Sunday Variety

CHRIST-mas Gift Ideas

fbb's  latest tank wagon is from Slovenia or maybe Yugoslavia. The uncertainty is tied up, not with geographical incompetence but with the complex politics created by the decline of communist rule in Eastern Europe. The story of the above model warrants a little more than a passing mention. So the excitement is postponed until tomorrow. 

But fbb did start wondering what might be an enjoyable surprise prezzy from a doting relative - should any choose to dote! It is unlikely that any decision would be prompted by enough dotage to provoke this ...

... at a modest £399. The advert comes with a list of features, too vast to replicate here; plus a list of variations between models of different prototypes.

Well, obviously, you wouldn't want a model with the wrong top casing valve hatches, would you? That is assuming you had the faintest clue as to what they were! fbb is, as in many such matters, clueless!

A more likely gift might be this:-

Clothing sizes are always somewhat variable but the largest is XXL and fbb sometimes needs an XXXL to avoid an embarrassing skin tight look. Pity, though, it would cut a dash at church on Christmas morning, when seasonal jumpers are encouraged.

There must be a Biblical parable to be drawn from a dalek or a cyberman.

The Tardis, like God, is bigger, more comforting and more powerful on the inside than in the crude and inaccurate outside perception of the doubters.

But maybe something as a tasteful moquette repro ...

... from the London Transport Museum Shop.

It will probably be chocolate Brazils ...

... dark chocolate preferred by fbb but milk is always acceptable.

Hint, hint!

Squashed South Wales Buses

In preparing a recent blog about the new South Wales Transport and its takeover by Tower Transit, fbb was reminded of the above "squashed" AEC front entrance single deckers.

The problem was a servicess L7 and L8 in Llanelli and their route via New Docks area. There was a railway bridge with a height restriction of 9 feet in the old money.

Getting  bus, camel like , through the eye of a needle was a huge challenge. British Railways were unlikely to change the bridge, so AEC Regals were city down in the 1950s to squeeze through.

These were replaced by a fleet of seven Regents ...

At least one is preserved and it is this vehicle which is pictured ...

... doing its squeeze!

With improvements in the road network plus route alterations ...

... the low bridge is no longer on a bus route. fbb thinks that the low bridge is no longer! He has guessed at the bridge's former location but is currently seeking corroboration. Expect a P.S. soon!

Rachel Reeves' Riches Revealed?

Whilst our current Chancellor is busy managing aspirations with hints of income tax rises and then no income tax rate rises (you increase the tax take by lowering the thresholds), the budget watchers seem to think she is going to spend some money.

Thanks Rache. But fbb thinks that it is the project that is approved and not the funding package; Mr Khan will still have to find a cunning and innovative way to pay for it.

We await financial details with interest but there will possibly be a Government loan, paid for by more fares increases.

For A Change - A Good Looking Bus ...

... but not this one. The above body style is, of course, by Wright Bros and would be called "distinctive". fbb would prefer "ugly".

Whatever happened to good design where the constituent parts created a unified whole, as in the standard Bristol VR.

The Sheffield Transport Park Royal bodied Atlanteans had a homogeneous appearance.

But Yippee for Yutong!

Maybe a deeper lower deck front windscreen? And, offside ...

... ditch the glazing on the stairs, perhaps. But overall it looks good not lumpy.

The Yuting bus is electruc and is being toited as an ideal bus for London. It will, therefore, need a centre exit doorway.

Back to Gift Ideas

Currently the company occupies a former terrace of shop fronts at Heeley; but, round the back, new construction has been added.

On Saturday 29th inst ...

... Rails opens its new shop in Sheffield railway station. Pete Waterman will be cutting the ribbon.

There will be a special bus from Heeley ...

This represents a major development for the company.

Let's  hope it is not a shop too far! 

Hattons of Liverpool opened in a brand new building in Widnes ...

... then, after a few short years in a brand new site, closed down completely.

Let's hope Rails hasn't  gone too big too quickly.

  Next Yugoslavia Tank blog : Mon 24 Nov