Sunday Variety : Banl Holiday Quiz

Bemused At Brixton

fbb copied his maps of he P5 (Elephant and Castle to Patmore Estate via Brixton) from TfL computer generated efforts on their web site. TfL produces no geographical or network maps other than these which can be far from satisfactory.

So what was that little triangle of roads at Brixton?

Here is a slightly better close-up of the area.

Travelling east through the town there is a stop before the junction ...

... whence P5 buses run straight across. Travelling westbound things are somewhat different. Here is the stop ...

... but at the junction, dominated by Brixton Town Hall, no vehicles can go straight across.

So the P5 has to turn left, The road management scheme takes all traffic past the Church ...

... then right round the back thereof, then right again ...

... to the town hall; and then left into Acre Lane to continue towards Clapham North.

In fact, there was no need to include this wiggle on the map as it did not serve any stops. But that's computer generated cartography for you! How about using a human being who knows where the buses actually go - and why?

Humble Sub!

Some time ago, fbb was given a couple of very ancient Hornby O gauge bogie coaches. He is not sure of the date but probably pre-WW2. One coach was, sadly, bashed during a move from Sheffield to the Isle of Wight but the unbent one looks like this.

On the other hand, the boy's first train set was also Hornby O gauge, by which time coaches looked like this.

But, in the 21st century, ready to run O gauge stuff is being produced in profusion. Size for size it is not horrendously expensive. O gauge is nearly four time the size by volume compared with OO gauge. But prices are not four times as much.

A quality OO coach will set you back well over £60. The models as described below models cost approx £170 each

The series of suburban coaches, manufactured by Darstead and marketed by Ellis Clark Trains, look magnificent. Below are coaches (with lavatory) in four different liveries.

In order of painting ...

Crimson unlined

Maroon unlined

Maroon lined

Blue unlined

They have metal bodies and full interiors plus cast metal bogies.

Thay are expensive but you do get a whole lotta coach.

Enquiries are expertly deal with by Ellis (left) ...

... and his assistant Albert (right).

In case you wondered; Great Western and Southern suburban coaches tended to be a few feet longer so the above models would not be accurate in green or chocolate and cream. Pedantic, eh?

Bank Holiday Quiz

There will be TEN questions each day for THREE days. All today's pictures have appeared in fbb's blog since earlier in the year.

1. One of three bridges

But which two cities can be visited by direct regular trains from this station.

2. Two of three bridges 

But which West Midlands station is this? The answer is purely academic!

3. Three of three bridges

A commuter stop east of Leeds.

4. A demolished station in London

replaced by an alternative rail stop on a different site but using the same name.

5. Another demolished London terminus

associated with a group of Ulnus Procera.

6. Excellent publicity

at a railway station - but where?

7. Tramway extension

but where? It is not in the UK.

7. Clothes Peg Livery

But where on the UK's south coast?

8. Advertising versus Information

Which London terminus moved its easily seen departure boards to make way for a huge advertising screen?

8. Silly Named Rail Operator

But which two routes is the company planning to add to its "network" which currently isn't a net but a line?

9. New footbridge No 4

This bridge, seen above arriving by barge, will link old shipyard areas. But where?

10. Interchange Nostalgia

Which former municipal operator; now mainly replaced by Arriva, serves this historic interchange

Answers later in the week.

 Next Variety & Quiz blog : Monday 6th May