitable weatherproof material. But fbb has been considering experimenting with card. The obvious contender is Metcalfe Models, today's market leader.

A free kit distributed with Railway Modeller seemed worth a try.

Metcalfe kits consist of a thick card supporting structure onto which are glued printed and detailed sides.

Window glazing is supplied.

So fbb had a jackpot idea - always potentially dangerous! Could this kit be "bashed" to form a modern entrance and offices tor Wendy's emporium - a disguised control panel.

The walls have been raised slightly so the roof matches the top of the "warehouse" block. Yhe entry porch will fit nicely.

The joins will, hopefully be covered with the printed layers plus the assistance of a few rainwater downpipes!

The long side wall is next, then the roof. 

One side faces the rear wall of the railway room and is not viewable. The fourth wall is obscured by the Fat Controller standing at his panel chubbily controlling.

Given a bit more time and a bit more energy, progress will develop more quickly now the old man is fired up with enthusiasm for this project.

Better order some windows for side 2!

Puzzle Picture

Answer : Outside Stratford (London) station. Is it the only station where all FIVE groups of services converge? That needs some thought!

Next we have a problem with an unusually described bridge.

 Next tram blog : Wednesday 22nd May 

Weekend Variety Running Late (1)

Silliness Collection

Mrs fbb quite likes to watch a bit of tennis, especially of Andy is playing. She discovered she can watch the "Challies" on commentary-less TV as above. It is fair to say that Challenger TV falls just a tad short of the BBC's converge of Wimbledon, for example. Here is a screen shot from one match showing the scores for a doubles encounter. The scores were live ...

... but the pitch remained resolutely empty for the few minutes that the fbb's hoped to see some tennis! There was, however, the excitement of the man raking the brick dust!

Headline : Bristol Pub

It brands itself as a Micro Pub which looks about right.

But, sadly and according to the ever reliable internet, this hostelry ...

... does not sell larger. 

That would suit fbb as "a half" is about all he can manage without (a) needing tio run to the "facilities" and (b) falling asleep. fbb only drink smaller.

Incidentally, it wasn't;t anything as simple as a spealing mustook. The same comment appeared in the fuller text paragraph below.

Snippets

York, A P.S.

Remember the arches in the City Walls, blasted through to allow trains to get to the original terminus station and the reason for the Queen Street bridge. 

Now the bridge has gone, you can see the arch in all its vandalism-induced glory. Shouldn't it be filled in, restoring the wall to its impregnable purpose?

Oxygene Trains

SNCF has revealed pictures of its latest rolling stock. There are still some secondary intercity services operated by venerable Corail stock, now rather long in the couplings but oft refurbished.

The replacements are multiple unit trains that look "cool".

There is a video on-line of a train buzzing round the test track at Velim.

The test centre is a bit like a 12 inches to the foot model railway oval. Velim os not too far from Prague and it all used to be in Czechoslovakia when fbb was a lad and before they changed the name (TWICE!) just to confuse the old people.

But the trains do look good!

Can we have some between Axminster and Waterloo?

More Competition

With the railways still struggling to get back to pre covid numbers, it is interesting to see yet more contenders for "open access" services.

After proposing trains from Kings Criss to Sheffield, First Rail's Loony named Lumo is now looking at the West Coast main line ...

...where its new service will compete with Avanti, a First Rail company.

Yes, we have yet another example of the craziness of the remnants of the commercial railway. 

But there is worse to come.

Tricky Dickie is back!

Or might be back if he gets his licence.

New Trains Revealed

The  replacement stock for the Tyne and Wear Metro has been trundling around on test. Here is the old stuff ...

... and here is the whizzo new stock, underground ...

... in the open ...

... and confusing the passengers!

Topless in Stirling

The Bearded Bus Beautifier from the Bush strikes again.

But, there is a snag. On the side of the bus is a lovely picture of the statue commemorating the heroic leadership of Mel Gibson ...

... but the bus does not go to the Wallace statue..

Maybe Ray should have included the Wallace Monument, ...

... which is served, as part of his splendid artwork.

Whoops!

Here's the timetable.

It does run at a very un-memorable every 40 minutes.

Whoops again!

On the positive side, the tour has a route number. It is service 1314.

Somebody knows their history! fbb didn't.

1314 was the Battle of Bannockurn where the Scots WON!

Doctor Who Episode 3

Far less silly than the first two.

Because the doctor spends most of the episode standing one-legged on a futuristic computer controlled land mine, he has far less opportunity for silliness.

There was a bit of real drama if you could cope with futuristic ordained vicars fighting an electronic war with no enemy - as they do!

More Silliness

Dapol have just launched a new range of OO model railway wagons (covered vans to be precise) named after nostalgic no longer manufactured ice lolly products.

And it isn't even April 1st!

Here is the realistic basic van ...

... at (by todays ludicrous pricing standards) a really cheap £11. That is about one third of similar vans from other manufacturers. And here are the ice lolly liveried versions.

fbb thought it was called a "Zoom"!

More variety tomorrow.

Puzzle Picture

Where is this sign located?

 Next Variety blog : Tuesday 21st May