Finding The Links ...
fbb has been using Gavin Booth's book to open up links between 1970 buses and today's equivalent. Today, we return to Bristol with this picture.
It is at the Redcliffe "Meccano" flyover that featured in a recent blog. It shows route 11 to Rookery Farm Estate. At least that is how fbb reads it, despite his ARMD infirmity.
To which fbb ask s, "Where?".
So, historically, we have routes 11, 24, 82 and 73 serving a possible terminus at Rookery Farm, Hengrove and/or Whtchurch. There may be more.
... for just £50.
There is a "Rookery Farmhouse" south of the city with a Bath postcode, but lacking in an "estate" whereat a large double deck operated bus route might terminate. So fbb was puzzled.
Then he came across this ...
... so such a place did exist, once. It gets nary a mention on current Bristol bus maps OR Open Street Map OR Street Map OR Ordnance Survey.
But there is a Rookery Way.
And nearby is Belland Drive ... .jpg)
... with bus stops.
The bus stop, opposite a small shopping centre ...
... is served in one direction only - and is huge ...
... with lots of extra space marked "Bus Stand" which usually implies a terminus. But nothing terminates there; the 73 runs round the loop on journeys to its present teminus at Hengrove bus dept.
The stops are on what is now an odd one way loop in one direction ...
So fbb, working in guessamatic mode, opines that Belland Drive was Rookery Farm; has changed its identity and is now Whitchurch and was once the the terminus of the 73 ...
... which now runs to Hengrove. The Metrobus M1 also runs nearby, a route upon which fbb has ridden to and from its Hengrove Park terminus.
You maybe confused, so here is a chunk of First's Bristol network map..jpg)
Good, innit?
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It's even better to the north of the city where the 73 has terminated at Bristol Parkway station ...
... at Cribbs Causeway shopping horror ...
... and atva couple of versions of Bradley Stoke. Here is version 1 ...
... and version 2.
But it doesn't go to any of these any more. Now it runs to the University of the West of England at Frenchay.
And looking back into ancient blogs he finds bus 92 which also once ran to Rookery Farm ... 
... and on to Hengrove ...
... calling at Hengrove Belland Drive.
So, historically, we have routes 11, 24, 82 and 73 serving a possible terminus at Rookery Farm, Hengrove and/or Whtchurch. There may be more.
Pass the tranquilisers, please. 
And what is it that bus passengers crave, year by year?
Consistency, consistency and consistency.
Maybe A Touch Of Sanity?
Trams in Mainz (Germany)
There were old trams ...
... and very old trams.
But today, most trams look like this.
There is a good geographical network map on-line ...
... and, also on the interwebnet, an easier-to-follow diagram.
But fbb has been interested by news items about a recent order for brand new trams. A couple of versions of the story have appeared. This one looks OK ...
... but this one, erm ...
Whilst the building in the background may be Mainz's splendid cathedral ...
... the tram doesn't fit the platform and the unit itself looks strangely "stretched"; because it is strangely stretched.
Trams in Mainz (Germany)
... doesn't.
Apoplectic Infuriation seems the only response!
Did fbb say "A Touch Of Sanity"? For the weird illustration Actual Insanity Applies Instantly.
fbb plans to look more closely at Mainz next week.
Cheap Toy Train
fbb plans to look more closely at Mainz next week.
Cheap Toy Train
Some time ago Hornby announced that the company was bringing to an end their series of "Playtrains", very simple battery powered toys for the very young.
fbb bought a Playtrains signal box and turned it into a more realistic model for Peterville - a model yet to be installed.
But Hornby is now advertising a new Playtrains "set" ...
How does that compare with this advert from the 1960s?
Price then, with standard power unit, £3.
Guess what? £3 in 1965 would equate to £51 today - so today's toy is a few pennies cheaper.
Next Variety blog : Sunday 1stJune
Hmm ... the Playtrains system isn't, I think, in any way compatible with the "proper" Hornby range; the Beatties one clearly was.
ReplyDeleteWhen the 24 went to Rookery Farm, the 25 also did. That was before the southern end of the 24/25 swapped with the southern end of the 20/21/22, so they have also been there. The 20/21/22 then morphed into the 50/51, then the 91/92 (as there was already a local 90). First then gave up on the area and Wessex ran a 51 until they too gave up on the area, at which point First came back with a 2A, a variation on the 2 with changes at the southern end (not to be confused with the current 2A which is a variation on the 2 with changes at the northern end).
ReplyDeleteSo 2A, 20/21/22, 24/25, 51, 73, 92...