Seaton's Surprising Sabbath Service

379 Full Round Trip (mini blog)

Axe Valley Mini Travel has run route 885 for many a long year. Its latest manifestation connects Beer and Seaton seaside communities with Colyford, Colyton, Whitford ...

... Musbury and Axminster. As far as fbb knows there has never been a Sunday service since AVT's predecessors Western National was the provider. Since April, and thanks to support from a rail campaign group, Stagecoach have held the contract for the new Sunday service 379.

Yes it is daft to have a separate number from the Monday to Saturday route, but at least Devon Bus' roadside publicity merges the two timetables.

On Sunday last, fbb presented himself at Seaton sea front to join the short working to Beer.

There were FOUR passengers, one of whom paid actual money - well not proper specie but a bleep on a mobile phone!

This was the end of lunch break for our affable driver.

The 1510 departure from Beer was, for the 379, quite busy ...

... with six passengers and a dog! The dog, fbb noted, enjoyed his ride. None was travelling any further than Seaton and, yet again, one paid an electronic fare.

A couple of boarders had availed themselves of an ice cream from the adjacent village shop. 

And so back to Seaton

Five boarded at the sea front stand, of whom three alighted in the suburbs (one was waiting fot a 9A and had no idea what a 379 was) ...

... whilst one paid a fare to Colyton. One remained as far as Axminster. There were no passengers for Colyford, Whitford or Musbury and none joined at Axminster station.

The one long distance passenger alighted before the bus delved into the Millwey Estate.

There were no takers for the return from Millwey ...

... but our driver, affable still, alighted for a "vape", the slightly dodgy alternative to an even more dodgy fag or ciggy!

He carried a rather swish camera and, in discussion with fbb, revealed that he shared your blogging ancient's frustration about the total lack of promotional publicity for this new service. The driver was hoping his pictures might be used by Stagecoach to get a PR lift for the service.

Apparently a bus passenger who lives on the Millwey estate has been plastering the 379 on "social media", so, tech savvy Axminster folk may well know about it. But, sadly, Seaton, Beer and the intervening villages live in a sea of omniboligical ignorance.

But., back at Axminster Station ...

... fbb was in for a surprise.

Three boarded having alighted from a train! They all travelled to Seaton.

fbb has noted previously the new display screens at Axminster with relatively illegible scrolling text. 

Why "Beer Cross" but just "Weymouth"? 

More significantly the departure time was shown as 1608 when the actual set-off time is 1615!

The return journey to Seaton was uneventful and lacking any extra passengers except one local (who paid CASH - shock horror) from Colyton and, like fbb alighted at The Underfleet in Seaton.

Both fbb and the driver (more aff!) expressed the view that passenger numbers were small, but remarkable as there had been no advance or printed publicity. How much more the service could have been used if either Stagecoach or Devon Bus had distributed a leaflet.

But that would be too much trouble.

Readers may wonder why Axe Valley is not running  the Sunday service on their route. Apparently, Auntie Frances (AVT proprietrix) was offered the job (on a de minimis deal) but turned it down as "we do not run buses on Sunday."

Pity!

Worryingly AVT did not run the bus to Sidmouth on Saturday 7th.

Unusual, as AVT is renowned for its reliability!

And another black mark for Devon Bus.

Nowhere is there any mention of the 379 on the County's bus stop flags. Back in the day, you could simply bolt on the Devon equivalent of a London Transport "C" plate ...

... but now ...

A contractor will have to tender, the Council will have to review the tenders and the work will have to be scheduled. New route numbers will mean that the stop flags will need a compete rebuild, so the correct routes will probably appear in the week before the service ceases for the winter.

Good, innit!

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It Used To Be Called Whitsun

fbb usually marks the big Christian festivals with a "thought for the day" and, horrors of horrors. he forgot about Pentecost Sunday on 8th June. Were he of the Roman Catholic persuasion, he might have been spending all night in the confessional box.

Whilst some illustrations of this powerfull event are difficult to interpret; the Bible says that "what looked like" tongues of flame appeared above the disciples ...

... as the Holy Spirit "descended".

What is absolutely and historically certain is that a group of frightened men, hiding indoors for fear of arrest and execution like their Master, became powerful preachers and teachers of the Christian faith, facing, in come cases, horrific persecution, even death.

The video makes a very good attempt to communicate what reallyhappened and how.

Yes it is "supernatural" - but so is God, so what would you expect?

Millions of people, your author included, will attest to the Power of God's given Spirit as a boost to call upon in serving Him.

It's about Making A Difference.

============================

 Next Mainz tram blog : Weds 11 June 

More Than Pints - A Look At Mainz

It's Complicated!

Modern Hesse corresponds loosely to the medieval Landgraviate of Hesse. In the 19th century, prior to the unification of Germany, the territory of what is now Hesse comprised the territories of Grand Duchy of Hesse (also known as Hesse-Darmstadt), the Duchy of Nassau, the free city of Frankfurt, the Electorate of Hesse (also known as Hesse-Kassel), the Principality of Waldeck and the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg.

So Mainz is in Hesse which was an independent "Grand Duchy" before Germany was Germany.

Administratively Mainz is now capital of The State of Rheinland Palatinate with a population of around 220,000. It is broadly similar in size to Northampton, the town of fbb's birth, childhood and youth. Unlike Northampton, Mainz has trams and a cathedral!

The transport operator (that's complicated as well!) has just ordered 22 shiny new trams which is what prompted fbb to wonder where Mainz was. 

Hmmm...

... that's Hesse and not much help. 

Mainz sits on the River Rhine near its confluence with the River Main (pronounced "mine").

"Greater" Mainz spreads across the river ...

... where, as well as Hochheim am Main (above map, centre right) there are many "am main" towns nearby.

The biggest is Frankfurt am Main, one of the two Frankfurts in Germany. The other is Frankfurt an der Oder.

But, the sainted Wikipedia tells us - so it must be right - that Mainz has nothing whatsoever to do with the River Main. Its Etymology has taken a very different route from the Latin.

It's complicated?

The challenge is, simply, where to start with the town's public transport.

It's complicated!8

Various route maps and diagrams are available a-plenty on the dreaded interwebnet; and below is an extract from one of the best.

It is geographical (so not bafflingly diagrammatic) but fbb has yet to work out how to download it. The above extract, however shows the area round the Hauptbahnhof - the main railway station.

So off went a brave fbb to Google maps aiming to travel from bottom left to said main station.

There he met a bendy bus running along a piece of reserved track passing under a viaduct. Just past the viaduct he met a tram!

And just past the tram was a view across the tracks to the station.

The viaduct carries a road which passes east of the platforms ...

... but access is there none.

The obvious way would be to follow that multicoloured skein of bus routes as it veers left to get tto the main station forecourt; so follow the tram tracks!

Only you can't. Google's Nickendes Auto has not been allowed anywhere near the forecourt!

So we have to piece things together from old pictures, common sense and, doubtless, a little guess work!

The first principal station was, as it turned out ...

... in the wrong place.

So a new set-up was created to the west of the city centre. 

It's complicated!

The work lasted two years from 1884 to 1884, but a grand main building emerged as appropriate for the former Grand Duchy of Hesse. It stood in an extensive station square as seen below.

Horse buses ...

... and horse-drawn trams ...

... gave way to electric trams from 1904.  

The building lost some of its roof architecture but remains recogniseably the same today.

Buses were quite a late arrival but not as late as the 1967 motor below!

The city also tried steam trams, but fbb could find no pictures of such a beast. The example below is from Bern (Switzerland).

But it is to the tram network that fbb will turn for  Wednesday's  blog.

For tomorrow, a bus ride investigation is completed!

 Next 379 blog : Tuesday 10th June 

Sunday Variety

Red Funnel Losing Saving Money

There has been quite a bit on-line recently about Red Funnel and a new all-electric passenger ferry. The vessel looks very small, money-saving small in fact ...

... possibly carrying about a dozen passengers.

?????

But it does have "revolutionary technology" as indicated by the picture below.

????

Secret weapon?

The very first fast boat from Southampton to Cowes was called Shearwater ...

... and just like the "new revolutionary" vessel, it rode on "wings" (foils) which "flew" through the water.

Shearwater vessels began service in 1969.

What the current crop of articles do not make clear is that the small white boat is a "proof of concept" vessel.

But in terms of maritime architecture, it is not a new concept.

Electrical power is "revolutionary" if there is enough electric to "fill up"; currently doubtful.

This is what Red Funnel have ordered (intend to order?) for approx £12 million!

Yikes.

P.S. Red Funnel is in "Schtum" financially, and is seeking "new investors" to pay for it!

fbb does not have a spare £12 million in his bank account as he chose not to monetise his blog! Any one fancy making a donation?

Bright Bus Fades?

First Bus started Bright Bus as a poke in the eye for Lothian Transport (Edinburgh Corporation Transport but at arms length) which has held the monopoly of Edinburgh city tours for an absolute age. The company has maintained its domination by simply buying out any operator that tried to pinch a chunk of its very lucrative business.

First's offering was distinctive, cheaper and orange!

Recently a competing express service from city to airport has been added, also cheaper, also orange.

How successful this Bright operation might be can be gleaned from the next fact.

When First sold its Stirling-based network to McGills, it also disposed of Bright Bus to the same! Bus watchers may have thought that, if Bright was doing right with good profits in sight, First might have held on to its money spinner very tight!

But Bright Bus went to McGills.

Now comes news of a fade-out for the brightness of orange.

We know "Big Bus" from the London open topper competitive scene ...

... so it looks as if the more muted maroon will soon grace the streets of Auld Reekie.

Pity. The Bright Orange had potential, thinks fbb, for going national.

A Matter Of Opinion

A trial of the VLR (Very Light Rail) tram in Coventry has been under way with a short stretch on very reserved track going from nowhere to nowhere. The VLR enthusiasts are being enthusiastic about the future.

The too small, too slow trams will, as the council and the manufacturers say, soon be successfully plying the streets of Coventry.

But what of Public Opinion?

The press (that's the internet press of Coventry Live) seems unimpressed.

Remember; you are going to need not just VLR but VHF (Very High Frequency!)) to replace a normal bus route.

Very doubtful!

Not Much Sea But Plenty Of Breeze

When fbb reviewed Southern Vectis' latest open top route to his former habitat of Seaview, he expressed concern on two fronts.

Firstly, the amount of sea views was quite limited with a chunk on Ryde Esplanade and a shortish section along the coast on the approaches to Seaview village itself.

But you pays your money and makes your choice.

fbb's other concern was that the advance publicity and the various timetable books only offered an Island wide day rover as the means of payment. It is not a bus service, so OAP passes amd normal fares are not valid.

Our ever observant Island correspondent spotted this poster at a bus stop on the Seaview housing estate. (nice sea views - NOT).

It shows that a local tour fare on the Sea Breezer is available - although, apparently only publicised at bus stops.

For some mysterious reason, there is no "group" fare unless you want to enjoy the sea views for two whole days.

Might £20 for the "group" (of five of any age!) be cheaper than two days' bus fares on the "normal" route 8? Clearly that cheapo option is why the day ticket is not available for a group!

Meanie!

Truth Or Consequences?
The Woolwich Ferry from Woolwich to North Woolwich ...

... is FREE for both foot passengers and vehicles. Not surprisingly it is popular with lorry drivers and car owners. It always has been.

An alternative was the Blackwall Tunnel, also free and also popular! 

But free no more. Since the new Silvertown Tunnel opened next door both have been tolled as Mr Khan told is all in advance.

Under the law od unforeseen consequences we now read this:

What a surprise.

It Is All (Un)Reliably On Line
There are web sites which purport to show film of near misses and embarrassing crunches on the world's public transport. They specialise in having horrific pictures on their title page which never seem to get a mention later on. Remember the left-to-right reverse train crash fixture a few blogs ago?

So how about this?

The derailment looks real enough, possibly with an airbrushed cloud of smoke to imply immediacy; but ....

What is the scantily clad woman doing, about to fall over? Why is she and she only fleeing from the crunch? And why is the hi-viz-vest man standing and looking on?

Surely it cannot be a false picture? Well, even it is was right (it isn't). look at this more ludicrous offering.

There, again, is a scantily clad woman fleeing from the disaster so fast her feet do not touch the ground. 

Is there some "extreme sport" that fbb has never heard of whereby scantily clad women play chicken at railway accidents. If so, how do they know the mishap is about to mis happen?

And is the man in black in the process of delivering parcels for Amazon?

We should be told!

Correcting A Bodge ...

... with More Bodges!

You have to be impressed with the masons who worked on the tower of The Temple Church Redcliffe Bristol. When it started sinking, they simply adjusted their building and straightened the tower back to near vertical.

And thus it stayed.

fbb has already written about his bodge for the entrance of the Peterville carriage shed; but reported that it needed more work. 

That work is progressing.

In passing, note the bodge at the right hand roof corner improved in the "progressing" picture.

But the rear of the building was a disaster darling! In its outside location the disaster was mitigated by a low relief workshop section plonked at the back.

But the indoor carriage shed was not against a wall, so the low relief lump had to go. It was a bodge anyway. But its removal reveal how bad a bodge it was!

One wall of the building was shorter than the other, a challenge for the masons of Peterville. A new bodge was needed. So build an extra wedge of roof ...

... and glue it to the old end.

Add some texture to the gable?

Who needs to measure accurately when you can trim to shape on site! Bodge and Fudge come to the fore yet again.

Now add some thin plastic sheet to hide the mess that is the roof end and cover the bodged join ...

Painting is to follow!

Happy Childhood Memories?

Soon To Evaporate!

fbb was convulsed with excitement when he opened a Christmas gift from an aunt about 74 years ago! It was one of these.

fbb was initially thrilled, but his joy began to evaporate when he reaised that a real car carrier could not carry a large tinplate ramp around. His disappointment advanced when he noted the Corgi car carrier.

Corgi had proper loading ramps with repro versions of the hydraulics.

Then, to add insult to injury, Dinky brought our a better model in 1968. 

Lorry with trailer cost one pound eighteen shillings and sixpence!

By this time fbb was into his model railway and the car carrier was to the wrong scale, O gauge ratpherbthan OO.

But today he could buy a car carrier at the right scale for Peterville Quarry Railway. It is one of these.

Here is the model from Oxford Diecast.

All the gubbins can be posed authentically.

And it comes with 12 model cars ...

... and guidance as to how to ackle the platforms.

For the record, the Dinky red set of lorry and trailer inflates to about £40.

The Oxford Diecast (to a smaller OO scale but plus cars) will cost £100.

Good value?

Talking of Diecast ...

... A Puzzle Picture

Who drove this?

It has two fold-out stubby "wings" ...

... and the engine exhaust whirls and flashes ...

... but not quite like that!

Answer later.

Hopefully we go to Germany tomorrow!

 Next Pints In Mainz blog : Mon 9 June