tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74323232649026171082024-03-19T09:15:38.285+00:00Public Transport ExperienceA collection of posts which expose <b>failings</b> (and, occasionally, <b>successes</b>!) in our public transport system; most of which could be easily solved or improved. There's plenty of nostalgia, too; and a bit of transport history from time to time.
<p>Daily blogging is "the norm" and will continue until fbb runs out of ideas!</p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger4853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-21709324476324015332024-03-19T02:00:00.270+00:002024-03-19T02:00:00.131+00:00A Gift From A Celeb (2)<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A P.S. From Yesterday</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7OBnl3pHE0o2JTugR8HS2NK1sFQha38UiMEvopVMZqgYygiJHnZPYrAA4fRBhLXDMK8CZYAWGsSDwZprv8czBlVPyDOmgU1zvwSJNkfv3mLTxkPzTlT1k4hwrKPDxSfXoU0RVx4i2RXIAqtI6GuHKUANOD_StsfoxUVcty_4cWRXMeIsPB8VbHKGtGGC/s1397/IMG_20240318_095637_152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1397" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7OBnl3pHE0o2JTugR8HS2NK1sFQha38UiMEvopVMZqgYygiJHnZPYrAA4fRBhLXDMK8CZYAWGsSDwZprv8czBlVPyDOmgU1zvwSJNkfv3mLTxkPzTlT1k4hwrKPDxSfXoU0RVx4i2RXIAqtI6GuHKUANOD_StsfoxUVcty_4cWRXMeIsPB8VbHKGtGGC/w400-h254/IMG_20240318_095637_152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb mentioned the "split step" as one of the SYPTE innovations. Brighton and Hove had similar on their back loaders yonks ago, but this aid to access was very new when it arrived in Sheffield. It is unfortunate that there was a lump of bus intruding into the bottom step to spoil the simplicity of the idea. Low floor buses rendered such a ruse unnecessary but they were a long time coming.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An </b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Introduction</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Peter Sephton, one of the many bosses in the PTE era was asked to write an intro to the Shades of Brown and Cream book. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHeH-GUvMW57Va7D6cgD8diroymsuJwU-tfZ2pisEpUcLhXOgGSK5Sod_MJ1ht9KEonFDESOVD7F_UloT3KMwjgTMhXJOB3ljs9fV-oZvL5E3gpx5pV35OXJnRQUHHoSECzbzSOvr8mrPiDb0kgtY4a5Ot-lJ1YRCDve0ybynBk8O14tVfUejrWmwS4_I/s887/IMG_20240317_141544_955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHeH-GUvMW57Va7D6cgD8diroymsuJwU-tfZ2pisEpUcLhXOgGSK5Sod_MJ1ht9KEonFDESOVD7F_UloT3KMwjgTMhXJOB3ljs9fV-oZvL5E3gpx5pV35OXJnRQUHHoSECzbzSOvr8mrPiDb0kgtY4a5Ot-lJ1YRCDve0ybynBk8O14tVfUejrWmwS4_I/w293-h400/IMG_20240317_141544_955.jpg" width="293" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His opening paragraph does give some flavour of the overall contents.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wD7jyL8O0dn6MejoWNHiNGGNzbTk7cfxKZN7xebs_l-bgHucw4aKip1JK1q7Gc0wy16rEfhKH279zJl2CQQfIXRT5Xzz5BvsCbUM2vZTEML6dRiKt9Mk6PbbWJ1OAVaF0rKS1-dA2XBWvIKvSywoCGOEAbsm49HtGfI2u_cH6ElLdbTeuoz36cBXb5XI/s887/IMG_20240318_100403_533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="719" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wD7jyL8O0dn6MejoWNHiNGGNzbTk7cfxKZN7xebs_l-bgHucw4aKip1JK1q7Gc0wy16rEfhKH279zJl2CQQfIXRT5Xzz5BvsCbUM2vZTEML6dRiKt9Mk6PbbWJ1OAVaF0rKS1-dA2XBWvIKvSywoCGOEAbsm49HtGfI2u_cH6ElLdbTeuoz36cBXb5XI/w382-h472/IMG_20240318_100403_533.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>The authors have certainly covered the aims and objectives of the politicians in their record of the innovation and development of the fleet. For fbb's taste, however, there isn't enough on the operational side of South Yorkshire PTE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are 18 pages of fleet lists but no network maps; not even a list of services "adopted" from Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster transport departments. Neither are there details of the county-wide route numbering system referred to by fbb in a previous blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Context</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The opportunity is missed to give a full location for many of the pictures. OK, there is a page about the trial of a Foden double decker ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWGxGJO0AK9bEnn-Q71tS1yBIP6A-ebWeaZXFjUUhKIW_FSGNM3sR3MZyFINAFdR-faHwqZUbwFu8ajMLM-0Ja2yP7IJvmvqzGZbMD6Y-dQaX77KZx1uHTET0qU2pkZrIqw5AFDsmpFWBB0vb9gsFrkckvXdaE9-fx7JsqSk1BL7PVAEMRKv3R2mLAZfP/s1298/IMG_20240317_142338_687.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1298" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWGxGJO0AK9bEnn-Q71tS1yBIP6A-ebWeaZXFjUUhKIW_FSGNM3sR3MZyFINAFdR-faHwqZUbwFu8ajMLM-0Ja2yP7IJvmvqzGZbMD6Y-dQaX77KZx1uHTET0qU2pkZrIqw5AFDsmpFWBB0vb9gsFrkckvXdaE9-fx7JsqSk1BL7PVAEMRKv3R2mLAZfP/w400-h274/IMG_20240317_142338_687.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but it doesn't tell you that the bus, as above, was pictured at the delightful City terminus of Ringinglow. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4kRTPk-kXay08sbvGV72kBPFEY_xyR-wzPtPBENL5-KXAPKR9bAHDN8a4sNg_Mql3OF2s8xro6pz4nH429XFZ0U5mRgUBxtFI8emy5z645py-tNNLmISTqswdqT7yPond0YU7Lv3E4ETG53-5YPi9FUpNjJ6d7VuhVD8AWgy76aSfbWUs9f3iWfjf-Ph/s762/screenshot.27397.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="762" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4kRTPk-kXay08sbvGV72kBPFEY_xyR-wzPtPBENL5-KXAPKR9bAHDN8a4sNg_Mql3OF2s8xro6pz4nH429XFZ0U5mRgUBxtFI8emy5z645py-tNNLmISTqswdqT7yPond0YU7Lv3E4ETG53-5YPi9FUpNjJ6d7VuhVD8AWgy76aSfbWUs9f3iWfjf-Ph/w400-h213/screenshot.27397.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes. It really was a terminus well within the city's boundary!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The original service 4 is seen having reversed onto its stop opposite the hexagonal "Round House".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez7SgW4bvQ53rhdFaRKNiZ2iRKRpCtfZysaPsiUhHKrvm9tKK6L-uGsNYZB39JkPXyBx1UDyFM2hSBXN7Dv7gmPVFpxLJYmJDHu4prkybpQkIio3LWUx3Lh9NvTfJJo_bko91CMxsWE0w3ziVRuqTb3ngkEWEItfk8RjlvAZ8Xumw3yqrLCJTsT6U34s7/s417/4rininglow2%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="417" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez7SgW4bvQ53rhdFaRKNiZ2iRKRpCtfZysaPsiUhHKrvm9tKK6L-uGsNYZB39JkPXyBx1UDyFM2hSBXN7Dv7gmPVFpxLJYmJDHu4prkybpQkIio3LWUx3Lh9NvTfJJo_bko91CMxsWE0w3ziVRuqTb3ngkEWEItfk8RjlvAZ8Xumw3yqrLCJTsT6U34s7/w400-h270/4rininglow2%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Likewise, we are told of the experimental use of a bendybus on route 56 to Wybourn ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWflgC7SGAg4Hv4Yt4T2JXOUu8waRJ0tFkszQov1-_TDCY75kQ0cnifsSTqBhES9WKegyLtGNS-uUayL6SsD9u8FEKMGewS5Xty4zqgamhgK1xtrJjaUK42KlyHzaBIsRVNjedkgOYxIqtl56BUEN9dFrJ7PJfhDxcqm_PChfxb14olNqjJGT19mT9Tgg/s887/IMG_20240317_142808_765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="417" height="585" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWflgC7SGAg4Hv4Yt4T2JXOUu8waRJ0tFkszQov1-_TDCY75kQ0cnifsSTqBhES9WKegyLtGNS-uUayL6SsD9u8FEKMGewS5Xty4zqgamhgK1xtrJjaUK42KlyHzaBIsRVNjedkgOYxIqtl56BUEN9dFrJ7PJfhDxcqm_PChfxb14olNqjJGT19mT9Tgg/w275-h585/IMG_20240317_142808_765.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>... and there is even a map, but a bit of context might have helped.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXlu17vAFc8kRACcCJ0OetPpjCry9FL31TEfSJHYA98Xgv57Xpjb4mRDQ0U32FD61jo_k9VnuUW2TewEIkTM5zLKsJxCmU_ZIC60i8RUQuRt8OoDC0fQ7M-ePjjzOE_YJW4Gz_eZpvCCPXv2cBvQr09aolQeuvIrjdX-dGyi9i0aCKUs5GWDvOTR4zXI6/s887/IMG_20240317_142813_473.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="887" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXlu17vAFc8kRACcCJ0OetPpjCry9FL31TEfSJHYA98Xgv57Xpjb4mRDQ0U32FD61jo_k9VnuUW2TewEIkTM5zLKsJxCmU_ZIC60i8RUQuRt8OoDC0fQ7M-ePjjzOE_YJW4Gz_eZpvCCPXv2cBvQr09aolQeuvIrjdX-dGyi9i0aCKUs5GWDvOTR4zXI6/w400-h225/IMG_20240317_142813_473.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Wybourn is an ex council estate quite close to the city centre.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAnpfux7sCxZ8y_wXlSm67SWROkBgmwxu-ppQeFhhuIN4X0HEvvo2bw-2_wFXtMuScr22iGcSvlMtGHl8SYecU_D63wt4b8CE2xpL1L0j6yWu1A7s3osq81vgx4z_j39A6opTdrI4_EL21DuNjdRirbGpTWHpP6L_o74KZ5cfViFBu6MVfmr7ovgdRF8J/s794/screenshot.27398.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="794" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAnpfux7sCxZ8y_wXlSm67SWROkBgmwxu-ppQeFhhuIN4X0HEvvo2bw-2_wFXtMuScr22iGcSvlMtGHl8SYecU_D63wt4b8CE2xpL1L0j6yWu1A7s3osq81vgx4z_j39A6opTdrI4_EL21DuNjdRirbGpTWHpP6L_o74KZ5cfViFBu6MVfmr7ovgdRF8J/w400-h263/screenshot.27398.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is still served by a route 56 but it goes a different way!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRip8K-emKHLsxI9Nabe6WOjbZa8dlAQJA1CPdGUZjIEIV76MSfMr5UWDBoM4_v70spaW6c37Jpy3cU7q-Qt07wGtc_MLNBtNnbgp-cPeugped2Nzs9DkEiME_F-60N7i10ZCqxHbjV3Ea2gKAcIRNYbSpF6b0dJGgKteom2uYCe_kBjfzfIBLYuf2RF3B/s700/screenshot.27404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRip8K-emKHLsxI9Nabe6WOjbZa8dlAQJA1CPdGUZjIEIV76MSfMr5UWDBoM4_v70spaW6c37Jpy3cU7q-Qt07wGtc_MLNBtNnbgp-cPeugped2Nzs9DkEiME_F-60N7i10ZCqxHbjV3Ea2gKAcIRNYbSpF6b0dJGgKteom2uYCe_kBjfzfIBLYuf2RF3B/w400-h240/screenshot.27404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Local colour, the bus set in its operating environment, is often a significant contribution to understanding the engineering and political policies. The Wybourn experiment was not pursued. It has been served with very ordinary buses ever since.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN2h8JPw2F8naani3fYuqxXMVn6OLR6I4v06ZtTfqG2DxL6ksXXOqYES09P6L3QLhx2svv4blsJRGG5vMmfhgSYdvP9C_H-etIAclTpzSGNu4JNfZtLoB06Fm2mXjm2m9R85NWoq2FxPU_gJiNvo3Ymw8bC4DVM1fFgw7-dhIEloU1ynznA_pyUllREQT/s424/screenshot.27399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="424" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN2h8JPw2F8naani3fYuqxXMVn6OLR6I4v06ZtTfqG2DxL6ksXXOqYES09P6L3QLhx2svv4blsJRGG5vMmfhgSYdvP9C_H-etIAclTpzSGNu4JNfZtLoB06Fm2mXjm2m9R85NWoq2FxPU_gJiNvo3Ymw8bC4DVM1fFgw7-dhIEloU1ynznA_pyUllREQT/w400-h283/screenshot.27399.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><strike>Bendy</strike> Bent Buses!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of you like pictures of buses that have crashed or caught fire, this is definitely the book for you.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzaLnWfboPA_woL8h8W1CctzgvS6ZuAhKj-tEEwbhgbwo08zNnD0iTrq-g7RUsa8IMeqTzwwxgSdK5WU4HxTUN_RDywnkgWZqYcqIUeWb3G8_1hdpdm4asAaYRSYrWZ3Es90y_DWGl8h26sDgfZtOSYW9jy1KhpTBOtuuqFlzMK5oULFnptPBEbuVSfKR/s887/IMG_20240317_142608_533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="666" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzaLnWfboPA_woL8h8W1CctzgvS6ZuAhKj-tEEwbhgbwo08zNnD0iTrq-g7RUsa8IMeqTzwwxgSdK5WU4HxTUN_RDywnkgWZqYcqIUeWb3G8_1hdpdm4asAaYRSYrWZ3Es90y_DWGl8h26sDgfZtOSYW9jy1KhpTBOtuuqFlzMK5oULFnptPBEbuVSfKR/w405-h540/IMG_20240317_142608_533.jpg" width="405" /></a></div>There are also chapters on the work of the depots and the engineers therein ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpCd9P6Y8gSB3RnVNQKTBXnsybjmGTixhIKx5XzFyQUpr6i2qMjr1juA545AvTnCCNg5l3nhUxB2wN7Za-6vPq-115t8ZDov61zWG3FVRshbqMEyEsZ0bwLZsaUcl_sw4NThMQ-Uh3nZ7_UHIN9Bq3CRC6Z6QmHhKfWGc9EdI-99-KP73uOxsuAynrsPf/s1239/IMG_20240317_143628_923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1239" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpCd9P6Y8gSB3RnVNQKTBXnsybjmGTixhIKx5XzFyQUpr6i2qMjr1juA545AvTnCCNg5l3nhUxB2wN7Za-6vPq-115t8ZDov61zWG3FVRshbqMEyEsZ0bwLZsaUcl_sw4NThMQ-Uh3nZ7_UHIN9Bq3CRC6Z6QmHhKfWGc9EdI-99-KP73uOxsuAynrsPf/w400-h286/IMG_20240317_143628_923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... plus a whole section about service vehicles including pictures of very venerable vehicles inherited from the Municipalities.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVBk70wSUgMc1WMNKAIy255GZwbd2RO2cjjGku6eesq-Lal3ArO2pKOptBVAEW6pFhoOk69eRwPL8PK7Dh34D7zDzlpuoswZszFbTGsW0Ey86hpaa3YthEoieWOGmsFHZQlx4YeJMRVgTaCsCFzWxtgFMYMp1gRZtwPDzCgtrADZn0X6PPv5UPfJMokRT/s1055/IMG_20240317_143653_571~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1055" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVBk70wSUgMc1WMNKAIy255GZwbd2RO2cjjGku6eesq-Lal3ArO2pKOptBVAEW6pFhoOk69eRwPL8PK7Dh34D7zDzlpuoswZszFbTGsW0Ey86hpaa3YthEoieWOGmsFHZQlx4YeJMRVgTaCsCFzWxtgFMYMp1gRZtwPDzCgtrADZn0X6PPv5UPfJMokRT/w400-h336/IMG_20240317_143653_571~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Commer lorry was retained as an apprentice vehicle ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AoG7fTDwPt3Ssl3FBwq4tGDUD62gljmgA-SWyQAfrC_4nMPFtcqdZZRNGZEdQEwauIV4t_ZSjVpMBwhf4yv-Y1xxA2OfPzZ6vbE4pMjnwunLLmNAipwIRZrH6SUy01iNFsQ2h5j6A_580fVXwI-oxDs2xURifaHFYIZTKaZ0MWir3fOLwInNirmWW-Lv/s1278/IMG_20240317_143800_382.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1278" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AoG7fTDwPt3Ssl3FBwq4tGDUD62gljmgA-SWyQAfrC_4nMPFtcqdZZRNGZEdQEwauIV4t_ZSjVpMBwhf4yv-Y1xxA2OfPzZ6vbE4pMjnwunLLmNAipwIRZrH6SUy01iNFsQ2h5j6A_580fVXwI-oxDs2xURifaHFYIZTKaZ0MWir3fOLwInNirmWW-Lv/w400-h278/IMG_20240317_143800_382.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... still in Sheffield Transport livery; but fbb remember it in use. For example, it carried the railings for the temporary departure stand on Bridge Street for the buses to Hillsborough for Sheffield Wednesday home games.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Publicity Matters</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are, fortunately for the likes of fbb, a number of examples of printed publicity. Here is Leon Motors service to Finnnigley., an independent company which was ultimately absorbed by the PTE ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUT95gRgIwbmg4qx_ZhnZIIbbNeLfKdaRD6DtrAWaVZJJoIAnvgUsbpV1wWzRvRbeiupIwYWta1YQhP7szcbp6tpA4Bsi1E1vCA_rGcUymjEMjlR27JHGtuh_ajq4beTTB44WEs5b4XnDwEGW8jj-PD1b6WHMKj6H48S7W43GYL-ba9CBs-Mxi3pzzak8/s887/IMG_20240317_143030_510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="527" height="519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUT95gRgIwbmg4qx_ZhnZIIbbNeLfKdaRD6DtrAWaVZJJoIAnvgUsbpV1wWzRvRbeiupIwYWta1YQhP7szcbp6tpA4Bsi1E1vCA_rGcUymjEMjlR27JHGtuh_ajq4beTTB44WEs5b4XnDwEGW8jj-PD1b6WHMKj6H48S7W43GYL-ba9CBs-Mxi3pzzak8/w309-h519/IMG_20240317_143030_510.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>... a leaflet for the villages to the north east of Doncaster amongst others<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1okdSbpbn5OJQmYD19uqVeYji7o__Kcaj6ag2QHvsCZAQARlKWridaTVziCTC3PHCbNhTXEbyq5VxRTA6MoiThbHS1Ski9mxhzVftw2hQ2Mjl7Y47D3gn6M3sfk4gbpCm6kV4RliVMjg95PnZv-IdXeiFyENMYiRvyljV-978OufjB60n8QrRScS_o0xq/s1520/IMG_20240317_142729_337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="887" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1okdSbpbn5OJQmYD19uqVeYji7o__Kcaj6ag2QHvsCZAQARlKWridaTVziCTC3PHCbNhTXEbyq5VxRTA6MoiThbHS1Ski9mxhzVftw2hQ2Mjl7Y47D3gn6M3sfk4gbpCm6kV4RliVMjg95PnZv-IdXeiFyENMYiRvyljV-978OufjB60n8QrRScS_o0xq/w297-h508/IMG_20240317_142729_337.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there should have been more!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Also, and typical of the innovation mentioned in Peter Sephton's introduction, were the Nippers. These were routes to areas which would have ben difficult to serve with a big bus.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNNLduIYkG0f2JGuIEVup3alnVGUUVyL4N05zs31ioM3QMKEptIhk5y2MiG3YDc1v5FUrWb4vuCKjcpMKKhu0Va4_NDiwbueDSawgmGQKTuoNOOTDFfogbAWqXw0uB5bY15Cma3EJ10cDtlwG6IgeJx5kUDx7CWrjSkBmrySJmLV4gMUwNdgSRftWi0Yk/s490/original_39aa6cdd-6766-4019-8c33-85fcc92ead33_Screenshot_20240317-153951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="349" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNNLduIYkG0f2JGuIEVup3alnVGUUVyL4N05zs31ioM3QMKEptIhk5y2MiG3YDc1v5FUrWb4vuCKjcpMKKhu0Va4_NDiwbueDSawgmGQKTuoNOOTDFfogbAWqXw0uB5bY15Cma3EJ10cDtlwG6IgeJx5kUDx7CWrjSkBmrySJmLV4gMUwNdgSRftWi0Yk/w329-h462/original_39aa6cdd-6766-4019-8c33-85fcc92ead33_Screenshot_20240317-153951.jpg" width="329" /></a></div>They were part of the County's political policy of ensuring that everyone had access to a bus service.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T8JZ6JAHikK57ZHuUPeQTS_TPARtaBb8p0b5v7NkLZvyVBbW9TsJ2xQtW5RLSDFs71la7ocg9-F8xi8TJJsVUwJAHEthMrobSp-vK_O4Vy53oc2ODC9J00IqrVLw8K3k4PHsIcA-usTI4TTvfEB4fkEOidmRG8REhcXphGdv3U1ZjsJID3M_TMkdKC62/s738/screenshot.27402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="738" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T8JZ6JAHikK57ZHuUPeQTS_TPARtaBb8p0b5v7NkLZvyVBbW9TsJ2xQtW5RLSDFs71la7ocg9-F8xi8TJJsVUwJAHEthMrobSp-vK_O4Vy53oc2ODC9J00IqrVLw8K3k4PHsIcA-usTI4TTvfEB4fkEOidmRG8REhcXphGdv3U1ZjsJID3M_TMkdKC62/w400-h291/screenshot.27402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was a noble but expensive aim as was the County's low fares policy which fell fould of Margaret Thatcher's "Commercialisation" and "No Subsidy" legislation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Politics Takes Over</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Indeed, the book ends with the warning publicity put out by the PTE in protest at the forthcoming legislation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3rNAQnyXgMwWajOKUhRFimo1diVkJ_kf7cb05dIiJ8X6NcDLIp8OaaSfE_lblvckFlmcgAENUDbzCawpEbllVpDseVei7NRDPPOAVX0RWiF3Yx_rd4vPsaBPNuL-yVvT7gD2_FuEKMSzDAotu4WcE_X31apepAN9tbP0XKlGbdbm0OTM6MmEXt66wUZO/s887/IMG_20240317_143311_119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="612" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3rNAQnyXgMwWajOKUhRFimo1diVkJ_kf7cb05dIiJ8X6NcDLIp8OaaSfE_lblvckFlmcgAENUDbzCawpEbllVpDseVei7NRDPPOAVX0RWiF3Yx_rd4vPsaBPNuL-yVvT7gD2_FuEKMSzDAotu4WcE_X31apepAN9tbP0XKlGbdbm0OTM6MmEXt66wUZO/w387-h560/IMG_20240317_143311_119.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>Thus led to privatisation and deregulation and a slow but unstoppable decline in the Public Transport service for South Yorkshire. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are given a glimpse of the pre-privatisation "SYT" ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlclFPsJMSAcCC1HE9UHaRPU6qI3YFkASmHUCKLhaneAp46mpbsT6HZI6e2mNEi9Lhjt6Jj-Bg5gyBgYns_zIbTA9-IK8MeCFKvA3pZ5g9x3rgM7oeOj1PR51QugWZDA-B_XSPaKy_4VTqyvc-2VmICYVGwolX7RVu9Hc-B_A0wlGTBt6gF0hZErjSoGI8/s1182/IMG_20240317_143454_213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="887" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlclFPsJMSAcCC1HE9UHaRPU6qI3YFkASmHUCKLhaneAp46mpbsT6HZI6e2mNEi9Lhjt6Jj-Bg5gyBgYns_zIbTA9-IK8MeCFKvA3pZ5g9x3rgM7oeOj1PR51QugWZDA-B_XSPaKy_4VTqyvc-2VmICYVGwolX7RVu9Hc-B_A0wlGTBt6gF0hZErjSoGI8/w341-h454/IMG_20240317_143454_213.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>... and a glimpse of another thorn in the side of the bus services, namely the Supertram.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rails Revolution??</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtT4u35_SC6xTkUJqTRNGRaCysT4MS93Or4motqOP4vkEPPEI7jPhwILrGB7N-SoGibuBu8lKJuF9d0q_VPgQY8qOXBMc4VYtfo-oF2l6O6qHyBBLYDM8VMMbofKqFbi3OOwzSrG-2vRhfqTKUXWmxaJbWq25ycRKoyWR6LCU7r7PhOgUa3Uxkf2LRtF7/s1656/IMG_20240317_143411_851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1656" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtT4u35_SC6xTkUJqTRNGRaCysT4MS93Or4motqOP4vkEPPEI7jPhwILrGB7N-SoGibuBu8lKJuF9d0q_VPgQY8qOXBMc4VYtfo-oF2l6O6qHyBBLYDM8VMMbofKqFbi3OOwzSrG-2vRhfqTKUXWmxaJbWq25ycRKoyWR6LCU7r7PhOgUa3Uxkf2LRtF7/w400-h214/IMG_20240317_143411_851.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The PTE did not last long enough to run the trams, but, ironically, a change of operating company is happening right now. (See tomorrow's blog).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the PTE also had responsibility for local trains, but, unlike the other PTE areas, South Yorkshire only managed to ever paint one DMU in "Shades of Brown and Cream."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysJ0fi8l6Yyg4yMK19oWezbYgwZuKr6DUwYka_qOC9J5jiQ_b36MpuXUxoOrJbCEZKPv8QPu-TZsnA9cBMCn2Hs_2E14bDIJXa2FGZj-ts6LFD8kfR44y-vGIX2aMAkqVghy3UexeMiXuhfAFL79hLb4-brTrUX4Bk1EJBA4TzPKOxrmqHhGjRXzDKJiR/s1134/original_b5f4e5fa-c9d1-45ce-afa8-3bd3f41c4565_IMG_20240317_144005_653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1134" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysJ0fi8l6Yyg4yMK19oWezbYgwZuKr6DUwYka_qOC9J5jiQ_b36MpuXUxoOrJbCEZKPv8QPu-TZsnA9cBMCn2Hs_2E14bDIJXa2FGZj-ts6LFD8kfR44y-vGIX2aMAkqVghy3UexeMiXuhfAFL79hLb4-brTrUX4Bk1EJBA4TzPKOxrmqHhGjRXzDKJiR/w400-h313/original_b5f4e5fa-c9d1-45ce-afa8-3bd3f41c4565_IMG_20240317_144005_653.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A railway snippet will follow tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A Conclusion</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book is expensive but does have 420 pages to partially mitigate the cost!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAWj3vEmqzgTtYc5rNXoPG_5w6kgj2gAPNwz_X8nED50gw78WmC8WYLhuiT3KN0rxOk0HGLR2IBu6B7SWipHFGpcAR2TIke-1suby20-qhn8EKyvVSgdnmBPskW_7zfxDZipna9Rgxi3mPO3UxW1h52WyA30fc5eAq4Ix_eoZRf32XFyFScQ_uS2vEu0N/s887/original_79c15eaa-1842-4962-bd84-bbc0de1a16c9_IMG_20240317_144018_969.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="641" height="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAWj3vEmqzgTtYc5rNXoPG_5w6kgj2gAPNwz_X8nED50gw78WmC8WYLhuiT3KN0rxOk0HGLR2IBu6B7SWipHFGpcAR2TIke-1suby20-qhn8EKyvVSgdnmBPskW_7zfxDZipna9Rgxi3mPO3UxW1h52WyA30fc5eAq4Ix_eoZRf32XFyFScQ_uS2vEu0N/w406-h563/original_79c15eaa-1842-4962-bd84-bbc0de1a16c9_IMG_20240317_144018_969.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>If you like buses and their technology, this is an excellent and stimulating book. If you want to know where and when the buses ran, fbb recommends that you borrow someone else's copy or find a nice man like Riger French to give you theirs!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb suspects that, had he suggested spending £40 on a bus book to the domestic finance committee, there would have been a large number of raised eyebrows.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps NOT a book for the average enthusiast but most definitely a good buy for the engineering and vehicle specialist.</div><div style="text-align: center;">======================</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-oLkgeZLLm2ysClRd90YIGhjlMNvJ9mo9nqZaOQw9-Sh239oKFNHRMuqI7foa5qtkeM8QgyxQvLJEwgUEZe8aYOi2CeRgyK2M47535mfDnuJNNWHBWIW41ft1od1dYivNqDSY8ejYkh3ECnSdxzRrYUvqw51rJEnat4mCgucrn726N5HDomXl_oDzdv/s758/screenshot.27392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="758" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-oLkgeZLLm2ysClRd90YIGhjlMNvJ9mo9nqZaOQw9-Sh239oKFNHRMuqI7foa5qtkeM8QgyxQvLJEwgUEZe8aYOi2CeRgyK2M47535mfDnuJNNWHBWIW41ft1od1dYivNqDSY8ejYkh3ECnSdxzRrYUvqw51rJEnat4mCgucrn726N5HDomXl_oDzdv/w400-h73/screenshot.27392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the three chosen disciples accompanied Jesus up the hill to experience a superhuman vision of Jesus as the Son of God, rather than Jesus the popular itinerant preacher from Nazareth,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wkNko8Gwq6l1HBaYcxGj_oixfQNiyw7tIoPbDt6Rhf81qo5-hPXIMknUDJMYrVWCkHc7oSLDh8opvHvUROQPnU0w8Uky8tbRiUJyMRsntwpXt8DW51sNW5bFfsr7o6TGO565_73E1KbcKJ31MvHJtlTYJuDobY71Pl_jrMWqCAx03HS-kVRdQNkhxidQ/s469/screen3.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="469" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wkNko8Gwq6l1HBaYcxGj_oixfQNiyw7tIoPbDt6Rhf81qo5-hPXIMknUDJMYrVWCkHc7oSLDh8opvHvUROQPnU0w8Uky8tbRiUJyMRsntwpXt8DW51sNW5bFfsr7o6TGO565_73E1KbcKJ31MvHJtlTYJuDobY71Pl_jrMWqCAx03HS-kVRdQNkhxidQ/w400-h161/screen3.gif" width="400" /></a></div>And they were F<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>RIGHT</b></span>ENED; they would have been scared witless. So they wanted to build tents for the three apparitions in human form. Weird or what?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not weird at all. From the Mount of Olives, they could look down over the Temple and see the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Festival of </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Tabernacles</b></span> in progress. At night is was particularly glorious. It was a magnificent festival of light, of music and of worship.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the week of the knees-up families would build huts in which to take their meals, sometimes called "booths" but, in posh terms, called "tabernacles" (OK, tents in modern parlance). The whole shebang was to remember God's salvation and guidance (pillar of fire, remember?) as they fled slavery and made their way hesitantly to the Promised Land.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It made a bit of panicky sense to build tents for the Divine threesome!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there was more.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubQBjItcu_fnYy8JwoPj0afibqCd9HyCfIT1JFjvWvlSRVMsjHcCgaKxc3xr-cmlKU_srysNunuVlIdyPiT6MTSqseaNLrFwXkUKexGxmQ9FXohiJBRsb07XjxVudYfkfD4SK317_qICHfi9RNufB2jEplMrYrW0LJBscZaaEJDfHj18OnBz0BAV7VXIU/s493/screen2.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="493" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubQBjItcu_fnYy8JwoPj0afibqCd9HyCfIT1JFjvWvlSRVMsjHcCgaKxc3xr-cmlKU_srysNunuVlIdyPiT6MTSqseaNLrFwXkUKexGxmQ9FXohiJBRsb07XjxVudYfkfD4SK317_qICHfi9RNufB2jEplMrYrW0LJBscZaaEJDfHj18OnBz0BAV7VXIU/w400-h122/screen2.gif" width="400" /></a></div>The Jews were the "apple of God's eye" and the apple is a "<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>pome</b></span>". The nissing four letter fruit is also a pome.</div><div style="text-align: center;">======================</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><b> Next South Yorks Catch-up blog : Weds 20th Match </b></span></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-24913622166237653262024-03-18T02:00:00.212+00:002024-03-18T07:57:19.174+00:00A Gift From A Celeb (1)<p><span style="font-size: large;">A Sheffield Bus Book</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3dNTWAQs2QX-r9psZZGaS-qMHa0gNQMOeHpBSbsJkh2Vxg20BsT2E1VovnTKPThppfNeJG9avgzPb-zH6IZsdF2LedyNoCgv7ydwrUnt3y3WN2OJM1mj67ZRYlJJZWqIP_uDBcWlwKqFuwiThQn2V3XhuNwxcv5oo73CXHuLmBVo1k0Q2NAQ_L7lfpZB/s887/IMG_20240317_141544_955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="648" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3dNTWAQs2QX-r9psZZGaS-qMHa0gNQMOeHpBSbsJkh2Vxg20BsT2E1VovnTKPThppfNeJG9avgzPb-zH6IZsdF2LedyNoCgv7ydwrUnt3y3WN2OJM1mj67ZRYlJJZWqIP_uDBcWlwKqFuwiThQn2V3XhuNwxcv5oo73CXHuLmBVo1k0Q2NAQ_L7lfpZB/w335-h458/IMG_20240317_141544_955.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a prequel to a similar book on the privatised South Yorkshure PTE, the Mainlne years. Today's book covers the PTE era fom 1973 to privatisation in 1986.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb was resident in Sheffield until 1984, so much of this time sits somewhat shakily in the old man's Leedle Grey Cells. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, as ever, fbb's interest has always been bus routes and the operation thereof (fares, timetable and route maps) but this book is mostly written from an "engineering" point of view.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But step back a pace or two. It was an email from Roger French that drew fbb's attention to this fascinating volume. The Rog email saud, "they sent be a copy which I have read and I thought you might like it."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The chapters all have enigmatic titles ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB6dWQKeEdwh2SXIzJpUIx0fAkU9CTNkrYLSkuSgYpKSCUSSYx7PaNcqiJ_5Awm2xYChedr6gbQqmLJ6a4Bm_zJx_AfTJlXbZU1OxP3QTRJRrHC_hEpmk0-AUY6mXQWTW0n_SlETWO9lU8zUU2XiMJx83QJaVWlm_H6SqUwdGFm601qgwvkqIsNjZaY2b/s1467/IMG_20240317_141846_317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1467" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB6dWQKeEdwh2SXIzJpUIx0fAkU9CTNkrYLSkuSgYpKSCUSSYx7PaNcqiJ_5Awm2xYChedr6gbQqmLJ6a4Bm_zJx_AfTJlXbZU1OxP3QTRJRrHC_hEpmk0-AUY6mXQWTW0n_SlETWO9lU8zUU2XiMJx83QJaVWlm_H6SqUwdGFm601qgwvkqIsNjZaY2b/w400-h241/IMG_20240317_141846_317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but cover the PTE year by year. In a way, this makes following events and developments a but messy, so fbb has gleaned a few sample recurring themes as part of this review.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One on-going topic is the PTE's somewhat unconventional livery, hence the book's title "Shades of Brown and Cream".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The colour of brown was officially called "coffee" ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_U7bB89EPHc9KAMj-XTvdRhdPSGy0IFKqaNH3hK24IYsYF0fhM2wZTRx3BQhkA27W1ZStxHOk3zjazNqNKbfFNQvewus81pebjIOMWmpVRcUAP3oCohaj1LnA6EftmurXsYBIhzYigkXgCKB3d8p6vdayPI-YaUBlY6hY3XwnUv0_9j2-gt1dJshmsG9/s1247/IMG_20240317_141725_322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1247" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_U7bB89EPHc9KAMj-XTvdRhdPSGy0IFKqaNH3hK24IYsYF0fhM2wZTRx3BQhkA27W1ZStxHOk3zjazNqNKbfFNQvewus81pebjIOMWmpVRcUAP3oCohaj1LnA6EftmurXsYBIhzYigkXgCKB3d8p6vdayPI-YaUBlY6hY3XwnUv0_9j2-gt1dJshmsG9/w400-h285/IMG_20240317_141725_322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... with experimental "weak coffee" on the left. Three "motorway" coaches show two different PTE liveries against the far superior Sheffield Transport blue and cream.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ipq00Y3NJVj44k6LfQq8QyrHR_udRab3eC5tiZhjP0JQE93zAa2hjxRfv5OsvYdQ__PnPAuNo1iil0mD_LNdy26zWLbC_-X_aIG1qOdJ3EGIH1K_SsnuyRgOBHt7gH9auKIaXfmJsmYVKImIoU7NfeJqdUWLlHpEnWhSCJBLYv3SGBtMO0zDkNhcZLSC/s1917/IMG_20240317_141807_683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1917" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ipq00Y3NJVj44k6LfQq8QyrHR_udRab3eC5tiZhjP0JQE93zAa2hjxRfv5OsvYdQ__PnPAuNo1iil0mD_LNdy26zWLbC_-X_aIG1qOdJ3EGIH1K_SsnuyRgOBHt7gH9auKIaXfmJsmYVKImIoU7NfeJqdUWLlHpEnWhSCJBLYv3SGBtMO0zDkNhcZLSC/w400-h151/IMG_20240317_141807_683.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Black coffee (dark chocolate?) appeared ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVRlASTMIDGZs2lhN_qVGYzmsIqyzDLKuANABm2LB-u8GZX_K0jnwPzfq0zWs4LorhbVBnJY1oO61xcOVyQ3Bf-IEgltaTwVSF3WnqrpMfXI-5Ek_DkatkRhHmUY88dqs5dpZRuJ-e-YdBvQz3f5BWNN6dwhvKmEJekrx94YZ0yToKkQNvBtC4QA_1zHu/s1391/IMG_20240317_142631_978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1391" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVRlASTMIDGZs2lhN_qVGYzmsIqyzDLKuANABm2LB-u8GZX_K0jnwPzfq0zWs4LorhbVBnJY1oO61xcOVyQ3Bf-IEgltaTwVSF3WnqrpMfXI-5Ek_DkatkRhHmUY88dqs5dpZRuJ-e-YdBvQz3f5BWNN6dwhvKmEJekrx94YZ0yToKkQNvBtC4QA_1zHu/w400-h255/IMG_20240317_142631_978.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... some double deckers with a full chocolate bottom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkYiCcFb8Ehjo6sSsWch9R27iqAI1PDR_sooeyKuxY_E-UlY4csQCr8jODb6VQjnvyODmvgiHm7-Nk-s9AXbxygk13Em_cHfhnTUHNTpE1jHz-c0us8MS_lgwSlr9xeBIm7eqqPMQOofw0p1rTNUXDx3hMLjC0ey9yO82saylHHEDOzbkEjIcKAyx00oD/s1101/IMG_20240317_142714_191.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1101" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkYiCcFb8Ehjo6sSsWch9R27iqAI1PDR_sooeyKuxY_E-UlY4csQCr8jODb6VQjnvyODmvgiHm7-Nk-s9AXbxygk13Em_cHfhnTUHNTpE1jHz-c0us8MS_lgwSlr9xeBIm7eqqPMQOofw0p1rTNUXDx3hMLjC0ey9yO82saylHHEDOzbkEjIcKAyx00oD/w400-h323/IMG_20240317_142714_191.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Weirdly, deep red in a different arrangement ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-KbolEGRkDTJ-XvnVonsDIJDWpB7SCtc0kyBKjyZxjUIZ9Pc-HFjF2A6QRPQ47SDl60NM4iEQeItPLSh8RxJqiW8hQ6nKczoXGyWctpvOWUOQFlBIq0SB-dyeoXHkmgoO9HlGcz34OLC476SDbeAXFaTh1mTTAJwwEt2iNdmUMVdXHvXgvVcGrEcD_ur/s942/IMG_20240317_142145_921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="942" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-KbolEGRkDTJ-XvnVonsDIJDWpB7SCtc0kyBKjyZxjUIZ9Pc-HFjF2A6QRPQ47SDl60NM4iEQeItPLSh8RxJqiW8hQ6nKczoXGyWctpvOWUOQFlBIq0SB-dyeoXHkmgoO9HlGcz34OLC476SDbeAXFaTh1mTTAJwwEt2iNdmUMVdXHvXgvVcGrEcD_ur/w400-h376/IMG_20240317_142145_921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... was tried but was never taken any further.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a more serious note, there were experiments with electric vehicles ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8PyW1hnCIa3ELBCN_lQ6gZ1Z1nh5xotkakQce2_yPzmbAF41Q0m1izAFza-VtU8GmCFb-9BDfl-faKx0ZESTrXFB8mKdJPJN8xjDLyOAuhooVCfCBpqglLXUGjx_eXyiTwIbYfc0pXDred9qzpz-ApTcLybZLZPbz3YieTeYQeMYsyKkK5sUQw6jYYpU/s1458/IMG_20240317_141902_307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1458" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8PyW1hnCIa3ELBCN_lQ6gZ1Z1nh5xotkakQce2_yPzmbAF41Q0m1izAFza-VtU8GmCFb-9BDfl-faKx0ZESTrXFB8mKdJPJN8xjDLyOAuhooVCfCBpqglLXUGjx_eXyiTwIbYfc0pXDred9qzpz-ApTcLybZLZPbz3YieTeYQeMYsyKkK5sUQw6jYYpU/w400-h244/IMG_20240317_141902_307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... of various types ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kdr5rsRAMa4wqtqscXXfleClS8xPMDiJeNI5KUIeisp5aitqJaNgM478mYFXK-FzWDj_23GtRK5-5uWw7NYKqGxaUjCNA1fhmW5uMFotteSspz4D1ZcGPRz76FFzP8ukjEsiRda7BPMWpRTYzHBdoMgPqtJbiVfWqReXMp4ZkHC1iDKsU_qvOxU2fCfi/s887/IMG_20240317_142418_747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="887" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kdr5rsRAMa4wqtqscXXfleClS8xPMDiJeNI5KUIeisp5aitqJaNgM478mYFXK-FzWDj_23GtRK5-5uWw7NYKqGxaUjCNA1fhmW5uMFotteSspz4D1ZcGPRz76FFzP8ukjEsiRda7BPMWpRTYzHBdoMgPqtJbiVfWqReXMp4ZkHC1iDKsU_qvOxU2fCfi/w400-h274/IMG_20240317_142418_747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... including a few hundred feet of trolleybus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaORNSVjDrRkxe7bzGLh9AIDw7j8_Nip20RxUZyGwaZH7kamFBObFdl8YqiJKpYB-CvdOCkvj_PN5Kpf4TCl80ple55C7k3YnyF_tuMcpxZ56u3-GyY_4h5-V37lMhjq-i1FBxX4GdYpqyMfvGmLcMhqpEej6YgjNzV4RwzH9JHSoRw1fhpBTwa1eSVtRE/s734/screenshot.27389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="734" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaORNSVjDrRkxe7bzGLh9AIDw7j8_Nip20RxUZyGwaZH7kamFBObFdl8YqiJKpYB-CvdOCkvj_PN5Kpf4TCl80ple55C7k3YnyF_tuMcpxZ56u3-GyY_4h5-V37lMhjq-i1FBxX4GdYpqyMfvGmLcMhqpEej6YgjNzV4RwzH9JHSoRw1fhpBTwa1eSVtRE/w400-h304/screenshot.27389.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And how can we forget the left hand drive bendybus giving jolly rides from the bus station.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6jlbmICeQKCBIp3aeIKLCnReloRUIRfBjiIao4s4VYx3-xfDYrwrVXFMswGQ6S7oCs_f97Y082iSAnwV9kukBcOkBYKPNxgP4FokMVQp0w2YLzbSX77sUFsZBG4iFDgPdppmOF1p7iUjO6jHYQ91fbOeJIPxf3f8CkbhNFHBkKBXnTUL9mywIA3u56I7/s1406/IMG_20240317_142132_953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1406" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6jlbmICeQKCBIp3aeIKLCnReloRUIRfBjiIao4s4VYx3-xfDYrwrVXFMswGQ6S7oCs_f97Y082iSAnwV9kukBcOkBYKPNxgP4FokMVQp0w2YLzbSX77sUFsZBG4iFDgPdppmOF1p7iUjO6jHYQ91fbOeJIPxf3f8CkbhNFHBkKBXnTUL9mywIA3u56I7/w400-h253/IMG_20240317_142132_953.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The PTE was a pioneer of "kneeling" buses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS1kczTPN0Cl_Jov6qYBxkZzVLBwctzlaYCT8qTt-nZDh4Y2vLjCC1lDleYPqh3cSqeEhLqXzckaQzK4_SQVRi8ZbnFp9Kw56-avS7O5lrFWUGh-qfEWfMZd7gM_vw0RmFRnEWI6K1bc1keon3I7skOYFsx4T1gsUBhfhoDPZP2rdvHOLfQT5dHUgSxki/s1917/IMG_20240317_142905_914~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1917" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS1kczTPN0Cl_Jov6qYBxkZzVLBwctzlaYCT8qTt-nZDh4Y2vLjCC1lDleYPqh3cSqeEhLqXzckaQzK4_SQVRi8ZbnFp9Kw56-avS7O5lrFWUGh-qfEWfMZd7gM_vw0RmFRnEWI6K1bc1keon3I7skOYFsx4T1gsUBhfhoDPZP2rdvHOLfQT5dHUgSxki/w400-h124/IMG_20240317_142905_914~2.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdY7f-lFjytHJfoHXm3iNc6jWjnBvLUj0GPdgXrkYw3S_GqytR97T8hbGnt4F3QsqVPvD8DjD5Vyywll8nE-UpDtHNYipvk0ob-nsJn9RX_WRWva0rfDrQLaHL9EQzxt2NNjdMS0hZImqnK_B5ZcqZYL803XEOhjsAb8QzlJIHihbcEib_VMzJnDSLcwj/s1538/IMG_20240317_142035_264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1538" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdY7f-lFjytHJfoHXm3iNc6jWjnBvLUj0GPdgXrkYw3S_GqytR97T8hbGnt4F3QsqVPvD8DjD5Vyywll8nE-UpDtHNYipvk0ob-nsJn9RX_WRWva0rfDrQLaHL9EQzxt2NNjdMS0hZImqnK_B5ZcqZYL803XEOhjsAb8QzlJIHihbcEib_VMzJnDSLcwj/w400-h231/IMG_20240317_142035_264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and, not pictured, the famous (?) Sheffield split step; now superseded by low floor vehicles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As well as livery, the PTE struggled with an effective logo. The first attempt was purportedly drawn by the General Manager's grandson with his first set of Christmas felt tip pens.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ59YVjdXQ9Ao4lqZC6HuiKIO9D-oz9KTbCs6kjXPXN2C60uoJggnDqgz8RqXvpt2Z5OLBJa7fjOq8nQx7VsDfzq9oKQdJADSB6uHk-XTpvUE1MnGzRq3tfzbQ3WZuop6ZoGd_Nu8z00dfX7NaKtW_pVYifbslRi49P3KLxKgLBEi1ZFE82a2PD5v61ka/s1917/IMG_20240317_141636_734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1917" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ59YVjdXQ9Ao4lqZC6HuiKIO9D-oz9KTbCs6kjXPXN2C60uoJggnDqgz8RqXvpt2Z5OLBJa7fjOq8nQx7VsDfzq9oKQdJADSB6uHk-XTpvUE1MnGzRq3tfzbQ3WZuop6ZoGd_Nu8z00dfX7NaKtW_pVYifbslRi49P3KLxKgLBEi1ZFE82a2PD5v61ka/w400-h183/IMG_20240317_141636_734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is a good thing Ray Stenning never saw it! There is a very minor error in the book. The author's picture is of an "alternative logo" ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavHUcsAk8DQ13REE2dIsFf_HZhR92UjZTa4nggw3d0VmcK7ViBlu4NYTEC3Iivr2ErQTZYqbFnimNz80uvLM3ibQ7BYnWPppnKCZvPCuqCe-AuThGWeAfjlQGU8gSI_H3juAINlR1LvMcjyK_lj5l7yJ3VkZqDvFnIj3WuCpXVkzuN44SLZpzRg5Vx_B7/s977/IMG_20240317_141644_224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="977" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavHUcsAk8DQ13REE2dIsFf_HZhR92UjZTa4nggw3d0VmcK7ViBlu4NYTEC3Iivr2ErQTZYqbFnimNz80uvLM3ibQ7BYnWPppnKCZvPCuqCe-AuThGWeAfjlQGU8gSI_H3juAINlR1LvMcjyK_lj5l7yJ3VkZqDvFnIj3WuCpXVkzuN44SLZpzRg5Vx_B7/s320/IMG_20240317_141644_224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>... but it was actually the County's suggested logo with the PTE name encircling the green SY leaves on the Yorkshire white rose. It appeared near the door of some buses in addition to the adopted SY logo on brown.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even that had two versions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIrFJwG4O4oKXwCsKevipjErn9vkVE-VkUW_gMzRXaw8SHbcOioM4A3bOzf7nN-9mgYADEdFuGZMZD_-dtRP64Us1cA07Y_-7CZpz6MOAnv66n8RrgvWCDVCYyV6O1nNuSEOT6p2Vb448X65JIVsmmSumTzIbKf4xdRUCtZF5SapWXXY2F5yrzO4VMfS/s682/screenshot.27390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="682" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIrFJwG4O4oKXwCsKevipjErn9vkVE-VkUW_gMzRXaw8SHbcOioM4A3bOzf7nN-9mgYADEdFuGZMZD_-dtRP64Us1cA07Y_-7CZpz6MOAnv66n8RrgvWCDVCYyV6O1nNuSEOT6p2Vb448X65JIVsmmSumTzIbKf4xdRUCtZF5SapWXXY2F5yrzO4VMfS/w400-h279/screenshot.27390.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVxxPBe8D9BZzkzg3E53ElWUD3JQdWFNfGb0SIUAlIiCAfvBw9sks85Ji8S68KQUjQ07WzHxEJxSCP3DUu3WF9Huqj5YmJV0B4vIWzEFbK068vWyuML8J4mEWPsTpohiSB1xiqcNkHaX4wSoUnuAmjewTiQz2hVMLd41SZmWRT4a6RRd4tlz_20OJ3Ans/s858/screenshot.27391.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="858" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVxxPBe8D9BZzkzg3E53ElWUD3JQdWFNfGb0SIUAlIiCAfvBw9sks85Ji8S68KQUjQ07WzHxEJxSCP3DUu3WF9Huqj5YmJV0B4vIWzEFbK068vWyuML8J4mEWPsTpohiSB1xiqcNkHaX4wSoUnuAmjewTiQz2hVMLd41SZmWRT4a6RRd4tlz_20OJ3Ans/w400-h263/screenshot.27391.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actual, the newer logo and the darker coffee was far better all round, but it did not last long as we shall see in tomorrow's part 2.</div><div style="text-align: center;">=========================</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-oLkgeZLLm2ysClRd90YIGhjlMNvJ9mo9nqZaOQw9-Sh239oKFNHRMuqI7foa5qtkeM8QgyxQvLJEwgUEZe8aYOi2CeRgyK2M47535mfDnuJNNWHBWIW41ft1od1dYivNqDSY8ejYkh3ECnSdxzRrYUvqw51rJEnat4mCgucrn726N5HDomXl_oDzdv/s758/screenshot.27392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="758" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-oLkgeZLLm2ysClRd90YIGhjlMNvJ9mo9nqZaOQw9-Sh239oKFNHRMuqI7foa5qtkeM8QgyxQvLJEwgUEZe8aYOi2CeRgyK2M47535mfDnuJNNWHBWIW41ft1od1dYivNqDSY8ejYkh3ECnSdxzRrYUvqw51rJEnat4mCgucrn726N5HDomXl_oDzdv/s320/screenshot.27392.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Yesterday's word puzzle was ludicrously easy! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But where does the Easter story really begin, That's a toughie. Theologically it starts with Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden and continues throughout the whole of the Old Testament. But fbb will start with the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Transfiguration</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUEkie-eEEMCpJff9jrGEh9r2umH5DgubkY-aLrLpV2GNHo__HZhALL0ZwZ7MmjDlnh1kytgQviJ9-5FvM0oWoKrHVmS8Hx9SYdBsiUedDprVwY7cHUdrYUaQ2g1cHuhsRwgPFDNPQupjP4MrU-tLxA-9PbjEPon6I5tNC9i_rtD5ramDvU_3w24ZxFUe/s511/screen.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="511" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUEkie-eEEMCpJff9jrGEh9r2umH5DgubkY-aLrLpV2GNHo__HZhALL0ZwZ7MmjDlnh1kytgQviJ9-5FvM0oWoKrHVmS8Hx9SYdBsiUedDprVwY7cHUdrYUaQ2g1cHuhsRwgPFDNPQupjP4MrU-tLxA-9PbjEPon6I5tNC9i_rtD5ramDvU_3w24ZxFUe/w400-h146/screen.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Jesus took disciples <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>PET</b></span>ER, <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>JAM</b></span>ES and John up the hill and appeared in "Divine" form. Some critics may comment adversely on this incident but they shouldn't. IF there is a God, he is genuinely Super-human (beyond human). This incident is, obviously, super human.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And there's more! How would YOU react to some "happening" like this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78BNutWUoQSRVDmhKJgpvMSXUD4W7K0LGczG6hCt2GKGkaZXloRvi38bYZHsGLfQOJjusbcaRyPlXqL9QjXUAnVQax4vu86kAUoGleECFnkstn_nAKNBniFl6xP9OvIJpZTdLo3-ItRRFpSukw36HeC_VJ9x1cIhG3YqmCgyl5iknAqmH4lC-XtQ-Sv-7/s469/screen3.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="469" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78BNutWUoQSRVDmhKJgpvMSXUD4W7K0LGczG6hCt2GKGkaZXloRvi38bYZHsGLfQOJjusbcaRyPlXqL9QjXUAnVQax4vu86kAUoGleECFnkstn_nAKNBniFl6xP9OvIJpZTdLo3-ItRRFpSukw36HeC_VJ9x1cIhG3YqmCgyl5iknAqmH4lC-XtQ-Sv-7/w432-h174/screen3.gif" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Another weird title; and the highlighted word is "not wrong"! But the sentiment of the whole word is notably appropriate!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And Tabernacles?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Brown and Cream blog : Tuesday 19th March </b></div></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-90253971833553150292024-03-17T02:00:00.217+00:002024-03-17T02:26:25.365+00:00Sunday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">Selling A Bus Service </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-_ek5pDvczywcI9bNzd3mXBAenD4Zo67MaIYa7M-6J-FESLHmAVbAnlHGo3D_I21StmK6bI85agYH6Cw-G8yDoeQ3la9WRjfvvkvkD3R1FQMSM8AfHD3ceuXJT1s4KLsQbqwiyezUozxi6S9SaFDn6quSRPWBXbCM3peAKGy9CqsgHZsOV7k-YfgdE1l/s792/screenshot.27379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="792" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-_ek5pDvczywcI9bNzd3mXBAenD4Zo67MaIYa7M-6J-FESLHmAVbAnlHGo3D_I21StmK6bI85agYH6Cw-G8yDoeQ3la9WRjfvvkvkD3R1FQMSM8AfHD3ceuXJT1s4KLsQbqwiyezUozxi6S9SaFDn6quSRPWBXbCM3peAKGy9CqsgHZsOV7k-YfgdE1l/w400-h173/screenshot.27379.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Palmer runs a good range of buses in Bedfordshire. The vehicles look smart ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx78iNrJZ2LkVXff9LklqKcbJRf1xixZRFttdOSESz747nQVpEKMLhC1M2YLjzI76Mi7solKw_ImffXm3z9WZZtuFr1HO2LGmdACtZELa94TBX3Qreys2Nrg9jqwp9BokMHJq4w6GYf1D92aLa6h_JLqeGkELYLZfA-XHFA5K4AFbp4t4L2_y-qUx6T83/s594/screenshot.27381.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="594" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx78iNrJZ2LkVXff9LklqKcbJRf1xixZRFttdOSESz747nQVpEKMLhC1M2YLjzI76Mi7solKw_ImffXm3z9WZZtuFr1HO2LGmdACtZELa94TBX3Qreys2Nrg9jqwp9BokMHJq4w6GYf1D92aLa6h_JLqeGkELYLZfA-XHFA5K4AFbp4t4L2_y-qUx6T83/w400-h381/screenshot.27381.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and the operation has a good reputation locally. One of its routes uses the Luton Busway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao64B3lCAyldkP1BE3wXiv9dPHPajHqPIFP4VboMlKSLn5Ic0L1ZgjfSIFoq9qAgNvf54Y_MpbrAk3ERybKucCF1MnyOn2CjyXLToEM1zNSO_6Joeg5toWNbPLtsXumgc8VEQPuE8KF5YtXBl1rfOBLJbbD_CADt5_47fw8iBiDOqMw7_PpUPp3t-Iq7x/s700/screenshot.27382.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="700" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao64B3lCAyldkP1BE3wXiv9dPHPajHqPIFP4VboMlKSLn5Ic0L1ZgjfSIFoq9qAgNvf54Y_MpbrAk3ERybKucCF1MnyOn2CjyXLToEM1zNSO_6Joeg5toWNbPLtsXumgc8VEQPuE8KF5YtXBl1rfOBLJbbD_CADt5_47fw8iBiDOqMw7_PpUPp3t-Iq7x/w400-h280/screenshot.27382.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is an extract from their service C which runs approx half hourly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR1gSo91xUGSmmzXax9T5aDVc1sJfi6iQdnULqJgJnBf_7pyTAOkVrtGZ4sR4Jyii0aOC6wujw2CJeBE5sS1L59KDbwkJge-wb2N9r_AbiBl-ucbvbDIMf8CafEdQ_2XFXJZBWvuaTRrKJCtNIMbj9N1QeIHKCXiG9jJAiRDjWyBiNs5iEw8vrG-u0kv-/s702/screenshot.27380.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="702" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR1gSo91xUGSmmzXax9T5aDVc1sJfi6iQdnULqJgJnBf_7pyTAOkVrtGZ4sR4Jyii0aOC6wujw2CJeBE5sS1L59KDbwkJge-wb2N9r_AbiBl-ucbvbDIMf8CafEdQ_2XFXJZBWvuaTRrKJCtNIMbj9N1QeIHKCXiG9jJAiRDjWyBiNs5iEw8vrG-u0kv-/w400-h264/screenshot.27380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So Grant has made a promotional video suggesting, with some justification, that hus route C via the busway is faster than a motorbike on the parallel toads. Here os a map pf the route (split into two for legibility.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>From Dunstable</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YN8KHpjVJx287EYrUMm4HLaoCfs1Ffi1J0WxvLJ3UyuIJDLzZcXVVDir6Z4Xt_K4x8JnzA3iP6WlEnYndpQ6bN_2Hj0552DgrPkV12_WX-pnSBQExDlQRr2VdjBReXaz3Qv7vTn01viTB768fiSINwhdaKS2gMBpMSdJnWAOfn2rT2WwOkjy8n3vzwnx/s824/screenshot.27387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="824" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YN8KHpjVJx287EYrUMm4HLaoCfs1Ffi1J0WxvLJ3UyuIJDLzZcXVVDir6Z4Xt_K4x8JnzA3iP6WlEnYndpQ6bN_2Hj0552DgrPkV12_WX-pnSBQExDlQRr2VdjBReXaz3Qv7vTn01viTB768fiSINwhdaKS2gMBpMSdJnWAOfn2rT2WwOkjy8n3vzwnx/w400-h254/screenshot.27387.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>To Luton</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7ar_QiWfrvCQWJmG8yL39K9w_TRE0TfwASQBoA4xuYS8epAX6BT9ZDHoAZ_YThfsK2uOlxlySAKpiJGO8tp1LeDx9W1qKNnCYXRFUW5Z1oSGfAempYxwEf7JfNJaC1Lud2NEg0Eob8Bo2DjAFnUFZtj67MJOtO6vsHEst5zLBDUUHiYUxsJTkFKGCD-P/s708/screenshot.27388.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="708" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7ar_QiWfrvCQWJmG8yL39K9w_TRE0TfwASQBoA4xuYS8epAX6BT9ZDHoAZ_YThfsK2uOlxlySAKpiJGO8tp1LeDx9W1qKNnCYXRFUW5Z1oSGfAempYxwEf7JfNJaC1Lud2NEg0Eob8Bo2DjAFnUFZtj67MJOtO6vsHEst5zLBDUUHiYUxsJTkFKGCD-P/w400-h216/screenshot.27388.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is said video.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhyhaqySKLEDOp0BJIi1j4wTjbxECuDU4EX8cfsHgHqxHgqsH4om7BgOg_M7gFka0m67eYHAwrkTPaS8a2rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Nice One <strike>Cyril</strike> Grant!</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Selling a bus service; now th kiere's a novel idea. You could print leaflets, put up posters, provide good quality maps and have a well-staffed and friendly travel office in "main traffic hubs". Now there is a good plan for selling your product, viz a bus ride.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Maybe some other companies will take up the idea?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomiao5Gacqk3JSoOav-3nVP8362Tv-syoMPnGySHWrM5wSjhcR0hVlU9cYB0VEcTCSTYkx8Itze5Yo8SeGamOt5YXscW1Brn9mkHeYeK4MvHCwDhwuSaco2QWOYwrsJrZflSGhZsf4sxV1hTncTk7T6cCszQkVCxh9tV_PL2ZW357aDhs_ivFOs3oldO5/s670/screenshot.27384.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomiao5Gacqk3JSoOav-3nVP8362Tv-syoMPnGySHWrM5wSjhcR0hVlU9cYB0VEcTCSTYkx8Itze5Yo8SeGamOt5YXscW1Brn9mkHeYeK4MvHCwDhwuSaco2QWOYwrsJrZflSGhZsf4sxV1hTncTk7T6cCszQkVCxh9tV_PL2ZW357aDhs_ivFOs3oldO5/w391-h400/screenshot.27384.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh yes; you could have a staffed telephone line as well.</div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ukraine's Trains Helped By Spain's</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu6ugVsxUORWDa2dhWq3od60nHdvL83C8j0ATz7OV6Inv7RZL9XeDI9ob5hBcBqtGioIeF91a7G-xiuOZbdFKBLREgD4hrizawRr3U_smHTPE-zVyyXHvifwAXOwXVamuq0ne_vxL098zdlp5qRLjZssLFttVQkLdR12XEEGwYnJ5AQRla_lXJ4nbgcG5/s706/screenshot.27383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="706" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu6ugVsxUORWDa2dhWq3od60nHdvL83C8j0ATz7OV6Inv7RZL9XeDI9ob5hBcBqtGioIeF91a7G-xiuOZbdFKBLREgD4hrizawRr3U_smHTPE-zVyyXHvifwAXOwXVamuq0ne_vxL098zdlp5qRLjZssLFttVQkLdR12XEEGwYnJ5AQRla_lXJ4nbgcG5/w400-h239/screenshot.27383.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the early days of the Wat we were all saddened by the pictures of Ukrainians fleeing from the onslaught. The efforts of the railway system to ensure a safe and speedy exit became legendary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Ukraine does have a problem with its trains.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUCA5xLAVfwe2nF2fMhiY5ucfxCcYtv8g2lksyd3pL7x1bLd2dvr0gkTpVDv8Ssg9po5WkinEDtoI1j_0JyzR3e7ERR0J_OrB-c4MBqi1f9mWa3FChtprUmvIDxx1n4DXMOIvV0F56i9-I2AHJqEXgAxm0txtWxFGjy76ijQHtWJpnFfJKAj0mJO3_uuy/s720/Screenshot_20240316-034311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="720" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUCA5xLAVfwe2nF2fMhiY5ucfxCcYtv8g2lksyd3pL7x1bLd2dvr0gkTpVDv8Ssg9po5WkinEDtoI1j_0JyzR3e7ERR0J_OrB-c4MBqi1f9mWa3FChtprUmvIDxx1n4DXMOIvV0F56i9-I2AHJqEXgAxm0txtWxFGjy76ijQHtWJpnFfJKAj0mJO3_uuy/w400-h190/Screenshot_20240316-034311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Whilst a few cross-border links (mainly for passenger trains) are to the standard gauge of 1.435 meters (4 foot 8.5 inches), the majority of lines are to the Russian gauge of 1.520 metres (five feet in real money). Changing wheel sets at the borders with EU is currently slow and inefficient. Freight trains are needed to be slick especially when carrying wartime needs IN or essential money making exports OUT.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One expensive solution is to build new standard gauge lines.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRemMTKPyMoczifgWFS6VqOssOgzn49OPNJCZTtz401AFXMQECrFKLYXnfddZihk40tNqc70ZExbDX19LDlvkCozTRiF13cUzdUg1aSY2uS2wGorVW-2lCixQcU2Fcd-67FhYvSuq2cKUE94ORMtGg9DzLyQ0uhE9D10JaBXJxWx-9Z30ZdkULlutfAgY2/s887/Screenshot_20240316-034606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="615" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRemMTKPyMoczifgWFS6VqOssOgzn49OPNJCZTtz401AFXMQECrFKLYXnfddZihk40tNqc70ZExbDX19LDlvkCozTRiF13cUzdUg1aSY2uS2wGorVW-2lCixQcU2Fcd-67FhYvSuq2cKUE94ORMtGg9DzLyQ0uhE9D10JaBXJxWx-9Z30ZdkULlutfAgY2/w358-h515/Screenshot_20240316-034606.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>But another answer is to create gauge changing technology at the borders so trains do not have to stop.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjiL7v8rVsrPD_-KQ6z4HVUo7B3TKL1W1pBeW63iYPwqJKp4zuBu5gN_b2AZeHRwdSkOhLG3JrBuLe1PunfjkspZ0viHCcKFv6kNt0IYfbUQ425_dXPniFHf9e-gWGU6FFThkQMfcriW0WI7Uotir5rXQMnj40I_Q9C_N6UGCz33YxhCVifZoZHS9Ks4B/s887/Screenshot_20240316-033640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="668" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjiL7v8rVsrPD_-KQ6z4HVUo7B3TKL1W1pBeW63iYPwqJKp4zuBu5gN_b2AZeHRwdSkOhLG3JrBuLe1PunfjkspZ0viHCcKFv6kNt0IYfbUQ425_dXPniFHf9e-gWGU6FFThkQMfcriW0WI7Uotir5rXQMnj40I_Q9C_N6UGCz33YxhCVifZoZHS9Ks4B/w429-h569/Screenshot_20240316-033640.jpg" width="429" /></a></div>Once in place this will make a huge contribution to Ukraine's;s war effort and its economy in general.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39-BPO8HHzI-DwEjYCEdDWkU9FYuxlpO9HdR6QpfdJ4kIbr0VnWi9mRnCZNwZD9gABGhPTKLY1LB5R_1pOCSMjWWrv76FxdWIADHwZa79Mi-sxJK_s6v-bh3FPplAzR0Yxtww-B33EbtWnlJjpGcFSO55bv3Ac66AVx3KAEFhu_hsPV1TIAzMjo_H3sON/s720/Screenshot_20240316-033716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="720" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39-BPO8HHzI-DwEjYCEdDWkU9FYuxlpO9HdR6QpfdJ4kIbr0VnWi9mRnCZNwZD9gABGhPTKLY1LB5R_1pOCSMjWWrv76FxdWIADHwZa79Mi-sxJK_s6v-bh3FPplAzR0Yxtww-B33EbtWnlJjpGcFSO55bv3Ac66AVx3KAEFhu_hsPV1TIAzMjo_H3sON/w419-h379/Screenshot_20240316-033716.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>For those unfamiliar with the clever stuff, Many of Spain's Talgo express trains ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDdn-DuOf0rhbK-Ra1UFwKUSkDD3f2bZU1lh6FfisQFGzwgpGu8awOHcXPV6aAeyQxefWSPkZBaoRNsydnb9O1MhCmF5FmvdJV1_OFR4M03Tmwj9_mClxHBbTJmfVaO8c1CYai5j4su_WYiMjyCHtCgv9qSwZxyzIXWZkX1IlDbIsB4Zw9tKSXgFgOMBb/s540/screenshot.27385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="540" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDdn-DuOf0rhbK-Ra1UFwKUSkDD3f2bZU1lh6FfisQFGzwgpGu8awOHcXPV6aAeyQxefWSPkZBaoRNsydnb9O1MhCmF5FmvdJV1_OFR4M03Tmwj9_mClxHBbTJmfVaO8c1CYai5j4su_WYiMjyCHtCgv9qSwZxyzIXWZkX1IlDbIsB4Zw9tKSXgFgOMBb/w393-h280/screenshot.27385.jpg" width="393" /></a></div>... can change gauge at the border without stopping. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a visual of how it happens. Effectively, the rails push the wheels along their axles to change their distance apart. A locking mechanism ensures they ONLY change at the special track, not arbitrarily as they whizz aling ay high speed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx85Ms9U3FOLHA8KXvhv0sWVYzRGkPBSNDQ4DgUQHV9qHIIU9U1JPuqxLuOgVmrqP_m3jEHfni1xQYBVMfFRg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Clever folks, these Spanish guys and gals.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Looking Better : More to Come</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL4wVtjdLN6CoRoGdRioy7VKKb7X4JBFGk_VbW4wuts-AG-jAo-HIjC-l0LduUtIr7pWpymy59AURw-EhUYIXIo8qgDHw3IMsz8_x5cT0jc3oGWFZQH4rsuXFafNZB9IHvode0oHgevuMlGh21Be2bxOcffXRkwmd37UVqCtGipQ8o5S0JP3kvUbkjzgE/s885/IMG_20240315_135511_480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="827" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL4wVtjdLN6CoRoGdRioy7VKKb7X4JBFGk_VbW4wuts-AG-jAo-HIjC-l0LduUtIr7pWpymy59AURw-EhUYIXIo8qgDHw3IMsz8_x5cT0jc3oGWFZQH4rsuXFafNZB9IHvode0oHgevuMlGh21Be2bxOcffXRkwmd37UVqCtGipQ8o5S0JP3kvUbkjzgE/w374-h400/IMG_20240315_135511_480.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember that oddly shaped piece of white plastic. It was designed to hold the camping bus and the Nissen hut holiday let; a group which crosses a gap between two pieces of tunnel. Both tunnel sections need to be removable, BUT the two "buildings" share a circuit of lights.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Trees are now fixed along the back "wall" of the base whilst the two architectural creations sit om the white base,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM3tDIppXlez5DxYzdbsKtehBmUNpvjvafWGe5g5kGmh_Qimd64N1_IbVzvqR8q752GvWlzKYJjgaAUgVU4EgsIxeG0esyRChuzY26wosQb_KWahASDMmdkFh8qlePgoGMVb7NWYkPmWCbyYfMYRCB7AEDOUwCMpNfzblnWS8jnrKmnuNz0RKfF1cKR6Q/s885/IMG_20240315_135751_740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="761" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM3tDIppXlez5DxYzdbsKtehBmUNpvjvafWGe5g5kGmh_Qimd64N1_IbVzvqR8q752GvWlzKYJjgaAUgVU4EgsIxeG0esyRChuzY26wosQb_KWahASDMmdkFh8qlePgoGMVb7NWYkPmWCbyYfMYRCB7AEDOUwCMpNfzblnWS8jnrKmnuNz0RKfF1cKR6Q/w344-h400/IMG_20240315_135751_740.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some extra landscaping is still needed plud a few fences to stop hapoy holidaymakers plunging to their death down the chalk cliffs of Peterville.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2n-N2SKTSLnWJa8g6WFD3ztl1UaO-sX-H0In5Z4GxVqDMuzzgOyabJtIDvBd1Xy7XV62OwTcDWnyGqjaBiYgCtEsIn9s3Ii4O9aqCpUnr3vO8TO8zkRcYTL7Bplq_p0nJ16qurm5JBsHxN-LS6OdlYBllMWn4obaMvPBBsfJ_UDE3-8ahK4i6RAIhIQG/s1001/IMG_20240315_135825_576.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1001" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2n-N2SKTSLnWJa8g6WFD3ztl1UaO-sX-H0In5Z4GxVqDMuzzgOyabJtIDvBd1Xy7XV62OwTcDWnyGqjaBiYgCtEsIn9s3Ii4O9aqCpUnr3vO8TO8zkRcYTL7Bplq_p0nJ16qurm5JBsHxN-LS6OdlYBllMWn4obaMvPBBsfJ_UDE3-8ahK4i6RAIhIQG/s320/IMG_20240315_135825_576.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a few gaps to fill and a few wires to hide. But the whole unit lifts off as one lump.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fluffy Bunnies, Daffodils & Chocolate?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Really?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMITQUudjfoPYFrKDUq-FAbiDYVQ0luC9WWTecjTsDyqD3bbLpz6_nl-qu5_uexka9JnRtMMXrWeVoaWs6sPZqVw1ceIi2mlUbnI0DiPrZV8uCxQDoTwN6ziQXxm8Fn3V9n1cGFhyMRgH0NTWkVlnAqW9r-Arm9wbbPSv7CvsqysOEr9PjOTrecA0sF_d/s828/screenshot.27386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="692" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMITQUudjfoPYFrKDUq-FAbiDYVQ0luC9WWTecjTsDyqD3bbLpz6_nl-qu5_uexka9JnRtMMXrWeVoaWs6sPZqVw1ceIi2mlUbnI0DiPrZV8uCxQDoTwN6ziQXxm8Fn3V9n1cGFhyMRgH0NTWkVlnAqW9r-Arm9wbbPSv7CvsqysOEr9PjOTrecA0sF_d/w334-h400/screenshot.27386.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a very tenuous link between the above picture and the "festival" called "Easter", but it is rarely promulgated. In this blog's traditional annual "review" of the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>real</b></span> Easter, we may possibly spot that all but forgotten link.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So for a couple of weeks, the fbbs will be sharing the Easter quiz puzzles that will be appearing on their seasonal leaflet.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is your starter for ten! (<b><span style="color: #800180;">click on the graphic to enlarge</span></b>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4I6fIoKzUeQsVZLESeRF3ZA4Lcg2lPgBfUYlLFMSUORZAbk12GPIkYuRtk0QowMIA2pfJKRjWwZFTgSLGrBmdb1iDlyfYi6hmKddsNdiGIPVUeR9dkQjdNto5g56NyhnSURXNO8jrw5gvCo6c7PyZjMLH2KSEDAXCzeASphJ8aYWagN-5Yvu9pDDLWKV/s511/screen.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="511" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4I6fIoKzUeQsVZLESeRF3ZA4Lcg2lPgBfUYlLFMSUORZAbk12GPIkYuRtk0QowMIA2pfJKRjWwZFTgSLGrBmdb1iDlyfYi6hmKddsNdiGIPVUeR9dkQjdNto5g56NyhnSURXNO8jrw5gvCo6c7PyZjMLH2KSEDAXCzeASphJ8aYWagN-5Yvu9pDDLWKV/w428-h156/screen.gif" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All you have to do is to complete the missing words. You need a clue? One is a domesticated animal and one a fruit conserve. Easy peasy! Later quizlets might be more tricky!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Explanation tomorrow!</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Book Review blog : Monday 18th March </b></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-1152629421929015122024-03-16T02:00:00.190+00:002024-03-16T18:50:33.628+00:00He Wants To Run A Train Company<p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Another</span></b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> Train Company ...</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23_qel1ngh-bvKNQTIf52L91ryXSesuDghQdvpjzIk7NnMDC7VBv-wKXyeifBN8blahyltk4TdB6RddvYJIhEhYVu4iQRuVlpVCdd9zWWJ4oQ07ddnoP3-PO-Q3xLk-jJMISPfXmjJcIdz7eJg7fU4_mZ0Fg0t8KD6XP8MQCF0KFZudDFHUWbozj9fZwC/s780/Screenshot_20240308-095457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23_qel1ngh-bvKNQTIf52L91ryXSesuDghQdvpjzIk7NnMDC7VBv-wKXyeifBN8blahyltk4TdB6RddvYJIhEhYVu4iQRuVlpVCdd9zWWJ4oQ07ddnoP3-PO-Q3xLk-jJMISPfXmjJcIdz7eJg7fU4_mZ0Fg0t8KD6XP8MQCF0KFZudDFHUWbozj9fZwC/s320/Screenshot_20240308-095457.jpg" width="219" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>This man is Ian Yeowart, founder of the Grand Central Railway company, an early contender to run open access services on the UK's national rail network. Currently Grand Central runs trains from Kings Cross to Sunderland and from Kings Cross to Bradford.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNOjitWyp05aAFMB1wsqTXfBsYy2DUoDb6B1AJKCiOyKMWfJBiAehXtOndVZY8tBuRfWyhEZHOIoyqGW-7GQZKEiDuMEWmUbTrmKgSFhVOAPCdguf5xTWct5VAANvuBhE5-XnHJMeHIfwRA-4oLDoAYFK5xbVXAZFhcsxz77DogspdPaEQhIshUbqtv56/s792/screenshot.27277.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="792" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNOjitWyp05aAFMB1wsqTXfBsYy2DUoDb6B1AJKCiOyKMWfJBiAehXtOndVZY8tBuRfWyhEZHOIoyqGW-7GQZKEiDuMEWmUbTrmKgSFhVOAPCdguf5xTWct5VAANvuBhE5-XnHJMeHIfwRA-4oLDoAYFK5xbVXAZFhcsxz77DogspdPaEQhIshUbqtv56/s320/screenshot.27277.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>At various times the holders of the East Coast main line franchise have operated a nominal Monday to Friday one train each way to Bradford via Leeds. Apart from this, neither Bradford nor Sunderland has enjoyed a proper service to London for many a long year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>The current Grand Central frequencies are hardly lavish but they are the best of any recent offering.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydTU_D3fCLu6K_cTqUdzUFTzddJ9XTZ9jhEwjTimDscJS6vuFe3nK-nU8JDlpBiq9vBMr787wuvdYzrA7KdcBuxBrKZ3W20baERFnp9td3MmUvbsUL-lk8efXN7oKfvx4i9OQFaALafCGqz_esI4q3SrlRF1sQoEzkQnMxdmOHVPDhX8Yu1ekTI_R10oL/s524/screenshot.27278.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydTU_D3fCLu6K_cTqUdzUFTzddJ9XTZ9jhEwjTimDscJS6vuFe3nK-nU8JDlpBiq9vBMr787wuvdYzrA7KdcBuxBrKZ3W20baERFnp9td3MmUvbsUL-lk8efXN7oKfvx4i9OQFaALafCGqz_esI4q3SrlRF1sQoEzkQnMxdmOHVPDhX8Yu1ekTI_R10oL/s320/screenshot.27278.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>Four to Bradford, five to Sunderland Monday to Friday ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ8N-sGBBL8CPLAwd-BbJw7WtHCgzTlh_UoaRdB1i6QLcRes2NzahA5LJb4EAKRMmXMdIifiwZ6O2ASATIwKViUCKxmcDW5NGMON0XpNNHRpbKU-SKWg224gtjttQUJpeg_BiCNLIxc7kNe6rWATxkZuI4XMMrdUnoUI9EgIboazwjI2IH0sKOWoWFgdt/s568/screenshot.27279.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="568" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ8N-sGBBL8CPLAwd-BbJw7WtHCgzTlh_UoaRdB1i6QLcRes2NzahA5LJb4EAKRMmXMdIifiwZ6O2ASATIwKViUCKxmcDW5NGMON0XpNNHRpbKU-SKWg224gtjttQUJpeg_BiCNLIxc7kNe6rWATxkZuI4XMMrdUnoUI9EgIboazwjI2IH0sKOWoWFgdt/s320/screenshot.27279.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>... with similar at weekends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>The gestation period for the Grand Central company was long and complex, far too intricate for a simple minded blogger like fbb. So he will limit himself to a slightly expurgated version of that provided by the sainted Wikipedia. Today's business is very much the second attempt at launching Grand Central - the first go being a failure! But young Ian stuck at it!</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">On 18 December 2007, operations commenced between Sunderland and London King's Cross. While awaiting delivery of all of the rolling stock, Grand Central initially operated only one Sunderland and King's Cross and one York and King's Cross service in each direction. During March 2008, the full timetable was introduced. Mechanical problems with the InterCity 125 fleet ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCNPLKNCAyGGpVE0Vzi_OTrlFaZvBrvmg2o8utAzRmKSx6p-emrabQsqLMM77kq_o9icl6QASpZi7_NtJtaewEiUp3ubTGvTDQENX768uapRy6GmyXa3pPoW7UJgQ7bQp-rW0Yc-hqVKZ2a2E4vAFcVXDdD9YuMcgUG9vEcQ56Rb6NBc2kV05ZYimLrFS/s992/screenshot.27364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="992" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCNPLKNCAyGGpVE0Vzi_OTrlFaZvBrvmg2o8utAzRmKSx6p-emrabQsqLMM77kq_o9icl6QASpZi7_NtJtaewEiUp3ubTGvTDQENX768uapRy6GmyXa3pPoW7UJgQ7bQp-rW0Yc-hqVKZ2a2E4vAFcVXDdD9YuMcgUG9vEcQ56Rb6NBc2kV05ZYimLrFS/w400-h204/screenshot.27364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">... led to services being regularly cancelled.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">During March 2008, Grand Central applied to the ORR to operate three daily services from Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross. In January 2009, it was granted access rights for three daily Bradford Interchange to King's Cross services and a fourth Sunderland to London King's Cross service.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">On 23 May 2010, Grand Central services between Bradford Interchange and King's Cross began. It had been hoped that the service would start in December 2009, but difficulties in securing rolling stock caused delay.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The chosen stock (whatever the company could get!) for Bradford was from the Adelante collection.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowHMxckVP5ajjD9lbN4WbZfgyKMFzqnchYvR-nmDXQJ8mRL_vm1kMtBoVetpKs_2FhX6zDEPS_xugna5s-9Ni91tbnNi8zrC7n-8HdcYwFF-vozP_fH0SQxT4upoCebul7km8XvdsUNtHF4c5IbWNnBb_in2dTNZWD2tX_2rVadfRGkO4RTasXfst1bI/s832/screenshot.27365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="832" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowHMxckVP5ajjD9lbN4WbZfgyKMFzqnchYvR-nmDXQJ8mRL_vm1kMtBoVetpKs_2FhX6zDEPS_xugna5s-9Ni91tbnNi8zrC7n-8HdcYwFF-vozP_fH0SQxT4upoCebul7km8XvdsUNtHF4c5IbWNnBb_in2dTNZWD2tX_2rVadfRGkO4RTasXfst1bI/w400-h289/screenshot.27365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">HSTs were not route-approved for Grand Cental's wiggle into Bradford Interchange which leaf to at least one occasion when an HST was rostered and the poot passengers were turfed out at Wakefield Kirkgate to continue their merry way by bus! The railway rumour machine does not reveal whether the allocation of an HST was due to stock shortage or a management bludner!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The service was innovative in many ways. Initially a more attractive fares system was applied, but, later, national fare scale normality returned. The picture of Marilyn Monroe at the real Grand Inion Station ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25Nu_lvpVYOusn0ZjieVedpMsyaG2zqP8Syq2Hnzje8O2NYj_zbsw-yNRTR4lRIKD33RWbCp0eBo1AUn7E-ZkIMP3bbIgYuEhk2AVaE5Y1zVMm6RRAkm9sWp5EtXPS2jxN401mb5pIRT3eGzvE7_ahevgcWuo7Kl5Tbof75zoMW8BZXAt_ChHpjwOrrso/s618/screenshot.27366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25Nu_lvpVYOusn0ZjieVedpMsyaG2zqP8Syq2Hnzje8O2NYj_zbsw-yNRTR4lRIKD33RWbCp0eBo1AUn7E-ZkIMP3bbIgYuEhk2AVaE5Y1zVMm6RRAkm9sWp5EtXPS2jxN401mb5pIRT3eGzvE7_ahevgcWuo7Kl5Tbof75zoMW8BZXAt_ChHpjwOrrso/w311-h400/screenshot.27366.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>... adorned the end panels of some of the carriages, but neither her ghost not a paid lookalike ever appeared - shame! What also never appeared was the full restaurant service as originally promised in the pre-service hype.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">One intriguing offer ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPNRQneaZ9DQ03d-mftign8UxHGYyJMnlc7t6Qlx1kyA7aHOuYlXqq3uq77JZRnbEjHlvszpybBkmg1eE8NlzL0FmK24qfJ1K8HiERP1NcCPO8uLQq3uPvkRIZ0A4lU-MRgKO8EOuHZ9l7fiq6OQC7zpO0_h0q_uX6u-4tHaP16IBYE5uWWXvFOBysti1/s304/screenshot.27367.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="304" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPNRQneaZ9DQ03d-mftign8UxHGYyJMnlc7t6Qlx1kyA7aHOuYlXqq3uq77JZRnbEjHlvszpybBkmg1eE8NlzL0FmK24qfJ1K8HiERP1NcCPO8uLQq3uPvkRIZ0A4lU-MRgKO8EOuHZ9l7fiq6OQC7zpO0_h0q_uX6u-4tHaP16IBYE5uWWXvFOBysti1/w400-h292/screenshot.27367.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... was board gane boards for the bored. Boxes of appropriate paraphernalia were available from the buffet. fbb did not travel that often but never saw anyone participating!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the stations used left a lot to be desired. The stop at Eaglescliffe (for Middlesbrough), although well placed geographically, was an unstaffed dump ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6iJ8ntonaE2aLHMxMsVf9d0xqXbuHkUlSJAIBYN8wruUajURs9_GZLaXQzQN746W78Y8PW1cplZbalL5s3JecItdFcqBdtkWpIdGuMdUyMufSIXHJ8hKzMOGfLlbjMGM81NRCodioDrV_cftB2bl4N6FYCOZu4TIZCdh8hU7-Hp4Iir7hF1UQlsVnd0x/s480/screenshot.27368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6iJ8ntonaE2aLHMxMsVf9d0xqXbuHkUlSJAIBYN8wruUajURs9_GZLaXQzQN746W78Y8PW1cplZbalL5s3JecItdFcqBdtkWpIdGuMdUyMufSIXHJ8hKzMOGfLlbjMGM81NRCodioDrV_cftB2bl4N6FYCOZu4TIZCdh8hU7-Hp4Iir7hF1UQlsVnd0x/w311-h400/screenshot.27368.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>... with a hut. Things are a little better nowadays - but not much! At least it now has a better hut!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvealCsDHLCAIIUtxeYTagIGX8RbEgW_uNVjB7-faFNyeUQRArC5LmD9x4Lh5AfGCRWR6UWtH0D5fto1t_WiDxo6Jp9tjd8j-Dn3-6RrYc7D8-497VBnK7MgD-pgQsliAdDV_WjivxaZTKLI22q3csVEWwStljX0XxuQmbzPyly1z5dXWlsGnlbVHe-TwD/s670/screenshot.27369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="670" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvealCsDHLCAIIUtxeYTagIGX8RbEgW_uNVjB7-faFNyeUQRArC5LmD9x4Lh5AfGCRWR6UWtH0D5fto1t_WiDxo6Jp9tjd8j-Dn3-6RrYc7D8-497VBnK7MgD-pgQsliAdDV_WjivxaZTKLI22q3csVEWwStljX0XxuQmbzPyly1z5dXWlsGnlbVHe-TwD/w400-h283/screenshot.27369.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">In November 2011, Grand Central was bought out by Arriva UK Trains for an undisclosed amount. At the time of the takeover, Grand Central had 123 employees, </span><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">a turnover of £18.9 million and debts of £44 million</b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">.</span></div></div><p><span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>fbb is no expert on Corporate Finance - but understands that "turnover" is not a lot of use unless it brings profits. His guess is that Grand Central was "up against it" with insufficient earnings to serviced</span> big debt. Arriva, presumably, saw a brighter financial future, although not that good as Deutsche Bahn started on a sell-off mission fairly soon after purchase.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">And</span><b style="text-align: left;"> A</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">nother</b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> New Route ...</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hmiAQByh59yNU547dc1RRQnd5G7f2ez10xXGyIkweFacuTVCYfQa0rS0ukc_R8ff98nhJ6arjcy3Y-m1UkWuLXB0qbBf6RUsZiUjA3l1GgI7bZ_IY9snCGiW2SsG5As0yloE_ej8n63DTNF8WyrRVT71Rsa-Snwe_gr-sqGfMJEjwauSLQor34i0AFpx/s654/Screenshot_20240315-140724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="654" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hmiAQByh59yNU547dc1RRQnd5G7f2ez10xXGyIkweFacuTVCYfQa0rS0ukc_R8ff98nhJ6arjcy3Y-m1UkWuLXB0qbBf6RUsZiUjA3l1GgI7bZ_IY9snCGiW2SsG5As0yloE_ej8n63DTNF8WyrRVT71Rsa-Snwe_gr-sqGfMJEjwauSLQor34i0AFpx/w400-h295/Screenshot_20240315-140724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In the lead-up to the takeover by Arriva, Mr Y had been working hard on a direct service from Blackpool to London Euston, similar in style to the two above. He had, eventually, got his "access rights"; some electric locos had been booked from freight operator Deutsche Bahn (as above) and rakes of yellow-stripe coaches were due to whizz up and down the main line to Euston under an intensive driver training scheme.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">Train times were published ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bkNBu3Z2gyonkDCb5P1-_7i67tcJ8hRDv_1JvtTF8JS6O9VwPec2YSZu0M8iU0dASY5ReVdiHFu4PWJzWqAdRhSqbpgUvS5ztei8RFWYam4JIc-euenp8oNhtq3VSVICwBSO7iAEooQO2QxHdsLwMHDMvvxZp80cakXawTsNTqrqZVY-lGOQpDG645Os/s694/screenshot.27370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="694" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bkNBu3Z2gyonkDCb5P1-_7i67tcJ8hRDv_1JvtTF8JS6O9VwPec2YSZu0M8iU0dASY5ReVdiHFu4PWJzWqAdRhSqbpgUvS5ztei8RFWYam4JIc-euenp8oNhtq3VSVICwBSO7iAEooQO2QxHdsLwMHDMvvxZp80cakXawTsNTqrqZVY-lGOQpDG645Os/w400-h349/screenshot.27370.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... with five return trips Monday to Saturday and four on Sunday. There was even a seating plan for those refurbished mark 4 coaches.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgqgbjX3P1Cnin0T3VOMKhUpwpV1jy6RA1t2Lr3mT_HLJTLRPMIejhZXBHvL0xL3bVowc8CwF2tBqum4pKTASxUKi6qCSbD9IJej2ep1jj7Pd0xJaLYtxasahX1zuhO6xvFpfoXuwmr3xzilK0sL_RjLR2UGMBhiie_GhlPe0DaMfq0XQDY7M6LNLz2P6/s834/screenshot.27371.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="834" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgqgbjX3P1Cnin0T3VOMKhUpwpV1jy6RA1t2Lr3mT_HLJTLRPMIejhZXBHvL0xL3bVowc8CwF2tBqum4pKTASxUKi6qCSbD9IJej2ep1jj7Pd0xJaLYtxasahX1zuhO6xvFpfoXuwmr3xzilK0sL_RjLR2UGMBhiie_GhlPe0DaMfq0XQDY7M6LNLz2P6/w400-h375/screenshot.27371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">Then Arriva abrupt</span></span><span style="text-align: left;">ly pulled the plug citing </span><b style="text-align: left;">unviability as a result of the Covid pandemic</b><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wIt6E7ZJc1GHMKPAft_3gPYIwWG5Zk7qm18gNl72UU-9vi6Yt2u__MzfdP7_KsanjTLYoJf3uiJS8kiF8HY8iBhnuWGRwnLtK5Bj-VhWFTJqafPGOm-HkHS0Er8GgntCiqWFZVEJqO2YejgTs0K6mRHO2tcBa9yoU0iwe8ZISE21RSnnNCDEeqFhGgvc/s887/original_d8059be5-21f4-4bee-8a39-a12b900ce6a9_Screenshot_20240315-142409%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="476" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wIt6E7ZJc1GHMKPAft_3gPYIwWG5Zk7qm18gNl72UU-9vi6Yt2u__MzfdP7_KsanjTLYoJf3uiJS8kiF8HY8iBhnuWGRwnLtK5Bj-VhWFTJqafPGOm-HkHS0Er8GgntCiqWFZVEJqO2YejgTs0K6mRHO2tcBa9yoU0iwe8ZISE21RSnnNCDEeqFhGgvc/w344-h640/original_d8059be5-21f4-4bee-8a39-a12b900ce6a9_Screenshot_20240315-142409%20(1).jpg" width="344" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">Yeah, right! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">More likely, the Arriva bean counters had realised how tricky things were deep down with the existing trains to Bradford and Sunderland and thus decided train operating was not much fun financially and would not be much fun in the foreseeable future - even when Covid was crushed.</span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>And</span><b> A</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">nother</b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> Train Company ...</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt-OxiOrPcL4gZUXz2ldSYmDmuE_ZbrTdWM4RwjwBewAcRsx8zSgl0gHAqEAQICxn-txb2CuWEKPmA3aI9cK3h6vT40hKAfoJDYL3aKFESX3v363hG0cXUg7E06aESZmOmupsM05yOjeNYBncgfZLmvVrm7aBb2qPYUG17evvkiyfr0W2XIPx1sRoVVC6/s766/screenshot.27282.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="766" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt-OxiOrPcL4gZUXz2ldSYmDmuE_ZbrTdWM4RwjwBewAcRsx8zSgl0gHAqEAQICxn-txb2CuWEKPmA3aI9cK3h6vT40hKAfoJDYL3aKFESX3v363hG0cXUg7E06aESZmOmupsM05yOjeNYBncgfZLmvVrm7aBb2qPYUG17evvkiyfr0W2XIPx1sRoVVC6/s320/screenshot.27282.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>Having given up his Grand Central train set, Ian Yeowart was nothing if not determined. After a lengthy struggle he was awarded access rights to run from Carmarthen to London Paddington. His new company, maintaining the historic USA theme, is known as <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Union</span></b> (<b>without Marilyn this time</b>).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>The route is shown below:-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO91aE7Jgh0VWkWNcP2AQJMFsbxw0jfkn9M4qR2LQhmTDFZrfjQWqLliOlt29EJ4TCRFF2IJ0pPbhp-cA_Sztzdz_StxzgxDKhDV3PPC4pGz5OCiRuPFDP4GUO88PGdSezDhvqzOAQN7K3mwzDePlUSxU9NYt8kz1wMGnQL9HZE5pdSqdsFRwA2ok6yqdp/s940/screenshot.27373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="940" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO91aE7Jgh0VWkWNcP2AQJMFsbxw0jfkn9M4qR2LQhmTDFZrfjQWqLliOlt29EJ4TCRFF2IJ0pPbhp-cA_Sztzdz_StxzgxDKhDV3PPC4pGz5OCiRuPFDP4GUO88PGdSezDhvqzOAQN7K3mwzDePlUSxU9NYt8kz1wMGnQL9HZE5pdSqdsFRwA2ok6yqdp/w400-h179/screenshot.27373.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>and continued.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZQFTm3qyIgmDSrzLtLa6F9KGkhtiH4L2tyYtXSgmVsIO01UX2HLlBjW0fYxLp9ZDJp7aI_AcWEOrBpQ85KjxvUSBeJehywNGsosYdnINpCEfcS5IIXnHxVrucczfGxIlsbh2zf3kwUsvg9wKKT8VjaJ8CIjuUuyT2Gk5D5zKG7noCpJCfPF55f1De9jQ/s828/screenshot.27374.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="828" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZQFTm3qyIgmDSrzLtLa6F9KGkhtiH4L2tyYtXSgmVsIO01UX2HLlBjW0fYxLp9ZDJp7aI_AcWEOrBpQ85KjxvUSBeJehywNGsosYdnINpCEfcS5IIXnHxVrucczfGxIlsbh2zf3kwUsvg9wKKT8VjaJ8CIjuUuyT2Gk5D5zKG7noCpJCfPF55f1De9jQ/w400-h135/screenshot.27374.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The stop at Severn Tunnel Junction is even less attractive than Eaglescliffe ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYbMO6_p0pUEVVNiTPlmvMjCEO5f1OqNsdfFeP2ecBnCi3__fpcElv0YsTS1vDJBodG6zvH3sc21T2v7MpP20Xp3CIOoBBB3Ef_oyAWyVn7IrS-c3H0gmPG8tx3CDXrkvsATlfCEn2Ev8ogdbVntnOgGZquOZUHFQkSdrZigqRoWHSUak6HFM35djlbOu/s828/screenshot.27375.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="828" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYbMO6_p0pUEVVNiTPlmvMjCEO5f1OqNsdfFeP2ecBnCi3__fpcElv0YsTS1vDJBodG6zvH3sc21T2v7MpP20Xp3CIOoBBB3Ef_oyAWyVn7IrS-c3H0gmPG8tx3CDXrkvsATlfCEn2Ev8ogdbVntnOgGZquOZUHFQkSdrZigqRoWHSUak6HFM35djlbOu/w400-h226/screenshot.27375.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but with twice as many platforms. Oh yes? Cardiff Parkway station does not exist - yet. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>So when will the Grand Union Carmarthen service start?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>Well, the boss has a minor</span> problem. He ain't got no trains! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>New trains are very expensive and 800 class bi-modes are hyper expensive. All the HST</span>s have gone or are going and there are no spare Adelantes left.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>Hmmm?</span></div><p></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>And</span><b> A</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">nother</b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> New Route ...</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-OTr8D45bNUnY_Rju5YHwhKw1_B96kvR5JEhxNKEc1MJoYfRW3-MXKbs7fJ4i5WtEZ8fXQHmgV9iDZsAWDF-BNkFqWvDunt7jsRbnoJMI3A-avon1ZzKZviL-OiDPaD_Q8fPMZLfhXX40EaEPCpzmq_ojlg8u9wpH33JfZEYNgwXCRbuq1UUkpDrpE4T/s890/Screenshot_20240308-093835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="671" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-OTr8D45bNUnY_Rju5YHwhKw1_B96kvR5JEhxNKEc1MJoYfRW3-MXKbs7fJ4i5WtEZ8fXQHmgV9iDZsAWDF-BNkFqWvDunt7jsRbnoJMI3A-avon1ZzKZviL-OiDPaD_Q8fPMZLfhXX40EaEPCpzmq_ojlg8u9wpH33JfZEYNgwXCRbuq1UUkpDrpE4T/w335-h445/Screenshot_20240308-093835.jpg" width="335" /></a></span></span></span></div><span><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Yeowart, whilst searching for Carmarthen trains down the back of the rail supply industry sofa, has now won some open access "slots" between Stirling and Euston. He's a bit older now ...</div><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcT72rmd7x2CjhmdchwfkJqqgeSf64LLEHMStI-eEZtzs8qm4R9fGDNIfy7xtE1DzE1CrlIbL_bz2akeoW1OetlN72sl3pLsppDcaDcS3Ma7Ild8nAaEYM8nYyGEb9TqfBHAO2q-xjnKc2k_dA06q09YorQzt3BpuDZeygkG2BZQYh52gg70Q9NJJ-6cj/s720/Screenshot_20240308-095438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="720" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcT72rmd7x2CjhmdchwfkJqqgeSf64LLEHMStI-eEZtzs8qm4R9fGDNIfy7xtE1DzE1CrlIbL_bz2akeoW1OetlN72sl3pLsppDcaDcS3Ma7Ild8nAaEYM8nYyGEb9TqfBHAO2q-xjnKc2k_dA06q09YorQzt3BpuDZeygkG2BZQYh52gg70Q9NJJ-6cj/w200-h192/Screenshot_20240308-095438.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span><span>... but still as determined as ever to get these services running. Here is t</span></span></span>he Stirling route.</div></span></span></span><div><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxygIJAo8bCMdTaxhAlHKa66iT8fyVBv6hhR0n0NKBwErmcdcGUA6f98_cgHnxvAorFIABVf9t3dnIifrQaNtDYBhDuonsQDNrb78anSO9Q6HtKgL8SSDr3jJ7Zi1167551xT_rXL2dO7yluXFyjlMRSArlRS9JoVlsKhMZxdM8CQvfLhueMHQr7_IXdu0/s744/Screenshot_20240308-093632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxygIJAo8bCMdTaxhAlHKa66iT8fyVBv6hhR0n0NKBwErmcdcGUA6f98_cgHnxvAorFIABVf9t3dnIifrQaNtDYBhDuonsQDNrb78anSO9Q6HtKgL8SSDr3jJ7Zi1167551xT_rXL2dO7yluXFyjlMRSArlRS9JoVlsKhMZxdM8CQvfLhueMHQr7_IXdu0/w310-h320/Screenshot_20240308-093632.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>/.. continuing south to London.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurm3ZYN5FqcXmXhIcLnEBbqnRydRI-Gd4PWLmeermfmrf7KnMfXEYB9HyVytJGO4cQeJnLLykUgo-sXhpxs7_L9K_QotAljg2aRXw-o-JjXe2aFVp1vPaCkPg07uNRkNqA-k0kAjXyswR5earilYT5MdgRxAgNg7vcXkdiOPX6xFe6VuwQHQ2GuPl-Nfg/s890/Screenshot_20240308-093652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="566" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurm3ZYN5FqcXmXhIcLnEBbqnRydRI-Gd4PWLmeermfmrf7KnMfXEYB9HyVytJGO4cQeJnLLykUgo-sXhpxs7_L9K_QotAljg2aRXw-o-JjXe2aFVp1vPaCkPg07uNRkNqA-k0kAjXyswR5earilYT5MdgRxAgNg7vcXkdiOPX6xFe6VuwQHQ2GuPl-Nfg/w323-h506/Screenshot_20240308-093652.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This time he reckons that he has found some spare trains lying around (technical term, "off lease"). There are some Meridians from East Midland Trains ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzffYDEiEIPm8M6txuK-U9lHZfy-hg-ONbz1JanXhYbJfKnuZ2O08bNyDwAvoflEdzvqbRv3f7GcbjoOhiD_9vQgv3H3JhBRPRjL_ErqyTfHV8DYrBBbhXzLLoADsGye2KNSjoYfBEivk75_RF7Q6SlNNd0wSaUy6bGq2tnTV6d4paDjd2Z_pLMGIXyp5A/s584/screenshot.27376.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="584" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzffYDEiEIPm8M6txuK-U9lHZfy-hg-ONbz1JanXhYbJfKnuZ2O08bNyDwAvoflEdzvqbRv3f7GcbjoOhiD_9vQgv3H3JhBRPRjL_ErqyTfHV8DYrBBbhXzLLoADsGye2KNSjoYfBEivk75_RF7Q6SlNNd0wSaUy6bGq2tnTV6d4paDjd2Z_pLMGIXyp5A/w400-h263/screenshot.27376.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and class 221 Super Voyagers (effectively the same type of train).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uNYMZ7-EWBk/ZfSvKqzeTeI/AAAAAAAHB60/C6nTUrkaq3kFqDY8LbOZiGheFiKG5uv6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1112/screenshot.27377.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1112" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uNYMZ7-EWBk/ZfSvKqzeTeI/AAAAAAAHB60/C6nTUrkaq3kFqDY8LbOZiGheFiKG5uv6gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h214/screenshot.27377.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS037S5Aeq7NWQwRER4NWohwPYf0Bey60OQXh9iUFbQ3EjDIime_SW0e6ID32hiUjAsLCYRcxcNEbZFwZ3Ht7mgMM452ojFVr7WGG9kGJLI4tu0_JQYz2py8EgFSmtN81UQgh7-FJX9o1WNvT5EAs-0VbqZF6YNUiYAtzpnTpO06Tc-D1WF7J4pQufV9o/s962/screenshot.27378.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="962" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS037S5Aeq7NWQwRER4NWohwPYf0Bey60OQXh9iUFbQ3EjDIime_SW0e6ID32hiUjAsLCYRcxcNEbZFwZ3Ht7mgMM452ojFVr7WGG9kGJLI4tu0_JQYz2py8EgFSmtN81UQgh7-FJX9o1WNvT5EAs-0VbqZF6YNUiYAtzpnTpO06Tc-D1WF7J4pQufV9o/w400-h264/screenshot.27378.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ian does not tell us whether they are ex CrossCountry or ex Virgin 221s but rolling stock experts will know.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What he <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>does</b></span> tell us is that they will be reconfigured (expensively???) to offer 2 + 1 seating for standard class. Presumably as reliable an offer as that for full catering on trains to Sunderland.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are also told that the lease of Voyager/Meridian units will be a stop-gap measure until he can get some proper (new?) trains.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope his piggy bank is full to overflowing?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, as they say, <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>who would want to run a railway company</b></span>?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Variety blog : Sunday 17th March </b></div></div></div></span></span></span></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-55236031314674091122024-03-15T02:00:00.162+00:002024-03-15T10:25:37.060+00:00Who Would Want To Run A Train Company?<p><span style="font-size: large;">One Man Would ...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PAntlW3Bd5vKWJrXtViqKtvCF7Ras6kqa3WhsyXVWKGMLz7utz1mITJY0oAGJpkRFPG8Zx3N-63Uby5n_8RkCiXhusVSVBhgULyZhS_-wiQkSQSLG5O0vhT8rpo8dVgWXSghmd5zKa6ZdoJrgEE9bQBS5zLoHp78lD-lZNpqKHjcV05Ef7fKSbYpJd4Y/s746/screenshot.27349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="746" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PAntlW3Bd5vKWJrXtViqKtvCF7Ras6kqa3WhsyXVWKGMLz7utz1mITJY0oAGJpkRFPG8Zx3N-63Uby5n_8RkCiXhusVSVBhgULyZhS_-wiQkSQSLG5O0vhT8rpo8dVgWXSghmd5zKa6ZdoJrgEE9bQBS5zLoHp78lD-lZNpqKHjcV05Ef7fKSbYpJd4Y/w400-h333/screenshot.27349.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the key speakers at this 2006 conference is still doing his stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN11oJ7NrJnB8TgEj-UBOT0haO03Xa5bJp6i3tRO75biWDj4vHjqZCJiainkdso8E7ryGC4JmrmUzGD5nt6LAfQLFsVF_KBvhvwMtYeXxbwt1t5TeE81ik3LW56HRppNJrI5O8RMiWwFMriO2KMoW0TIqii3pgFwMae_npr0AMO68ou5gcsyYCZ0z7Doz4/s837/screenshot.27350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN11oJ7NrJnB8TgEj-UBOT0haO03Xa5bJp6i3tRO75biWDj4vHjqZCJiainkdso8E7ryGC4JmrmUzGD5nt6LAfQLFsVF_KBvhvwMtYeXxbwt1t5TeE81ik3LW56HRppNJrI5O8RMiWwFMriO2KMoW0TIqii3pgFwMae_npr0AMO68ou5gcsyYCZ0z7Doz4/w339-h400/screenshot.27350.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that is the cheery chappie pictured top left on the assemblage of conference speakers above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cldf_iAL0wsh9ThtueChAuAcnqFF5-OQ8nGaXxgi-6vjQoV-NqZ7RiN9tDhBtZR1BQzADUmJ-WS7i-tEg6leF2PgfbqsW069yxMYh-lI7xGEibMtgbW5-KdostfQkbbyRTnmv7ikhNaJJzYDpVFmTDEt8AJJmgptLJXH5gpFf8QeDO_FPD9aspQCzI4v/s312/screenshot.27351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="234" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cldf_iAL0wsh9ThtueChAuAcnqFF5-OQ8nGaXxgi-6vjQoV-NqZ7RiN9tDhBtZR1BQzADUmJ-WS7i-tEg6leF2PgfbqsW069yxMYh-lI7xGEibMtgbW5-KdostfQkbbyRTnmv7ikhNaJJzYDpVFmTDEt8AJJmgptLJXH5gpFf8QeDO_FPD9aspQCzI4v/w150-h200/screenshot.27351.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We will return to this determined businessman and innovator in a while.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">For the moment we go back a bit. One of the early principles of rail privatisation was that competition should be allowed, nay encouraged, to bring down prices and lift standards - just like it had in the bus industry. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">You are permitted to laugh like a drain - although fbb has to confess he has neither seen nor heard a drain in a titter let alone convulsive guffaws.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">fbb will not be too concerned about the detailed history of Open Access but wll cover three such operations that he experienced first hand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">London Crosslink</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuhyphenhyphenyTigodRzNuE36vv7mS4BDA-O4Hk-L68hhHRKo0TIKCjVjjIpDQtDPHwSmdo2jPV3oJ49XwVrd6__VDBhD9jXhnPMUKcD4Pzv35eITKI99l8_vVt7r0v0iyyPIH2E_uLkmmm37yqQdfOfAwb6PZgiDp8jwZnPDOd6zwwOGvEOtDomVv8G-nvCO94PF/s776/screenshot.27356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="776" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuhyphenhyphenyTigodRzNuE36vv7mS4BDA-O4Hk-L68hhHRKo0TIKCjVjjIpDQtDPHwSmdo2jPV3oJ49XwVrd6__VDBhD9jXhnPMUKcD4Pzv35eITKI99l8_vVt7r0v0iyyPIH2E_uLkmmm37yqQdfOfAwb6PZgiDp8jwZnPDOd6zwwOGvEOtDomVv8G-nvCO94PF/s320/screenshot.27356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anglia Railways originally "planned£ to run hourly from Norwich to Southampton using a regenerated Southampton Terminus station. This is where, in the good old days, South Western boat trains woud disgorge their passengers who might well spend the night before they sailed in the huge South Western Hotel, seen looming beyond the platforms.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtHmNcpMbNQQshSyIrLeVUj1ZuNWcdhYZU0I_Iw9fTsCGIMbbr9tQrFThyzUPhDi5Z9U933e6WsgUddm1iiNjuE00gp6QP0yXAvzvrEntHCGdbh4alAbcVtfwLqLZdBtf2sLZrO6nOI_WjxY-7nm4hUKL1OJ6lso_UXAJstW6LCMkAhDivxQzPILyVhPm/s716/screenshot.27353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="716" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtHmNcpMbNQQshSyIrLeVUj1ZuNWcdhYZU0I_Iw9fTsCGIMbbr9tQrFThyzUPhDi5Z9U933e6WsgUddm1iiNjuE00gp6QP0yXAvzvrEntHCGdbh4alAbcVtfwLqLZdBtf2sLZrO6nOI_WjxY-7nm4hUKL1OJ6lso_UXAJstW6LCMkAhDivxQzPILyVhPm/w400-h274/screenshot.27353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quite why this terminus was thought to be a "good idea" for Anglia's innovative idea is unclear but it never happened. For a little over two years the Strategic Rail Authority (remember when we had one of those?) subsidised a service which went no further than Basingstoke. It didn't serve Norwich much, either.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It wasn't exactly InterCity quality!</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiculZZFkooM9c4DoxmNiNRErrTFBsSe9biN0IK3xKigaW4bMuDMM-dP3mvacfBJHnWdbpW7H2cC6oc6I3nzOUY0HkIvEVDGKDeAgPyqYCd0B-Bb6en3PLniYBeksF3uYdv_5tUWHrEg4VqQdf26VH4h1cITsX0qs5YsGcVcojgAnKJ8SvEW2pKq9fgqBFR/s910/screenshot.27355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="910" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiculZZFkooM9c4DoxmNiNRErrTFBsSe9biN0IK3xKigaW4bMuDMM-dP3mvacfBJHnWdbpW7H2cC6oc6I3nzOUY0HkIvEVDGKDeAgPyqYCd0B-Bb6en3PLniYBeksF3uYdv_5tUWHrEg4VqQdf26VH4h1cITsX0qs5YsGcVcojgAnKJ8SvEW2pKq9fgqBFR/w400-h255/screenshot.27355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Due to capacity restrictions on the North London Line, the service only ran infrequently with unequal headways. The majority of services did not go the full length of the route. Another drawback with the service was the varied stopping patterns employed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The timetable was a uselss shambles.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">There were six daily departures Monday to Saturday and five on Sundays. Below is an extract of the timetable, showing the service offered on weekdays heading eastbound:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncSkrb-4iiP_sTHlazk2g3i9wlPbRemPUq8yEAZHaPak9KHEsCQ9tBTDhxzFcBpJ7DvjPVVN-trIZJEqqe8WL388rOVULuJaUIFlG5YKyZwy6b1tEZcoe-jEGDs009rQOnwN1As0-lUgEohFFOZFAmpH0dp2DAXoO-_KFtKHRnWdz_x6lI4apn7zjuX27/s794/screenshot.27354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="788" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncSkrb-4iiP_sTHlazk2g3i9wlPbRemPUq8yEAZHaPak9KHEsCQ9tBTDhxzFcBpJ7DvjPVVN-trIZJEqqe8WL388rOVULuJaUIFlG5YKyZwy6b1tEZcoe-jEGDs009rQOnwN1As0-lUgEohFFOZFAmpH0dp2DAXoO-_KFtKHRnWdz_x6lI4apn7zjuX27/w398-h400/screenshot.27354.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">fbb travelled from Stratford (London) to Basingstoke and the trundle round the North London line was about the most tedious train journey fbb has ever made. It was really, really slo-o-o-o-o-w.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The train was almost empty.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Wrexham and Shropshire</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLhIs-wdyF8TLlqvSRXbk-ttImB9biMR8fbKs_SxJZ-eV_XFle_r_FOva1qrNaZxyww39pTT7XYTuPVMuPEWl_TeY1N2kBtXjffpbCpJdPk2PxnNguXW0TJvAQo5WBir7B0Zl0NyK3tcZ5BEozjJ8up_PFU97OL-2oH9dKREK4JhvKTVfnYzfDHB9vSIQ/s480/screenshot.27357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="480" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLhIs-wdyF8TLlqvSRXbk-ttImB9biMR8fbKs_SxJZ-eV_XFle_r_FOva1qrNaZxyww39pTT7XYTuPVMuPEWl_TeY1N2kBtXjffpbCpJdPk2PxnNguXW0TJvAQo5WBir7B0Zl0NyK3tcZ5BEozjJ8up_PFU97OL-2oH9dKREK4JhvKTVfnYzfDHB9vSIQ/w400-h334/screenshot.27357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This offshoot from Chiltern Railways was a much better idea than Norwich to Basingstoke. It should have been VERY successful but was spoiled by over restrictive routes demanded by those companies that might suffer from competition.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">fbb's journey was to the Bus and Coach exhibition at the NEC Birmingham. On the outward journey the train passed through Birmingham International without stopping and was not allowed to serve New Street. The Birmingham stop was at Aston from where fbb caught a local train back to International.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The same process was followed on the return journey. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The staff on the train back to Marylebone were amazed as fbb (and chum) were he first pax they had ever picked up at Aston. On the return, the train stopped at International for ten minutes but the doors were kept locked!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The staff were so-o-o-o committed and attentive and the grub was superb - all "boil in thr bag" but truly delicious ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK51rq9S8nJH1sjYm_Jt3b2OrvAncwieA9zrz3PLilkhZF_DnXqhqrW5WDWRN9nbozXKk8XLhO1WC38b6MD0SSvGA5Avu95dYjnygeuN-ZU65mrmjXPOFNJCoxSMXVYTR_SQMcKNnfWQucWJOzvTe1ae10clPMeJqfkivHUdVWRwPgszokIiXpWjNDnTE/s616/screenshot.27358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="616" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK51rq9S8nJH1sjYm_Jt3b2OrvAncwieA9zrz3PLilkhZF_DnXqhqrW5WDWRN9nbozXKk8XLhO1WC38b6MD0SSvGA5Avu95dYjnygeuN-ZU65mrmjXPOFNJCoxSMXVYTR_SQMcKNnfWQucWJOzvTe1ae10clPMeJqfkivHUdVWRwPgszokIiXpWjNDnTE/w400-h269/screenshot.27358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... plentiful neither did it require a second mortgage.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, in order to promote competition (see above), the regulator prevented competition and, largely, prevented passengers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When Arriva bought Chiltern, they promptly closed the Wrexham service. Many of the staff wept on the last day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnCBHPqceZDJQZd9yxbPMnAV_TkCCbWx_Smb7Ar8Ngcu2Lj9HUzSMpb3Dcbn6Ml7kDdwYo2xEcYOK9DeOm6Tg-lUUlgc_5kYdGlbhDW19R1gFYtN_BYnNN8jtnblUTT8tFXvnf0mCl6lOYWjorlLu50pvCvoFQEwO1OzTYMppSrqxTkMfXJ5jQOzzQxSl/s742/screenshot.27359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="742" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnCBHPqceZDJQZd9yxbPMnAV_TkCCbWx_Smb7Ar8Ngcu2Lj9HUzSMpb3Dcbn6Ml7kDdwYo2xEcYOK9DeOm6Tg-lUUlgc_5kYdGlbhDW19R1gFYtN_BYnNN8jtnblUTT8tFXvnf0mCl6lOYWjorlLu50pvCvoFQEwO1OzTYMppSrqxTkMfXJ5jQOzzQxSl/w400-h269/screenshot.27359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Understandably.<div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">Hull Trains</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNgQI5NXDtxelLJ2i6Qj3TObUc-EBk9Vr9RNBx5XgsmMyt-Uu0XyT9qlutNVJfBxF6o1E2AoDD4Fq2P4Gy3MBepsxhtBt5NrFXKggwv9CLYAdraKPNWQRMhvCbQg9J-Wmjv1yfiX1AKKSjE240fQWmxmo1jdSfxGKZ2E6_tg-SGpZI6sjni9J5eV7xupS/s486/screenshot.27360.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="486" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNgQI5NXDtxelLJ2i6Qj3TObUc-EBk9Vr9RNBx5XgsmMyt-Uu0XyT9qlutNVJfBxF6o1E2AoDD4Fq2P4Gy3MBepsxhtBt5NrFXKggwv9CLYAdraKPNWQRMhvCbQg9J-Wmjv1yfiX1AKKSjE240fQWmxmo1jdSfxGKZ2E6_tg-SGpZI6sjni9J5eV7xupS/w400-h315/screenshot.27360.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now firmly established under the ownership of First. the company now operates Class 8xx trains which have replaced Adelantes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOxD419O_hoWIm1vIYMSavW2pwKuLio83MIxDYaWU2XSINx2XSR1Az6ID-PkKS6qC53aBQkPBy18YmXwGhux0-i-afT_PLYuXg3P0CXVdNvWjd13Rk8cvBi2vtf4t_IYbm2IV87AJDS8TPpgUuNp_E52WK4Op6zyf0QrN4NDbFVg7X6F8nrHhWSLRKenS/s1390/screenshot.27361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1390" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOxD419O_hoWIm1vIYMSavW2pwKuLio83MIxDYaWU2XSINx2XSR1Az6ID-PkKS6qC53aBQkPBy18YmXwGhux0-i-afT_PLYuXg3P0CXVdNvWjd13Rk8cvBi2vtf4t_IYbm2IV87AJDS8TPpgUuNp_E52WK4Op6zyf0QrN4NDbFVg7X6F8nrHhWSLRKenS/w400-h233/screenshot.27361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The frequency has been steadily increased over the years.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Hull Trains initially ran three services per day; in response to passenger numbers, this was progressively expanded to as many as seven services per day by December 2006. In addition to increasing service frequency, the number of cars per train was also raised to boost capacity. Hull Trains initially operated a small fleet of three-car Class 170 Turbostar diesel multiple units; six years later, it exchanged these for four-car Class 222 Pioneer DMUs, followed by several five-car Class 180 Adelante DMUs and InterCity 125 HST sets. As of 2022, Hull Trains' services are operated by a fleet of five Class 802 Paragon bi-mode multiple units .</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">fbb has never ridden to Hull other than on local trains from Sheffield.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's on the aspirational list, but ...</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Loony Name - Lumo</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfUE4C6LAdBpqmpGfe-a7crP_s7rbdU8DfpzvXhfQI8DQDd4QZ0utIzYGvZgWco217BE97sCb1tNxFNa8xuw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looks good and is on fbb's "to do" list, hopefully some day with Mrs fbb for a holiday in Scotland.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another really daft idea is a day return from Axminster.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj7o4YR7zvaIKnufEDnBubr9hfUC-G6AWBiYDdXcJZpdvg33CsWr-MTRe4Tz-iPhLXiquGZCS-uAB3O6HVLAsolu7vxP_Gn3LkAlEcQgrEmKh71oW4TGFRmAHybqYm3ly9s9mjkOab3GCik7PHQl-yMFE_667VOVdWajBj1XXSSsSwiEEgSYH2BakLfPK/s638/screenshot.27362.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="638" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj7o4YR7zvaIKnufEDnBubr9hfUC-G6AWBiYDdXcJZpdvg33CsWr-MTRe4Tz-iPhLXiquGZCS-uAB3O6HVLAsolu7vxP_Gn3LkAlEcQgrEmKh71oW4TGFRmAHybqYm3ly9s9mjkOab3GCik7PHQl-yMFE_667VOVdWajBj1XXSSsSwiEEgSYH2BakLfPK/w400-h186/screenshot.27362.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 1025 seems do-able with a very early start, but the return ...</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspVe3lpIvkMsXG9zEK6-jt3M0R0cgXe2sO3zYHhYQc9WR-38CLnuOC6efP3NhzGG0s3KfY4qbtvLpBMHv0lzH64-kls4HM_E-7G1Ndje9tETQpJ5fVHJaGd5SsyPEB1u2l3MN5iBQqw134qzHvgoHd2klQsfWVRtvgtdZbyy8H0QCWvvzzxuNVeX3p9E4/s642/screenshot.27363.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="642" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspVe3lpIvkMsXG9zEK6-jt3M0R0cgXe2sO3zYHhYQc9WR-38CLnuOC6efP3NhzGG0s3KfY4qbtvLpBMHv0lzH64-kls4HM_E-7G1Ndje9tETQpJ5fVHJaGd5SsyPEB1u2l3MN5iBQqw134qzHvgoHd2klQsfWVRtvgtdZbyy8H0QCWvvzzxuNVeX3p9E4/w400-h181/screenshot.27363.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">... at 1526 from Edinburgh is hyper risky if there is a delay on the East Coast main line. The last train Waterloo to Axminster is 2020!!! Saturday times are shown.</span></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe just too risky.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">More open access tomorrow.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Weekend Variety blogs are now scheduled for Sunday and Monday</b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">.</span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>Next Open Access blog : Saturday 16th March<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></b></span></p></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-5374413620690343642024-03-14T02:00:00.181+00:002024-03-14T13:41:26.267+00:00 It Leads To Leeds : A Vision (Take Three)<p> <span style="font-size: large;">But Not Just Leeds</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEFlmAzpEn5LOV-xDB0aRaaS-ktAhU5Z4VTwS7OVPP5HcyT7CcZMI8ck-lyGFCCjtIVh_TWebMAWyex2Sc4pDLqbI05U6uGmLuXCU0W1chRjuEdfN142mfYDOfwyBZ1nrIP6r5Qc63ZaeVco_TYdXFsv_yOAm3qFlXK0LbnEB5taQIZIMdUPIvfD_zI6S/s720/Screenshot_20240313-093848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="720" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEFlmAzpEn5LOV-xDB0aRaaS-ktAhU5Z4VTwS7OVPP5HcyT7CcZMI8ck-lyGFCCjtIVh_TWebMAWyex2Sc4pDLqbI05U6uGmLuXCU0W1chRjuEdfN142mfYDOfwyBZ1nrIP6r5Qc63ZaeVco_TYdXFsv_yOAm3qFlXK0LbnEB5taQIZIMdUPIvfD_zI6S/w400-h230/Screenshot_20240313-093848.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Above is Tracy Brabin who was once a participant in "Coronation Street", a long running television programme about soap as fbb understands it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Public Transport does occasionally feature in the programme. Recently a tram fell off the viaduct.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHcgPcksQ9hk6yDuzq1CWxki1vicip7V-GTnN16JZqQuJ04PIugYRC_0xf9QpWEDIaKCTJ8e87QrFUC4L8Tru9GjWDBhzKVOLGfb0z3aTj0LHQ_-njNhVWlniAXIH7sySgcsFFlJddBbdo1dh7BvIFBpNHrHUAwNY-BZzW5SzOls_9KDk9DnQVJi0n4BW/s880/screenshot.27339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="880" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHcgPcksQ9hk6yDuzq1CWxki1vicip7V-GTnN16JZqQuJ04PIugYRC_0xf9QpWEDIaKCTJ8e87QrFUC4L8Tru9GjWDBhzKVOLGfb0z3aTj0LHQ_-njNhVWlniAXIH7sySgcsFFlJddBbdo1dh7BvIFBpNHrHUAwNY-BZzW5SzOls_9KDk9DnQVJi0n4BW/w400-h201/screenshot.27339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is a repeat of an incident in 1967 when a train vrashed off he same viaduct and fell on to Ena Sharpes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD89Ce8dldeCFqw3uMlSz_60fVdFmwv_VqaEwmiWclz3HSNVH3m2_8VFOxxk5p_M2Wv-kDVdga1AZc4sjGUjpnkxk21L_bXgE8m1b8sJCH8h4aBHjt9914mwlw93enXNGlioLXuPaBsSwyUs4EVZ1N_AneQzKwkBMkVx_DtJG_ohWURpCCuWNFiJPa2HhY/s740/screenshot.27340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD89Ce8dldeCFqw3uMlSz_60fVdFmwv_VqaEwmiWclz3HSNVH3m2_8VFOxxk5p_M2Wv-kDVdga1AZc4sjGUjpnkxk21L_bXgE8m1b8sJCH8h4aBHjt9914mwlw93enXNGlioLXuPaBsSwyUs4EVZ1N_AneQzKwkBMkVx_DtJG_ohWURpCCuWNFiJPa2HhY/w368-h400/screenshot.27340.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>The Rovers' hair-netted battle-axe survived but the train, they say, was a write-off.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our Tracy eventually became Mega Metro Mayor of West Yorkshire ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvrwOtnaVZ-ryfScsfChsN-wvZPSLH4rpeb4N8p4VftvDttTrUjOnJi7_vRmA8NXK_GlHfGbuzApxD_B0NVmxWSFmi54vFRq7kZ96QEola8ulD4l5kQjlxc0nxW5M5YvdnKfQiLJDHWoVBbvO59ELMLHdzM8M8vGiiXqaTDns9mqq02OhM34GKynaiofo/s250/screenshot.27338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="250" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvrwOtnaVZ-ryfScsfChsN-wvZPSLH4rpeb4N8p4VftvDttTrUjOnJi7_vRmA8NXK_GlHfGbuzApxD_B0NVmxWSFmi54vFRq7kZ96QEola8ulD4l5kQjlxc0nxW5M5YvdnKfQiLJDHWoVBbvO59ELMLHdzM8M8vGiiXqaTDns9mqq02OhM34GKynaiofo/w320-h171/screenshot.27338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>... now dubbed a "Combined Authority" which fbb thanks used to be a "Metropolitan County". Whatever, it is one expensive administrative layer above the West Yorkshire PTE, branded as "Metro" which, as yet doesn't have a tram or a trolleybus, let alone a metro!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our Tracy appears to have some spectacular ideas ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGUhgyU_J3HVUKW809E_2vT0Qpsod7rQw40U6Dd_KreATxdstkUejn8HWUI2G76_Pdz9uqH2Je0IcpyOIyryVERyI8Mu3jzsa3mOSmA6V5rSVuAeB3SY8wSTfwSXvZtDbCBfrgOyC2O_V8pwLEGfJUFk3NeUUphJ1QzcWb31uyjJJ8RNKYylaJqWL6t_F/s720/Screenshot_20240313-201803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="720" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGUhgyU_J3HVUKW809E_2vT0Qpsod7rQw40U6Dd_KreATxdstkUejn8HWUI2G76_Pdz9uqH2Je0IcpyOIyryVERyI8Mu3jzsa3mOSmA6V5rSVuAeB3SY8wSTfwSXvZtDbCBfrgOyC2O_V8pwLEGfJUFk3NeUUphJ1QzcWb31uyjJJ8RNKYylaJqWL6t_F/w400-h243/Screenshot_20240313-201803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but to what extend the ideas are practicable is sometimes debatable. Are the ideas really hers?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, big plans for public transport are afoot complete with a rather sugary non-event of a video.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyDgL7l1tKcswCeRzVRDWpPPGoYFObjlgW--DhqFw4YtHdR40nSci7XFKJPjbaxFaKuvu7NYR3AtR7CqT2bsw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb's immediate reaction was to think, "pass the sick bucket" - but it does have an acronym which wasn't terribly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>CLEAR</b></span></div>Did you spot it in there? No, neither did fbb until it appeared at the end!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfUYITzmdQCWu-LO7MwBGxIzgi3Hi6wdJk1QNRgTMkbRX_ONosAaZn-UOb9w2s4drl2fSJzEEgzCmh5GSF7bZBTKobrQBRobWhJBx-sBG-XE9E5CjSTnLbzknmmWCMeo-We1A65mvGT83V9LoEN4WYCWwGUrVIR2Dlz2Ay9KUJ3YFzv4N-paOWpxsg5ga/s643/screenshot.27343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="643" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfUYITzmdQCWu-LO7MwBGxIzgi3Hi6wdJk1QNRgTMkbRX_ONosAaZn-UOb9w2s4drl2fSJzEEgzCmh5GSF7bZBTKobrQBRobWhJBx-sBG-XE9E5CjSTnLbzknmmWCMeo-We1A65mvGT83V9LoEN4WYCWwGUrVIR2Dlz2Ay9KUJ3YFzv4N-paOWpxsg5ga/w400-h220/screenshot.27343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>You would think canny Yorkshire tykes would <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>expect</b></span> its public transport to be all five normally, without a trendy video!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there exists very lengthy report with a huge list of projects for delivery by the end of 2025. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Best of Yorkshire luck with them, then</b></span>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few are "delivered", a slightly larger few are "in delivery" but the majority are "in preparation". <b style="font-size: large;">Best of Yorkshire luck with them, then</b> again!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, to go with the video there is an on-line PDF which details what might happen. ("what might happen" <b><span style="font-size: medium;">=</span></b> "connectivity infrastructure plan" in consultants newspeak)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo-_8cb0BZxtTImuedFFbMBJaKU1Ty27dsM9wslxnFhkW49aZhAbISe-4tgZD2WkZmYti14oRlCu8_oOaV6xE1zgD-dV1x316pNvJFGeMOK2WSodj5vSMGE0aRY1sUkfr1g2-NaUFbar7doE3rIk81SL78qGP9zzwm8v-sKxwSAKFI-vMmX9D4BfYJfzV/s621/Screenshot_20240313-152607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="621" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo-_8cb0BZxtTImuedFFbMBJaKU1Ty27dsM9wslxnFhkW49aZhAbISe-4tgZD2WkZmYti14oRlCu8_oOaV6xE1zgD-dV1x316pNvJFGeMOK2WSodj5vSMGE0aRY1sUkfr1g2-NaUFbar7doE3rIk81SL78qGP9zzwm8v-sKxwSAKFI-vMmX9D4BfYJfzV/w400-h239/Screenshot_20240313-152607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Even more interesting (slightly less sugary?) is another on-line document.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzifT6Vn1tu9XMv18T9QP3i7QXSSW-8_TfwzBireSNnJ0H4rAfndvoNurk1_bDY1gohCPz3AauQZdZFsCajgdLe08n8vXBD91HLYyaQJcgXHJO8RqGGVB04t1rKEC4lOx65D-3DA73r8izcp9Qi7NSZv28ERgiuZPjYFkWg8O91VgFLFlBzCI4d4pi66T/s619/Screenshot_20240313-152614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="619" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzifT6Vn1tu9XMv18T9QP3i7QXSSW-8_TfwzBireSNnJ0H4rAfndvoNurk1_bDY1gohCPz3AauQZdZFsCajgdLe08n8vXBD91HLYyaQJcgXHJO8RqGGVB04t1rKEC4lOx65D-3DA73r8izcp9Qi7NSZv28ERgiuZPjYFkWg8O91VgFLFlBzCI4d4pi66T/w400-h243/Screenshot_20240313-152614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This offers a list of corridors in the "Combined Authority" with plans for their future. Here is part of just one example.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHF3CL9W-A1DxdI2UMH5AHERsjjtWl92zNnlYjit18eTGApOHXHizWfG3zkXqs8DSPSkNy-A7mYtI4HXZo2Ry6w1qISMBYxjLv0SyqVkJcrwjtkBgHochm8Cc-MucwJO9TR3aq1HjbqvpwRAxuWbJA8VPhzwUjNNlBgBDlM-p9W927O8TLoKAVP2mQ_ut/s882/Screenshot_20240313-153421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="447" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHF3CL9W-A1DxdI2UMH5AHERsjjtWl92zNnlYjit18eTGApOHXHizWfG3zkXqs8DSPSkNy-A7mYtI4HXZo2Ry6w1qISMBYxjLv0SyqVkJcrwjtkBgHochm8Cc-MucwJO9TR3aq1HjbqvpwRAxuWbJA8VPhzwUjNNlBgBDlM-p9W927O8TLoKAVP2mQ_ut/w324-h640/Screenshot_20240313-153421.jpg" width="324" /></a></div>The shaded bit at the bottom reads "options to be developed", a description which should really apply to the whole splendid scheme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unlike the Leeds tram and the Leeds trolleybus, this is a truly massive coñunty-wide project OR vision OR aspiration OR one of these:-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQY8R33g2k-_K7lWDv2o99kDP71xBqzX0KqhnsCvv_l9MdUEIN0D5LCj8gUKbSwEWM-q7bD7RTe9y173Qp9zCyOTgV8-JuA8QRFkfCjDBWPEH6lOjIb1nSWiOdJZtOJYc4TgDltbVvk85bv7GJIVFq5b6fB_vHl09c6YjECLkg7BE-8_K5_agsBFM26lV/s720/screenshot.27345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQY8R33g2k-_K7lWDv2o99kDP71xBqzX0KqhnsCvv_l9MdUEIN0D5LCj8gUKbSwEWM-q7bD7RTe9y173Qp9zCyOTgV8-JuA8QRFkfCjDBWPEH6lOjIb1nSWiOdJZtOJYc4TgDltbVvk85bv7GJIVFq5b6fB_vHl09c6YjECLkg7BE-8_K5_agsBFM26lV/w226-h400/screenshot.27345.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>The whole thing seems very aspirational, very visionary, very pipe dreamy; and lacking hard-nosed facts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like that sweet Australian girl, <b>Emma Chizzit</b>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is no real indication of how it can be afforded, but maybe Tracy (Labour) and her chums will expect Keir (Labour) and his chums to send the appropriate bags of £50 notes from Westminster to "T'North" once he has won the election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fat chance</b></span>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />But there is a map!<br /><br /><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>YELLOW</b></span> is local trains</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>ORANGE</b></span> is long(er) distance trains </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>RED</b></span> is labelled "considered for mass rapid transit".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Considered?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to a somewhat inappropriate choice of colours, fbb sometimes finds it difficult to separate orange and red!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the north selection ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2gLL9Y6zg3G7SNd7dDYHpuMAmwhmff7wWfN3xUjT9Pu-HwVptn3Fb2RBbZwITRJ3ubjQV4V41jA3YfrtpGQCEq0tENnc1S1CvUcqt_2IfgmcwYF30nP8kuFWlOTdqyxuNQQsLyZYsJuT2qgIL1z-stupXTFHGtD_b6bqtFkQCm9EtUFkEJKTvlxgLjOL/s956/screenshot.27346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="956" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2gLL9Y6zg3G7SNd7dDYHpuMAmwhmff7wWfN3xUjT9Pu-HwVptn3Fb2RBbZwITRJ3ubjQV4V41jA3YfrtpGQCEq0tENnc1S1CvUcqt_2IfgmcwYF30nP8kuFWlOTdqyxuNQQsLyZYsJuT2qgIL1z-stupXTFHGtD_b6bqtFkQCm9EtUFkEJKTvlxgLjOL/w400-h239/screenshot.27346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... south west to Cleckhuddersfax ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpjWX49twyT2gXUSb7SJXicox_IUiC_dFA4WEi2-S-JNoksv9whSyfndrr9hofQhqRl0FMdWHu-YoooEciPuUWZI-uvqJWd8aGvXkdrPyG8jwJHLHuSpYb50V3zwKGdUcMRYTcbZBzQBhNkFlk1DL5tixIkU87nvk0kwTgmRqe8tVo6_wRgskK0143paL/s686/screenshot.27347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="566" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpjWX49twyT2gXUSb7SJXicox_IUiC_dFA4WEi2-S-JNoksv9whSyfndrr9hofQhqRl0FMdWHu-YoooEciPuUWZI-uvqJWd8aGvXkdrPyG8jwJHLHuSpYb50V3zwKGdUcMRYTcbZBzQBhNkFlk1DL5tixIkU87nvk0kwTgmRqe8tVo6_wRgskK0143paL/w330-h400/screenshot.27347.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>... and east/south east.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaFtQso64vwTigiQz84a_4_Ml0gQzo9OfTn1QJ3iWA8Xg4P2xtSlHhKnZbYzHfT3bGoTlR9o_iXlPNih02a_t0eIU4dMblMpyB3HgpWBZpFbKoUeNwkuZFkiV8Vw-DNh3x6-kkg0T9ek12Dpv5Fsy5PPXpjdIMo_plLVL4kl3lVf7U7b1hCOUzIWt4UyR/s788/screenshot.27348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="788" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaFtQso64vwTigiQz84a_4_Ml0gQzo9OfTn1QJ3iWA8Xg4P2xtSlHhKnZbYzHfT3bGoTlR9o_iXlPNih02a_t0eIU4dMblMpyB3HgpWBZpFbKoUeNwkuZFkiV8Vw-DNh3x6-kkg0T9ek12Dpv5Fsy5PPXpjdIMo_plLVL4kl3lVf7U7b1hCOUzIWt4UyR/w400-h308/screenshot.27348.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is a huge amount to tram to construct and, <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>more scarily, to pay for by 2040</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Currently just two extracts from the above are being immediately " considered".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhBCucmpo4SkKtjTL-VRQC0932urDX7Z0Osqy-sl0t60Glq-rTFrOOBzUIXLXakhqxncEevTwGcxgM5lcaf0kBW5FBYsbylrOZ0HOXBDfaP6kW4Er81TKk25WUOhIQBED0HhNXFcrVoU7fkW-BuXSIid5K-i42u4_uxnjnnwwROzrRoV3ckMd1YW6TIM/s1200/0_e-1a-preffered-way-forward-Leeds-and-Bradford-lines-1_result.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1200" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhBCucmpo4SkKtjTL-VRQC0932urDX7Z0Osqy-sl0t60Glq-rTFrOOBzUIXLXakhqxncEevTwGcxgM5lcaf0kBW5FBYsbylrOZ0HOXBDfaP6kW4Er81TKk25WUOhIQBED0HhNXFcrVoU7fkW-BuXSIid5K-i42u4_uxnjnnwwROzrRoV3ckMd1YW6TIM/w400-h269/0_e-1a-preffered-way-forward-Leeds-and-Bradford-lines-1_result.webp" width="400" /></a></div>A tram runs from Leeds to Bradford, and a second line south to the White Rose shopping centre en route to Wakefield and Huddersfield.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another set of maps (a different set) even puts colours to groups of services. But in this case, the routes are not quite the same.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the north group Mark 2 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLJ5-b-YnWnGQFqiAmXIvW9unpA0tLNb8jIXnzzWbgD_GnhOOc1LiKFWUnBi2mzIR3x3j7Fh-6x9xXO5HeGD3W_3cnqPYwnJK0V-aMWvy4SZmDB2kvvHQODGODGuJOYqsEfYG5fzFj9_eZK_RWM58fHKzVyAYlmWnYMRk_FrLvhpKooOse0OYCj-cOg8z/s720/Screenshot_20240313-162508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLJ5-b-YnWnGQFqiAmXIvW9unpA0tLNb8jIXnzzWbgD_GnhOOc1LiKFWUnBi2mzIR3x3j7Fh-6x9xXO5HeGD3W_3cnqPYwnJK0V-aMWvy4SZmDB2kvvHQODGODGuJOYqsEfYG5fzFj9_eZK_RWM58fHKzVyAYlmWnYMRk_FrLvhpKooOse0OYCj-cOg8z/w400-h240/Screenshot_20240313-162508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... Cleckhuddersfax ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-LjbBrW86YxwDR9lMYUYgM92xWsrLsXBUCBlYO6Cpq12TxPQWtHz_CyhlA0-D2KSBs2W4G3VPW-sorND1sCnA1ONDl_IZeAsx7b7SUJWnpVryH2e9cqJF4j3_jD1NyMBEyRzAsca7n7BbqR7MvCIG4XnQqNPkM5S-T-Z47gJDUuq2MyI0jIfZp_-93OV/s629/Screenshot_20240313-162456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="629" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-LjbBrW86YxwDR9lMYUYgM92xWsrLsXBUCBlYO6Cpq12TxPQWtHz_CyhlA0-D2KSBs2W4G3VPW-sorND1sCnA1ONDl_IZeAsx7b7SUJWnpVryH2e9cqJF4j3_jD1NyMBEyRzAsca7n7BbqR7MvCIG4XnQqNPkM5S-T-Z47gJDUuq2MyI0jIfZp_-93OV/w400-h313/Screenshot_20240313-162456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>and east/south east as before.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrnmwhPof_tpS1O-r1em5Iu0GlyAmsvax25Xswis3IrMH4bU4ml9X6WuOm9f3iXWGB5axuZDtCzP_27-77HK3pOQRCXZ-FTO6J4b9Asu4S1jb483dWmFdrINEwaEm7l-hsZkw7Kqf8MB9G54hpkG_cg24qqYvyT_dQrl6HorTqHaSyd_QiF-LRWhuwO1/s720/Screenshot_20240313-162439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="720" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrnmwhPof_tpS1O-r1em5Iu0GlyAmsvax25Xswis3IrMH4bU4ml9X6WuOm9f3iXWGB5axuZDtCzP_27-77HK3pOQRCXZ-FTO6J4b9Asu4S1jb483dWmFdrINEwaEm7l-hsZkw7Kqf8MB9G54hpkG_cg24qqYvyT_dQrl6HorTqHaSyd_QiF-LRWhuwO1/w400-h344/Screenshot_20240313-162439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There will be plenty of passengers dumbfounded by those <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b>dark blue</b></span> lines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hmmm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aspirations and outline plans are OK as a discussion starter but they are rarely fulfilled in practice. By 2040 Tracy is unlikely still to be Super-Mayor and the new incumbent may have other ideas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">So more money wasted by the Politicians - if they have got any money to waste.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bankrupt Birmingham begs the question!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Grand railway blog : Friday 15th March </b></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-9280674296029731312024-03-13T02:00:00.074+00:002024-03-13T02:00:00.247+00:00It Leads To Leeds : Trolleybus Troubles<p><span style="font-size: large;">Politics & Transport - Attempt 2</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgavnYE322UrH2UtXwahHaVMpzB_MSJjfUto1VB-JmsW3PRV_vBxMDfbOUy7ygjHHWlipHQEVy4ByPJ_2gYhNUjNXte-3AlSsJi6VqLmWiptYGeF05V3CnZ7ef0E_L3_DNdV3BeSyaBUlbGhxyjc835jGmB1r051dGyZYtigQVgCf1qtT-PAiFw-yXi3OF/s808/screenshot.27318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="808" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgavnYE322UrH2UtXwahHaVMpzB_MSJjfUto1VB-JmsW3PRV_vBxMDfbOUy7ygjHHWlipHQEVy4ByPJ_2gYhNUjNXte-3AlSsJi6VqLmWiptYGeF05V3CnZ7ef0E_L3_DNdV3BeSyaBUlbGhxyjc835jGmB1r051dGyZYtigQVgCf1qtT-PAiFw-yXi3OF/w400-h179/screenshot.27318.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It certainly looked cool and the artists'impressions were impressive in the extreme. Having failed to gain Government approval for the tram network and having spent vast sums of money planning it and preparing the case, it was thrown out by the late Alistair Darling, then Minister of Roads and not so mich Minister of (Public) Transport.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Undeterred by the thwarted effort, the Council then sought to try trolleybuses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C9M1s54yvje_cHH7V6kY8Ybm1fyYgJXuoASYJgrFtm5CIpBw18manF39ChhAiIbSTjCxYFp0toBiJpTb7GW4QAcHmDmriV49N4_NdKoTwqiPk0Td_w6Vc8rstvLFtSteldzvMUblIW-NiRHQZQtQpY-09ou_oqsL5RQZsy7IEIVxbhnifik2wCUw-0jl/s684/screenshot.27320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="684" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C9M1s54yvje_cHH7V6kY8Ybm1fyYgJXuoASYJgrFtm5CIpBw18manF39ChhAiIbSTjCxYFp0toBiJpTb7GW4QAcHmDmriV49N4_NdKoTwqiPk0Td_w6Vc8rstvLFtSteldzvMUblIW-NiRHQZQtQpY-09ou_oqsL5RQZsy7IEIVxbhnifik2wCUw-0jl/w400-h281/screenshot.27320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Even more money was spent on consultants and showy publicly and the proposals were duly submitted to the Government.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, astoundingly, the Government approved the scheme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Three routes formed the initial proposal ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KoqMkrht1vQ6N1LjvQWCtw3ggB1T-3auZ6ZgeP06zf-WGuh1OPw4dSGKTV9AZEV2Cme3G3kejbcSyfHK36RyNiUPHcygRR3QYsJo7ozraSQPfENaPRGQDVVJfYy_czAOtIQodVyloeIS5pAq1praX-7cCzIO7xVsjcsFzBdwFvYCldpyX7Ilrf656Umk/s726/screenshot.27319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="726" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KoqMkrht1vQ6N1LjvQWCtw3ggB1T-3auZ6ZgeP06zf-WGuh1OPw4dSGKTV9AZEV2Cme3G3kejbcSyfHK36RyNiUPHcygRR3QYsJo7ozraSQPfENaPRGQDVVJfYy_czAOtIQodVyloeIS5pAq1praX-7cCzIO7xVsjcsFzBdwFvYCldpyX7Ilrf656Umk/w400-h283/screenshot.27319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and there was much rejoicing in the marbled corridors of Leeds Town Hall.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eCunhJVMxUk6XNefAw-4CfgruAyCmpIDYpN-NfHfwMN68fbyr5ZXtGPmhubmMoDOOT803tqVQgUgUs4Ciz6JxV5cO2KXgBJNVvVH-mDx-lrI_IJar4cVI-Gapy8muPQCpCsgtHXQc6xPCvd9XiUZp5EXUSHAqnKaZO8KC1ciVNM1W6yI9Kb5-5ilvY1z/s678/screenshot.27327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eCunhJVMxUk6XNefAw-4CfgruAyCmpIDYpN-NfHfwMN68fbyr5ZXtGPmhubmMoDOOT803tqVQgUgUs4Ciz6JxV5cO2KXgBJNVvVH-mDx-lrI_IJar4cVI-Gapy8muPQCpCsgtHXQc6xPCvd9XiUZp5EXUSHAqnKaZO8KC1ciVNM1W6yI9Kb5-5ilvY1z/w378-h400/screenshot.27327.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>In many ways, the initial scheme was modest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>North route</b></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"> - from a new park & ride site at Bodington (up to 800 spaces) to Leeds city centre;</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCazyXCMuLi880OSfeg2rGrwGeckXX4ooy3h33OK8wQwgfC1l-Z8JlZjNv4vc1xjwato9CfYQBtzJUz5XQXBccZyNWODyPJhHCGvIlbi0XT2DK2SplNmrKzSl98RCWAjFDQb7xwftOH6h3MqYCtTv9MHXuogChQSVwzrdEN1doKDoGKiyG82CxHeYOqWu/s648/screenshot.27324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCazyXCMuLi880OSfeg2rGrwGeckXX4ooy3h33OK8wQwgfC1l-Z8JlZjNv4vc1xjwato9CfYQBtzJUz5XQXBccZyNWODyPJhHCGvIlbi0XT2DK2SplNmrKzSl98RCWAjFDQb7xwftOH6h3MqYCtTv9MHXuogChQSVwzrdEN1doKDoGKiyG82CxHeYOqWu/w394-h400/screenshot.27324.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>South route</b></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"> - from a new park & ride site at Stourton (up to 2,200 spaces) to Leeds city centre; </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnLOklciVu06VQpErQXr3nqk6cRf3vLwRGy2AjjEroKxLcHgk8wgkXieoLfAFRBEHA8B5zBYLsUO6peNCyFJqNmBlb28DliCM2FJGyKNfTdh68zjC_76bHw4zBXroYTV9MYgWd8ZFGSUCw-mTyKAixIqV1qSKrAAZWk6y70sQ_ZK1y3nYZmw1kNB7e1Uv/s466/screenshot.27325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="466" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnLOklciVu06VQpErQXr3nqk6cRf3vLwRGy2AjjEroKxLcHgk8wgkXieoLfAFRBEHA8B5zBYLsUO6peNCyFJqNmBlb28DliCM2FJGyKNfTdh68zjC_76bHw4zBXroYTV9MYgWd8ZFGSUCw-mTyKAixIqV1qSKrAAZWk6y70sQ_ZK1y3nYZmw1kNB7e1Uv/s320/screenshot.27325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">If the colouring means anything, you would assumer that these routes would operate cross city, thus mirroring one of the failed tram routes!</span></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">East route - from Leeds city centre to St James's Hospital. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This route was later withdrawn from the proposals</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7dyyzcA7dKmY_CmxItV5KDeYbysCtf-zHYwT8jZnArYah_mBOD1yjPoYMnonTPfBx_admm3EOrYrUrCSfPR8PRsR2-qe_JVpdqHvNRnYu23XcsQqB87yfG3OUnqS1GmDMA_50qWF9XLK18XiW4l_IGmVFYWffNMoIKlO1ST6vqmAEG-21tmkRsZX__5I/s582/screenshot.27326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="582" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7dyyzcA7dKmY_CmxItV5KDeYbysCtf-zHYwT8jZnArYah_mBOD1yjPoYMnonTPfBx_admm3EOrYrUrCSfPR8PRsR2-qe_JVpdqHvNRnYu23XcsQqB87yfG3OUnqS1GmDMA_50qWF9XLK18XiW4l_IGmVFYWffNMoIKlO1ST6vqmAEG-21tmkRsZX__5I/w400-h125/screenshot.27326.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div>The <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>North route</b></span> was a good one to choose as it is very busy with buses and would benefit from he increase in speed that was proposed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5hTya1rvGt21KHRvzWqmesoqzeFFCo8DISipFFjSxAHmFtXY3bvhkp3AEaXPdPuIpIcOj3LzkYXLLtPqC24prTr8HElpdYQCCs6V6PZrzed2GyR7T3Cq7v4AO_aO-JUkYD6Gk_ibSoYKf_GMrXadIdC49ScqQvj6UpzcIk_UtIuqG5cYJa2p07yDHIXq/s746/screenshot.27328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="746" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5hTya1rvGt21KHRvzWqmesoqzeFFCo8DISipFFjSxAHmFtXY3bvhkp3AEaXPdPuIpIcOj3LzkYXLLtPqC24prTr8HElpdYQCCs6V6PZrzed2GyR7T3Cq7v4AO_aO-JUkYD6Gk_ibSoYKf_GMrXadIdC49ScqQvj6UpzcIk_UtIuqG5cYJa2p07yDHIXq/w400-h330/screenshot.27328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was all looking great for a prompt start in the road widening and junction rebuilding that would be necessary to give the swish continental-style trolleybuses a slick route.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a snag! There would have to be a Public Enquiry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh dear! There is many a slip betwixt trolleybus proposal cup and trolleybus delivery lip!</div><div><br /></div><div>One problem was the list of buildings that would need to be demolished.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Several buildings were set to be demolished to accommodate the scheme, all of these lie on the Northern leg of the route. The buildings are as follows:</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A parade of eight shops at Hyde Park Corner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeA0mKo5BP77n5ryyKxChGBdmRuf8lTMs2YFbNPnYfgnsXT02KGMm7ioqS65ZC7djv9ROBjCTSZV6yRdPRehiuDYacml4PzggKY_rSe6qh7QSxTY231yKils4XI66dKaGJfBYjZMpFrvk0zltkNhTBdj4x6f8PmP07hrxQ8vM1pwHn1Rk9TCMaTfEjOLu/s590/screenshot.27330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="590" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeA0mKo5BP77n5ryyKxChGBdmRuf8lTMs2YFbNPnYfgnsXT02KGMm7ioqS65ZC7djv9ROBjCTSZV6yRdPRehiuDYacml4PzggKY_rSe6qh7QSxTY231yKils4XI66dKaGJfBYjZMpFrvk0zltkNhTBdj4x6f8PmP07hrxQ8vM1pwHn1Rk9TCMaTfEjOLu/w400-h354/screenshot.27330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A former stable block and lodge building at the former Leeds Girls High School</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A terrace block within Headingley Business Park, between Headingley Lane and Victoria Road</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRjFLV01q_6aIui_2175x3WgXk4Y_NvhYuhZUHTNRczhkex2VgUs8FXxvthu9mIjeweKa1K5Liz2iePKaZFlsr_sYFdVdgrkI5LFGt9-nXb1sKGQz2pvVhvj9qw5cFYWtjcUMrHEZ-MQGFZwyro_ouOLE1FmwzOiRYt01vQ4lA9rYzls3wPsVYhB5yPXl/s618/screenshot.27332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="618" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRjFLV01q_6aIui_2175x3WgXk4Y_NvhYuhZUHTNRczhkex2VgUs8FXxvthu9mIjeweKa1K5Liz2iePKaZFlsr_sYFdVdgrkI5LFGt9-nXb1sKGQz2pvVhvj9qw5cFYWtjcUMrHEZ-MQGFZwyro_ouOLE1FmwzOiRYt01vQ4lA9rYzls3wPsVYhB5yPXl/w400-h301/screenshot.27332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The aybive two pictures are typical but may not be the actual parades to be demolished.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A residential brick built villa on Wood Lane, Headingley</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The former First Church of Christ Scientist building on Alma Road, Headingley which is currently used as offices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yqPGHP2kmJKJ7_hroZltuS8uQg0fVF3oGOzVmvcLv4VAv132VFua5L-6FKSO-ChDyaI-irn_AfZibESHqHVoEeweJ0rwGX_97SX2I6QsCDsBGiLAYYxkAsjanDMrlcvzA0qo_n1H4Q2TzWbd8ZXQRD0nvsX3zxqG9xaVYzC5xnvzfGzlBd0Elvi994_2/s948/screenshot.27329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="948" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yqPGHP2kmJKJ7_hroZltuS8uQg0fVF3oGOzVmvcLv4VAv132VFua5L-6FKSO-ChDyaI-irn_AfZibESHqHVoEeweJ0rwGX_97SX2I6QsCDsBGiLAYYxkAsjanDMrlcvzA0qo_n1H4Q2TzWbd8ZXQRD0nvsX3zxqG9xaVYzC5xnvzfGzlBd0Elvi994_2/w400-h289/screenshot.27329.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Changing rooms and a groundsmans' cottage at the University of Leeds site in Weetwood</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add to this a considerable number of road layout changes; thus the protests were considerable.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIl6RwQN-Ele6p0i-PlIEoNc5hCj5ErZSZPBOy7CsN_HpoYXoa8jVAgi7-cbfDIMAw82g-0ZfNA4inwPr19onvN3e-2pdoZQRCo-reLkkwdqIlVWb-bqmOmxe5M6eWre73I0txJEJzh5EqbOJlr-vu2iv4XH_YKwEd0b87NiTAEHPUMdKC-Eo0K5KSkIQ/s886/screenshot.27333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="886" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIl6RwQN-Ele6p0i-PlIEoNc5hCj5ErZSZPBOy7CsN_HpoYXoa8jVAgi7-cbfDIMAw82g-0ZfNA4inwPr19onvN3e-2pdoZQRCo-reLkkwdqIlVWb-bqmOmxe5M6eWre73I0txJEJzh5EqbOJlr-vu2iv4XH_YKwEd0b87NiTAEHPUMdKC-Eo0K5KSkIQ/w400-h250/screenshot.27333.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Oddly, the campaign did not seem to be concerned about tunning lots of left hand drive trolleybuses along the A660! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, more seriously, the antagonism was vociferous.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty1RtnRImvV4oUsXSwiEwgahno1xE_cOuIhtrLow7fAAL-hltr5Oy1gzqXtgQx76Qds2heM7gNXhFkKludmIKeIq9HKVcGpnHE-6l5FkdIO3bc2wl50zb8CXbnHUm3uer6HCdFNWvUowcD3Lamxm_7eqUtssPipyXlomu_xY6APXcVNp8FnJg5lUPsr4k/s638/screenshot.27334.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="638" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty1RtnRImvV4oUsXSwiEwgahno1xE_cOuIhtrLow7fAAL-hltr5Oy1gzqXtgQx76Qds2heM7gNXhFkKludmIKeIq9HKVcGpnHE-6l5FkdIO3bc2wl50zb8CXbnHUm3uer6HCdFNWvUowcD3Lamxm_7eqUtssPipyXlomu_xY6APXcVNp8FnJg5lUPsr4k/w400-h174/screenshot.27334.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI2RwMIIEetqhSLPp5ji16k-x1UMTpJ2XCXDMV7aaAZ3s4OrfYhmNTU83DXMHTVlUqa_ezPnpl3LoKBbCny_T4a3MjpamyZZCvwNUla8jXZG3SqEsqGE80iaQ64_Uvh2IIKWv_hZxP_tnv8XG1ytd-UKHj4I9thKjk-270i2gmqT-umDI022XKD0MCi1T/s594/screenshot.27335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="594" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI2RwMIIEetqhSLPp5ji16k-x1UMTpJ2XCXDMV7aaAZ3s4OrfYhmNTU83DXMHTVlUqa_ezPnpl3LoKBbCny_T4a3MjpamyZZCvwNUla8jXZG3SqEsqGE80iaQ64_Uvh2IIKWv_hZxP_tnv8XG1ytd-UKHj4I9thKjk-270i2gmqT-umDI022XKD0MCi1T/w374-h153/screenshot.27335.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>The outcome of the Public Enquiry was not unexpected. Here is a summary of the progress of the the scheme.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A 'Major Scheme Business Case' was submitted to the Department for Transport in October 2009 In March 2010, the Government announced that the proposal had been awarded 'Programme Entry Approval'.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Funding was approved for the North Route to Bodington and an extension to Holt Park, the South Route to Stourton and a section of the city centre loop linking these two lines. The government did not approve funding for the East Route or a full city centre loop.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The DfT approved the Holt Park - Stourton route on 5 July 2012. The planned scheme was subject to a public Inquiry in 2014.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Following a negative report from the Public Inquiry, the proposed scheme was cancelled in May 2016</b></span>.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>So huge amounts of money were spent by Leeds City Council on the preparations, all to no avail.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow we look at <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Attempt Three</b></span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This comes with a secret weapon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ssgqW7vtcCXXIDTojmSo9Fba-piZzX-BJQjNsqdBX0jm9xJYT_uq7oKu4DkY7k1EmmHR-ZxGIewD2C1eKp6YRbEkGgCadmBvil6xy1GAG-t6SBSYGcskJXpBEOC31B-t9B18LPv73O0vhN2ZzIBn4YtkVierBMPaBQcYzpoN34cYSg6TMTIMWzsRT3ZN/s378/screenshot.27336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ssgqW7vtcCXXIDTojmSo9Fba-piZzX-BJQjNsqdBX0jm9xJYT_uq7oKu4DkY7k1EmmHR-ZxGIewD2C1eKp6YRbEkGgCadmBvil6xy1GAG-t6SBSYGcskJXpBEOC31B-t9B18LPv73O0vhN2ZzIBn4YtkVierBMPaBQcYzpoN34cYSg6TMTIMWzsRT3ZN/w398-h400/screenshot.27336.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>Who could resist that endearing smile - OR - that controversial parliamentary frock?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxAqE8sHyRp_zXvr_qsCOAa8TvuJ4v3iaRXoI1HOEQBCTeI6ILvYP758PAfLx7HZri6YNZ4yUXc0Fe4hrf1PUrqGpA9capRMJsTxCpEibb5W4ii1QTT-uGC61paUFG-FRyNI8n6NCDQx1pF1ErxrhDpPNzlP6Z3t1F7gElF5fHfeHQlZtHw4OTyFYpKxQ/s492/screenshot.27337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="492" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxAqE8sHyRp_zXvr_qsCOAa8TvuJ4v3iaRXoI1HOEQBCTeI6ILvYP758PAfLx7HZri6YNZ4yUXc0Fe4hrf1PUrqGpA9capRMJsTxCpEibb5W4ii1QTT-uGC61paUFG-FRyNI8n6NCDQx1pF1ErxrhDpPNzlP6Z3t1F7gElF5fHfeHQlZtHw4OTyFYpKxQ/w400-h315/screenshot.27337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Saving The Planet Part 237</span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>Told You So, 1 ... Solar Panels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdVcbGF799UJJdIXsd371agOcfW68B4HRusdkkxvHb613ywRaFHLxBCbegfAXPLS0qDC1k_rDXdvVqHTItzLCsL_1dQMDy1AoXjvi3WDKnNtAid8dFlOBF1DiQLS9TL05IGENlxlLg5POmeOUIrPiXT7cJQzExDM8haGzHzRhaUoBsJRCPcwb1klLimu/s890/Screenshot_20240312-111805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="612" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdVcbGF799UJJdIXsd371agOcfW68B4HRusdkkxvHb613ywRaFHLxBCbegfAXPLS0qDC1k_rDXdvVqHTItzLCsL_1dQMDy1AoXjvi3WDKnNtAid8dFlOBF1DiQLS9TL05IGENlxlLg5POmeOUIrPiXT7cJQzExDM8haGzHzRhaUoBsJRCPcwb1klLimu/w417-h606/Screenshot_20240312-111805.jpg" width="417" /></a></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaDomPhb2vVZHXiyLMtHf1JbC007KM44QKdL04jXlqglTo02B6O_iJqogpCEeeFbqj0bdJwHANnXabbH9108uLGQM0V1yrFICw_Z2zGE1eQTAbkjuQiZrEXFZC0cwFP2cGO66maCS-IMgj3D0AoPmXGlgG2xIvCz1w5kzTssAE_oP87XqBEOJhqAUEgHH/s890/Screenshot_20240312-111734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="710" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaDomPhb2vVZHXiyLMtHf1JbC007KM44QKdL04jXlqglTo02B6O_iJqogpCEeeFbqj0bdJwHANnXabbH9108uLGQM0V1yrFICw_Z2zGE1eQTAbkjuQiZrEXFZC0cwFP2cGO66maCS-IMgj3D0AoPmXGlgG2xIvCz1w5kzTssAE_oP87XqBEOJhqAUEgHH/w415-h520/Screenshot_20240312-111734.jpg" width="415" /></a></div></span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;">Told You So, 2 ... Turbine Blades<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN75O2ij_ChsIdRHrRawlot0ElOKpwKwAwtL_GiXJaPGAhoed5cKSYNPqkzFEiCACPUZSZ6MXlJdMipBvpj3BaXWq4A1E6aTgvbbEOeQMeSRk8CLMvB4fBKjEXDQc3BzEW3rk10xCjl9g2S4EEWd9bkaWfWZ3khx893NKtohKVEOLKJtrB_Ja2wKKnMQgK/s878/Screenshot_20240312-105049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="710" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN75O2ij_ChsIdRHrRawlot0ElOKpwKwAwtL_GiXJaPGAhoed5cKSYNPqkzFEiCACPUZSZ6MXlJdMipBvpj3BaXWq4A1E6aTgvbbEOeQMeSRk8CLMvB4fBKjEXDQc3BzEW3rk10xCjl9g2S4EEWd9bkaWfWZ3khx893NKtohKVEOLKJtrB_Ja2wKKnMQgK/w405-h500/Screenshot_20240312-105049.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2lwAi0R_qOXpaTvwTEYF_uuZicZqtUd2IHjjIxIWyt7VO2hGQrtPuVbz-JDMZ5DE1MO1NIwpQgqZrsLBS_PVO7uZcSqkSe6P0xeP3SWorNnsiFf5rIxW9P5bEk1s_JM7jC_RTDmZOON4UT02F5xHFKD5WXSrisylqEzXLvXa5eBHyC6josr23UtVILK3/s890/Screenshot_20240312-105200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="590" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2lwAi0R_qOXpaTvwTEYF_uuZicZqtUd2IHjjIxIWyt7VO2hGQrtPuVbz-JDMZ5DE1MO1NIwpQgqZrsLBS_PVO7uZcSqkSe6P0xeP3SWorNnsiFf5rIxW9P5bEk1s_JM7jC_RTDmZOON4UT02F5xHFKD5WXSrisylqEzXLvXa5eBHyC6josr23UtVILK3/w424-h640/Screenshot_20240312-105200.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;">Told You So, 3 ... Power Stations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4WKJaIzJHuLs-qZVFuo-VR_0n6nM57Tzcs7lntxrQU0jwvC_A7Z4Zhzwp7Br4sy6RKELLDiiuxombz715h2CBceYWsB7CuYCmu9EcfnFnteJHRyu0Yt3S9qUnkNjLc-KT7YBaW7zcnRoziTePTsh8FdCXcbTCmY6KqjYBSj7Vc_12ZsZ9nqRzNKt9jzj/s890/Screenshot_20240312-104814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="680" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4WKJaIzJHuLs-qZVFuo-VR_0n6nM57Tzcs7lntxrQU0jwvC_A7Z4Zhzwp7Br4sy6RKELLDiiuxombz715h2CBceYWsB7CuYCmu9EcfnFnteJHRyu0Yt3S9qUnkNjLc-KT7YBaW7zcnRoziTePTsh8FdCXcbTCmY6KqjYBSj7Vc_12ZsZ9nqRzNKt9jzj/w412-h540/Screenshot_20240312-104814.jpg" width="412" /></a></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4W1NC6bC1jBYxsZvfkRj11eaSJK0rVGkhg8Vss7VcFP3vdSBLn_Ccn_V86Rwb5Fl67ysziueENJhc75wIckqXz4CdLu9brtTMrCNF6e5BdFtrzFeur6wQuahGDn-qdvdn_kNIqGk2GBo833tsBhv8yefaEkPelpqIEhzXOfpOOrEIoFx1LwdTxW9cxJV/s708/Screenshot_20240312-104909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="708" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4W1NC6bC1jBYxsZvfkRj11eaSJK0rVGkhg8Vss7VcFP3vdSBLn_Ccn_V86Rwb5Fl67ysziueENJhc75wIckqXz4CdLu9brtTMrCNF6e5BdFtrzFeur6wQuahGDn-qdvdn_kNIqGk2GBo833tsBhv8yefaEkPelpqIEhzXOfpOOrEIoFx1LwdTxW9cxJV/w398-h341/Screenshot_20240312-104909.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next West Yorkshire blog : Thursday 14th March </b></div></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-24879451407081035822024-03-12T02:00:00.134+00:002024-03-12T02:00:00.134+00:00 It Leads To Leeds : Tramway Troubles<p><span style="font-size: large;">Politics & Public Transport (2)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwQcQU7wqvgEXEiXvXqRBmpSYiXRkRcHsS-I25rcUkOHKYuImxbdUBx1waXivX_G1fKtwzADoHwdBgTyI1vmYNU-slsVy79ZXgeah3VQIzxlKbE-qmhs2NqyTmZy285DbanqqKTREnMG3yD2T1tCH3_3rjEbekfNtLjTW_ApLzkAXDrDd8I0TocTQZiWR/s706/screenshot.27305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="706" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwQcQU7wqvgEXEiXvXqRBmpSYiXRkRcHsS-I25rcUkOHKYuImxbdUBx1waXivX_G1fKtwzADoHwdBgTyI1vmYNU-slsVy79ZXgeah3VQIzxlKbE-qmhs2NqyTmZy285DbanqqKTREnMG3yD2T1tCH3_3rjEbekfNtLjTW_ApLzkAXDrDd8I0TocTQZiWR/w400-h286/screenshot.27305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There has always been a friendly rivalry between Sheffield and Leeds. (Maybe not always friendly when it comes to sport!). Leeds has a grander Town Hall (above) and, arguably a better railway station with an overall roof although not entirely over all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGv5XIxv1oU29ewpzKlFu83-K3NfyEIUsYY9h9sTo3u0n-6AWp3IWO96BwFCT6fymIIBQVfw7ue2wYqFGsZqDm_p9LDZRze8f1_PqyAL6SXAVLYvvtBDpHjSMnVEPM3zd3HFYOdn8YGJQYddAdEC9rXOnry8PKT3oRbWt6ZtQ1b-KVB7V7_P6ALLPZOMR/s1342/screenshot.27306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1342" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGv5XIxv1oU29ewpzKlFu83-K3NfyEIUsYY9h9sTo3u0n-6AWp3IWO96BwFCT6fymIIBQVfw7ue2wYqFGsZqDm_p9LDZRze8f1_PqyAL6SXAVLYvvtBDpHjSMnVEPM3zd3HFYOdn8YGJQYddAdEC9rXOnry8PKT3oRbWt6ZtQ1b-KVB7V7_P6ALLPZOMR/w400-h226/screenshot.27306.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It also has a Platform 0 ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgbICVG7YF_a1lIGtbYqLzMQfiIjVqYP_dS4ThNURFxHj6MYrZaeR9pwot_pvYhoVO1DhPT53mTG-RMuqPetM0ZpX_l8NGVreJSViFb0C3mhZT7mvXHVAZG3P3QHAFkwMnWElxAXotRKgcPXzCObDut8EsbQ9T5qunpjBzJihr-KJhVUwGfH4q23rhDtS/s674/screenshot.27309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="674" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgbICVG7YF_a1lIGtbYqLzMQfiIjVqYP_dS4ThNURFxHj6MYrZaeR9pwot_pvYhoVO1DhPT53mTG-RMuqPetM0ZpX_l8NGVreJSViFb0C3mhZT7mvXHVAZG3P3QHAFkwMnWElxAXotRKgcPXzCObDut8EsbQ9T5qunpjBzJihr-KJhVUwGfH4q23rhDtS/w400-h294/screenshot.27309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... or is it "Ob"? Or is it "Zero"?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-3qCUxFCrVLqPH8ka1oFBPmaJmJAxYZXjtht-QicKHFApytPv2iBcGS9UgyvMx4PbBPeRxYk4xpYwYigw__INZurZaTu_S1bgHD2bku9nuo-9YqnhtefPTK1_nL506CNgaPtqWiAtf-JUMS0LlISKZj9GvUKludK4YyN8-TqyrR5DIg05SGxcKcUVixI/s552/screenshot.27307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-3qCUxFCrVLqPH8ka1oFBPmaJmJAxYZXjtht-QicKHFApytPv2iBcGS9UgyvMx4PbBPeRxYk4xpYwYigw__INZurZaTu_S1bgHD2bku9nuo-9YqnhtefPTK1_nL506CNgaPtqWiAtf-JUMS0LlISKZj9GvUKludK4YyN8-TqyrR5DIg05SGxcKcUVixI/w346-h400/screenshot.27307.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, at the back of fbb's usually (un)reliable brain, is the fact that there was once a Platform "W". Maybe that was somewhere else.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Leeds didn't have a Supertram, like Sheffield.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5NUqtH3rLMA5AjZFBFpptU5sJaiPeebTSLINv_32sSTT9I4eF_NyRQIoTl7gaF4Ku8-b0vyXxhhjBylbQvd7nPTuFPvnGXMLnmbhBcJNAly6gP1XtRh2nfIcb_azXb8TX-RZ6bkZEoIOMRPWYh6ihLUBIFjkabHUM9f-OGCmFf_2omzcAmpu91docKA9/s808/screenshot.27310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="808" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5NUqtH3rLMA5AjZFBFpptU5sJaiPeebTSLINv_32sSTT9I4eF_NyRQIoTl7gaF4Ku8-b0vyXxhhjBylbQvd7nPTuFPvnGXMLnmbhBcJNAly6gP1XtRh2nfIcb_azXb8TX-RZ6bkZEoIOMRPWYh6ihLUBIFjkabHUM9f-OGCmFf_2omzcAmpu91docKA9/w400-h260/screenshot.27310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the city wanted just that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKXz9Z8DarH-ZDaM4XcFwHNsAq40WXVfsg_45CGZLM4_w6PxjihR2gE479mXVsdd0WQLqMy4XLRuIne14JkK2pfjVBhRgkpuZP1QmLLakZk1ft3HdRZjeMdDEIMVHRXpxs4ypuRyA-wsKC5bQAmD1fTggRRm7nSm8BlKC1e_DOaiiwbcwFvaraW5ro3gs/s883/Screenshot_20240309-092900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="703" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKXz9Z8DarH-ZDaM4XcFwHNsAq40WXVfsg_45CGZLM4_w6PxjihR2gE479mXVsdd0WQLqMy4XLRuIne14JkK2pfjVBhRgkpuZP1QmLLakZk1ft3HdRZjeMdDEIMVHRXpxs4ypuRyA-wsKC5bQAmD1fTggRRm7nSm8BlKC1e_DOaiiwbcwFvaraW5ro3gs/w319-h400/Screenshot_20240309-092900.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lines were proposed northbound to Headinglry and Bodington ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPd1fNucyfeNN01AKXTR_wXZvYtR8CI1nKvw7U0icHlFsrtKf_nKlfzZrZQnmofWc8e6_wL9ggywa56pPYzCOCTbU6xOGsJp08uJ9AVPmy3835xCWT23xtWdtUlN15CdZvefv7X8rksbGC8dpptNXCuTHMFCXKjEf1MLZK5qwC_bovYj5LadY1hYHUhMV/s908/screenshot.27311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="908" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPd1fNucyfeNN01AKXTR_wXZvYtR8CI1nKvw7U0icHlFsrtKf_nKlfzZrZQnmofWc8e6_wL9ggywa56pPYzCOCTbU6xOGsJp08uJ9AVPmy3835xCWT23xtWdtUlN15CdZvefv7X8rksbGC8dpptNXCuTHMFCXKjEf1MLZK5qwC_bovYj5LadY1hYHUhMV/w400-h329/screenshot.27311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">... eastbound to Whinmoor and Grimes Dyke ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36cpWrdcqtADvIAmskQS6rmXQ0nFoAM-nJAMbHxQk1pIVF1lvPRlA7hxE6Q7o-JJr3TSKSclykiA_ylYIBCozvrvwZzf6dgfriZfle4JDgGMIX3pw5t267wRPlcP7X2ry6N_dtTkDSv05O3wUTOwPL7yWLh5H0PQ_TeFq3MX6fdv6jMPI7URdkMrLPHEV/s876/screenshot.27312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="876" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36cpWrdcqtADvIAmskQS6rmXQ0nFoAM-nJAMbHxQk1pIVF1lvPRlA7hxE6Q7o-JJr3TSKSclykiA_ylYIBCozvrvwZzf6dgfriZfle4JDgGMIX3pw5t267wRPlcP7X2ry6N_dtTkDSv05O3wUTOwPL7yWLh5H0PQ_TeFq3MX6fdv6jMPI7URdkMrLPHEV/w400-h268/screenshot.27312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and southbound to Stourton Park and Ride ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bPnBUobu6up0VwXJzaRyPPn1X2AxKwNbI0AK8AFOdgHwSkaiPh7UiLDyhtpMIsKwWlQAWnc275SsR4ljN6NRICW42JkDsc-GwJZm3nU1E7J8obRoBTjl_IRxy_u0NpGDr_Uxn_TlHPD64K7Qf_GIGHw7gnMwtyDyXsv_3vEYVq2rsST0kgip1Xf-KtQT/s626/screenshot.27313.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="626" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bPnBUobu6up0VwXJzaRyPPn1X2AxKwNbI0AK8AFOdgHwSkaiPh7UiLDyhtpMIsKwWlQAWnc275SsR4ljN6NRICW42JkDsc-GwJZm3nU1E7J8obRoBTjl_IRxy_u0NpGDr_Uxn_TlHPD64K7Qf_GIGHw7gnMwtyDyXsv_3vEYVq2rsST0kgip1Xf-KtQT/w320-h257/screenshot.27313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and to Tingley via the huge development at Middleton.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVuBFIMlJGQVSK-5KcdM1wGgkGhEXu5CtyYoNB1Jd6mhRg9-PkgZhRXhWP_LkbgCP6vksP1UJdxDd5hCVt9-1MhJzDtTYPMRbUVwL6o-ArqcNdF1Xr2WvtB3bK5Vyf6L2G6cwgoJ2nfb3uqtttP2rPcnWcRbSrQlSmTQZiqM3TP7dgV7ZkCCC8Yh1PmhO/s1168/screenshot.27314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1168" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVuBFIMlJGQVSK-5KcdM1wGgkGhEXu5CtyYoNB1Jd6mhRg9-PkgZhRXhWP_LkbgCP6vksP1UJdxDd5hCVt9-1MhJzDtTYPMRbUVwL6o-ArqcNdF1Xr2WvtB3bK5Vyf6L2G6cwgoJ2nfb3uqtttP2rPcnWcRbSrQlSmTQZiqM3TP7dgV7ZkCCC8Yh1PmhO/w400-h270/screenshot.27314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By today's standards the proposed trams look rather weedy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G_WoEdbRSH7Jcwdm70SofsW1WKxcvgW-zQtfTzrzxbWllZtyVR-X9cAl7zsNw6CNnOlgAANDlxISXRuPEGvISrBq5MfGLG1SNKlg_-MFgeKHtaCsaeuQY9ymjk3iLDprMCYK2iCmb8DSTKncgXH_HRrq7eGLAA6ZliSVKC5ALa3UHZSBm7IEnZdXfjw_/s400/Impression_of_Leeds_Supertram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="400" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G_WoEdbRSH7Jcwdm70SofsW1WKxcvgW-zQtfTzrzxbWllZtyVR-X9cAl7zsNw6CNnOlgAANDlxISXRuPEGvISrBq5MfGLG1SNKlg_-MFgeKHtaCsaeuQY9ymjk3iLDprMCYK2iCmb8DSTKncgXH_HRrq7eGLAA6ZliSVKC5ALa3UHZSBm7IEnZdXfjw_/w400-h249/Impression_of_Leeds_Supertram.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The Leeds Supertram was a proposed light rail/tram system in Leeds and West Yorkshire in England. It would have been a three-line, 17-mile system with 50 stations. <b>It received provisional government approval in 2001</b>, and was specifically for corridors ill-served by the existing heavy rail network. Supertram would have been <b>75% funded from the public sector</b>, with final contracts for construction and a 27-year operating concession due to have been awarded in 2003. By 2004, disquiet about rising costs had caused the scheme to be scaled back, and it was finally <b>cancelled in 2005 by the Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling</b>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One alternative to the tram was proposed by First Bus (don't laugh!) ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWoeXIsErgzz05IRsN_GV_UvAIf13khMaIE0vrVDKACT5C7w8mI2AcsLpr_bsDgWYHCEf7YLM1hj3jE41k-XiFUnSlyrPhwz1yJqp67t7-oCi05UFq30ZclwbVOVKEXDD6x7CX8TYXjKhD3zag3zX0hQpwJN_5Kn4cHIXvvP34iFslriUalvNr2gP2G7u/s1024/FTR_Leeds_bus_19017_(YJ56_EAF),_19_July_2009_(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWoeXIsErgzz05IRsN_GV_UvAIf13khMaIE0vrVDKACT5C7w8mI2AcsLpr_bsDgWYHCEf7YLM1hj3jE41k-XiFUnSlyrPhwz1yJqp67t7-oCi05UFq30ZclwbVOVKEXDD6x7CX8TYXjKhD3zag3zX0hQpwJN_5Kn4cHIXvvP34iFslriUalvNr2gP2G7u/w400-h300/FTR_Leeds_bus_19017_(YJ56_EAF),_19_July_2009_(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... in the form of the FTR, a slick and memorable brand derived from the word <span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;">F</span>U<span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;">T</span>U<span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;">R</span>E</b></span>. And we all know what a huge success that was. The buses with too much technology were not a success and now languish in a shed somewhere, unused and unloved.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just to be different, he route between Leeds and Bradford was branded "Hyperlink but it wasn't particularly "Hyper".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2Cg2X6SBH64qH-2abJe9JSH0u5Xu067MrtXxr6PxZthyphenhyphenVZX8MdhNPj-kbutwp_X0bOiLNDt9WboN4Df-tslSW8DEeCdeyV3pNuACVT3FCYkCX9OzSPSDxejlNKl9eJGrwjxW0oGCewy7l25lfTKwynrXzZjKq6G6wSVYsC4yzWTfTVcL_srGCh0DxLDK/s720/Screenshot_20240311-164339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="720" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2Cg2X6SBH64qH-2abJe9JSH0u5Xu067MrtXxr6PxZthyphenhyphenVZX8MdhNPj-kbutwp_X0bOiLNDt9WboN4Df-tslSW8DEeCdeyV3pNuACVT3FCYkCX9OzSPSDxejlNKl9eJGrwjxW0oGCewy7l25lfTKwynrXzZjKq6G6wSVYsC4yzWTfTVcL_srGCh0DxLDK/w400-h271/Screenshot_20240311-164339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It seemed a good idea at the time</b></span>. But it would NEVER be an alternative to a proper tram! One video on-line h=is headed "<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Extreme Slowness : Leeds Hyperlink</b></span>".</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, Leeds used to have an extensive network of trams (<b><span style="color: #800180;">click on the graphic for an enlargement</span></b>) ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaQ25dW3ne3-K6et1gkdcxvI4ZAudS6oRrNZRfcxOX6MU3kTdioldJ9t5QRFY3NMEK3ObFmX0-fVn-V1ddEKgZ5ROmNicE66KUhn4DD5DynCoW0WpSLvVMp8O4aivV5aElsHpbyTWepwZk1ZGZM2OWiXdW4dyyQ23U3BVyumhwtile4AN_mVuUa-m2hDL/s1024/Leeds_Tramway_map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1024" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaQ25dW3ne3-K6et1gkdcxvI4ZAudS6oRrNZRfcxOX6MU3kTdioldJ9t5QRFY3NMEK3ObFmX0-fVn-V1ddEKgZ5ROmNicE66KUhn4DD5DynCoW0WpSLvVMp8O4aivV5aElsHpbyTWepwZk1ZGZM2OWiXdW4dyyQ23U3BVyumhwtile4AN_mVuUa-m2hDL/w400-h340/Leeds_Tramway_map.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... snd a taste of the system is given by this 1958 reprocessed film.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzCb3q9RsJIqj9nCgrbq2WtI-HpDbz9vtSmGOFmpyrZw80ugMpzUlqp6K7dcuO_7f-nDIQxrsG8vYqHOxMUzQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>The star of the fleet was the very modern-looking 602, seen here at Crich Tramway Village.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EKLLzt3XbPesbiFlT7ZwlnsmTfzP6LhMOB2iw8F9pbdBUYq_5rVZr3SKENDiuMQq255dcDpwmZXYDAl2Z_bf_ONJKyYyYy27rNd85HyKmjd4hGvfPHSljTYVIEbK12zm_ktdIUNDK15OcUjknNcN-ZguWn9wXTUEt3ik5P9bAZWDKr9rNdM7dt2TMDLq/s792/screenshot.27316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="792" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EKLLzt3XbPesbiFlT7ZwlnsmTfzP6LhMOB2iw8F9pbdBUYq_5rVZr3SKENDiuMQq255dcDpwmZXYDAl2Z_bf_ONJKyYyYy27rNd85HyKmjd4hGvfPHSljTYVIEbK12zm_ktdIUNDK15OcUjknNcN-ZguWn9wXTUEt3ik5P9bAZWDKr9rNdM7dt2TMDLq/w400-h291/screenshot.27316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who knows how things might have turned out had the city introduced a fleet if these purple people eaters for the 1960s!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">After the <b>closure of the Leeds system on 7 November 1959</b>, Sheffield became the last <b>city</b> in England operating trams (closing in 1960), with Glasgow (Scotland) the last in the UK (closing in 1962). The Blackpool tramway then became the UK's only commercial tramway, until the opening of the Manchester Metrolink in 1992.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">It is argued that the closure of the tramway was shortsighted, particularly given the fact that the majority of the network ran on reserved track ...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEksegH1Yw4k2RknMszfB-zBGkrJiyjzaqZNRLC95Fwr8RnGs9AMW8DVYv9BFZfYn0-X6tgEFOP-Yf_vOqIeqmNX6uKd6Okknl5kS-BclIvgqycQBeM21c6JS8G_6e3m_hiVi133MysOKgzfBUS8Csya4jOlSokn7w-f4vyrA21zoLGHnT3nB49T_MKyFD/s724/screenshot.27317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="724" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEksegH1Yw4k2RknMszfB-zBGkrJiyjzaqZNRLC95Fwr8RnGs9AMW8DVYv9BFZfYn0-X6tgEFOP-Yf_vOqIeqmNX6uKd6Okknl5kS-BclIvgqycQBeM21c6JS8G_6e3m_hiVi133MysOKgzfBUS8Csya4jOlSokn7w-f4vyrA21zoLGHnT3nB49T_MKyFD/w400-h313/screenshot.27317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">... and as such did not interfere with the road system. Leeds had one of largest and most advanced urban transport systems in the UK, and was developing new tramcars and opening new lines right until its closure.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But nasty Mr Darling wouldn't cough up the cash for the Leeds Supertram proposals so Leeds had another go!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_uS1ltksEMI6ARC-xZHFzYBcAIXcAzuehlaI5fpujRSqkFeFqzRoZEgvf2uqqE1EVkqiLE4dEY1GqtUmoE-jWQrJqiI9-AkYnlqgjk5pXsPK0ma1A340bm4B64WxGKKIeEYn9MxmfJ8OgTomuuF_x5g7qqpVtXOKMcyukstXw9fBfQ5f1YEiGzvbthNg/s636/screenshot.27315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="636" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_uS1ltksEMI6ARC-xZHFzYBcAIXcAzuehlaI5fpujRSqkFeFqzRoZEgvf2uqqE1EVkqiLE4dEY1GqtUmoE-jWQrJqiI9-AkYnlqgjk5pXsPK0ma1A340bm4B64WxGKKIeEYn9MxmfJ8OgTomuuF_x5g7qqpVtXOKMcyukstXw9fBfQ5f1YEiGzvbthNg/w400-h185/screenshot.27315.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>More in tomorrow's blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you search on-line, somebody has even suggested that Leeds ought to have an Underground system, just like London.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIRYKiLED7QXumrm60FA0XXTsaua1Ne_-qWtv05PXCzrKtVSZNfi64sBBvp6IBesGJP2QGDqXk-16Ffh-f7sVmd0ObD7T_jgvn5d60mHqGSk54n9mhmriY_oCCJXiJsWNkPl4S4xx0tsFoFx9qMM-ekuIEE6U6hjbTrHAJoIRi5uZLdp51vAH928Lo45O/s650/Screenshot_20240309-094102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="650" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIRYKiLED7QXumrm60FA0XXTsaua1Ne_-qWtv05PXCzrKtVSZNfi64sBBvp6IBesGJP2QGDqXk-16Ffh-f7sVmd0ObD7T_jgvn5d60mHqGSk54n9mhmriY_oCCJXiJsWNkPl4S4xx0tsFoFx9qMM-ekuIEE6U6hjbTrHAJoIRi5uZLdp51vAH928Lo45O/w400-h371/Screenshot_20240309-094102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>fbb rather thinks that whoever offered this as a serious proposal has not done his sums!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjXIBaS4-A5aEa9Q2PEtDxiOOJkdwWbeTMEgrFfHJmKauR5rBwN7okDU6_vFcn5apnwjTVQEBpmV-isUjaJA4gw8ADrSLaSmKKRGNarSXxzikru79QOZT34mkp5nsl2Kh6sQIB9GxR1VwAqIyzzNMDkSkAl-JmR7x2JGJPNH4FQhZ7ohwInya1j9ealKy/s890/Screenshot_20240309-111439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjXIBaS4-A5aEa9Q2PEtDxiOOJkdwWbeTMEgrFfHJmKauR5rBwN7okDU6_vFcn5apnwjTVQEBpmV-isUjaJA4gw8ADrSLaSmKKRGNarSXxzikru79QOZT34mkp5nsl2Kh6sQIB9GxR1VwAqIyzzNMDkSkAl-JmR7x2JGJPNH4FQhZ7ohwInya1j9ealKy/w384-h640/Screenshot_20240309-111439.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>But one can always dream!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Trolleybus blog : Wednesday 13th March </b></div><p></p></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-60444932278148957492024-03-11T02:00:00.038+00:002024-03-11T14:22:19.924+00:00Politics And Public Transport (1)<p><span style="font-size: large;">It Starts With Streatham ...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc7iqbeCYIXUatpOWwVj_SGgE_MorHJhkOu-0C6QUzhXwroUZeL_Nq219Yzfl56jc6Ek2BS4ftoGikDgQJjLXXUhyi5eSIWwMtp8ufKBmH0iF7Y9pX5nEkSSu9PbVbVGfEKnIN2hZY3_pitT6JHdtsH8SHcZfieM67EENExcysvznG6QdJzhDg6-iCOFm/s890/Screenshot_20240309-112911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="552" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc7iqbeCYIXUatpOWwVj_SGgE_MorHJhkOu-0C6QUzhXwroUZeL_Nq219Yzfl56jc6Ek2BS4ftoGikDgQJjLXXUhyi5eSIWwMtp8ufKBmH0iF7Y9pX5nEkSSu9PbVbVGfEKnIN2hZY3_pitT6JHdtsH8SHcZfieM67EENExcysvznG6QdJzhDg6-iCOFm/w396-h640/Screenshot_20240309-112911.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... which is on the A23 in south London.</div><p></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Streatham lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Streatham was in Surrey before becoming part of the County of London in 1889, and then Greater London in 1965.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Streatham means "the hamlet on the street". The street in question, the London to Brighton Way, was the Roman road from the capital Londinium to the south coast near Portslade, today within Brighton and Hove. It is likely that the destination was a Roman port now lost to coastal erosion, which has been tentatively identified. The road is confusingly referred to as Stane Street (Stone Street) in some sources and diverges from the main London-Chichester road at Kennington.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">So Streatham High Road is a typical suburban shopping and business area which is part of he very busy A23. The main drag starts at Streatham Hill station in the north ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyXEH6-vLExkEoGCtn2eUx3abWeIzRDAwkQzqIavxrm3G_rGK9EOhLEr_iLeXzjtvhD7B52PJ5xlZwW87glZxiNJNG6XYRzTdJx3WEtJhB9dhU0FdVhcYJH3VJO8inWrEWxhW8g6dSkk509WB6Bdaj5vO5KmkogW7UmJSovUx3yixaJFHLVa5r2q1qsJb/s666/screenshot.27299.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="666" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyXEH6-vLExkEoGCtn2eUx3abWeIzRDAwkQzqIavxrm3G_rGK9EOhLEr_iLeXzjtvhD7B52PJ5xlZwW87glZxiNJNG6XYRzTdJx3WEtJhB9dhU0FdVhcYJH3VJO8inWrEWxhW8g6dSkk509WB6Bdaj5vO5KmkogW7UmJSovUx3yixaJFHLVa5r2q1qsJb/w400-h293/screenshot.27299.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and grinds slowly, and in typical suburban style, south ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEtgdfw27zgsguuFwf3OovWC5PvodsWejXNm0T2fgf64v5gjWiJOXlswRnIrMGdQ0VNw7YIfWEdsLaCtGVCD-VnbyNxYLBUIZTfm98l0d8usLAG0_5LWN8sYoq0xFbhrxae1BGvta26cDbc1UvY8nXDenzA0VcyLL-ogTv0w9avLJVoQrXFEcw_jU2449/s608/screenshot.27297.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="608" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEtgdfw27zgsguuFwf3OovWC5PvodsWejXNm0T2fgf64v5gjWiJOXlswRnIrMGdQ0VNw7YIfWEdsLaCtGVCD-VnbyNxYLBUIZTfm98l0d8usLAG0_5LWN8sYoq0xFbhrxae1BGvta26cDbc1UvY8nXDenzA0VcyLL-ogTv0w9avLJVoQrXFEcw_jU2449/w400-h295/screenshot.27297.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R7lnsc0BhBSurGfqZAEp7v11KzUEr6rGwCwddZn5xqZztzflNru4CI6auv57k3ddmc__usEJoBAYmmxmqLlOWwscPQtPJA9udevcgMCH52JDEhuUuyPBLCa9xb_uKwkHF9n3XLek_ZGcoNKV8iwYr_CG_Fibo7dkI0BB-34jvDIRah2sezVuLjEARglw/s620/screenshot.27290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="620" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R7lnsc0BhBSurGfqZAEp7v11KzUEr6rGwCwddZn5xqZztzflNru4CI6auv57k3ddmc__usEJoBAYmmxmqLlOWwscPQtPJA9udevcgMCH52JDEhuUuyPBLCa9xb_uKwkHF9n3XLek_ZGcoNKV8iwYr_CG_Fibo7dkI0BB-34jvDIRah2sezVuLjEARglw/w400-h361/screenshot.27290.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... to Streatham station; which is very underwhelming!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaub2OZsAkJYq3AxLb1t23AP-R2aC-dMAUNVWn3UhZeQzm2RIP-6gEzhUXONYwq16EvWYH73JbeJOAbiKkOcwnW0kvB4P19elyJeJxKUMETbzpH1KkCQMdMWDDw7EoodErs_v-_Z18w4XOzWr2RzspqUppiQNBKkZol3Rpk5jh_UhtefqVFh5Os4RU1gPA/s732/screenshot.27295.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="732" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaub2OZsAkJYq3AxLb1t23AP-R2aC-dMAUNVWn3UhZeQzm2RIP-6gEzhUXONYwq16EvWYH73JbeJOAbiKkOcwnW0kvB4P19elyJeJxKUMETbzpH1KkCQMdMWDDw7EoodErs_v-_Z18w4XOzWr2RzspqUppiQNBKkZol3Rpk5jh_UhtefqVFh5Os4RU1gPA/w400-h286/screenshot.27295.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are oodles of buses along this road road ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvddvKzaFrHVREDjNNthbVGFRn6wwV1xNgSP4H8DmJZG0njnOIP7KjdHPtQDO4ycY7WHHFw9-ne70dK_Bje5_gQCnmJbAa-extwlpS0ZNq6thX_L35W8yx9RilT0Cc1JGT8VxRdP4iE6AIsXUSoqN1mqMZtgwuT4JRSYVd1Qq1PjtBv68t0ta6tD7VePe/s676/screenshot.27268.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvddvKzaFrHVREDjNNthbVGFRn6wwV1xNgSP4H8DmJZG0njnOIP7KjdHPtQDO4ycY7WHHFw9-ne70dK_Bje5_gQCnmJbAa-extwlpS0ZNq6thX_L35W8yx9RilT0Cc1JGT8VxRdP4iE6AIsXUSoqN1mqMZtgwuT4JRSYVd1Qq1PjtBv68t0ta6tD7VePe/w330-h400/screenshot.27268.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... a fact that will become important as we proceed.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, on Saturday last, Roger French wrote a very detailed blog on the public transport problems in Streatham, problems caused entirely by a crackpot decision by local politicians.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roger's analysis was superb, very detailed and almost beyond fbb's ability to understand, being only a very occasional visitor to London. So this fbb blog is your aged writer's attempt to get his own brain in order and see things from the point of view of somebody who wasn't at all sure where Streatham was!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So back to the fbb ramblings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Almost opposite Streatham Hill Station (top of map below) ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrII3CPmKty-Yh-hEesCcIG0zusdzfZkFgFhHuwR4XGuyVwUgb-9zf0LXf38MkoLxqWQpvz9vFWGxkzTfphHpjgLZRry_Xzbd0aWpjJEDmk8ruQr9f7kpAWhopfkwt_zcJgEqmj2UBYcNJMDoSULTNukPr93EHdYg4ysxbkfJWzDZ3O4egEf0mAxEIhQVz/s738/screenshot.27276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="552" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrII3CPmKty-Yh-hEesCcIG0zusdzfZkFgFhHuwR4XGuyVwUgb-9zf0LXf38MkoLxqWQpvz9vFWGxkzTfphHpjgLZRry_Xzbd0aWpjJEDmk8ruQr9f7kpAWhopfkwt_zcJgEqmj2UBYcNJMDoSULTNukPr93EHdYg4ysxbkfJWzDZ3O4egEf0mAxEIhQVz/w352-h470/screenshot.27276.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>... is an <span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>orange</b></span> road, a left hand fork, called <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Leigham Court Road</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2ECvZR5cfk7rqfFe9N4Tj6wasH_WCeKYHHeG-6wSYxSgl46mgzvJVtcKvLrW1XzoLmPO8qez2Z7jGD_72hdrSUxJgmfyjh4FLq3PFf5VhtNNzGQ-4Q2i5QANXefVF-4Qga4KqkVjiby6rUngDrLclhou84Fsvy-dzkN_M3t97QZMYISNyLn02pmEhZxY/s572/screenshot.27293.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="572" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2ECvZR5cfk7rqfFe9N4Tj6wasH_WCeKYHHeG-6wSYxSgl46mgzvJVtcKvLrW1XzoLmPO8qez2Z7jGD_72hdrSUxJgmfyjh4FLq3PFf5VhtNNzGQ-4Q2i5QANXefVF-4Qga4KqkVjiby6rUngDrLclhou84Fsvy-dzkN_M3t97QZMYISNyLn02pmEhZxY/w400-h343/screenshot.27293.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This curves round to join a <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>red </b></span>road (note the diddy number 89, bottom right on the map). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just below <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Streatham</b></span> station is a left hand turn on to the A214.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUq9kHnB9TWJeB86ysMVImCgKZm4tN3oaDL__b6OALlNLLr1Ruzj5iBwHxFDyvaOExeNGQmfIJDwEwoQYhsQr1Y42CIzoyEwlPYNlaL2bRIQsNvcEhGDSLoE7Z-v1EGYJIMRqcjXEBMFVXsMGidFslDgxHPL4O5FCHagBlZEUyZG9hf_lwERqD3eaArKj/s590/screenshot.27292.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="590" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUq9kHnB9TWJeB86ysMVImCgKZm4tN3oaDL__b6OALlNLLr1Ruzj5iBwHxFDyvaOExeNGQmfIJDwEwoQYhsQr1Y42CIzoyEwlPYNlaL2bRIQsNvcEhGDSLoE7Z-v1EGYJIMRqcjXEBMFVXsMGidFslDgxHPL4O5FCHagBlZEUyZG9hf_lwERqD3eaArKj/w400-h369/screenshot.27292.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Streatham Common North</b></span>, so called, astoundingly, because it runs along the northern edge of Streatham Common.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCtWOQjhYV4w__PVXZmE5f7WwRKYK_Pl5mrGNqnCE1tIj41SIh_9Fjj6G8a60HOSN8qSo3lZmEnuTHKvH4-0IiwQrZql5qGFWP9rvYY0AShBGxgwYxsuGXMvC6PSyB05sqPUM9EOUggROOb0H3nCZ4JX4sowk90v9-7TZFNjpgpT8qajBj9obZ0aB_Zxk/s846/screenshot.27300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="846" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCtWOQjhYV4w__PVXZmE5f7WwRKYK_Pl5mrGNqnCE1tIj41SIh_9Fjj6G8a60HOSN8qSo3lZmEnuTHKvH4-0IiwQrZql5qGFWP9rvYY0AShBGxgwYxsuGXMvC6PSyB05sqPUM9EOUggROOb0H3nCZ4JX4sowk90v9-7TZFNjpgpT8qajBj9obZ0aB_Zxk/w400-h220/screenshot.27300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And very pleasant it is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We now concentrate on the "D" shape of roads formed by Streatham High Road, Leigham Court Road and the aforementioned Streatham Common North.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Within that "D" we have a network of leafy suburban roads in a higgledy piggledy pattern, that connect with the boundary roads as revealed above.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75_wmn5OIVzvj9wftqLyI5x88x5fHsNybiHz9k91nyJAhdl73V3kr4mm19II1TfDhA_EqQB6vy6Yd4Hr7UJ8p0CWlX4msOOkuIJfgr75pzfvDUkdZ2e6hVAXhlJml4hBxVKr9tfu3bad_Sd6RdaRbm3yG2-NHNp6tfcpERn_0nq7pvJD3ka9g9MIV9sZ/s782/screenshot.27269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="692" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75_wmn5OIVzvj9wftqLyI5x88x5fHsNybiHz9k91nyJAhdl73V3kr4mm19II1TfDhA_EqQB6vy6Yd4Hr7UJ8p0CWlX4msOOkuIJfgr75pzfvDUkdZ2e6hVAXhlJml4hBxVKr9tfu3bad_Sd6RdaRbm3yG2-NHNp6tfcpERn_0nq7pvJD3ka9g9MIV9sZ/w354-h400/screenshot.27269.jpg" width="354" /></a></div>One railway line (Streatham Hill) crosses from left to right across the top of the Google Earth picture; the line from Streatham runs diagonally from lower left to top tight. But many roads are, indeed, leafy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQWM8hwc4UPj7mB6jS_Mx8lpLlyZYApgFky7rTpo9zfW8GxJJzhc-fnm_dqXecPlWTOtLQVySFz7YbVVCY5kZugaaWHrm8XPOH5auPfmhOZ7GhV93pYycMd7ugTFGFMtQoxTMWPaYh86biMw0mdReUCAWJb5MZ16vy0eaOf1JizTp3k0ouPPDgsmrvuur/s716/screenshot.27294.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="716" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQWM8hwc4UPj7mB6jS_Mx8lpLlyZYApgFky7rTpo9zfW8GxJJzhc-fnm_dqXecPlWTOtLQVySFz7YbVVCY5kZugaaWHrm8XPOH5auPfmhOZ7GhV93pYycMd7ugTFGFMtQoxTMWPaYh86biMw0mdReUCAWJb5MZ16vy0eaOf1JizTp3k0ouPPDgsmrvuur/w400-h269/screenshot.27294.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then in step the politicians with their jackpot idea. Lets make that "D" area into a <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Reduced Traffic Zone</b></span>. It will improve air quality, improve peoples' mental health, save the planet AND, even better, win lots of votes at the next election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So they did!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0y-k7csA7vwREWX4-kUM4LANpuK_8IcC0LUCIzsaXU0lRTsGZt6CcVihCUu2g1icT5leZ-Tn22G79e44YIRJ-FGEu9rrm9VYRZQNEM4umfJDRhWTIeDLu7qdSRhRIktIQFAqz2uqgLbPURO4uo3GwXXcGIvsYXjpSiwly8HJw3b6Vo7bD4Kp84hwECo_c/s874/Screenshot_20240309-112136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0y-k7csA7vwREWX4-kUM4LANpuK_8IcC0LUCIzsaXU0lRTsGZt6CcVihCUu2g1icT5leZ-Tn22G79e44YIRJ-FGEu9rrm9VYRZQNEM4umfJDRhWTIeDLu7qdSRhRIktIQFAqz2uqgLbPURO4uo3GwXXcGIvsYXjpSiwly8HJw3b6Vo7bD4Kp84hwECo_c/w330-h400/Screenshot_20240309-112136.jpg" width="330" /></b></span></a></div>In simple terms you could only drive <i><b>INTO</b></i> or <b><i>FROM</i></b> a zone (<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">PURPLE</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;">RED</span></b> or <span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>YELLOW</b></span>) using the appropriate main road of the "D". You are banned from driving THROUGH the area between zones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Much of the access used to be from Streatham High Road before the scheme started.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, now, if you want to take little Torquil from home in <span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: arial;"><b>PURPLE</b></span> to his child minder in <span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>YELLOW</b></span>, you have to come <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>out</b></span> of the purple onto the "D", drive all the way round the main roads and <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>in</b></span> to the yellow, reversing the process to get back for your first glass of Prosecco of the day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Good, innit?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bus 315 is permitted to pass through using a series of "bus gates" where only buses may cross.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjagnCA2S9-gvRW30JhTFy3Qkj_6c5T1YUlvCnTolwVjvfSArUjRV2tEbwf5kARTkfO2cKS_LF_hOdfCF_zeP7b5tpkP32oDsvpu6G_qJy_ySrG_rWMkr2zRcv3ii7Jgly18GcJt6fHyX9OdKoe9-HTtgRSzbHdvNpuCObrddkzH4ZaWOSGIP_i2Yp9UP/s720/Screenshot_20240310-195357.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="720" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjagnCA2S9-gvRW30JhTFy3Qkj_6c5T1YUlvCnTolwVjvfSArUjRV2tEbwf5kARTkfO2cKS_LF_hOdfCF_zeP7b5tpkP32oDsvpu6G_qJy_ySrG_rWMkr2zRcv3ii7Jgly18GcJt6fHyX9OdKoe9-HTtgRSzbHdvNpuCObrddkzH4ZaWOSGIP_i2Yp9UP/w400-h284/Screenshot_20240310-195357.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now fbb will ask his readers a question.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">What effect might this "out and in then back out and back in" manoeuvering have on general traffic in Streatham, especially at peak times?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m-G052sqeVzYZXTegB-ijoRAdtOZ5eQQX4gmTFcd8aSIlDM6Fq8z5nGWA4nqNehYxGQPXICu60L9o4HuGJJuQ7qwNCxvSzlhjq9jSERKezw8U7HuOj6-qbXCRCB4A70inReeBomsAcQ-LzoCCPbuL5BgGNsPtR8m-NIt1IlXI4nK_lObK3RHn7R84hZn/s720/Screenshot_20240309-112223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="720" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m-G052sqeVzYZXTegB-ijoRAdtOZ5eQQX4gmTFcd8aSIlDM6Fq8z5nGWA4nqNehYxGQPXICu60L9o4HuGJJuQ7qwNCxvSzlhjq9jSERKezw8U7HuOj6-qbXCRCB4A70inReeBomsAcQ-LzoCCPbuL5BgGNsPtR8m-NIt1IlXI4nK_lObK3RHn7R84hZn/w400-h258/Screenshot_20240309-112223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It will be horrific in both directions as snapped by Rog!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBKUt4izxWoQHLzooabDErF8U7g3ogvQpQ1xOB2E6mB45TzhhP80rMl4NWyB3IMkFbQDEJC9djbLEUSXmmCipViGNqzlp-mcz0TWLxUJxvuM0WiSTM3mxFo4ZM1uoBGwZCNL0grnau9NXBKpLXMMfVXRP3BXcqKB9J_5iXiHTwDlIteNo1Loh6oXN6t3Q/s720/Screenshot_20240309-112243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="720" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBKUt4izxWoQHLzooabDErF8U7g3ogvQpQ1xOB2E6mB45TzhhP80rMl4NWyB3IMkFbQDEJC9djbLEUSXmmCipViGNqzlp-mcz0TWLxUJxvuM0WiSTM3mxFo4ZM1uoBGwZCNL0grnau9NXBKpLXMMfVXRP3BXcqKB9J_5iXiHTwDlIteNo1Loh6oXN6t3Q/w400-h250/Screenshot_20240309-112243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The effect led to buses taking over 45 minutes to grind painfully through Streatham on the A23.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Passengers crowded round the stops ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nJoUAI2Am5mSSzwn0jjLFGRw4QqDtmHcsQC44bsjzbLhabjpmjiNdrAGWn5iZRsTMZxi1kZeB_CL26PuR4vtQVs-gDfehWJ17BLMqLxg_EiRvCwQ-BowmqtqJUAJXzsQOSXoIHBxmCA1R60XVABUnGy9TXLf4Eakha-WaspJJPcKdhmLbDV4w_0ikoZV/s720/Screenshot_20240309-112411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="720" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nJoUAI2Am5mSSzwn0jjLFGRw4QqDtmHcsQC44bsjzbLhabjpmjiNdrAGWn5iZRsTMZxi1kZeB_CL26PuR4vtQVs-gDfehWJ17BLMqLxg_EiRvCwQ-BowmqtqJUAJXzsQOSXoIHBxmCA1R60XVABUnGy9TXLf4Eakha-WaspJJPcKdhmLbDV4w_0ikoZV/w400-h390/Screenshot_20240309-112411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... recreating scenes from the six nations rugby when their bus eventually arrived.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, sometime in the last week or so, common sense prevailed and, in concert with Mr Khan, the powers that were totally incapable of powering through the potty scheme announced that the whole thing would be deleted!</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back to normality!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Well it seemed a good idea at the time</b></span>!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, with a warm glow of appreciation for the Councillors (more likely highly paid consultants) who dreamed up the scheme, we move on to Leeds tomorrow.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Readers may be confused by two stations bearing the name Streatham (fbb was!) but worry not, there is a third, viz <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Streatham Common</b></span>. The CartoMetro site shows all three.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMpQn8s-p76S0Q13Xw6DlCpUSS4p7wOyMoPNcp2rxgz05VvpozojyW_JCsGPTsgdTeTeQjrwhHvkfZk0mp8DtfGdinJXRmAh0pD-fwtgCRPE9kMJRUEBiTU2osmisUL1fqDIH0mgl_wvEjLTmQn7i3WRXv78VWKhdrkVRB4jDisO0BIjQEMdZOFJeO5tS/s792/screenshot.27301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="792" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMpQn8s-p76S0Q13Xw6DlCpUSS4p7wOyMoPNcp2rxgz05VvpozojyW_JCsGPTsgdTeTeQjrwhHvkfZk0mp8DtfGdinJXRmAh0pD-fwtgCRPE9kMJRUEBiTU2osmisUL1fqDIH0mgl_wvEjLTmQn7i3WRXv78VWKhdrkVRB4jDisO0BIjQEMdZOFJeO5tS/w400-h303/screenshot.27301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Streatham Common actually looks like a real station!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPlz3CKA0HMMuMjpOiS8UUgzBY1VIQ07rzTwln5ylwUHxgBAH8eDNfaXJBRFv5PGzkuV9Y8GpKmOkYK3JoW7dNT3ikkuZ0wPvi6fgEbd2Y824nI3rgyu1MNwJSQe78vHsQTQj9k-UFSG6Qz0YKLMxVfNB63QnxOEwRgOWc00uzI26IWCrhvoWXHuSlnL8/s744/screenshot.27303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="744" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPlz3CKA0HMMuMjpOiS8UUgzBY1VIQ07rzTwln5ylwUHxgBAH8eDNfaXJBRFv5PGzkuV9Y8GpKmOkYK3JoW7dNT3ikkuZ0wPvi6fgEbd2Y824nI3rgyu1MNwJSQe78vHsQTQj9k-UFSG6Qz0YKLMxVfNB63QnxOEwRgOWc00uzI26IWCrhvoWXHuSlnL8/w400-h323/screenshot.27303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But as to where trains go from these three, well, that must be for another day, but Southern Railway's route diagram may help!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzRVQldVjBQ1kk2bHlu94pRMivL3g06g_XXZD-4GB_hUTtfA4gfXw3n_ZGTOLiZSiX-Ft96o6oANVY7lstCWX_LrCyp95d5nZAN3HSYzmuAmKxTVhq8m0A48uahZbYQa_H3YIPGzFAh5uM63K-DoOLapV02X1Cl4ECUe1lyZkxzzSgkMG5AleA0cvLoy0/s768/screenshot.27304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzRVQldVjBQ1kk2bHlu94pRMivL3g06g_XXZD-4GB_hUTtfA4gfXw3n_ZGTOLiZSiX-Ft96o6oANVY7lstCWX_LrCyp95d5nZAN3HSYzmuAmKxTVhq8m0A48uahZbYQa_H3YIPGzFAh5uM63K-DoOLapV02X1Cl4ECUe1lyZkxzzSgkMG5AleA0cvLoy0/w393-h400/screenshot.27304.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>See it; Say it; Sorted</b></span>!</div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next West Yorkshire blog : Tuesday 12th March </b></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-2221505487908864382024-03-10T02:00:00.151+00:002024-03-10T06:24:17.906+00:00Sunday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">Re-Unification Progress</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RYyWiHsfFxFTjh1YwUaf0Z2nrNbFBXdOy9NFZPr4sLPebC0gnrK_RBOjT3yXAnqiASqS8c8R8MB8EW-qVZfAoFYZiRYDd-Nn4b1iu2kI52_PL6_ngOKR4_GF_EdOcpQx4wvQn5khcZWlYKT_uvXg2IpRKs2rGskZS3E0h4CtKpxLYh9w6_47wY8-pqbZ/s874/screenshot.27284.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="874" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RYyWiHsfFxFTjh1YwUaf0Z2nrNbFBXdOy9NFZPr4sLPebC0gnrK_RBOjT3yXAnqiASqS8c8R8MB8EW-qVZfAoFYZiRYDd-Nn4b1iu2kI52_PL6_ngOKR4_GF_EdOcpQx4wvQn5khcZWlYKT_uvXg2IpRKs2rGskZS3E0h4CtKpxLYh9w6_47wY8-pqbZ/w400-h272/screenshot.27284.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a train on the Great Central route crossing the Midland Main Line at the southern end of the platforms of Loughborough (Midland) Station. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6qL5YI3kxFnMk4S-7ZL7VmnuwB-Rsyi4MwHgEYJiryQ8xakNLvjh5mETWBBSInH0KM-TJj7AGF9KnlvgqwXSZxcR4aBC4Lyhjt2YzmG2BRWIojZXsXJx_fDUR-uWHxmqv6U7m0qqscvxTNMgSsOfiSAtpBmPImHKEwoN1GxFk6n6F6EIR2m_YX7k3VRn/s720/Screenshot_20240309-140542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="720" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6qL5YI3kxFnMk4S-7ZL7VmnuwB-Rsyi4MwHgEYJiryQ8xakNLvjh5mETWBBSInH0KM-TJj7AGF9KnlvgqwXSZxcR4aBC4Lyhjt2YzmG2BRWIojZXsXJx_fDUR-uWHxmqv6U7m0qqscvxTNMgSsOfiSAtpBmPImHKEwoN1GxFk6n6F6EIR2m_YX7k3VRn/w400-h268/Screenshot_20240309-140542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here is what happened to the bridge in 1980.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOz1v4OW5Pqd3jEwuewJsdOCPccvJzQYcyO5iGuCsg3JyIeoJlQxxDYiM0Ni-MvgfBC_3wvHYe7eitkrjDoA7C-nGmR4tf5HCAe36hIsvf77x7lUJYuzu7u7po3Cgp3izifdF2nPYYNZ9q0QiwqB6h31L51EXXLy2tEQSuhyphenhyphenVCeAMoAt1Wht7cl9z-3_t/s704/Screenshot_20240309-140551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="704" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOz1v4OW5Pqd3jEwuewJsdOCPccvJzQYcyO5iGuCsg3JyIeoJlQxxDYiM0Ni-MvgfBC_3wvHYe7eitkrjDoA7C-nGmR4tf5HCAe36hIsvf77x7lUJYuzu7u7po3Cgp3izifdF2nPYYNZ9q0QiwqB6h31L51EXXLy2tEQSuhyphenhyphenVCeAMoAt1Wht7cl9z-3_t/w400-h229/Screenshot_20240309-140551.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But the good news is that the bridge has been replaced. Hurrah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyO0zGXcYXPHzWyVjk3jb2-bldRgK82zAycGBdr0AQKhv02301MXr2y1xgb7eRDEvuJVgGSmDDr3hwp6S5eeYfDleYFM5HlwGn-yKK-UCG_mJR6y2O82T9HgGWQjy09_T6leZrV-HauNh9Uc4OxdPYGgOq8ygivcWfkmHTEDqrIxLVsXTlXY2Mm-a7K7B/s958/screenshot.27285.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="958" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyO0zGXcYXPHzWyVjk3jb2-bldRgK82zAycGBdr0AQKhv02301MXr2y1xgb7eRDEvuJVgGSmDDr3hwp6S5eeYfDleYFM5HlwGn-yKK-UCG_mJR6y2O82T9HgGWQjy09_T6leZrV-HauNh9Uc4OxdPYGgOq8ygivcWfkmHTEDqrIxLVsXTlXY2Mm-a7K7B/w400-h235/screenshot.27285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the two outstanding bits of Great Central heritage railway can now be joined together. That would allow through trains to run from Leicester North ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCEgk-GHy_o4_EXvp2m1kqDCr4cC9J0eZFHc9m5doBSeaGEYa0LlMgV5tNV8HXD_Sz1k_UUaZ2vf89TAEhI-HBNVN6uJO6E9WUAKkJfX40jdJTIxlfydH7AWF0YjdtymlqEPCOXF0almXD0da60TcfCYDJ6xW4FfoN2o63bX3uR7fvAZT3k5myiGGht6e/s762/screenshot.27286.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="414" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCEgk-GHy_o4_EXvp2m1kqDCr4cC9J0eZFHc9m5doBSeaGEYa0LlMgV5tNV8HXD_Sz1k_UUaZ2vf89TAEhI-HBNVN6uJO6E9WUAKkJfX40jdJTIxlfydH7AWF0YjdtymlqEPCOXF0almXD0da60TcfCYDJ6xW4FfoN2o63bX3uR7fvAZT3k5myiGGht6e/w348-h640/screenshot.27286.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... to Loughborough as now, then on to .,,.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfyIbhKI_Vq_8FXRDcfJGbcVKqkNTz6IJSrKQ-nXXQJhGCf3I7DWNubltMTsWyBscepnTDPCWSYlIndbPE5cB-aOfb3ALuF9pWWGtms9MInMMESe61P2RuJd1RhtJxioO72IxVDXT1TRrYmOOAfy-aGK2qlJ1fycq9ss0cpmZwofKPB5muUa7H4bcdJ05/s750/screenshot.27287.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfyIbhKI_Vq_8FXRDcfJGbcVKqkNTz6IJSrKQ-nXXQJhGCf3I7DWNubltMTsWyBscepnTDPCWSYlIndbPE5cB-aOfb3ALuF9pWWGtms9MInMMESe61P2RuJd1RhtJxioO72IxVDXT1TRrYmOOAfy-aGK2qlJ1fycq9ss0cpmZwofKPB5muUa7H4bcdJ05/w344-h640/screenshot.27287.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">East Leake and Ruddington.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sadly, not quite yet!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibutEG2odg8caVLvIEgZ3IDGIN3InX79s5gSFgj4Z_fyX_PJshBumMRJ9uh_bztNuECKQU3lhjrICmrgpPM0JHgWviLuV1XKif9QKzFizeJ-T_OdNjQlqWfZLSgwsy5wNvobbpm83PvSdcPbjngE99maJqo-fNV6pqECReHEAzepLFbJQSHCjLU73P4dCA/s890/Screenshot_20240309-141003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="485" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibutEG2odg8caVLvIEgZ3IDGIN3InX79s5gSFgj4Z_fyX_PJshBumMRJ9uh_bztNuECKQU3lhjrICmrgpPM0JHgWviLuV1XKif9QKzFizeJ-T_OdNjQlqWfZLSgwsy5wNvobbpm83PvSdcPbjngE99maJqo-fNV6pqECReHEAzepLFbJQSHCjLU73P4dCA/w348-h640/Screenshot_20240309-141003.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although missing bridge 328 is in place, the red dots show a missing embankment; also bridges 329 and 330 over local roads in Loughborough are still to be un-missinged!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, coming up is the 125th birthday of the Great Central Railway ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowxCYWzChuZ9XfHIbhIOTLQnjNIBiken13m8ifdZbQ_JFirWQrPJPbt2drZrQ-KZbJz_TwNp2MGScYge5yuFYdKKcIz9XLQz-69q5jyddJLQ-ue2fOKCCaSdAduAOFUCjWod7rjgl7Ovfl4gSPRYte1z0u2R9W-MB3O_xStZIoPTA-BksoO-PgTtvA8fn/s890/Screenshot_20240307-073409_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="639" height="571" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowxCYWzChuZ9XfHIbhIOTLQnjNIBiken13m8ifdZbQ_JFirWQrPJPbt2drZrQ-KZbJz_TwNp2MGScYge5yuFYdKKcIz9XLQz-69q5jyddJLQ-ue2fOKCCaSdAduAOFUCjWod7rjgl7Ovfl4gSPRYte1z0u2R9W-MB3O_xStZIoPTA-BksoO-PgTtvA8fn/w410-h571/Screenshot_20240307-073409_Chrome.png" width="410" /></a></div>... and the two lines are to be linked ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU91-3HV07-clUXvKLnwD4p2lc70hZdNVAMjl6pvIyZWPqQajf49zjx0faRLdRrWVUK6had0j4SV5klXUSNRKGCJnU1wRhT-ORljngggZhtq7gDIJeENPoxA4xIB3YCbJLubgekMI6dlZrClQOehfHgafHBsA2o0IZ13FVZv4_484WlY3mBHx_C7G5FDw8/s1064/Screenshot_20240307-073300_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1064" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU91-3HV07-clUXvKLnwD4p2lc70hZdNVAMjl6pvIyZWPqQajf49zjx0faRLdRrWVUK6had0j4SV5klXUSNRKGCJnU1wRhT-ORljngggZhtq7gDIJeENPoxA4xIB3YCbJLubgekMI6dlZrClQOehfHgafHBsA2o0IZ13FVZv4_484WlY3mBHx_C7G5FDw8/w400-h335/Screenshot_20240307-073300_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div>... albeit by bus!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb had intended to publish a timetable for the through service; but. alas, this magnificent heritage railway doesn't want to tell us!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poor!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Another One!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCcuyxqvS3sZWU6PEByqDPan5-fFEc4vOY7tPWhxV3D8qbtoNnp0fAlo7Nf4xC_1kbFOuLQRX_iz2GVmHlGF6kJ-GwCIkP43JeaeBHKL23m9pSmi1O6Um1Etjve6UI3fwNcTNnRaz3Gh8grShnUmNijUGa-R8Z8QOlkeBXq_DegR40N9LGarSlkyjjEZF/s890/Screenshot_20240308-130932_Browser.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="557" height="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCcuyxqvS3sZWU6PEByqDPan5-fFEc4vOY7tPWhxV3D8qbtoNnp0fAlo7Nf4xC_1kbFOuLQRX_iz2GVmHlGF6kJ-GwCIkP43JeaeBHKL23m9pSmi1O6Um1Etjve6UI3fwNcTNnRaz3Gh8grShnUmNijUGa-R8Z8QOlkeBXq_DegR40N9LGarSlkyjjEZF/w368-h589/Screenshot_20240308-130932_Browser.png" width="368" /></a></div>And the mayor reckons he will get franchising done by the end of 2024!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fat chance!</div><p></p><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bolder; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">South Yorkshire's mayor has said bus franchising has been recommended as the best way to improve the county network.</span></span></p></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">It would mean the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) would decide services and timetables.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Mayor Oliver Coppard said the estimated cost of the whole transition to franchising would be £25m.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">First Bus said it was confident it could help deliver change. Stagecoach said it was committed to working with SYMCA to make the network successful.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bus services in England outside London were deregulated in 1986, enabling private operators to control routes, timetables and fares and to receive the revenue from fares.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">However, the Bus Services Act gave city regions the power to introduce bus franchising in 2017.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Mr Coppard said an independent audit had looked at different options for the bus network in South Yorkshire and had recommended franchising.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">He said he hoped it could be introduced by the end of this year.</span></p></div></div><div class="ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">"Franchising would be a publicly-controlled bus system where we decide what the routes, fares and timetables look like and we would use the money from the profitable bits of our network to reinvest in those vital services in other parts of our communities," he said.</span></p></div></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't laugh too loud!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>But Meanwhile In Rotherham</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6htERRLLoMZymKYnJm3bLRqKF6PNop6trmermJJXuHGx5XmZY6qj1EnBQNmC_OBU8kYLf76HKxyQygAkwTGjPZXXILIIDCP_emm98pQ1Bm7PyBVw04DQcWqxm19qWKcqv8XmA8moiaXErhkrgziw0Eyd1EXjLtVMFadx9LGT8FKqxJldfECTY4NysUBCK/s890/Screenshot_20240303-225421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="690" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6htERRLLoMZymKYnJm3bLRqKF6PNop6trmermJJXuHGx5XmZY6qj1EnBQNmC_OBU8kYLf76HKxyQygAkwTGjPZXXILIIDCP_emm98pQ1Bm7PyBVw04DQcWqxm19qWKcqv8XmA8moiaXErhkrgziw0Eyd1EXjLtVMFadx9LGT8FKqxJldfECTY4NysUBCK/w353-h455/Screenshot_20240303-225421.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>So no chance, then of Mayor Oliver expanding his frenchised operation into the best bus depot in South Yorkshire!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGvESEGoOnCJX7eUHb_zNIiPGiBIjx2zrZ4TP-OxlRemCzHeMlyV4-LTmXVMHBM04OV-1KA1Sx0WJGTD2SJAn09f89Y-obl-v_24_fEmJwWNM4h4I1Da54uwQLSzRKnS0BO0hrEmfowEo3M8ul_bn7QMd5DKOL6Rxgh-4J_YDS7GHFJnYyE4fEBgFUf9s/s890/Screenshot_20240303-225522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="503" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGvESEGoOnCJX7eUHb_zNIiPGiBIjx2zrZ4TP-OxlRemCzHeMlyV4-LTmXVMHBM04OV-1KA1Sx0WJGTD2SJAn09f89Y-obl-v_24_fEmJwWNM4h4I1Da54uwQLSzRKnS0BO0hrEmfowEo3M8ul_bn7QMd5DKOL6Rxgh-4J_YDS7GHFJnYyE4fEBgFUf9s/w362-h640/Screenshot_20240303-225522.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Non Superloop Route This Way</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Remember those weird routes numbered in the Superloop series but not part of the Loop? Two of them do "connect" with the loop but one never makes it to join in joyous union with the circle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Silly Loop SL4 will run from Canary Wharf to Grove Park.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIx3XtOYRKiNwh-bZ0t5jO82eSa29eswwyjEzfiMWdv8pS_I4AzF8OB_Ue4mWDgaEMA58m2UR2_W5YG2lQkteCpRJHD6i0306zzQlhhi_fVux984a6OJ4CfktFNerD_zY9CrXgdZD9wKt8PKJakHAJsyrGhDPCW-zg7xC6DxgMygjQlyuv9S71V4MwBgT/s416/screenshot.27288.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIx3XtOYRKiNwh-bZ0t5jO82eSa29eswwyjEzfiMWdv8pS_I4AzF8OB_Ue4mWDgaEMA58m2UR2_W5YG2lQkteCpRJHD6i0306zzQlhhi_fVux984a6OJ4CfktFNerD_zY9CrXgdZD9wKt8PKJakHAJsyrGhDPCW-zg7xC6DxgMygjQlyuv9S71V4MwBgT/w269-h400/screenshot.27288.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>But to get to Blackheath it will need to cross the Thames. And that crossing is not finished yet. It will be known as the Silvertown Tunnel. immediate logic suggests that a route via the Blackwall Tunnel would be sensible ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUKmgq5d5YmsatCZ5Xe0V-FFGgophMpgcUt5I9VSh9K5b9mjUQSxGwBSKWz0Pi2xE7HuuuYcXWUtXnBCHUHEmjUJ13SIfl3ENMLZds91OyRQ41JxWFGT2QBNeUM1l_P2wHSo6nSZvS7ArwYoMpeS2pHOm8dAeDE6psFKgmAuKo-uXo5e8kwju6PSWeGZr/s594/screenshot.27289.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="594" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUKmgq5d5YmsatCZ5Xe0V-FFGgophMpgcUt5I9VSh9K5b9mjUQSxGwBSKWz0Pi2xE7HuuuYcXWUtXnBCHUHEmjUJ13SIfl3ENMLZds91OyRQ41JxWFGT2QBNeUM1l_P2wHSo6nSZvS7ArwYoMpeS2pHOm8dAeDE6psFKgmAuKo-uXo5e8kwju6PSWeGZr/w400-h290/screenshot.27289.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but not for SL4. it will use the new tunnel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is the Silvertown tunnel map ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEBJmpsymR-I_ENQzSBus84kpuX-rUPjf_GiQ-towvf-BkNhyphenhyphensxtGSNhnG_vJsNOLxSpNTIjuPbm7Nkqh3m9bkdx74n9k4IBAzv8HU1_n9uyDBg_CCKvRbb3UNAi6xKrEfor64p2EBv9jT1bn48P_SfuSaLwdtHImf2W0rf5_gIGaqgr-OvzswVLXDCx4/s1200/Screenshot_20240306-205130_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1200" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEBJmpsymR-I_ENQzSBus84kpuX-rUPjf_GiQ-towvf-BkNhyphenhyphensxtGSNhnG_vJsNOLxSpNTIjuPbm7Nkqh3m9bkdx74n9k4IBAzv8HU1_n9uyDBg_CCKvRbb3UNAi6xKrEfor64p2EBv9jT1bn48P_SfuSaLwdtHImf2W0rf5_gIGaqgr-OvzswVLXDCx4/w400-h204/Screenshot_20240306-205130_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div>... and this is what the north portal looked like under constriction.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Mnxb4qEARiWbjCCEIrSBCTRc2Alaip7_XPZuERjl0ACaW4SQzSAoNNJiqT9q5VLpSe3n-TC7W2HwoOzSeuM-lWSlJz2gq5EXK8c-ne-f_s3LxcoyEwb9iAw54aYfvf9Iz23Qe0jDLoB6gfxbDhNcAFySJ6gpRy-A3LQryC1x9IFdB2fKawofD17bwej/s720/Screenshot_20240308-161042%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="720" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Mnxb4qEARiWbjCCEIrSBCTRc2Alaip7_XPZuERjl0ACaW4SQzSAoNNJiqT9q5VLpSe3n-TC7W2HwoOzSeuM-lWSlJz2gq5EXK8c-ne-f_s3LxcoyEwb9iAw54aYfvf9Iz23Qe0jDLoB6gfxbDhNcAFySJ6gpRy-A3LQryC1x9IFdB2fKawofD17bwej/w400-h270/Screenshot_20240308-161042%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The road (left) is the Silvertown Flyover, the water is the Royal Docks as was! And the railway (right) is Docklands Light to London City Airport and under the Thames to Woolwich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The tunnel will be two bore and big bores at that!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbLgTaWi-FWlA8_zO1H2-yUBMPTc4G5Bq2OYTvQKnK8DH9GwPNHlNyyDI8E-KHy9wE2q51bDjdPJoRk0O3Pzwfvweo8huZdDU4h2rn8XKZCerEr2SASZXuyJsL-5uU14OQgxbt3rHRF_Npf4ZKpCxa9dulQDhpjjWC8pOAMsFaJTd4ZXb9N0370TBTuuK/s1200/Screenshot_20240306-205000_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbLgTaWi-FWlA8_zO1H2-yUBMPTc4G5Bq2OYTvQKnK8DH9GwPNHlNyyDI8E-KHy9wE2q51bDjdPJoRk0O3Pzwfvweo8huZdDU4h2rn8XKZCerEr2SASZXuyJsL-5uU14OQgxbt3rHRF_Npf4ZKpCxa9dulQDhpjjWC8pOAMsFaJTd4ZXb9N0370TBTuuK/w400-h214/Screenshot_20240306-205000_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div>The northern portal has a control room like something out of Doctor Who ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLRKptB7abKHXq19vk9f3I-LO5wXCj0tn3FaTK-9QjZj8n3ZVs9fFwbUonrZ7eU0pT9f_c52kOpYBfbjurY1w7iD3w9l8H7OpP3Jyo_S1cmgew0ezvgMRSjvMppN6BnuLhtlgDQlZ9xvlVynoZauUpmmr5uSyMAxtH6gLFp-ZCOrGa1JxRqHf3v6Gu6lW/s859/Screenshot_20240306-205047_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="859" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLRKptB7abKHXq19vk9f3I-LO5wXCj0tn3FaTK-9QjZj8n3ZVs9fFwbUonrZ7eU0pT9f_c52kOpYBfbjurY1w7iD3w9l8H7OpP3Jyo_S1cmgew0ezvgMRSjvMppN6BnuLhtlgDQlZ9xvlVynoZauUpmmr5uSyMAxtH6gLFp-ZCOrGa1JxRqHf3v6Gu6lW/w400-h280/Screenshot_20240306-205047_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div>... and the southern entrance is at North Greenwich and is equally scary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpxpeJZ_jKmHIHmFZpWhCex6BhgqSUPd2zDnZBmbFxQVI6R_JSjIxO3AYMklEpTy0tO1Acq9AMCAs0-UErXJteq298byp_eGuvunUBnIKNliuWEzzxO5E9CPDbv4hbJc7bIP7hAmO_UIG6zWN3Vr5EUFhHzQoDtfXYw-q9vAh1bG8LdPLeYEkkMGjhGjL/s945/Screenshot_20240306-205112_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="945" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpxpeJZ_jKmHIHmFZpWhCex6BhgqSUPd2zDnZBmbFxQVI6R_JSjIxO3AYMklEpTy0tO1Acq9AMCAs0-UErXJteq298byp_eGuvunUBnIKNliuWEzzxO5E9CPDbv4hbJc7bIP7hAmO_UIG6zWN3Vr5EUFhHzQoDtfXYw-q9vAh1bG8LdPLeYEkkMGjhGjL/w400-h254/Screenshot_20240306-205112_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div>Here is a short video about the tunnel.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZ-w8I3aKZ06i_eRQGKK60APq6S7QBOMS4sm7ivi0IeUOoBtk1NlU0N6ctzrIrJe6GCFJLwbKcqt-LtPOCMQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Did we hear aright? User charge? One lane for buses only? Just the SL4? 60 buses an hour (maybe that's 30 each way?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Somebody is gong to be very busy in the schedules office?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Tomorrow we go from Streatham in London to Leeds, which isn't!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Politics & Transport blog : Monday 11 March </b></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-24208550171427787682024-03-09T02:00:00.127+00:002024-03-09T19:17:32.575+00:00Saturday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">Yet More Electrics To Pollute The Planet</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5a4RgT5tLTUATC9wLlkg-4uBI_lyaXGoIx8tEF8Dwo5j4y-dmHLB4nQJgeEDlGNABv8MqVF4z3_QzieO3Kt6MA-N-h1dwQjl_-y9tnW7XsICrGDHx8L_5OuLr_o4Yjw34iSh4sMirGfiJ4-eyRIzypALB8ZLphO76Ph7naEhFdzCqXyOfyPnjpEV-YSH/s720/Screenshot_20240308-162027%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="720" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5a4RgT5tLTUATC9wLlkg-4uBI_lyaXGoIx8tEF8Dwo5j4y-dmHLB4nQJgeEDlGNABv8MqVF4z3_QzieO3Kt6MA-N-h1dwQjl_-y9tnW7XsICrGDHx8L_5OuLr_o4Yjw34iSh4sMirGfiJ4-eyRIzypALB8ZLphO76Ph7naEhFdzCqXyOfyPnjpEV-YSH/w400-h215/Screenshot_20240308-162027%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK, fbb does bore on a bit; but we do need to remind ourselves that, currently, electric vehicles continue to cause pollution at power station level and it costs and arm and part of a leg to recycle batteries - when they aren't bursting into flames, that is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First Bus ais bringing a load to Leeds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxoK0UnXchyphenhyphenHcGJ7iwaaysgme9j-Ev489wMBwtqUOTuzMaqBWum9exhMibMgI4jFUyz9IxtJvzFQMOPMaIiRXIorfAn66I-z6gjLYelz59O0gUnkm2wTH1NmNsUKm9UEofEP2_J6ZNX4EupWSqk-DF-ykOwjAGY3iL8X3STpbMogSPRvVpz7FwtFAx2H/s890/Screenshot_20240308-113710_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="831" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxoK0UnXchyphenhyphenHcGJ7iwaaysgme9j-Ev489wMBwtqUOTuzMaqBWum9exhMibMgI4jFUyz9IxtJvzFQMOPMaIiRXIorfAn66I-z6gjLYelz59O0gUnkm2wTH1NmNsUKm9UEofEP2_J6ZNX4EupWSqk-DF-ykOwjAGY3iL8X3STpbMogSPRvVpz7FwtFAx2H/w374-h400/Screenshot_20240308-113710_Chrome.png" width="374" /></a></div>And National Express aid trialling a battery electric coach as well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xtg42rg7BhIlXXL0qv4giPeDX7_uEJxgjkp5ULtmmskCLXuvuQB4jIGqBSjhqLhCokMmcyNL2mpPW4LB7CYoT__n8HjJmWCYdsKsoa1tYFyF3weA8h6vxw739VLYwUg5sjdT9vHWIVamYb1hFTUrpNSGtXUjWnt8Pv2EgmK3uUqMpDxPJ2rmnGv6YtA5/s793/Screenshot_20240306-112813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="702" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xtg42rg7BhIlXXL0qv4giPeDX7_uEJxgjkp5ULtmmskCLXuvuQB4jIGqBSjhqLhCokMmcyNL2mpPW4LB7CYoT__n8HjJmWCYdsKsoa1tYFyF3weA8h6vxw739VLYwUg5sjdT9vHWIVamYb1hFTUrpNSGtXUjWnt8Pv2EgmK3uUqMpDxPJ2rmnGv6YtA5/w354-h400/Screenshot_20240306-112813.jpg" width="354" /></a></div>The blurb makes them sound magnificent.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiNDSv2bZixeZbgH5clL6NDXuveP3qAxHZQDF_WYWeuBvBVPIE4oHNblP0STFOgin4P9TnUnExnuOaZoGPYAB0yTEfSjBfWqSgyJFqLlpSUYGDsV3GR8S77Mmlar8CXypPKKpahyvmQK0yLqwhGaU86psr9VUe74LRiYWr_NJuRdyWoQc4mZSRIMzwOyU/s885/Screenshot_20240306-112932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="632" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiNDSv2bZixeZbgH5clL6NDXuveP3qAxHZQDF_WYWeuBvBVPIE4oHNblP0STFOgin4P9TnUnExnuOaZoGPYAB0yTEfSjBfWqSgyJFqLlpSUYGDsV3GR8S77Mmlar8CXypPKKpahyvmQK0yLqwhGaU86psr9VUe74LRiYWr_NJuRdyWoQc4mZSRIMzwOyU/w326-h456/Screenshot_20240306-112932.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And their magnificence will initially be used between Stansted and Stratford, London; hardly a good test of battery charge longevity. The A9 timetable is every 30 minutes with a 40 minute running time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1palbqm04ygYDPLqZEUMtoaACbifH303c37dwGLETajnxf0n_v07koppDm-7gK8Vo0G32QzemP9_w5K0Ie_CARWrj3MJn6pkC9kwNipAhTK3RHTN2C2XzOqtfH20bnHIEIenaVFMHSbThuKvr8If8038fT9nMojvs3mWGBiJlH3-mUB7I4CRvoOhhQYGW/s842/screenshot.27263.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="842" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1palbqm04ygYDPLqZEUMtoaACbifH303c37dwGLETajnxf0n_v07koppDm-7gK8Vo0G32QzemP9_w5K0Ie_CARWrj3MJn6pkC9kwNipAhTK3RHTN2C2XzOqtfH20bnHIEIenaVFMHSbThuKvr8If8038fT9nMojvs3mWGBiJlH3-mUB7I4CRvoOhhQYGW/w400-h89/screenshot.27263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And More Technology</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmns4RpliBxzxxgUhgzO17Io_llCl7ezozhQKLZYPqbvQ3qECJ1YY1J15EjzwL1Nv3exC9mVPIfUhl-iQxqzYM6ob6HtufQAbcjY4Q-zMshHKIFrNcdfNITEhKcwuT6ZFfTYu4i22oyOa6Q5Co2VWEHnhrjnY7U_7mg3h4G-NKXyU-HO9MKZBmkgUFat3/s1200/Screenshot_20240308-131330_Browser.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="1200" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmns4RpliBxzxxgUhgzO17Io_llCl7ezozhQKLZYPqbvQ3qECJ1YY1J15EjzwL1Nv3exC9mVPIfUhl-iQxqzYM6ob6HtufQAbcjY4Q-zMshHKIFrNcdfNITEhKcwuT6ZFfTYu4i22oyOa6Q5Co2VWEHnhrjnY7U_7mg3h4G-NKXyU-HO9MKZBmkgUFat3/w400-h105/Screenshot_20240308-131330_Browser.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCwoLcPiaNGzZigFlYUue9_0Nc4gKdPYb24Gygep3cyuT5TF2w0JS6UJ8to3z_kzTD8zb44RyFaW8oR5qz1aw811KXgkhZ0klAeI3a5RvudASktO1stz2voka1kUzjUZqadsGCQ6wTbJcfAXMW7_gRv8n3X04pXWwi_P-b2GHCsBXVR0qsqvYa_qziv2_/s1200/Screenshot_20240308-131235_Browser.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1200" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCwoLcPiaNGzZigFlYUue9_0Nc4gKdPYb24Gygep3cyuT5TF2w0JS6UJ8to3z_kzTD8zb44RyFaW8oR5qz1aw811KXgkhZ0klAeI3a5RvudASktO1stz2voka1kUzjUZqadsGCQ6wTbJcfAXMW7_gRv8n3X04pXWwi_P-b2GHCsBXVR0qsqvYa_qziv2_/w400-h229/Screenshot_20240308-131235_Browser.png" width="400" /></a></div>Of course it will NOT be driverless - all such vehicles must, legally, carry a driver; and it it's anything like the Didcot service, the driver will have to "intervene" in difficult traffic situations when the technology cannot cope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully the technology of a human brain is always the best! Even if fbb's is fading slowly but surely with the advancement of years!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Give A Train A Silly Name ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As in Limo, Pendolino, Aventris, Adelante and now .... tada ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDMsGmjoHhlbbIK5lg5Q0DCUWtvhA7TclebI1l0bSYVNcEUconzuoHoxShwpI9iSXtHd2tX5wUOC4q7O9XmjnDxj7Lwqn7G4UObkWttKa5Asod9dqVNb0eV0cvFlOLLD7B94-Y0ikAFhnFshzFaQUcI9_2nuiqeKucY5gPkyVqdhLjY-4bmffpFUJNEyb/s426/Screenshot_20240308-092116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="426" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDMsGmjoHhlbbIK5lg5Q0DCUWtvhA7TclebI1l0bSYVNcEUconzuoHoxShwpI9iSXtHd2tX5wUOC4q7O9XmjnDxj7Lwqn7G4UObkWttKa5Asod9dqVNb0eV0cvFlOLLD7B94-Y0ikAFhnFshzFaQUcI9_2nuiqeKucY5gPkyVqdhLjY-4bmffpFUJNEyb/w400-h198/Screenshot_20240308-092116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>..., it's Spanish for "ready".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So it is just what you would expect on a train service in France.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Already S N C F have ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjur5Mvi_f39asRLEia57GTvsaq_v1u6IBQZayEvoEQ-z04Q9O1FvPb9QMI8MUT4ufHlouENsFarVmJpK5w43eKyXqIOsBHjwn8Z1_useyEQDer3l4zRD9bOlS1iunpZ3MNL2AgGlM6yqAYSjN5xwRxtCInDJFJoXdUi-rVTtdQYFoxJU9STQXa2YTO4mTd/s598/screenshot.27264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="598" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjur5Mvi_f39asRLEia57GTvsaq_v1u6IBQZayEvoEQ-z04Q9O1FvPb9QMI8MUT4ufHlouENsFarVmJpK5w43eKyXqIOsBHjwn8Z1_useyEQDer3l4zRD9bOlS1iunpZ3MNL2AgGlM6yqAYSjN5xwRxtCInDJFJoXdUi-rVTtdQYFoxJU9STQXa2YTO4mTd/w400-h266/screenshot.27264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... where "oui" means "yes" but combined the name reads "we go" which is, as you may recognise, English for, erm, "we go"!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But it gets dafter. The company behind "ilisto" is called "Kevin Speed" which does not sound particularly French. Speed is, obviously, English, but Kevin?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kevin (with an acute accent on the "e") was a very popular name in France in the 1990s. It has faded from popularity as quickly as it appeared. Depending on what you read and wear, the name has unfortunate connotations in La Belle France.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Kevin" equals "saddo" in fbb speak. Negatively a "Kevin" in France is regarded as a sort of badly dressed, car-tinkering, socially maladroit (look it up!) person. Other sources suggest that "Kevin" is the archetypical ordinary 30 year old "bloke". Maybe he is a bit of both.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The company has a whole family of its target customer base.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkYuSiX9QyFTtTxNp7Qs1EMFUBhGRX4eHJOwgSASa5D_X-PQ5YebX8HTeYZNwTha33d1VirZj83j6m_ZiIL2XTKmrF4rKOv_pG-iKLch0ZXa_5u5SKfqT_oPWDbAacc-tGOKM3TcD-RmJ_TdD9iaC1zqVgbX11mzJajJcRKslj3u_BRbd9teq_MUBf9xl/s815/Screenshot_20240308-092658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="650" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkYuSiX9QyFTtTxNp7Qs1EMFUBhGRX4eHJOwgSASa5D_X-PQ5YebX8HTeYZNwTha33d1VirZj83j6m_ZiIL2XTKmrF4rKOv_pG-iKLch0ZXa_5u5SKfqT_oPWDbAacc-tGOKM3TcD-RmJ_TdD9iaC1zqVgbX11mzJajJcRKslj3u_BRbd9teq_MUBf9xl/w361-h453/Screenshot_20240308-092658.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>And further ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0tplY4MNkBqh_EZl4tzULZHVNpijak843xHICbdHwZwk8EHwZ654_-FIge8tJDqi_cIoj86SxjpoI5CWsCYOyq9p3RpTD3O0mnbBUArrHXJgTGDY0Nz4q6LmNiu-n1wcrqvo2evunwEXuDJAyM7GtzOJJdjpU-dhzEfYN3g3pTJVmCL7dfFmRv2Iv43a/s749/Screenshot_20240308-092705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0tplY4MNkBqh_EZl4tzULZHVNpijak843xHICbdHwZwk8EHwZ654_-FIge8tJDqi_cIoj86SxjpoI5CWsCYOyq9p3RpTD3O0mnbBUArrHXJgTGDY0Nz4q6LmNiu-n1wcrqvo2evunwEXuDJAyM7GtzOJJdjpU-dhzEfYN3g3pTJVmCL7dfFmRv2Iv43a/w348-h400/Screenshot_20240308-092705.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>If the French is "trop difficile" the Kevin Speed web site can be viewed in English - but it is not such fin!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwv1-Qjf8pzwgMl2xSjrMVzOdIjzbAmCg9qytNtq-SXLTgedyzdgauCiAYDoK67h5sd8d1Ar57-Sm02INXox1N621JrFCrm0fhNXQ97fx6ATaDFzpuK_TLBkxrkqAqg0mP0PzgEfcUisKGaKkddBa2AEas2aK2gl__-sSuOFQxq1R-oVVT56ut32kUaI/s669/Screenshot_20240308-092432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="669" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwv1-Qjf8pzwgMl2xSjrMVzOdIjzbAmCg9qytNtq-SXLTgedyzdgauCiAYDoK67h5sd8d1Ar57-Sm02INXox1N621JrFCrm0fhNXQ97fx6ATaDFzpuK_TLBkxrkqAqg0mP0PzgEfcUisKGaKkddBa2AEas2aK2gl__-sSuOFQxq1R-oVVT56ut32kUaI/w400-h153/Screenshot_20240308-092432.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So what is Kev planning. Frequent high speed trains will run from Paris to Lille ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDri_NBeaWSE49dpwWnwsMKHyAHnF_F41Ub76YpRY2R1eOs85UOiwxW5f5UQYp7FoqpR7j3mE8uTtpFP9pO0s_zlF7FWKxJw3mPORTWQn68CBDSegOH3rouA4FIjaZEW4Cmcbafl5TYl8_sEHh0X2-xifVa10P2Itrow9jgrkyf_OH-O1SGHwb8YKIBpO/s537/Screenshot_20240308-091618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="368" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDri_NBeaWSE49dpwWnwsMKHyAHnF_F41Ub76YpRY2R1eOs85UOiwxW5f5UQYp7FoqpR7j3mE8uTtpFP9pO0s_zlF7FWKxJw3mPORTWQn68CBDSegOH3rouA4FIjaZEW4Cmcbafl5TYl8_sEHh0X2-xifVa10P2Itrow9jgrkyf_OH-O1SGHwb8YKIBpO/w345-h504/Screenshot_20240308-091618.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>... from Paris to Strasbourg ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuggrCK8NmDvo1CDqnkStBCiaFkxAkkZwvT9ZC2YTm3f6KrrvRpHcyJQ7n6_4c-Sxg0quYc8WaeA0pM81zr8e6mUC_eFRi0ZmE6BDqJShpEKf4uU90x8lqRm9E1q8PDaynqo2hwtZ0bGpZ5Fa9Oaf2Jmz1eaexUiV02RGYBo8j7s_7iTXxnFh-cc20kBPN/s720/Screenshot_20240308-091601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="720" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuggrCK8NmDvo1CDqnkStBCiaFkxAkkZwvT9ZC2YTm3f6KrrvRpHcyJQ7n6_4c-Sxg0quYc8WaeA0pM81zr8e6mUC_eFRi0ZmE6BDqJShpEKf4uU90x8lqRm9E1q8PDaynqo2hwtZ0bGpZ5Fa9Oaf2Jmz1eaexUiV02RGYBo8j7s_7iTXxnFh-cc20kBPN/w400-h118/Screenshot_20240308-091601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and from Paris to Lyon ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmBugHhpPliqveHbdiDQE4JRz4xjKt_RWR_BnCpb7lRdGVEqLq0xiD4VP_jmDGTS7UV5_V74BnTGeo6ruGA8E2U_BGrptQ543YbZo8DIPzFJstI8zjcCi_RA78UEF5bMsiHLaKW-R_AHCpWIzs-PI2vkNxqHl-10BCWBSn38Brry-dfAA16WXuuiKqOqa/s791/Screenshot_20240308-091953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="686" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmBugHhpPliqveHbdiDQE4JRz4xjKt_RWR_BnCpb7lRdGVEqLq0xiD4VP_jmDGTS7UV5_V74BnTGeo6ruGA8E2U_BGrptQ543YbZo8DIPzFJstI8zjcCi_RA78UEF5bMsiHLaKW-R_AHCpWIzs-PI2vkNxqHl-10BCWBSn38Brry-dfAA16WXuuiKqOqa/w348-h400/Screenshot_20240308-091953.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... in direct competition with SNCF.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>There is a senior team of four ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS2aRU8Q1zphJwHuzKNzkEIRLPdsnrpAKxBSS5DdXx8Qa75vr8tMdMs19fe52uZxeHv0eLrNVv-tUmIUGiJNFmmpUeY1Zyr3O1Es44zljYRkLCQMZVAy7JNRQEEkJEakXXTnBRlZ0dPXX8fypsr07MADK0sKxVsIO7ZS4aSp4pDHKBzW0i2J1zfKjPtzB/s809/Screenshot_20240308-092100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="622" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS2aRU8Q1zphJwHuzKNzkEIRLPdsnrpAKxBSS5DdXx8Qa75vr8tMdMs19fe52uZxeHv0eLrNVv-tUmIUGiJNFmmpUeY1Zyr3O1Es44zljYRkLCQMZVAy7JNRQEEkJEakXXTnBRlZ0dPXX8fypsr07MADK0sKxVsIO7ZS4aSp4pDHKBzW0i2J1zfKjPtzB/w376-h489/Screenshot_20240308-092100.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>And the promises are impressive.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV842nudpMSPNtEqcKmL6LGAWrv1QI90SndNk2dBGDyTtbFPvFOaN1LLeE3ZXgAsIfDiGJJ91b4p-nakBfQTSI4bx7cyx2S5MSHsrX2ObgjioGM5VuUvOtTh2PyXp5DbcU4mCxdGyoq0AAFGbTXgOeuLuvCDfuLkPAsuw0N0QFFQGutgza1p20wnb9WQvx/s681/Screenshot_20240308-092539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="681" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV842nudpMSPNtEqcKmL6LGAWrv1QI90SndNk2dBGDyTtbFPvFOaN1LLeE3ZXgAsIfDiGJJ91b4p-nakBfQTSI4bx7cyx2S5MSHsrX2ObgjioGM5VuUvOtTh2PyXp5DbcU4mCxdGyoq0AAFGbTXgOeuLuvCDfuLkPAsuw0N0QFFQGutgza1p20wnb9WQvx/w400-h389/Screenshot_20240308-092539.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Note that fares <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>start</b></span> at 3 euro per 100km but Kevin doesn't tell us where they finish!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And don't expect to buy a ticket at your local station!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7YIUuJsdx5SjMnwpEctAGYsfGtaSbcka1LZM4w19EQVRsoIBCvj3Ovgki0ZWtLLOg0_wbaMCKvFBoE8JC-qj00GD-DO16yPY7oSkt15LiOG5osnNxLD5rY1WA6u7piPZZKwBzCSuz9KLKZG4w2_AQk2tm6vE1nKYrXjoFbWkzXdZ2qV9lMfCZAvZUd2f/s694/Screenshot_20240308-092157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="694" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7YIUuJsdx5SjMnwpEctAGYsfGtaSbcka1LZM4w19EQVRsoIBCvj3Ovgki0ZWtLLOg0_wbaMCKvFBoE8JC-qj00GD-DO16yPY7oSkt15LiOG5osnNxLD5rY1WA6u7piPZZKwBzCSuz9KLKZG4w2_AQk2tm6vE1nKYrXjoFbWkzXdZ2qV9lMfCZAvZUd2f/w400-h183/Screenshot_20240308-092157.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Will it ever happen?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqO8i31FG4YwI2BpjDVgW2-ssphAhdCRfgte-iXiT9yT_y_E07RuyF11SxtfSt396DPzzGpoTPvNO2xPKBK-jIrhjsDgqRB8CYsF-OM9Kki2A3uTgMaFjHkF4bakC914KrDdNu3yNDGpQI_VU3N3luajMEZlf2m53EL-wvjFBnOP2055QdvIk5dPuDNex/s890/Screenshot_20240308-092230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqO8i31FG4YwI2BpjDVgW2-ssphAhdCRfgte-iXiT9yT_y_E07RuyF11SxtfSt396DPzzGpoTPvNO2xPKBK-jIrhjsDgqRB8CYsF-OM9Kki2A3uTgMaFjHkF4bakC914KrDdNu3yNDGpQI_VU3N3luajMEZlf2m53EL-wvjFBnOP2055QdvIk5dPuDNex/w258-h640/Screenshot_20240308-092230.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>Only time will, tell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back At Ground Level</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhJiMB32lulUBY6ahBjhTFb3ajxFQxovLP9sWtUPSRB1_bVGIwVRD1GHopx66fkulWvkJDRFk_PvIcoB2IT-3ghmH7FH_OBJomebxbLCB1qriN3V6ES8_jkfUUBUEzMpRGxS9I1khmDA6UBE6K23pHC1cUZQKKgrOeMPi_J9xWjrtK-RoazMDSSbBeKmj/s1493/IMG_20240308_175258_916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1493" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhJiMB32lulUBY6ahBjhTFb3ajxFQxovLP9sWtUPSRB1_bVGIwVRD1GHopx66fkulWvkJDRFk_PvIcoB2IT-3ghmH7FH_OBJomebxbLCB1qriN3V6ES8_jkfUUBUEzMpRGxS9I1khmDA6UBE6K23pHC1cUZQKKgrOeMPi_J9xWjrtK-RoazMDSSbBeKmj/w400-h239/IMG_20240308_175258_916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Above is fbb's latest piece of model railway scenery with a Mrs fbb clothes peg still in temporary use!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But what is it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a clue:-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr4d6A6mVXoLgGU4QhNvJkxopVNGNYQVmwnM-ZnSQEjMCSNStI6y7OhpwFgI7cAI1hMbU8mbDBDWXEd_S7Q6dmqPbHCDaMH6srvloIFtaD-K_JrO7Zv0bYOqgCYtXu0H2xrzR3rEJvkH56t208JCdwoVenjeVOO5bCK-Xe-MGnf9JaT-eEwlPc2g5_pe6/s720/Screenshot_20240308-163710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="720" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr4d6A6mVXoLgGU4QhNvJkxopVNGNYQVmwnM-ZnSQEjMCSNStI6y7OhpwFgI7cAI1hMbU8mbDBDWXEd_S7Q6dmqPbHCDaMH6srvloIFtaD-K_JrO7Zv0bYOqgCYtXu0H2xrzR3rEJvkH56t208JCdwoVenjeVOO5bCK-Xe-MGnf9JaT-eEwlPc2g5_pe6/w400-h358/Screenshot_20240308-163710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All will be revealed in a few days. Exciting, eh?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Some Weird Prices </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back in the day you would expect to pay more for a BIG wagon that you would for a small one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BIG wagon would cost twice as much as the small one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC8QLWyqLtiHXojqKmAIBDezjHFNEWQj2l7ptmnUlEGwGlP99e5s92GqNMUaPKzXtVvTth8PY_N85vf2lU19vsY9zZXEihMf6128qzt-Re6eyTkpJ23-bmGRsvZM8InWw3e4Xm-ly8lh8c7nOLGHqVl_ggC6pE3B1gueOsL29_BongX49ghYkFd00444J/s1050/screenshot.27267.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="1050" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC8QLWyqLtiHXojqKmAIBDezjHFNEWQj2l7ptmnUlEGwGlP99e5s92GqNMUaPKzXtVvTth8PY_N85vf2lU19vsY9zZXEihMf6128qzt-Re6eyTkpJ23-bmGRsvZM8InWw3e4Xm-ly8lh8c7nOLGHqVl_ggC6pE3B1gueOsL29_BongX49ghYkFd00444J/s320/screenshot.27267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrI5G6LGXltRNEzDJAiyOja3W9z3LyZd1K7-TCzw1mv8GB3WIT5dwtDIrgZ5_dsqdABZ72v0IUnRpP7hKavBrkGR69tXyMFCvi_d7WuYIDrMKA654VKqsdANxp1-CxVs4rVVE64MvGqi4ueR9OQamYAnBr7_g8ZcK1e90KOACUU4CEwYgtq5V8PjTmc_A/s662/screenshot.27265.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="662" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrI5G6LGXltRNEzDJAiyOja3W9z3LyZd1K7-TCzw1mv8GB3WIT5dwtDIrgZ5_dsqdABZ72v0IUnRpP7hKavBrkGR69tXyMFCvi_d7WuYIDrMKA654VKqsdANxp1-CxVs4rVVE64MvGqi4ueR9OQamYAnBr7_g8ZcK1e90KOACUU4CEwYgtq5V8PjTmc_A/s320/screenshot.27265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But look at this advert; two wagons side by side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0UkxzHYffUrjZSeET-LeOd0ToeFYDLXfA36NendtuiH_KiaL4s8FNES67NeCSwyNvoVm6iWhljyWB3uYdp-U52gzoI4JvLmCWzxtb8M4njLfspgSB0dtux5u9wd59_zz4ArxIH42T9XNVB9bmR7MSUxrq_VLmXPAn6rfYO55-4bZHJEBXHNBm1ynOKQu/s1012/Screenshot_20240305-184913_Chrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="1012" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0UkxzHYffUrjZSeET-LeOd0ToeFYDLXfA36NendtuiH_KiaL4s8FNES67NeCSwyNvoVm6iWhljyWB3uYdp-U52gzoI4JvLmCWzxtb8M4njLfspgSB0dtux5u9wd59_zz4ArxIH42T9XNVB9bmR7MSUxrq_VLmXPAn6rfYO55-4bZHJEBXHNBm1ynOKQu/w400-h184/Screenshot_20240305-184913_Chrome.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The small wagon is just £1.45 cheaper than the big long yellow wagon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is someone having a laugh; a costly laugh?</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Variety blog : Sunday 10th March </b></div><p></p></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-50449900410332935662024-03-08T02:00:00.378+00:002024-03-08T15:22:36.145+00:00Completing The Incomplete<p><span style="font-size: large;">The Not So Super Superloop</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5rKOe1toRs10NbtvTzfKrMUHI_fHbGDr8kGiUPjhqWgCMkM7HmTsjdlOjVGgTpb3e7GYV2xY2lAvMHjeACELw6uZODVjui6VzjAsIHomfvv27WI8EkeAXFTI1kOvdLgwC9czMAvb5Qzt7gHLp-itKCJ32UT3m0roGYt1xnqfgTzDl236UXUyOx_iGY-/s754/screenshot.27275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="754" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5rKOe1toRs10NbtvTzfKrMUHI_fHbGDr8kGiUPjhqWgCMkM7HmTsjdlOjVGgTpb3e7GYV2xY2lAvMHjeACELw6uZODVjui6VzjAsIHomfvv27WI8EkeAXFTI1kOvdLgwC9czMAvb5Qzt7gHLp-itKCJ32UT3m0roGYt1xnqfgTzDl236UXUyOx_iGY-/w400-h343/screenshot.27275.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Removed from the above (by fbb!) are three routes SL4, SL6 and SL8 which are not part of the "Loop" and never will be. Nobody can offer a good reason why they are numbered in the Superloop sequence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(<b><span style="color: #800180;">click on the map to enlarge</span></b>) For those of our readers who have been exiled on the planet Zog for several months, or for those who only have a passing interest in things of the Metropolis, the above is a crude (it's VERY crude) diagram of Mayor Sadiq Khan's vanity project in his election year.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps fbb's cynicism is misplaced, but your perceptive blogger (?) imagines a conversation something like this at London's mayoral HQ.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">KHAN : I ned something spectacular to win me votes in the Toryland suburbs.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">SPIN DOCTOR : How about putting on lots of new <b>Express bus routes</b> running in a circle through all the leafy Torylands? It will cost a bob or two but should win you at least a few tens of thousands of votes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">KHAN : Great. My dad was a bus driver. Get it done as quickly as possible; don't worry too much about the detail.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, after one renumbering and one second thought south of the Thames, the whole caboodle is now operating. Publicity has been poor, as usual, with no timetables or maps and the last to appear (SL2) couldn't even manage proper destination blinds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j1dkT7cPmC_EIX1BVjc8Tyf5bD2d8cm4FTbN9qFxdZL6ZIGgBWKUPWFS18VASe-flW76QuHy3JIhHr-k1M669DYRo6vx5iEIB4c0IKwWXdyK1yAzATmX79-xKvnfv_TjHTggPjrsZERVBqpHUV6geb3IzPnoNBNlrDZ-uHV058aQ_9fl4SkDutteah6u/s512/screenshot.27278.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="512" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j1dkT7cPmC_EIX1BVjc8Tyf5bD2d8cm4FTbN9qFxdZL6ZIGgBWKUPWFS18VASe-flW76QuHy3JIhHr-k1M669DYRo6vx5iEIB4c0IKwWXdyK1yAzATmX79-xKvnfv_TjHTggPjrsZERVBqpHUV6geb3IzPnoNBNlrDZ-uHV058aQ_9fl4SkDutteah6u/w400-h393/screenshot.27278.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Above is from Roger French's blog about the last super link recently added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loopily Looping The Loop</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>So for this posting, fbb has planned an intellectual but imaginary full circuit of the "Loop" starting with SL1 and finishing with SL10.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because TfL keeps its timetables secret, fbb has again used the excellent resources of Robert Munster to which he has added an all stops diagram created by Geoff Marshall. In due course fbb will aim to create a proper geographically accurate map.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">SL1 - North Finchley to Walthamstow</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1UXaO5nOeAPXo3wbV2Wd7rFnIAoiup6Gy_xLtW5ubMUd1W3P8AerRVbJ8W_EQ2BOHvrOsEyyz0rj0eM3KjBqI9n7o4tnM7KjblOGUtZWTU3mLybt_3itu-IHBmYei6Z23dg_DalezHZRteCK9o3AJdp6FRTlrS59rvaVoS8Slkz1L4_RHRzQ80yqFvYQ/s671/Screenshot_20240306-212526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="671" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1UXaO5nOeAPXo3wbV2Wd7rFnIAoiup6Gy_xLtW5ubMUd1W3P8AerRVbJ8W_EQ2BOHvrOsEyyz0rj0eM3KjBqI9n7o4tnM7KjblOGUtZWTU3mLybt_3itu-IHBmYei6Z23dg_DalezHZRteCK9o3AJdp6FRTlrS59rvaVoS8Slkz1L4_RHRzQ80yqFvYQ/w400-h171/Screenshot_20240306-212526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A bus boing it ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Ljw1qkGsqOcBdWh2hzNnwQdTdliM2X_V2Awdbo2f7WuLRCRF-LnS9_eMsv5KpEZ56N_FWipon1PC1SPq0lf0utSvug06gbmlFE237FCnh-G1rgaRRHTYV3jIjE80Dn02z1xhKPjL9QfA9KPJzCcj9CZ3Bw3H30_ebNkFBe-Qq23fow33SpJjev4wBy0/s862/screenshot.27255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="862" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Ljw1qkGsqOcBdWh2hzNnwQdTdliM2X_V2Awdbo2f7WuLRCRF-LnS9_eMsv5KpEZ56N_FWipon1PC1SPq0lf0utSvug06gbmlFE237FCnh-G1rgaRRHTYV3jIjE80Dn02z1xhKPjL9QfA9KPJzCcj9CZ3Bw3H30_ebNkFBe-Qq23fow33SpJjev4wBy0/w400-h261/screenshot.27255.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and a timetable extract.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOovhElFZLfwXwLIO0OBLKF0k98QM9XurvUobP5vFQqPPXPTscxTnzEGYSMZHaRqoF7ZsH8GNoiCpcpGu6mSQOKoB3RnPVc9dMWEuBAP1bXErRV1TlArU6HbZDePOy454RywUzxEdZVoI1vuG0KLgIIW34-zurrQpDh50vzPpsL7505tlVRLLt3zA5Z1AW/s530/screenshot.27255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="530" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOovhElFZLfwXwLIO0OBLKF0k98QM9XurvUobP5vFQqPPXPTscxTnzEGYSMZHaRqoF7ZsH8GNoiCpcpGu6mSQOKoB3RnPVc9dMWEuBAP1bXErRV1TlArU6HbZDePOy454RywUzxEdZVoI1vuG0KLgIIW34-zurrQpDh50vzPpsL7505tlVRLLt3zA5Z1AW/w400-h154/screenshot.27255.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The planned journey:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>North Finchley 0958</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Walthamstow 1041</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>SL2 Walthamstow to North Woolwich</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilkuH2OddAmJ2H2B65krE35DavreJJjFOCtVmj1rBGNUx5V9g6cLaiXtgZDQkoXxsPgb-ErbJJXK0aa5lUcuDOhme0TElqufSYpaumJ_FKcRNCUMxQLIWvooUXBu_Y01m5FvEcbZLXY68xT4YZz7RX_pbJP_KMpOrPpQuWylADJ9tJC4D9FlrLmyCVe6e/s677/Screenshot_20240306-212546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="677" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilkuH2OddAmJ2H2B65krE35DavreJJjFOCtVmj1rBGNUx5V9g6cLaiXtgZDQkoXxsPgb-ErbJJXK0aa5lUcuDOhme0TElqufSYpaumJ_FKcRNCUMxQLIWvooUXBu_Y01m5FvEcbZLXY68xT4YZz7RX_pbJP_KMpOrPpQuWylADJ9tJC4D9FlrLmyCVe6e/w400-h251/Screenshot_20240306-212546.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This, of course, is where the loop doesn't. It is also the route that was launched recently with no blinds and no departure lists at the stops. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sadiq's secrecy stands supreme</b></span>!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC25sva-eTZzWFNFW-4xaoU3mgRwassosE1UV_-Dj3GxqA0VkswjKGG2ouxfF_2gLGcVqb-M41UsiCjhjwSsMyTZUjph8S7kIlLHJcu_G_aGjjUrsp2bT4vGHp7s2yMVseyU9RNoyRPBWKc8llBh_ryaxxw4iSUW-ABbPO6QwCBJNNWMEyl0vX6M0zrLE/s846/screenshot.27266.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="846" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC25sva-eTZzWFNFW-4xaoU3mgRwassosE1UV_-Dj3GxqA0VkswjKGG2ouxfF_2gLGcVqb-M41UsiCjhjwSsMyTZUjph8S7kIlLHJcu_G_aGjjUrsp2bT4vGHp7s2yMVseyU9RNoyRPBWKc8llBh_ryaxxw4iSUW-ABbPO6QwCBJNNWMEyl0vX6M0zrLE/w400-h324/screenshot.27266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But Mr Munster has a proper timetable!</span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XY0ics2-19SUPUbwZSJG1Rna5GP9i3l-S_lajrz2_pOMn0IGdeS9nwtfmhAQBzWYQ-l4gI_aHyBurCsbUOb-sWDLBQIsBw8EHNHjRxbZOgmoj_HQoOt9ucOA9CL5t-iAzDQudv9jXkv8kYA3pOpuqMPU6rgyUHNtyNcyunaWlybpveb8pQNdujwqg6wh/s584/screenshot.27256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="584" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XY0ics2-19SUPUbwZSJG1Rna5GP9i3l-S_lajrz2_pOMn0IGdeS9nwtfmhAQBzWYQ-l4gI_aHyBurCsbUOb-sWDLBQIsBw8EHNHjRxbZOgmoj_HQoOt9ucOA9CL5t-iAzDQudv9jXkv8kYA3pOpuqMPU6rgyUHNtyNcyunaWlybpveb8pQNdujwqg6wh/w400-h159/screenshot.27256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>The planned journey:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Walthamstow 1053</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>North Woolwich 1203</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>The Yawning Gap ...</b></span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIViDsNCUwlq7vv_5EyiUW0UOaGSGytG19GlTkuR8gJPe2oMN7jaqify1gcH_I969gdYIqV2RJQihBMtvhY7CcG4SOdYU6CiJY3wmlWCJ99GdiiE_n09rZJguRAdJ-JKS9flzyw9s99Ze9Ev7GBhho7bwUSP0q_RUQtj6v4Sj9xY6uzJ5k9HMj8lO1T52o/s602/screenshot.27276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="402" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIViDsNCUwlq7vv_5EyiUW0UOaGSGytG19GlTkuR8gJPe2oMN7jaqify1gcH_I969gdYIqV2RJQihBMtvhY7CcG4SOdYU6CiJY3wmlWCJ99GdiiE_n09rZJguRAdJ-JKS9flzyw9s99Ze9Ev7GBhho7bwUSP0q_RUQtj6v4Sj9xY6uzJ5k9HMj8lO1T52o/w268-h400/screenshot.27276.jpg" width="268" /></a></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... and 472</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqONsWH3SjzLHlP-v27XMORnndhCHDf2HLUFbDWdOMfFXJDoCqPxUuWgu6hHqeY20UL3SVmrAuLCKgpavQ_pQaOhIPhmjCLwk-t9OapYs-_DIJnSj-wmnPmwGFOiza36qRuihhrYq4PmiSgwlpuq0iQfcFcHI_ZVki-4AEGvSjeOBcP4fCNnmDnScV8AYd/s626/screenshot.27272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="626" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqONsWH3SjzLHlP-v27XMORnndhCHDf2HLUFbDWdOMfFXJDoCqPxUuWgu6hHqeY20UL3SVmrAuLCKgpavQ_pQaOhIPhmjCLwk-t9OapYs-_DIJnSj-wmnPmwGFOiza36qRuihhrYq4PmiSgwlpuq0iQfcFcHI_ZVki-4AEGvSjeOBcP4fCNnmDnScV8AYd/w400-h230/screenshot.27272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gap is actually much more yawning than the Superloop super circle diagram suggests. You need to insert another bus route in addition to tunnel/ferry from Woolwich to Thamesmead to "mind the gap"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb has chosen the 472 to fill the yawning as it stops near the Woolwich end of the fluvial super interruption!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUz_D15PvVO2R2qT44bjLBnlXdKo8UIqdrhHh6GdcyZPVeGbQvqYurzmaPYoXtAfLgszZ3zqo8BxKc_qTrbyyBbT0lw05E3QOWISBwtKzlg5WITqXzxhCB0Ei80copUojR_LTZt9LSOvRmaS_A33RqqThHqTOvEZ723qSM9B9Cp_2gWLRi2nxkD5Bv-HH/s508/screenshot.27256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="508" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUz_D15PvVO2R2qT44bjLBnlXdKo8UIqdrhHh6GdcyZPVeGbQvqYurzmaPYoXtAfLgszZ3zqo8BxKc_qTrbyyBbT0lw05E3QOWISBwtKzlg5WITqXzxhCB0Ei80copUojR_LTZt9LSOvRmaS_A33RqqThHqTOvEZ723qSM9B9Cp_2gWLRi2nxkD5Bv-HH/w400-h290/screenshot.27256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>He has allowed 30 minutes for the river crossing which gives a backup if the foot tunnel is closed. The Free Ferry can be much slower. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Woolwich Arsenal station times are shown.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivff3xnJJxlVYi0Xg54GSRfmIO3yvAgalbHPWBG8GFbHEZaZHgdwpIurbEYWastZWo7VZQk8Xc-6zmbuqUKYJ7FdwN6Zki4fQfZxMn2xXzGixKfIcTNPqC4jl9H-vf9ivunJ14UnsggF6cYSQVYGNR7FBj6WkXR5naCvx3xGWHe4HeIa42bTZAe-VreSSn/s584/screenshot.27257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="584" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivff3xnJJxlVYi0Xg54GSRfmIO3yvAgalbHPWBG8GFbHEZaZHgdwpIurbEYWastZWo7VZQk8Xc-6zmbuqUKYJ7FdwN6Zki4fQfZxMn2xXzGixKfIcTNPqC4jl9H-vf9ivunJ14UnsggF6cYSQVYGNR7FBj6WkXR5naCvx3xGWHe4HeIa42bTZAe-VreSSn/w400-h60/screenshot.27257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>The planned journey:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Woolwich Arsenal 1233</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Thamesmead 1259</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">SL3 - Thamesmead to Bromley</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzBX8Ow8T06_a8SF7F52uoyHleHzeGR5hJSxyGxL11VKFGZYB4CSETTGSWvYOdIaXjqr6TJdvnx32bWePipX2cx3L4Nlg8v3Uy4PGnavt3RfBkez78Ufabh4ZA7_YKD0fh1T11aFUcBtcldCLnmnuQSztRthgVnk-FgzUPZAZtiQosq9iSiwdZKN8kk-p/s822/screenshot.27257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="822" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzBX8Ow8T06_a8SF7F52uoyHleHzeGR5hJSxyGxL11VKFGZYB4CSETTGSWvYOdIaXjqr6TJdvnx32bWePipX2cx3L4Nlg8v3Uy4PGnavt3RfBkez78Ufabh4ZA7_YKD0fh1T11aFUcBtcldCLnmnuQSztRthgVnk-FgzUPZAZtiQosq9iSiwdZKN8kk-p/w400-h263/screenshot.27257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">All stops diagram<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BKRnl69iKrh5TW2Ld3uIjBm4OXlqL5-Od3wydemHRYOsn4YTDIzsqtzlvXSQd_I82SDv00FcQcuJcyFOiboCpUdMTS4POGM6Z-rsAktl5h43IcYIgkQe4mYFvp-oW093nQjuH72dqNYGkq7NizrH_MZb3_-dL7dmFQEwa3_O7iehU2RSRrhCivVTGfb8/s720/Screenshot_20240306-212600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="720" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BKRnl69iKrh5TW2Ld3uIjBm4OXlqL5-Od3wydemHRYOsn4YTDIzsqtzlvXSQd_I82SDv00FcQcuJcyFOiboCpUdMTS4POGM6Z-rsAktl5h43IcYIgkQe4mYFvp-oW093nQjuH72dqNYGkq7NizrH_MZb3_-dL7dmFQEwa3_O7iehU2RSRrhCivVTGfb8/w400-h233/Screenshot_20240306-212600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For some reason this timetable has a very large number of time points!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8q7r9buLP9XAIMwoy2p3pqO5NqH-ljJKVLzhF_yDKzANY2JYL816d5wM1bs3SSX4H2rfu9A7vvX5SJ2TMr4kKN0vcJnO5lCZ4uhA46MU3KG1aSBgWUXwpkyrv1zdWF4n2Bss_fxtGKxU4YAvlxE6nZYSsrSXfII6hz4DEhKB87LByr0OXfPjHtQKnPtm/s580/screenshot.27258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="580" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8q7r9buLP9XAIMwoy2p3pqO5NqH-ljJKVLzhF_yDKzANY2JYL816d5wM1bs3SSX4H2rfu9A7vvX5SJ2TMr4kKN0vcJnO5lCZ4uhA46MU3KG1aSBgWUXwpkyrv1zdWF4n2Bss_fxtGKxU4YAvlxE6nZYSsrSXfII6hz4DEhKB87LByr0OXfPjHtQKnPtm/w400-h204/screenshot.27258.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div>The planned journey:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Thamesmead 1308</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Bromley North 1415</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SL4 - not a Superloop route</span></div><div><br /></div></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SL5 - Bromley to Croydon</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8m9S87bab6ovZ5DJiRWIShjba4NR6OV19u3aqtn6aPJyDSBgOWLI6UL-U6rIHSRwMgdbgQaEaSVwib6vVP_GwGKIufAVVnKIlokjCyPN3wHtrRuC9b1etpsbhX8GcKftZPbXdufUN7Ib1cYiQ07Pv3EELtw3mbxqwjXRM4lcoCbKrnMraOZ22SJ3Vwqa/s826/screenshot.27268.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="826" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8m9S87bab6ovZ5DJiRWIShjba4NR6OV19u3aqtn6aPJyDSBgOWLI6UL-U6rIHSRwMgdbgQaEaSVwib6vVP_GwGKIufAVVnKIlokjCyPN3wHtrRuC9b1etpsbhX8GcKftZPbXdufUN7Ib1cYiQ07Pv3EELtw3mbxqwjXRM4lcoCbKrnMraOZ22SJ3Vwqa/w400-h299/screenshot.27268.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the only single deck Superloop route ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88HK2fyy8F8O47jabqH-gdP85Uyz1JT1upcUG3zEQJbPJ8ApHeSQs3uqXEkkPTqL1KKx6ZJNaROd6BGBCF_kY5uPXu94ztcNtQUSQ-eZeCqpA8N9rJJA4sG0RtXCzVOSD0vzcyXFFTwG8cabiTlFvSwNne9ZBEyExxQUlRQGLf-H-KqnT_LtZErhdWskw/s690/Screenshot_20240306-212728%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="690" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88HK2fyy8F8O47jabqH-gdP85Uyz1JT1upcUG3zEQJbPJ8ApHeSQs3uqXEkkPTqL1KKx6ZJNaROd6BGBCF_kY5uPXu94ztcNtQUSQ-eZeCqpA8N9rJJA4sG0RtXCzVOSD0vzcyXFFTwG8cabiTlFvSwNne9ZBEyExxQUlRQGLf-H-KqnT_LtZErhdWskw/w400-h178/Screenshot_20240306-212728%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">... and it is also the shortest.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnyl8lsNGzVQ5InMRpLA9uNtclW05VjOaVYB2hbr8swyrTnUDMMkszDeMRWbLXpB8P6HgBTtPo3e97BL3LbZ3KqKva8-FqvhVzb8TZKw-kFGmjv87INiW77_hNC0B8MVgharSh_Sb6xjO5cCUf9bnLXp_q1FpOa3Y1xg-3JWsLJBYaz1udwaStDoro7DR/s694/screenshot.27260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="694" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnyl8lsNGzVQ5InMRpLA9uNtclW05VjOaVYB2hbr8swyrTnUDMMkszDeMRWbLXpB8P6HgBTtPo3e97BL3LbZ3KqKva8-FqvhVzb8TZKw-kFGmjv87INiW77_hNC0B8MVgharSh_Sb6xjO5cCUf9bnLXp_q1FpOa3Y1xg-3JWsLJBYaz1udwaStDoro7DR/w400-h83/screenshot.27260.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div>The planned journey:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Bromley North 1420</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Croydon 1453</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;">SL6 - not a Superloop route</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">SL7 - Croydon to Heathrow</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoCb254lXVTV-Hxop1dDUoTbyS2SkaSiSUh-UiyaTbfBGhcZk_F4u1iNjIk7LWVTeDkQx4RbEeQ84W_DuG8SQ8zLhcDk9oWa2ofZ7IC3z4BBHyhT5Nff0WHYpusGyxBs9xr3wXk1DCJRWsNKssqq28Q77zPlLr6tBi3LSx1I8IJU-6nC7liQtrh0cUtA3/s658/screenshot.27259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="658" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoCb254lXVTV-Hxop1dDUoTbyS2SkaSiSUh-UiyaTbfBGhcZk_F4u1iNjIk7LWVTeDkQx4RbEeQ84W_DuG8SQ8zLhcDk9oWa2ofZ7IC3z4BBHyhT5Nff0WHYpusGyxBs9xr3wXk1DCJRWsNKssqq28Q77zPlLr6tBi3LSx1I8IJU-6nC7liQtrh0cUtA3/w400-h309/screenshot.27259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a straight renumbering of the former X26, once part of Green Line 726. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEVVq61jln9r-FHv2Ad1Zd9ILDGHfklLQ6GwwWMHZpQ9Y59NEqDCoke71lFF3aakW8EyT4oPqTyAEKcDh4R3yKQOVws269QZpoJwPgyXTVrGm8Cg5pzcTG2xgXsUqkCPd9g8HVxq0lUK281189D3v5QT0M0T29_h6Vb-XK_Fze3QSTt5HXvzoSUk5gon8/s651/Screenshot_20240306-212757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="651" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEVVq61jln9r-FHv2Ad1Zd9ILDGHfklLQ6GwwWMHZpQ9Y59NEqDCoke71lFF3aakW8EyT4oPqTyAEKcDh4R3yKQOVws269QZpoJwPgyXTVrGm8Cg5pzcTG2xgXsUqkCPd9g8HVxq0lUK281189D3v5QT0M0T29_h6Vb-XK_Fze3QSTt5HXvzoSUk5gon8/w400-h205/Screenshot_20240306-212757.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To make it super for Superloop, the frequency was doubled to every 15 minutes. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consistency is a fine thing, but all the other SL services are every 12 minutes (15 mins evenings and Sundays)!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMgpldbALCg35wwZv7BktPobLst6stZNka6D4JOeSjJGFx7ZbRthkQLt3kc80JhLFEWyKhrHlobWaw6N_2q3-KJvzKC126Ra8Jq_x_3_BOqXg4KkPt7uA1KWjRtrtEYbonsTpGn3OhwWJAQJeqnLjU60GMS37SiitUDbqBzBA0zy-Y8zBSgIKI1SEtKAH/s584/screenshot.27260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="584" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMgpldbALCg35wwZv7BktPobLst6stZNka6D4JOeSjJGFx7ZbRthkQLt3kc80JhLFEWyKhrHlobWaw6N_2q3-KJvzKC126Ra8Jq_x_3_BOqXg4KkPt7uA1KWjRtrtEYbonsTpGn3OhwWJAQJeqnLjU60GMS37SiitUDbqBzBA0zy-Y8zBSgIKI1SEtKAH/w400-h241/screenshot.27260.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is also the longest route which makes the circular route diagram a bit of a nonsense.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The planned journey:-</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Croydon 1508</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Heathrow 1658</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">SL8 - not a Superloop route</div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">SL9 - Heathrow to Harrow</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRZQ3Mmx9WhtCn_b-_c2Itx4RVHZoyrgEJTa5e4q0szRvlZnxOl8LCXQwBB95pofhWq9EfrTzZ-VkUQ1a3xcj8SIYkPs9FhFCWnnLogHMt9cPmfgZSxJCav17yi3NAS5x4BfuMFZINsyQ5Y5jxtTKUvBrsCmHeBC2mYdTKksA4ObRqLgjiILzye59vYIR/s592/screenshot.27270.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="592" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRZQ3Mmx9WhtCn_b-_c2Itx4RVHZoyrgEJTa5e4q0szRvlZnxOl8LCXQwBB95pofhWq9EfrTzZ-VkUQ1a3xcj8SIYkPs9FhFCWnnLogHMt9cPmfgZSxJCav17yi3NAS5x4BfuMFZINsyQ5Y5jxtTKUvBrsCmHeBC2mYdTKksA4ObRqLgjiILzye59vYIR/w400-h329/screenshot.27270.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was formerly X140 and before that 140. A simple renumbering ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4_hIhNZO6Y_p_2bQVBchECNiOX76eTfuch6anm4h52kKmj9qcZW94h28AK4jgM3S5l8ItzZoYagroxlWo2poBsgQUrmQU_KI_EFGbosynvMFLg3grlm2na88cjElOroHTEzLLgSnZd5eDmPNSVfcocm9VXwKbMlpHuJGJwHIT6P95WKo4zTJWBfeCFR_/s668/Screenshot_20240306-212807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="668" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4_hIhNZO6Y_p_2bQVBchECNiOX76eTfuch6anm4h52kKmj9qcZW94h28AK4jgM3S5l8ItzZoYagroxlWo2poBsgQUrmQU_KI_EFGbosynvMFLg3grlm2na88cjElOroHTEzLLgSnZd5eDmPNSVfcocm9VXwKbMlpHuJGJwHIT6P95WKo4zTJWBfeCFR_/w400-h280/Screenshot_20240306-212807.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">... with an increase in frequency again.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyUGoXgha33XnYRrwvzsBeb5cuO5fx_Gb8QKHmAbutOO4i6MMydqSRcbnwM1G2cKeTPL3z2ifiK1ByFNnh4N8OLO4gTwdr3wDmGqO0mYNthEHrbCcPhyphenhyphenJNhgC04PIfyRMHfpGWJ0mwwafqY8PsHPw1eWjJB33SfMHs_omjiKYjoodie4vS6fbgHQZhHdg/s610/screenshot.27263.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="610" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyUGoXgha33XnYRrwvzsBeb5cuO5fx_Gb8QKHmAbutOO4i6MMydqSRcbnwM1G2cKeTPL3z2ifiK1ByFNnh4N8OLO4gTwdr3wDmGqO0mYNthEHrbCcPhyphenhyphenJNhgC04PIfyRMHfpGWJ0mwwafqY8PsHPw1eWjJB33SfMHs_omjiKYjoodie4vS6fbgHQZhHdg/w400-h133/screenshot.27263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The planned journey:-</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Heathrow 1711</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Harrow 1808</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">SL10 - Harrow to North Finchley</div></div></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Fa_9p0xIsTmuTJoEqR_fC6shebYKjOHGHj2sZocl1T9ZJoDPOxJlZqBZtKA43HILURrsgf6X5IlM_vZ5zQ5OSTTpggVTN0loekOZ-1WD2Hak1EaJa7r9F-oWcNzMUiFTRHqnIvVrFRCX2meeyyIo2LPYT8cewyklPbQhW5OVt-Bmr7W_0xbVyODrCMr/s602/screenshot.27264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="602" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Fa_9p0xIsTmuTJoEqR_fC6shebYKjOHGHj2sZocl1T9ZJoDPOxJlZqBZtKA43HILURrsgf6X5IlM_vZ5zQ5OSTTpggVTN0loekOZ-1WD2Hak1EaJa7r9F-oWcNzMUiFTRHqnIvVrFRCX2meeyyIo2LPYT8cewyklPbQhW5OVt-Bmr7W_0xbVyODrCMr/w400-h168/screenshot.27264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The final map ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnSawSKFF5vgseIEoSGBIb096Y0M1PqFo9q_90P1ta3F_BRH72NBxFekzHKTQfl9q0Fnts5suzDTJpWhjJg2bqmjXnZxokUoUVRkUhsday_WS6PuTwuPw4RJuVySZionJF8zyRK6YaufuNxlBCr9m1ciI3WqgcAcYvXJPNeAfa3myJ9nYtannG2LqTUsZ/s720/Screenshot_20240306-212846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="720" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnSawSKFF5vgseIEoSGBIb096Y0M1PqFo9q_90P1ta3F_BRH72NBxFekzHKTQfl9q0Fnts5suzDTJpWhjJg2bqmjXnZxokUoUVRkUhsday_WS6PuTwuPw4RJuVySZionJF8zyRK6YaufuNxlBCr9m1ciI3WqgcAcYvXJPNeAfa3myJ9nYtannG2LqTUsZ/w400-h319/Screenshot_20240306-212846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and the final bus in what would be a very long day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtXHu5hgRdsVC0JNZp8jPdXwYoCYO2kufbRKWyQ309Qva4N1dmAPaYyUHIJqCfjRZpt3OLkBmpQXjQEV1bCIs_pibXOEPWOL9hpCkI9I7XO_iB8JBlh3Wc8hq6I0dZy5UUzYxWn-OjzQxLWSNbPtZwa4bWbHbWrK1sY6z3rHKJcCPm9QX5lEZRBFO582o/s436/screenshot.27271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="436" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtXHu5hgRdsVC0JNZp8jPdXwYoCYO2kufbRKWyQ309Qva4N1dmAPaYyUHIJqCfjRZpt3OLkBmpQXjQEV1bCIs_pibXOEPWOL9hpCkI9I7XO_iB8JBlh3Wc8hq6I0dZy5UUzYxWn-OjzQxLWSNbPtZwa4bWbHbWrK1sY6z3rHKJcCPm9QX5lEZRBFO582o/w400-h318/screenshot.27271.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The planned journey:-</span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>Harrow 1815</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><b>North Finchley 1902</b></span></div></div></div><br />The whole circuit, using Saturday times, would take <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>a smidgen over nine hours</b></span> with a generous easy interchange at Woolwich.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Extra breaks would be needed for "personal purposes pertaining to the letter P" and some form of refreshment would also be essential. The bonus of Mr Khan's profligacy is that frequencies will allow multiple breaks without compromising the total circuit.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">It is more likely to be compromised by the participant running off from an interchange screaming with an onset of omnibological insanity!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">There is a bit of detailed research to be done at Woolwich and Croydon but with those exceptions, buses arrive and depart from the same locations.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">fbb will, as time progresses, take a look at each segment, with an eye to revealing all the excitement that can be seen en route and at the interchange points; and yes, very yes, the old bloke would just love to have the energy to do the whole lot in one go.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">But, simply, that energy level is gone for ever. It has to be a dream.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Whether the whole circuit remains, as Transport for London wrestles with repeated budget crises, is very debatable indeed. It is odd, is it not, that at a time of increased stringency, TfL can pour resources into, possibly, <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>up to 100 extra buses**</b></span> on these routes when cut-backs are the order of the day elsewhere in the city.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Vanity project indeed!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">See also "Borismaster"!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUiG6NYHvTA_Xsuf7II8n_RU7wWN3MosmPYoaN2SwE7kFxdx6sNsON7ZitkO1e-Yy534Kir-bPD0X3OPynOzZcLSRYbg73L-gt6hVS3dq1GnbvU-eL5b2f_PdUvLNvwsEAKLUUd4zxFIBDieB5XF7zQn1nFTPGkX39h_ywd62GqXmPOtr1SdyJ0TwFhY2/s922/screenshot.27261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="922" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUiG6NYHvTA_Xsuf7II8n_RU7wWN3MosmPYoaN2SwE7kFxdx6sNsON7ZitkO1e-Yy534Kir-bPD0X3OPynOzZcLSRYbg73L-gt6hVS3dq1GnbvU-eL5b2f_PdUvLNvwsEAKLUUd4zxFIBDieB5XF7zQn1nFTPGkX39h_ywd62GqXmPOtr1SdyJ0TwFhY2/w400-h308/screenshot.27261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nuff said!</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snippet</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Advice from fbb to Mrs fbb.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_n3tYYl3gFKs-Rqm8xWzc7WcZUZsxhogxS71LqZ6vn-ufXJG69Oq4mmsFKRZ8474ANvzxKal_xaq2UaCjCcjMwUslVVI55dflWdsktJj78iOidkNfS7l4AOu-xzEstdRzQnOY29jHDpPG3Ql_fQ5IldKOZ8qcML1rAM7j2IHzH3dI5_Motq0kuiGzcuh/s890/IMG_20240306_175553_960.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="668" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_n3tYYl3gFKs-Rqm8xWzc7WcZUZsxhogxS71LqZ6vn-ufXJG69Oq4mmsFKRZ8474ANvzxKal_xaq2UaCjCcjMwUslVVI55dflWdsktJj78iOidkNfS7l4AOu-xzEstdRzQnOY29jHDpPG3Ql_fQ5IldKOZ8qcML1rAM7j2IHzH3dI5_Motq0kuiGzcuh/w300-h400/IMG_20240306_175553_960.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Wouldn't the fried eggs cook better without their shells?</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It's Election Year For The Mayor!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHOtci0OGCIZqM6ECTCEcrtNxo1DDaU7SJcUwHquGqvHOMai-NAHbWfxAva-3rWTLtfIub4fQfpnQIibr74z2xkkWGUbEFXPbpwE1bIeVbx2HeZ7mSH-xJqUJUQUzkWa9oKQVwvjfbelBETODJl7vujkYdWXuc6LR8gefLymhYVD40ndeMI712eeJkgaR/s890/Screenshot_20240307-094339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHOtci0OGCIZqM6ECTCEcrtNxo1DDaU7SJcUwHquGqvHOMai-NAHbWfxAva-3rWTLtfIub4fQfpnQIibr74z2xkkWGUbEFXPbpwE1bIeVbx2HeZ7mSH-xJqUJUQUzkWa9oKQVwvjfbelBETODJl7vujkYdWXuc6LR8gefLymhYVD40ndeMI712eeJkgaR/w312-h640/Screenshot_20240307-094339.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And everything is really lovely!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHIwqxAMivqU00gVOJs8nPv-yElwWkCHsW0pYmM8JI2Yxe7eyHmO0SfLnD4pbwTA_1-Be8sMSoOoCNhG-liXCbiU0Z84WfWf92WFotLGAEKm668tuTKVHlJSK9B97mU_2_cmOGiWawj4CTyI-F0WqfP1gsALE_c9HvY4kHgUNr0b8ulgTZEDDCFDXNI-f/s890/Screenshot_20240307-094310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHIwqxAMivqU00gVOJs8nPv-yElwWkCHsW0pYmM8JI2Yxe7eyHmO0SfLnD4pbwTA_1-Be8sMSoOoCNhG-liXCbiU0Z84WfWf92WFotLGAEKm668tuTKVHlJSK9B97mU_2_cmOGiWawj4CTyI-F0WqfP1gsALE_c9HvY4kHgUNr0b8ulgTZEDDCFDXNI-f/w336-h640/Screenshot_20240307-094310.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Hmmmm?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Correction</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>up to 100 extra buses**</b></span> is misleading and fbb is grateful to Roger French who replied in meticulous detail to a panic enquiry. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>PVR</b></span> (peak vehicle requirement) for each Superloop route is as follows. But you need to delete other routes that have been reduced and the previous requirements when SL7 was X26.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6DqfRnU_qY185zlBLXo-_OesMpj_BOpv8Jx4qkFWGqjdboLLi7qLwgn1It4AJMWGJlndvBeaN2H-oJZ4wx01ymPtVTx5iJTb4vRHcpyvs3nkRPHLitRg4QN7KyrVwC9t5BC8RIv2HpJIim9seujukTAuo90SlkvNihCZ12AElnmkBn1px3s48kPrixnh/s612/screenshot.27262.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="612" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6DqfRnU_qY185zlBLXo-_OesMpj_BOpv8Jx4qkFWGqjdboLLi7qLwgn1It4AJMWGJlndvBeaN2H-oJZ4wx01ymPtVTx5iJTb4vRHcpyvs3nkRPHLitRg4QN7KyrVwC9t5BC8RIv2HpJIim9seujukTAuo90SlkvNihCZ12AElnmkBn1px3s48kPrixnh/w400-h321/screenshot.27262.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Even so, 78 extra buses, most of which are working long, long days, is a huuuuge extra cost. fbb was quite pleased that he guessed "up to 100" even if the overall total was only 98!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: inherit;"> Next Variety blog : Saturday 9th March </b></div></div></span></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-51924312049852949662024-03-07T02:00:00.030+00:002024-03-07T02:10:15.935+00:00Peculiar Paris Pod (4)<p><span style="font-size: large;">La Gare Est Compliquee</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><span style="text-align: justify;">La gare possède de </span><b style="text-align: justify;">nombreux accès</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> qui donnent directement sur </span><b style="text-align: justify;">la gare routière</b><span style="text-align: justify;">, </span><b style="text-align: justify;">le centre commercial</b><span style="text-align: justify;">, et </span><b style="text-align: justify;">les parkings de ce centre</b><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zleVu5HGsaD0MhH7hhNNXcfARY0Yp73Gh47vPyVDcqjzFp5MxXuxAizcq53_PXDebJPTWH3O1B9_5RMJTswR-2Z3U7Wdav1mcU_TDSeXLybninmpUesczYrS8ky7cTrRztdxe1dbrJ-KKnqdQcNfAVkJ2fCw8GtzjafiOWcmR06pTGyEnt86Q5y9_SCd/s488/screenshot.27250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="488" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zleVu5HGsaD0MhH7hhNNXcfARY0Yp73Gh47vPyVDcqjzFp5MxXuxAizcq53_PXDebJPTWH3O1B9_5RMJTswR-2Z3U7Wdav1mcU_TDSeXLybninmpUesczYrS8ky7cTrRztdxe1dbrJ-KKnqdQcNfAVkJ2fCw8GtzjafiOWcmR06pTGyEnt86Q5y9_SCd/w400-h174/screenshot.27250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>Les quais sont entièrement souterrains</b>. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XGCi3phSZej0D56q49g2pT0lR6HORw3A0uKDA8sXjKxnOi8UuWk7EbuX21CLOgclpt67gnnFHTfee3RJ1OVLD_fKmtoPfM4iZmiKj-efGLnrZpJ50_pxGTxoNJXDyXqoYIt99PQPn_9uK-F5w_zPaErsroOQiRoFUTRz0mTdgXQN0p8oeR71sWYdhH5k/s721/Screenshot_20240305-160857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XGCi3phSZej0D56q49g2pT0lR6HORw3A0uKDA8sXjKxnOi8UuWk7EbuX21CLOgclpt67gnnFHTfee3RJ1OVLD_fKmtoPfM4iZmiKj-efGLnrZpJ50_pxGTxoNJXDyXqoYIt99PQPn_9uK-F5w_zPaErsroOQiRoFUTRz0mTdgXQN0p8oeR71sWYdhH5k/w400-h400/Screenshot_20240305-160857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">À l'exception de leur extension, ils sont aménagés avec une décoration dans le style Andreu-Motte du métro parisien de couleur rouge, avec banquette recouverte de carrelage plat de cette couleur, ainsi que de sièges Motte blancs (rompant l'uniformité colorimétrique du style), et des bandeaux d'éclairage rouges. En revanche, <b>l'extension des quais réalisée en 2013</b> à l'occasion de l'aménagement de la nouvelle gare routière, sont dépourvus de banquette et bandeau rouge : l'éclairage est assuré par des lampadaires et les sièges Motte, toujours blancs, sont simplement posés sur une structure métallique noire.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, in amongst the exciting details of the station's fixtures and fittings, we can possibly glean the following. The very new looking bit of Noisy-le-Grand station ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTKJHIhET-Ctpt6A3f5g3U6DhCfGLViaY9az-fpi_0TBb3mVecj9vlttdbMvnqmRNES0pEr7Vz8s7m41lPZVnw0MCBAxbSYW7-vZRzdsynoMdxbNI-ki1ZcDIENMxJl5IyCYfH658L4Yvo5onTEfjfbSZUoD4yczVCuzuoQrXtqIjjw3OnrPA_sJ0FIGM/s786/screenshot.27254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="786" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTKJHIhET-Ctpt6A3f5g3U6DhCfGLViaY9az-fpi_0TBb3mVecj9vlttdbMvnqmRNES0pEr7Vz8s7m41lPZVnw0MCBAxbSYW7-vZRzdsynoMdxbNI-ki1ZcDIENMxJl5IyCYfH658L4Yvo5onTEfjfbSZUoD4yczVCuzuoQrXtqIjjw3OnrPA_sJ0FIGM/w400-h280/screenshot.27254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... was developed in 2013 to provide access to the new bus station (gare routiere). It involved extending the platforms, presumably under said bus station as here viewed from the eastern footbridge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglReqoc9cDV25VSRHwaaooeT5zsf0SCuGS9BIb4NGQ7k8PIZzU-IJHBw1e7Yv1uAajzuiUwoHYz_47PGfe9wbMEaTFjpWnV7gESK0QrDircClynQOuZ4b8OLSizYAAhDOJOV4FspdGGdQYHz1-MKE9QmeJwkawFRLeqXH7882cI0FQf6-Xa23JQiVKU2bN/s792/screenshot.27251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="792" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglReqoc9cDV25VSRHwaaooeT5zsf0SCuGS9BIb4NGQ7k8PIZzU-IJHBw1e7Yv1uAajzuiUwoHYz_47PGfe9wbMEaTFjpWnV7gESK0QrDircClynQOuZ4b8OLSizYAAhDOJOV4FspdGGdQYHz1-MKE9QmeJwkawFRLeqXH7882cI0FQf6-Xa23JQiVKU2bN/w400-h301/screenshot.27251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is, of course, how public transport should always be, <b><span style="font-size: medium;">with modes fully integrated</span></b>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpcYSiB0ggty_e2Gs_E74H68Vl6LpQoa475YbhH7NXPEWg90WEOXol7Y9UtVwFlcjN31fDntbAob1T-X_pnHfJVwMtJ9eQyFPqwvIaJ6COGTjWaK2UB9dW2tuaGHb2kbGCgLKs1Ic4xz8fHPiPnLtSvkivdyLpN54H0-rRY_Ug16hy6jR75dc1FGZyNdK/s848/screenshot.27252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="848" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpcYSiB0ggty_e2Gs_E74H68Vl6LpQoa475YbhH7NXPEWg90WEOXol7Y9UtVwFlcjN31fDntbAob1T-X_pnHfJVwMtJ9eQyFPqwvIaJ6COGTjWaK2UB9dW2tuaGHb2kbGCgLKs1Ic4xz8fHPiPnLtSvkivdyLpN54H0-rRY_Ug16hy6jR75dc1FGZyNdK/w400-h276/screenshot.27252.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But there is no integration from this newer part of the station with the now abandoned Mini Metro, the Peculiar Parisian Pod.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For this we have to go to one of the gloomy brutalist 1960s exits from the lower floors of the "Arcades" shopping centre.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4loKRYpSUlsgNc0CJ6X65BaMbdW_kCg-nwrLmJPqqeBwqJNc8QbxOZn7I7EDjTZ0Mzc1u-3lM3pkb2-UNThSXGi2NgGQ6KPKRH2XwN2bHnkFWVOwuNfqkngQ0yUGFIHf7vI0c19qETQyuGGWdOqGrIiURKCgEjUOc-bw7i9xM92_OhhS98-O6tPwRI8EF/s720/Screenshot_20240303-223046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="720" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4loKRYpSUlsgNc0CJ6X65BaMbdW_kCg-nwrLmJPqqeBwqJNc8QbxOZn7I7EDjTZ0Mzc1u-3lM3pkb2-UNThSXGi2NgGQ6KPKRH2XwN2bHnkFWVOwuNfqkngQ0yUGFIHf7vI0c19qETQyuGGWdOqGrIiURKCgEjUOc-bw7i9xM92_OhhS98-O6tPwRI8EF/w400-h289/Screenshot_20240303-223046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the as-built way to and from the RER platforms. To the left, as we gaze upon this welcoming entrance ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMrlNvbrL-z3ofICFlSrt38GYQ3eQ4pnoRlTIQgI2WwSfcBfI7II98c6IJMIp6Zq-cqjObCRAzhxACs5X1dsx1q-JQVbGTJf8IaiEjJ2aStUJpFCDr7Ql7CYM2ROIX53uzEniUqLT41WbLoBsL6YcV8ylkWTtDoaTgh3OWNTut-Jnw-i_jScTbc0YEDNK/s976/screenshot.27226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="976" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMrlNvbrL-z3ofICFlSrt38GYQ3eQ4pnoRlTIQgI2WwSfcBfI7II98c6IJMIp6Zq-cqjObCRAzhxACs5X1dsx1q-JQVbGTJf8IaiEjJ2aStUJpFCDr7Ql7CYM2ROIX53uzEniUqLT41WbLoBsL6YcV8ylkWTtDoaTgh3OWNTut-Jnw-i_jScTbc0YEDNK/w400-h299/screenshot.27226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... in the gloom of a now-removed canopy, we see the anonymous roller shutter that gave access to the closed Mini Metro. Later pictures show this access replaced by a mural and a locked door.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Y9XQLWXLYqPZtqj4endp4ZnT7WtAADf5b3FdOzW58p_oj9bBvpMpWt2sO-dMGZ6NIk0pWrzrvr792dI8Py9LnlkxvvgWmkXv2j_5vUYI3IBiSIBaQBzRRYaUZ9I63flktqXjeKg-tncgo5x-Ep8bEytzHF9pCCeqY7blAZSM6hEIxy9doK_SPiUVZCoH/s1124/screenshot.27198.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1124" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Y9XQLWXLYqPZtqj4endp4ZnT7WtAADf5b3FdOzW58p_oj9bBvpMpWt2sO-dMGZ6NIk0pWrzrvr792dI8Py9LnlkxvvgWmkXv2j_5vUYI3IBiSIBaQBzRRYaUZ9I63flktqXjeKg-tncgo5x-Ep8bEytzHF9pCCeqY7blAZSM6hEIxy9doK_SPiUVZCoH/w400-h240/screenshot.27198.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Clearly the authorities have long since given up any notion of rejuvenating the funny little trains, although it would have made an intriguing visitor attraction. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there have been official tours and, sadly, unofficial "visits" by graffiti "artists" and destructive vandals.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-MVzRbTCdRrLlF2paqwyHicAwLoDIxpe8BXs0fdRRrL3byRf356TkXe7s9y2_XHUTCEX83m61w62R63ZpnSst3RtYQPA0mCvk1GPFP2izSg4enuYsiRCUtx_108VwmKPsBKVPfdNQGCaeWiXJXB70NcpEFV3PZgMwK28Yey4UxLZ2Abz7lKOw0IcY4Ts/s716/Screenshot_20240302-185600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="716" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-MVzRbTCdRrLlF2paqwyHicAwLoDIxpe8BXs0fdRRrL3byRf356TkXe7s9y2_XHUTCEX83m61w62R63ZpnSst3RtYQPA0mCvk1GPFP2izSg4enuYsiRCUtx_108VwmKPsBKVPfdNQGCaeWiXJXB70NcpEFV3PZgMwK28Yey4UxLZ2Abz7lKOw0IcY4Ts/w400-h217/Screenshot_20240302-185600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Any visit nowadays is bound to be both fascinating but depressing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Escalators have been stripped, lifts are no longer operational and stairways are in poor condition.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHFQNGljnqE3pzTE7W1ytGFozR1kS1T3nlhtFuMjGuPqJ2mufr6NvzaQBM6pN5hOsjUSjbhVoJWWq4UlQhFQKdvSlGWn9hUpuLSIKdmfanrY-d58lZMuYW1DnOPl31_QwpjepBLI89-65E0t2iIDgY3mGlBbursvNO2iNizpmhQIk_wqRYpAmmGu0xT4r/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="720" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHFQNGljnqE3pzTE7W1ytGFozR1kS1T3nlhtFuMjGuPqJ2mufr6NvzaQBM6pN5hOsjUSjbhVoJWWq4UlQhFQKdvSlGWn9hUpuLSIKdmfanrY-d58lZMuYW1DnOPl31_QwpjepBLI89-65E0t2iIDgY3mGlBbursvNO2iNizpmhQIk_wqRYpAmmGu0xT4r/w400-h211/Screenshot_20240302-190158.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Likewise, anything potentially saleable has been ripped from the co</span>ntrol room.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87b7cjMnPxTfed0ReJgGKSejEwj-c4J6zW6GCCxeUn4fBRbB2pDA4tgyDvNIi8oa-07maSb1yx2SFLxUPLeZeIsrX6AkFFY1Dcxmb9DYZGsCsIO31KijXh3xeslfl8wEmjgxOFqxQ9AyhcE6CIyhHLitW0sscrfiP9LZjROZs6RTSuWSH7p87Vwgo41Gm/s724/screenshot.27220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="724" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87b7cjMnPxTfed0ReJgGKSejEwj-c4J6zW6GCCxeUn4fBRbB2pDA4tgyDvNIi8oa-07maSb1yx2SFLxUPLeZeIsrX6AkFFY1Dcxmb9DYZGsCsIO31KijXh3xeslfl8wEmjgxOFqxQ9AyhcE6CIyhHLitW0sscrfiP9LZjROZs6RTSuWSH7p87Vwgo41Gm/w400-h318/screenshot.27220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But it is the vandalised pods that look so sad.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UJsild5rnnPM41OSYDierryA7fZYx392uVLzft5omudEnDCfG9uDBv4g2zBE6UtyTN0Be5KaheW8pqH1mnFUiDe7a6y2x0CLruihdLZ9RyQuC3bV5g-UKlMVxiqvytTpxG8PXPYZk7XG8CSMKOFhYwncRsHai6qFITpvvhKiLgkmdQMyAiquc4ncLZ0E/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="720" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UJsild5rnnPM41OSYDierryA7fZYx392uVLzft5omudEnDCfG9uDBv4g2zBE6UtyTN0Be5KaheW8pqH1mnFUiDe7a6y2x0CLruihdLZ9RyQuC3bV5g-UKlMVxiqvytTpxG8PXPYZk7XG8CSMKOFhYwncRsHai6qFITpvvhKiLgkmdQMyAiquc4ncLZ0E/w400-h201/Screenshot_20240302-190413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>One lies half on its side having been tipped over "for fun" ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE7uHqOzpOQs3NhfoVhuQgBk1eOqu0hQu8GzMdheeNmENW-E69-Y92eAUkg284hCBR0tvarnHjWZPzcmqvhRdhM2tNP6_M19jzAOFvfQEY9j9hvXTiM9TdedSlXysB1Snfad4YgAIioIcG3giH2K3m7kAnzRlep2KzqS5p8_sGtsT4bUqUgyl0Rp2gWAR/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="720" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE7uHqOzpOQs3NhfoVhuQgBk1eOqu0hQu8GzMdheeNmENW-E69-Y92eAUkg284hCBR0tvarnHjWZPzcmqvhRdhM2tNP6_M19jzAOFvfQEY9j9hvXTiM9TdedSlXysB1Snfad4YgAIioIcG3giH2K3m7kAnzRlep2KzqS5p8_sGtsT4bUqUgyl0Rp2gWAR/w400-h209/Screenshot_20240302-190210.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but the manufacturers logo is still visible here and there.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEw5BEogqK5mp2-Q5OJcxPS2xin0TAHDc3x6B0OFz-g-vJYrwMh-c24WQFDyj0tVk1CZuENeDHpfoSVZhZmTHHIvu4QNLBz0DPTJdyTjjJyGmA6p9RADH-bDAetMEzHSkFyaRXOWVmkuD-QMVc-pq7wZS8spQKoFGSwFTo1x24zGUuElFVWtmpM9hLAw9/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="720" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEw5BEogqK5mp2-Q5OJcxPS2xin0TAHDc3x6B0OFz-g-vJYrwMh-c24WQFDyj0tVk1CZuENeDHpfoSVZhZmTHHIvu4QNLBz0DPTJdyTjjJyGmA6p9RADH-bDAetMEzHSkFyaRXOWVmkuD-QMVc-pq7wZS8spQKoFGSwFTo1x24zGUuElFVWtmpM9hLAw9/w400-h201/Screenshot_20240302-190104.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The RATP (Paris City Transport) logo can still be seen on some cars ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS3cSxYnsv34IELFykQQvHP-rq7nT0flMAooQfOLwrs-8R8apchXlhcPHy3BIRBwbo3jsD1t8cGSWm60H9417ZmFSPAuht6iue5ko69S14Y38MNP61mlqsiUqhNDLLmWXczEQqWQFeV6cVb3n22-OinnTvBFH_DQR6rfaOtlvVpYGyShxtY_UY5vAJtoh/s716/Screenshot_20240302-190745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="716" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS3cSxYnsv34IELFykQQvHP-rq7nT0flMAooQfOLwrs-8R8apchXlhcPHy3BIRBwbo3jsD1t8cGSWm60H9417ZmFSPAuht6iue5ko69S14Y38MNP61mlqsiUqhNDLLmWXczEQqWQFeV6cVb3n22-OinnTvBFH_DQR6rfaOtlvVpYGyShxtY_UY5vAJtoh/w400-h205/Screenshot_20240302-190745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... because for nearly a decade after M Pelletin's fall from commercial grace, RATP was required to keep everything in working order. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But when plans for the Horizon site were officially</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> changed, the remnants at the RER station were simply abandoned whilst the Horizon terminus was filled in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Tin Traveller (You Tuber par excellence) ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ607IIVAZae_foxH9izcibf7LGE99yW0-m9BH40D4qXkXIRsgsNS800zTNTtGiO6Cc-5m-5eAlQi7SM-ixtT1OKNTU5ht16jQmJ4s1iocAuQywiq6qZ2dCp7qwSjvI3XGGHsurJ9r0sGD18E4L6kkXzUFcIVbvEuvCXxXRDB2PU6K657cUNDT_2KF7cXE/s391/original_3677f50b-89a6-48df-be46-440640a92694_Screenshot_20240303-131540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ607IIVAZae_foxH9izcibf7LGE99yW0-m9BH40D4qXkXIRsgsNS800zTNTtGiO6Cc-5m-5eAlQi7SM-ixtT1OKNTU5ht16jQmJ4s1iocAuQywiq6qZ2dCp7qwSjvI3XGGHsurJ9r0sGD18E4L6kkXzUFcIVbvEuvCXxXRDB2PU6K657cUNDT_2KF7cXE/w161-h200/original_3677f50b-89a6-48df-be46-440640a92694_Screenshot_20240303-131540.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>... was one who took advantage of official visits and he ended his vlog with this screen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdOnTQUwYFm_Z6e1Q2byKsp4E17vKAqQtBey1jPfhfL63t8AP5Ma_7uMr16X9cj-06KqydQ4sG_460GW0FI4oR4X8_wYelbImfZBShTIXExgvu85EpLtX8aF5qqNtV2mcJQP4ioh954-IslVo5TzLHmtcG8ASS7qXxETifokdW3-rSibdHB1DXqdbUq3J/s614/Screenshot_20240302-190852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="614" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdOnTQUwYFm_Z6e1Q2byKsp4E17vKAqQtBey1jPfhfL63t8AP5Ma_7uMr16X9cj-06KqydQ4sG_460GW0FI4oR4X8_wYelbImfZBShTIXExgvu85EpLtX8aF5qqNtV2mcJQP4ioh954-IslVo5TzLHmtcG8ASS7qXxETifokdW3-rSibdHB1DXqdbUq3J/w400-h165/Screenshot_20240302-190852.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>After struggling with a translation from French into english of the word "underground", fbb concludes that plans are in hand for a <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>chic hybrid underground space</b></span> - whatever that may be. There is an artist's impression on-line ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_-V_pajbhBkJHlEv2npeU_MSltyvtr2FcbEde2vZotZDRY8DrQEASU9-WEEuwHm3HIYUFGZHA-1vl_-IXp-f3sAL_ARlL2wLDU8ddoagkWrjTp5rT6XsFGp2Qcw6o3C7tjRAz596Y9He3jT-YY62ET2GS3kuXF_HVUOU4WqIjF5yARiVAb2Fiqw_SP4/s964/screenshot.27227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="964" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_-V_pajbhBkJHlEv2npeU_MSltyvtr2FcbEde2vZotZDRY8DrQEASU9-WEEuwHm3HIYUFGZHA-1vl_-IXp-f3sAL_ARlL2wLDU8ddoagkWrjTp5rT6XsFGp2Qcw6o3C7tjRAz596Y9He3jT-YY62ET2GS3kuXF_HVUOU4WqIjF5yARiVAb2Fiqw_SP4/w400-h261/screenshot.27227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... which rather suggests that it is not the sort of place that would over excite fbb's elderly heart - thankfully. It certainly offers no memory of what the Mini Metro was supposed to be.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MRnWD1Hj6Svd6mLDUU0gunOhOkYGE6jk_MSeQOyXbkaY6SeuIEce0LmEWzAci4eUeAWjoDQFv1c61TSzQBTv0hAKua5D7M6cTyU9uoTKJpgJ8Bg1WMJNHHCkXUoqcMhikuDhldthRgF2M4q8gDqyCmNYBGSU4zWgcYSbLN-KA9uOAdFsGIdE-mJYgTPE/s299/Screenshot_20240304-103339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="299" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MRnWD1Hj6Svd6mLDUU0gunOhOkYGE6jk_MSeQOyXbkaY6SeuIEce0LmEWzAci4eUeAWjoDQFv1c61TSzQBTv0hAKua5D7M6cTyU9uoTKJpgJ8Bg1WMJNHHCkXUoqcMhikuDhldthRgF2M4q8gDqyCmNYBGSU4zWgcYSbLN-KA9uOAdFsGIdE-mJYgTPE/w400-h349/Screenshot_20240304-103339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sadly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A revitalised Mini Metro would have been fun, but probably little used and certainly far too expensive to operate.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6sq8tMv1qn-g5EJmP12k2XT_fe3Oos-uIjjcgYDZ0UtejqIPpC6GfbMrf45tuzEWBm53D1pvekqr8KUrXT9I1LvZ9lBjFo6vbh9t3zlgiK_EB3e3JkFR5Ch2dsdUoOih4yip3j6ORwcN5h1nQMEvOSErRvD6_oTkk5nZSRjaceRqIWOrYsYC-wTN_URn/s596/screenshot.27204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="572" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6sq8tMv1qn-g5EJmP12k2XT_fe3Oos-uIjjcgYDZ0UtejqIPpC6GfbMrf45tuzEWBm53D1pvekqr8KUrXT9I1LvZ9lBjFo6vbh9t3zlgiK_EB3e3JkFR5Ch2dsdUoOih4yip3j6ORwcN5h1nQMEvOSErRvD6_oTkk5nZSRjaceRqIWOrYsYC-wTN_URn/w384-h400/screenshot.27204.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Quel dommage</b></span>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another French failure is found around Paris.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Two SK 6000 lines were built at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The first was supposed to open on 1 May 1996 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PP2he8g2dctYFTgiLawI6Jswl0a1sGHM1VHb1b1HAUbOWFhYMcnd3PGb-gdUsgSzPn0BBqPHQPod8ax6LK3gkhIj_408-KsIz-1K7eB_KFIApIsDlV0lgS73SOEEj_5tUJ9qt78n2yW1AmBDc6ud_4gfA3GO7_KcUsUbOSXhKNYo1VPKUIYs-B-QoXes/s908/screenshot.27252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="908" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PP2he8g2dctYFTgiLawI6Jswl0a1sGHM1VHb1b1HAUbOWFhYMcnd3PGb-gdUsgSzPn0BBqPHQPod8ax6LK3gkhIj_408-KsIz-1K7eB_KFIApIsDlV0lgS73SOEEj_5tUJ9qt78n2yW1AmBDc6ud_4gfA3GO7_KcUsUbOSXhKNYo1VPKUIYs-B-QoXes/w400-h223/screenshot.27252.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">... but the length of the line (3,500 m) created many technical problems making it impossible to open for public service. Line 2 should have opened in 1997, but it was never opened either. The project had a cost of 148 million euros before being abandoned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">It was replaced by CDGVAL.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VazWTAKUfpcfq9wl6RnoObZDrHbpxguOzLuo5YXSbQbDxDtpt7iqviWm0FXv6iHW3AUe4GSUjPC7btGh19dUAq21lYwdhyphenhyphenoto7hnGM0ghk4rq2qycF0RmTtvTqGVN2UZLTxTYfy4l30-qju9zpN6HYW4RVf7zyYaFxUays-yHHwKvt8FimYdIN0UHEf2/s590/screenshot.27253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="590" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VazWTAKUfpcfq9wl6RnoObZDrHbpxguOzLuo5YXSbQbDxDtpt7iqviWm0FXv6iHW3AUe4GSUjPC7btGh19dUAq21lYwdhyphenhyphenoto7hnGM0ghk4rq2qycF0RmTtvTqGVN2UZLTxTYfy4l30-qju9zpN6HYW4RVf7zyYaFxUays-yHHwKvt8FimYdIN0UHEf2/w400-h261/screenshot.27253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other similar pod systems do exist elsewhere.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyoC7ek5O5oEnv8ZtHBbxzZNZcBSnB2hRLyRRoivswhCbStyPH1L5kfzlypFr2-4clKRa2lqV19qVrInf7biA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>If ever you are in Shanghai, the under-the-river tourist line shows what Noisy-le-Grand <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>could</b></span> have become!<br /></span><br />The Shanghai set-up is very familiar and it is good to see that it works and is used!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRqcV6XGgEcn8pGqL76R06_TscAzimA2sZuQPLijk4WllcWkaXrJeOLF10kulQpyBkYsSXWMJgLVq-Mf8HCahCDxdzfVcNkUpIb9nyU0m1qLZE3gsFlpefpkbk6ed8RSUMo1PJqfLRhSMZA2MSfCG_SjQzYgrw7oLnXuRdwI58iJQLE20qyDbX_zHyAu/s720/Screenshot_20240306-162103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="720" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRqcV6XGgEcn8pGqL76R06_TscAzimA2sZuQPLijk4WllcWkaXrJeOLF10kulQpyBkYsSXWMJgLVq-Mf8HCahCDxdzfVcNkUpIb9nyU0m1qLZE3gsFlpefpkbk6ed8RSUMo1PJqfLRhSMZA2MSfCG_SjQzYgrw7oLnXuRdwI58iJQLE20qyDbX_zHyAu/w400-h329/Screenshot_20240306-162103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These are SK6000 cars, one step up from those at Noisy-le-Grand.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju59g18xOT57-c86uDyYKDarfa8Yo1Lw4vsAiMP_kZbMnQkW1W8Fe42dj9viwRbUaTl5Q1ur0cmM6yrcbtsHC3EQQBq31oDVt4c5qswIBsUUwbb9iH5280CpmiYewTKVIJazADWCfxZQOmuP4X-kAnykDv5IPtQ9hyFHfGCBaXSrcLXAbZd8HAXLahBHWj/s720/Screenshot_20240306-162116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="720" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju59g18xOT57-c86uDyYKDarfa8Yo1Lw4vsAiMP_kZbMnQkW1W8Fe42dj9viwRbUaTl5Q1ur0cmM6yrcbtsHC3EQQBq31oDVt4c5qswIBsUUwbb9iH5280CpmiYewTKVIJazADWCfxZQOmuP4X-kAnykDv5IPtQ9hyFHfGCBaXSrcLXAbZd8HAXLahBHWj/w400-h315/Screenshot_20240306-162116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Terminus Turning Technology</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is a bit of an fbb guess, but note how he Noisy-le+Grand Mini Metro track slopes up as it approaches the terminus.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJo_kjf4IB2X0L8ph809vu5bM_v8cuvfF00wU6qm_b8p-gWuPtHvdSX-edfnk3gDh3kfyfUy-ZsyvnHKW0iATv_dDqUMhCpTb2ECxzE1AJGfYpTUnuCYkmdxwLLgbKomnSiRfYY2Mjz9PTJ4AJHhbhIdBTe0Rk9xLXHeU0vi0kqYZoCXYUxiFKJJJuHN0/s824/screenshot.27234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="824" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJo_kjf4IB2X0L8ph809vu5bM_v8cuvfF00wU6qm_b8p-gWuPtHvdSX-edfnk3gDh3kfyfUy-ZsyvnHKW0iATv_dDqUMhCpTb2ECxzE1AJGfYpTUnuCYkmdxwLLgbKomnSiRfYY2Mjz9PTJ4AJHhbhIdBTe0Rk9xLXHeU0vi0kqYZoCXYUxiFKJJJuHN0/w400-h259/screenshot.27234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The long cable tuns at a constant speed, too fast for those awkward customers called "people" to leap on and off safely. So, as the pod approached the end, a ramp beside the car ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1PkypEgkSC3saJBZhpC7Oj60NUgzHl1Aidhr1z6blq5Vjqt_yoLEp3WjmwsYOdbKGQnInQKdBu2hTm7vB9_qPFKrYHbDnBMUAwwqhtUEmOoeXm8wkioamL1VRzNI3q5ArQIuy_KtAQ0RnVI9oCyllXYwghoZ4Iwduarcs_QOW3qBgGMEdpkTxCAK9en/s588/screenshot.27229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="588" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1PkypEgkSC3saJBZhpC7Oj60NUgzHl1Aidhr1z6blq5Vjqt_yoLEp3WjmwsYOdbKGQnInQKdBu2hTm7vB9_qPFKrYHbDnBMUAwwqhtUEmOoeXm8wkioamL1VRzNI3q5ArQIuy_KtAQ0RnVI9oCyllXYwghoZ4Iwduarcs_QOW3qBgGMEdpkTxCAK9en/w400-h299/screenshot.27229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... disconnects it from the cable. It then rolls, using its own inertia, on to the "carousel" (it may be grabbed by another lever???). After alighting and boarding at a funereal but safe speed the pod is re-linked to the cable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One very fuzzy and very dark bit of video (a screenshot here, which fbb has brightened!) shows the large pulleys on which the main cable is turned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Look no Pods! They are disconnected.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21RsKEJcqK2svrvY1_M9SdjUuoCYMd1QCHQdC7ptIKePv7WZs0fG-wMTKZA5l4Pole1QfHOOtUqa6TS80vA1hSGCoiYANa96FKo3ebcZJ-9-Mc1sJrXwkFiZiNNh7IBuNE0E9u3f2SOHQ_9eYa1HaYyroHOXUobMpdSyqHCfx_AiC7zYMAuaFVmCVjAgj/s690/screenshot.27254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="690" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21RsKEJcqK2svrvY1_M9SdjUuoCYMd1QCHQdC7ptIKePv7WZs0fG-wMTKZA5l4Pole1QfHOOtUqa6TS80vA1hSGCoiYANa96FKo3ebcZJ-9-Mc1sJrXwkFiZiNNh7IBuNE0E9u3f2SOHQ_9eYa1HaYyroHOXUobMpdSyqHCfx_AiC7zYMAuaFVmCVjAgj/w400-h234/screenshot.27254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Superloop blog : Friday 8th March </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-44441370162129302612024-03-06T02:00:00.177+00:002024-03-06T09:06:00.037+00:00A Peculiar Paris Pod (3)<p><span style="font-size: large;">The Lost Horizon</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDQemLTMktEqDmroUGLZuTL4l5Nj6GXo6IBp3SkV1ijUjy2Gmp0UQ4BdlZV4t-l-cGPW2I4Wli20-tjz96ZZBQ4Bw4GGWLgz2aRn-hrojxYnfxMJ0Qhf4cS7QbpcU38qiAxkWaUGZbXGfj_SzQmEAhtGIMdVKAO7lSz34lZCvSlKvLPVS5xsCIpGREIHi/s598/screenshot.27235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="378" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDQemLTMktEqDmroUGLZuTL4l5Nj6GXo6IBp3SkV1ijUjy2Gmp0UQ4BdlZV4t-l-cGPW2I4Wli20-tjz96ZZBQ4Bw4GGWLgz2aRn-hrojxYnfxMJ0Qhf4cS7QbpcU38qiAxkWaUGZbXGfj_SzQmEAhtGIMdVKAO7lSz34lZCvSlKvLPVS5xsCIpGREIHi/w253-h400/screenshot.27235.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The novel was published in 1933 and subsequently made into a film. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our Lost Horizon refers to the outer terminus of the Noisy-le-Grand "Mini Metro" at the failed development named Maille Horizon. To be exact, it was M Pellerin's development that failed when his company went bust, thus removing any immediate prospect of passengers for the Mini Metro.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is now no sign of the outer terminus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To gain some context, here is Noisy-le-Grand railway station to the east of the hexagon of roads the surrounds the town centre "facilities" including the "Arcades" shopping centre,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkTHjN2Bh9d1KzSguZhrgtLEPyemlSCgfHcrSN3UfyaLqAOk3aXilaKDymweQUyt_PwVSoT9ypLIIkHtEVLjtYj0phyphenhyphenoHnXD6r8pCx3NYANXsGiV_1oA04OPX3lGHyidTYeCYsoVl0cvYj1qX9X5yy5A8xNYkWqT2YT3-Sy9IfnA4lSVGjLTOaiawkjSY/s720/screenshot.27211.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkTHjN2Bh9d1KzSguZhrgtLEPyemlSCgfHcrSN3UfyaLqAOk3aXilaKDymweQUyt_PwVSoT9ypLIIkHtEVLjtYj0phyphenhyphenoHnXD6r8pCx3NYANXsGiV_1oA04OPX3lGHyidTYeCYsoVl0cvYj1qX9X5yy5A8xNYkWqT2YT3-Sy9IfnA4lSVGjLTOaiawkjSY/w400-h266/screenshot.27211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The tracks emerge eastbound immediately after the station and can be viewed from a footbridge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlxsX5T3C3_pXDSsIGQfElLHq_Jcv1cFPRvSIWLoTADgikhnRdq12YpDrL6y5EQonNAu9IcjCA85KZKfzBECJChvPX2EOfy_Rjpxhq_RhfZ-F8r82QVhlh4b7NKcy-4kSsriU5_f3Ns2-83_HA3ucryzMZ5bsaIBmhBi2oOiDu0zKR3ZV9ndRd_BS_gEA/s760/screenshot.27212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="760" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlxsX5T3C3_pXDSsIGQfElLHq_Jcv1cFPRvSIWLoTADgikhnRdq12YpDrL6y5EQonNAu9IcjCA85KZKfzBECJChvPX2EOfy_Rjpxhq_RhfZ-F8r82QVhlh4b7NKcy-4kSsriU5_f3Ns2-83_HA3ucryzMZ5bsaIBmhBi2oOiDu0zKR3ZV9ndRd_BS_gEA/w400-h344/screenshot.27212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It would appear that the tunnel was cut and covered to facilitate the building of said central area.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEico3ZLfim3GD9aKIDTRRGWkfNoOk4LKKo5tRT17upgMazeWpdhCBIcUBtJXfOyVbDlKTsFdYkJjnoz9Jt6qfBjUAswnkaeHekxNP8b5SqbfiopZMOR80D-GSkITIRdcWVIY-EjHCUHXrt2EXPvGeVH6nxU0plgWPlogjNj1M9wJyhf_z75rxvqw8c4XX_t/s721/Screenshot_20240305-160857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEico3ZLfim3GD9aKIDTRRGWkfNoOk4LKKo5tRT17upgMazeWpdhCBIcUBtJXfOyVbDlKTsFdYkJjnoz9Jt6qfBjUAswnkaeHekxNP8b5SqbfiopZMOR80D-GSkITIRdcWVIY-EjHCUHXrt2EXPvGeVH6nxU0plgWPlogjNj1M9wJyhf_z75rxvqw8c4XX_t/w400-h400/Screenshot_20240305-160857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yep, definitely cut and cover.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We now move west, in our imaginary drone, passing over that hexagon of town centre ring roads.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPRykK8kiHPSSM3X3XxLxs2AynSSua6-2dNVy878Dw8Vwpk7pdfRvp01uFDsw8JMI9fchth7z6JVsLzkkCcksvROgqnxZ2nuc6MMVvvDrbHPIeNLqhWi_ikGRmY2ZPWRkpcCjM6jXvQYcorfblFRaYAcFJJHms9qjYIDrE27pcZhutAhE3sFgDZNIAd2m/s638/screenshot.27236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="638" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPRykK8kiHPSSM3X3XxLxs2AynSSua6-2dNVy878Dw8Vwpk7pdfRvp01uFDsw8JMI9fchth7z6JVsLzkkCcksvROgqnxZ2nuc6MMVvvDrbHPIeNLqhWi_ikGRmY2ZPWRkpcCjM6jXvQYcorfblFRaYAcFJJHms9qjYIDrE27pcZhutAhE3sFgDZNIAd2m/w400-h381/screenshot.27236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here, past the "backwards D" shaped block we espy the train tracks emerging once again from the central tunnel (picture below, upper left).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6dB5og9tjhCifJ9jxvaECLIA4UnIe1Z6aP5w69IxPWChtGHbcjd4FEFnHsBl4q-fy6oCGADKTSiHi5_wgdJ5Hs5RpstDHMpagOZqSGd_THSXATulTZZ7wO6iySy2QmsL06ZrS-viyuP5KBnJacCAxTrQvpoF1SKrL2_dKaq75Oxw60QLfeiYt1AN1IrT/s894/screenshot.27247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="894" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6dB5og9tjhCifJ9jxvaECLIA4UnIe1Z6aP5w69IxPWChtGHbcjd4FEFnHsBl4q-fy6oCGADKTSiHi5_wgdJ5Hs5RpstDHMpagOZqSGd_THSXATulTZZ7wO6iySy2QmsL06ZrS-viyuP5KBnJacCAxTrQvpoF1SKrL2_dKaq75Oxw60QLfeiYt1AN1IrT/w400-h169/screenshot.27247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have already met the "backwards D" as an example of Noisy-le-Grand's "trendy" architecture; but we didn't see the ominous monolith in the earlier picture.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsCbLJfWe2ZiHZmhWPXWcpkEcpvNhX0PABL1wPIC0WQBGz3QbBcVfayz3E1pxrjrW0xXARQoUt3AcpqyVZV4YTBDz6puMl_KTkndEE5s0382bu57ctzRWQAF23yr4ZxyPySxxRarQj5sIcKFpSdFDVPdiSgXTDs3mXG7qsrWgPbbcqrcxNH6UkLPgUvKr/s982/screenshot.27213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="982" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsCbLJfWe2ZiHZmhWPXWcpkEcpvNhX0PABL1wPIC0WQBGz3QbBcVfayz3E1pxrjrW0xXARQoUt3AcpqyVZV4YTBDz6puMl_KTkndEE5s0382bu57ctzRWQAF23yr4ZxyPySxxRarQj5sIcKFpSdFDVPdiSgXTDs3mXG7qsrWgPbbcqrcxNH6UkLPgUvKr/w400-h283/screenshot.27213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Weird?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a block of flats; not the HQ of the Noisy secret police!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdPo6OnbAMMi9cNLR6doOTEIOz9ism1srhr2TTxNyp9JXpL0oPntLj_Ab1YhcLPF_SgEQJdgpUYbu1aiqQRTQwAlnD_aF4_vRQnS-dBMtcVrwSZYlReop5x_0wJMLgc4ZibrWJ1U3rIcjBPRW8YGenrtUp6i9bH-ghchV_v4Dxpx_9IfYLEDGnP_zUJlo/s406/screenshot.27246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="406" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdPo6OnbAMMi9cNLR6doOTEIOz9ism1srhr2TTxNyp9JXpL0oPntLj_Ab1YhcLPF_SgEQJdgpUYbu1aiqQRTQwAlnD_aF4_vRQnS-dBMtcVrwSZYlReop5x_0wJMLgc4ZibrWJ1U3rIcjBPRW8YGenrtUp6i9bH-ghchV_v4Dxpx_9IfYLEDGnP_zUJlo/s320/screenshot.27246.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So not scary, honest!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The map shows the Pod tunnel in blue ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv72jzsaKezGXH_wsfP6aEzQBx8wt7uSyXJTOeBcWr0qKbeABaQDa-NPHbwOYN2M0GMDoLo3OUAZD243RtbiHa8jrDpEp1wkxzeW8iQTlR_ZCVRu9jgpw9xR1u4ttDItLzzD2Xx8LoDTj8fg0v29vxEc96E2NVDIcTRAHKzKffB5ijUsgM0vRSva7vByu_/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="720" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv72jzsaKezGXH_wsfP6aEzQBx8wt7uSyXJTOeBcWr0qKbeABaQDa-NPHbwOYN2M0GMDoLo3OUAZD243RtbiHa8jrDpEp1wkxzeW8iQTlR_ZCVRu9jgpw9xR1u4ttDItLzzD2Xx8LoDTj8fg0v29vxEc96E2NVDIcTRAHKzKffB5ijUsgM0vRSva7vByu_/w400-h214/Screenshot_20240304-213009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and the RER tunnel in orange.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjel2yIL-zo3BfMPRS0csima5_gkflDvrfd3zINkxNk79vjKPd-FjjPqS8g_Wg3h2EptC5xbZk4ydcMnWHqAD05JinmAEWyDOgjlWPV0m5TR5mQsjO-Nm1Hagj7jf_mzXDZHMSm1DXRftmwWiQMrh6k_qNHU1mg3UIhnXFSsD_X_-AMNrpEfMLhW7fILvP/s666/screenshot.27250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="666" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjel2yIL-zo3BfMPRS0csima5_gkflDvrfd3zINkxNk79vjKPd-FjjPqS8g_Wg3h2EptC5xbZk4ydcMnWHqAD05JinmAEWyDOgjlWPV0m5TR5mQsjO-Nm1Hagj7jf_mzXDZHMSm1DXRftmwWiQMrh6k_qNHU1mg3UIhnXFSsD_X_-AMNrpEfMLhW7fILvP/w400-h291/screenshot.27250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If we land the personal fbb helicopter on the road junction we can see today's set up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPutUWPPWg_xCU2-L6BNgHAIQ8egWqDbEwErqADdc8KeWDa_6q6XIImPaGNOsowgJt-hUOV6bp1lgm_KNBsiMXRdfJmK_Ammm-htKw8l1PyztRWTzjr1Q0r-dOfqaoed_YZHBF0-hS2by2031PncN4n1df9wVW3NfD3rqk3WOSXSQDWs3muxQKLnlI3LGi/s808/screenshot.27209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="808" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPutUWPPWg_xCU2-L6BNgHAIQ8egWqDbEwErqADdc8KeWDa_6q6XIImPaGNOsowgJt-hUOV6bp1lgm_KNBsiMXRdfJmK_Ammm-htKw8l1PyztRWTzjr1Q0r-dOfqaoed_YZHBF0-hS2by2031PncN4n1df9wVW3NfD3rqk3WOSXSQDWs3muxQKLnlI3LGi/w400-h243/screenshot.27209.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is under here that the Maille Horizon terminus was hidden. It hardly seems worth the effort for such short Mini Metro distance but M Pellerin was nothing if not ambitious.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before the apartment block seen above was built, this evidence of what was "down below" could be seem.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja18YML-vpSakd1OC2oWT3RgI-ulUMhfn6ojcpHRWOjBDMH91VJlM55bADkn1PDofxmEPXUCaCVO27urOvI12PzqUrk6JZ1CNA8LSvD2oj9pSYIXTBZmjzA3kMYhuJMEF0q-p_9SBW2eW9sHzKP9OmpvfnZFUhkxe8pp3tI1E2IAx7G2pqfg8K9SEg6sdK/s720/Screenshot_20240302-184805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="720" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja18YML-vpSakd1OC2oWT3RgI-ulUMhfn6ojcpHRWOjBDMH91VJlM55bADkn1PDofxmEPXUCaCVO27urOvI12PzqUrk6JZ1CNA8LSvD2oj9pSYIXTBZmjzA3kMYhuJMEF0q-p_9SBW2eW9sHzKP9OmpvfnZFUhkxe8pp3tI1E2IAx7G2pqfg8K9SEg6sdK/w400-h283/Screenshot_20240302-184805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from ventilation this was the right size through which to lower the pods as delivered.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8w8pRpH-7iHeuTm3SqbjY4mK7OOiKGDMlVasicEHs4A0q0N9TEYy0Vsm2kn96tpow8HHzBP6ZBjiObuM9CYYTv-7hwsOOdv0whqdgSJ68Gsey2r1u8gqUAkPaKS1Ajtw6XIz0UDUopU9gOy8XFGENGP29_saDHrkYxMsmayyhvn3uM6U1nROkXsgLJFO/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="720" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8w8pRpH-7iHeuTm3SqbjY4mK7OOiKGDMlVasicEHs4A0q0N9TEYy0Vsm2kn96tpow8HHzBP6ZBjiObuM9CYYTv-7hwsOOdv0whqdgSJ68Gsey2r1u8gqUAkPaKS1Ajtw6XIz0UDUopU9gOy8XFGENGP29_saDHrkYxMsmayyhvn3uM6U1nROkXsgLJFO/w400-h217/Screenshot_20240304-213023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We can see below the hatch as well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTwfbIALYUo15amjnoEkjpesJ3M8uy-Bq7g-TQ6YOAUEbUFvhCEbFBlaI0aSf5zit_LlU3X2dWtLxJQBR1mjNF84HHyQLJL_zul1h1dS6otyHeKPnW_PAl0b7iJY5G58JnbCbFjLA0mzY2Wq771c-4lb4aGMi7d-emcHyVEgwpOgVKdzbwW9AkH_hjNTd/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="720" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTwfbIALYUo15amjnoEkjpesJ3M8uy-Bq7g-TQ6YOAUEbUFvhCEbFBlaI0aSf5zit_LlU3X2dWtLxJQBR1mjNF84HHyQLJL_zul1h1dS6otyHeKPnW_PAl0b7iJY5G58JnbCbFjLA0mzY2Wq771c-4lb4aGMi7d-emcHyVEgwpOgVKdzbwW9AkH_hjNTd/w400-h211/Screenshot_20240304-213429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the clump of trees beyond can be seen the peak of the trapezoidal glazed roof of the terminus station building ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZaP5QyRjJ5MRVh8R0SlQPWbTFeuTARcUekCmMhzU8TZHa31gY0gU0J3cabJjCYOanmycYukf-kNMct2ckDB8Rrt-WyuYs47sQF9UkTTI3W6eQ-3VLgnSncAQ8LVuShR4uiiEojKUz0fILCpFDA_nfITnziX9W5UrYAAtpvlEt02JLWU0pbeTJDKolCR7/s599/Screenshot_20240304-103649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="599" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZaP5QyRjJ5MRVh8R0SlQPWbTFeuTARcUekCmMhzU8TZHa31gY0gU0J3cabJjCYOanmycYukf-kNMct2ckDB8Rrt-WyuYs47sQF9UkTTI3W6eQ-3VLgnSncAQ8LVuShR4uiiEojKUz0fILCpFDA_nfITnziX9W5UrYAAtpvlEt02JLWU0pbeTJDKolCR7/w400-h318/Screenshot_20240304-103649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... which ended up looking somewhat dilapidated and was subsequently demolished. From within it could be seen in pristine and unused marble-clad wonder.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo0o_uVgtR8FSP7igLxt_BnISFL1mQ8P70ltW-K01qbSMbPCMffN8I7rU5HY1ZIn1dvtzGoB-MUvzNbGXkAv3LhucElYOspT8Rc0wmz2wwXzyF-r09GvSkWzQjUlCJnnN65XdHcF8whGWojWYfzjODNug0ue_v10uL8zsZDMUtB6WwqdPTcSynV3h7Nhx/s880/screenshot.27231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="880" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo0o_uVgtR8FSP7igLxt_BnISFL1mQ8P70ltW-K01qbSMbPCMffN8I7rU5HY1ZIn1dvtzGoB-MUvzNbGXkAv3LhucElYOspT8Rc0wmz2wwXzyF-r09GvSkWzQjUlCJnnN65XdHcF8whGWojWYfzjODNug0ue_v10uL8zsZDMUtB6WwqdPTcSynV3h7Nhx/w400-h235/screenshot.27231.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then later, closed and neglected but not yet filled in!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAOALsSyxl109dvui7jprcI6GWyaNPcbr9ACRe15NdpE7O51jN_K8m2CPu8pwtxdwPBDm6dVN7o20UMmqQJHOYJKvmiLcMg36UBALZIbLDYjPsON2tcullq3vkFeqn8p5SFkL2fjF8Di5WgfPkvlro52UAXdxgLreCp6c4YoSVsAspSarxhZXbGTR7JF2/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="720" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAOALsSyxl109dvui7jprcI6GWyaNPcbr9ACRe15NdpE7O51jN_K8m2CPu8pwtxdwPBDm6dVN7o20UMmqQJHOYJKvmiLcMg36UBALZIbLDYjPsON2tcullq3vkFeqn8p5SFkL2fjF8Di5WgfPkvlro52UAXdxgLreCp6c4YoSVsAspSarxhZXbGTR7JF2/w400-h211/Screenshot_20240304-213148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Piecing together various bits of video, it appears that the Maille Horizon station was the "depot" for the pods.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PQrjkh42AyOFF2SiuelpoXNSb0DIqfGtKFlnpd0WNnGDvFJQBg0WQJZT3QTIVD6av24TUWGseO5_YPK16fBdJCLD-eTMVv9wA7PSmsyJSn9kz49r7O18ut5qbBLEP44DS98gTDs_YFP6eA0XQCj_kQr6qtpuIauFT2AEsBZa-1ZfcxfG8qn2pSyj8psI/s800/screenshot.27233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="800" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PQrjkh42AyOFF2SiuelpoXNSb0DIqfGtKFlnpd0WNnGDvFJQBg0WQJZT3QTIVD6av24TUWGseO5_YPK16fBdJCLD-eTMVv9wA7PSmsyJSn9kz49r7O18ut5qbBLEP44DS98gTDs_YFP6eA0XQCj_kQr6qtpuIauFT2AEsBZa-1ZfcxfG8qn2pSyj8psI/w400-h263/screenshot.27233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Other bits of video show visitors peering underneath the raised siding to look at the working bits. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pods were 100% mechanical and, below, the videoed guide explains how a little lever engages with a trackside prodder to open and close the doors.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1e3fa3n8iKzr8rylIK3RRJQZGIyNwFEsp0_b8ug7DEEJfL_onBoX9Kx3lYlkSeoTxTlTFFpBRiG300NssgXry6SUCplI9eNihXeeTuFHCvZuumSSJW2lSQL5l-MjXCtPvLJLzdOjYTo5BARWkY3I1SxiBnASm7Oz5kLsJ0nF1KzdiGQ6BUb-b3UrQkmh/s588/screenshot.27230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="588" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1e3fa3n8iKzr8rylIK3RRJQZGIyNwFEsp0_b8ug7DEEJfL_onBoX9Kx3lYlkSeoTxTlTFFpBRiG300NssgXry6SUCplI9eNihXeeTuFHCvZuumSSJW2lSQL5l-MjXCtPvLJLzdOjYTo5BARWkY3I1SxiBnASm7Oz5kLsJ0nF1KzdiGQ6BUb-b3UrQkmh/w400-h299/screenshot.27230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Simple, easy to maintain and very reliable!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, sadly it has all gone, removed and/or filled in and its remnants lost under posh pads for posh Parisians. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now we can only dream of a ride that once terminated at Maille Horizon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our Pod swings round the gentle curve ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm4u_Xx4WxsSCYcdDN3t3s9n_WwJGpYnbVKeJSPZ9Rui004-7owBGKJ_98pa0-idjNBD6bqTwhlsKr2pcYGY8GCjsNO2v3J6Enz3lUPgpRwP2WNBj4mH-z83Timvm6lln_FAadvwKLARUUeAgbMAYKnEqQpxTSG6YdWazr1YRtolO0nNZ8JwMYUz2tN7J/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="720" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm4u_Xx4WxsSCYcdDN3t3s9n_WwJGpYnbVKeJSPZ9Rui004-7owBGKJ_98pa0-idjNBD6bqTwhlsKr2pcYGY8GCjsNO2v3J6Enz3lUPgpRwP2WNBj4mH-z83Timvm6lln_FAadvwKLARUUeAgbMAYKnEqQpxTSG6YdWazr1YRtolO0nNZ8JwMYUz2tN7J/w400-h205/Screenshot_20240304-213758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and comes to a slow crawl enabling us to exit to M Pellerin's super but never built shopping centre and business park.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE5KBoVGYdlHVTkQUx0xwI-RNEHX3vG8xvyM8XIoJ11WmMebdCCggVYB5gfkB2ChOJRAXhYliIbP3cKhbEOj7SoVvimIUMtZw-Dl9G8rwevlYantHCM6ciA2ls8yNOhzbC9JnG06xrbCVTZHguCeAENYiVsHxREuCP5RAdK0nTA0eUHOxAyebm_ygLjsy/s720/Screenshot_20240304-213505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="720" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE5KBoVGYdlHVTkQUx0xwI-RNEHX3vG8xvyM8XIoJ11WmMebdCCggVYB5gfkB2ChOJRAXhYliIbP3cKhbEOj7SoVvimIUMtZw-Dl9G8rwevlYantHCM6ciA2ls8yNOhzbC9JnG06xrbCVTZHguCeAENYiVsHxREuCP5RAdK0nTA0eUHOxAyebm_ygLjsy/w400-h208/Screenshot_20240304-213505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>One thing that pictures of the defunct outer terminus have shown is a bit more of the technology of the turn round.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We will add that to a look at the RER station terminus and see something of that area's proposed future non railway use.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Cheaper After 50 Years</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From yesterdays list, here are the things that are cheaper than they were in 1974.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>GREY</b></span> is the actual 1974 price</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bd32ef; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>PURPLE</b></span> is the price after 50 years' inflation</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>GREEN</b></span> is today's typical price</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsC7URpsL2Ugw6vLVZww1z0fIOCdc1DGvYT5MDrrXeQMSus5SGJGlHjCrDvjU1pdf6kX6UkQpRYtVMwilXJ5HghNwKko1hqZM2oXk4DlfTDQyOSvvzBY1eapVIjM3tqTd5dObMr8QmDKFb2WIlTr2SFnwp0Ol5FV5HLmaG_eZgz5M3hvi6pXhqhDSMt2y/s1058/screenshot.27238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1058" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsC7URpsL2Ugw6vLVZww1z0fIOCdc1DGvYT5MDrrXeQMSus5SGJGlHjCrDvjU1pdf6kX6UkQpRYtVMwilXJ5HghNwKko1hqZM2oXk4DlfTDQyOSvvzBY1eapVIjM3tqTd5dObMr8QmDKFb2WIlTr2SFnwp0Ol5FV5HLmaG_eZgz5M3hvi6pXhqhDSMt2y/w400-h283/screenshot.27238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">£1.30 is for Tesco's sliced blotting paper. Wonderloaf advertised itself as "same price as ordinary bread" because it WAS ordinary bread!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinToRr4XZRnuklkqiq8Mc4Sym5hWJavECglLjPc7mAtbwm2V3ca_48fhyphenhyphenBQeshoBn75wPayqAHIQ5aDBLwfq-3-ADRtlH3fAZTiG9crVwtBP4WtWyETHVaZ_6j3jDiq0CR6icu8QlvCqK3FoUXheuVkD89_D4mWkMdPWl2RGaJYTEgopuDzVwzDzCQjmVy/s1064/screenshot.27239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1064" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinToRr4XZRnuklkqiq8Mc4Sym5hWJavECglLjPc7mAtbwm2V3ca_48fhyphenhyphenBQeshoBn75wPayqAHIQ5aDBLwfq-3-ADRtlH3fAZTiG9crVwtBP4WtWyETHVaZ_6j3jDiq0CR6icu8QlvCqK3FoUXheuVkD89_D4mWkMdPWl2RGaJYTEgopuDzVwzDzCQjmVy/w400-h280/screenshot.27239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most electric and electronic equipment is now hugely cheaper than 50 years ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQVroQvloghoFe6FlnXEfAU1EJ3nvCrTmSwpZfhyphenhyphenj2OdGZfEKDTnplNdsLjKBvKgQ5C4Yle3ZKgjJmcf4es_yCVoU6t_ILnt0jj8bb1Lj6hpMEWDSDdfZ8wPiAFU0e8ptAcyMPWaZ83dOvddQ4HzVD4Hi8I3OJJRtLYq_hE76okH_DWgSHadTvdHYJHm9/s1052/screenshot.27240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1052" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQVroQvloghoFe6FlnXEfAU1EJ3nvCrTmSwpZfhyphenhyphenj2OdGZfEKDTnplNdsLjKBvKgQ5C4Yle3ZKgjJmcf4es_yCVoU6t_ILnt0jj8bb1Lj6hpMEWDSDdfZ8wPiAFU0e8ptAcyMPWaZ83dOvddQ4HzVD4Hi8I3OJJRtLYq_hE76okH_DWgSHadTvdHYJHm9/w400-h284/screenshot.27240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The picture from 1974 is of a Hewlett Packard <b>Scientific</b> calculator.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWKQ7BgKN9lQvTIbOrSj8fWiH-tZfESjAu448lZ4oPmyVVptowVsl8hjOZ7sadeMyk4AswFccjMyHLJJjyrffK7VrOA55D6_NXsBPXYMxuqCLg4oWYoDFHHnIMVXkvegyyzIh6tIMor82WxB8WX0l3TaVfHRJ7vbo0eDicc1QkDyw8SKE2SFAQbjEiVD8/s1058/screenshot.27241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1058" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWKQ7BgKN9lQvTIbOrSj8fWiH-tZfESjAu448lZ4oPmyVVptowVsl8hjOZ7sadeMyk4AswFccjMyHLJJjyrffK7VrOA55D6_NXsBPXYMxuqCLg4oWYoDFHHnIMVXkvegyyzIh6tIMor82WxB8WX0l3TaVfHRJ7vbo0eDicc1QkDyw8SKE2SFAQbjEiVD8/w400-h284/screenshot.27241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Good whisky was ludicrously expensive in 1974. Production methods account for some of today's savings!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXaKhpcXTtP80W5qxugcnAqmfH6YS-IdpO1BkJ50muYIJuOX3xFbOX-SIXBHcdT1NkFMIak4rj6RyLgqeJbK7AoTZOOtbBh3lxCIcuppFwHQdOiHPJEhH9Hf3jxn2RNK29Yxim8HM9pyxD-sga5vqs61lv98RdAJh_wuWL6I2CGJXahypf_Xchm9Fv2yj/s1054/screenshot.27242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1054" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXaKhpcXTtP80W5qxugcnAqmfH6YS-IdpO1BkJ50muYIJuOX3xFbOX-SIXBHcdT1NkFMIak4rj6RyLgqeJbK7AoTZOOtbBh3lxCIcuppFwHQdOiHPJEhH9Hf3jxn2RNK29Yxim8HM9pyxD-sga5vqs61lv98RdAJh_wuWL6I2CGJXahypf_Xchm9Fv2yj/w400-h284/screenshot.27242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb's grannie bought a colour telly a bit like the above. He visited her much more often thereafter until dad got one for home. Disgraceful - but true! <b>If you reverse inflation, today's colour Tv would have cost £16 in 1974</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fbbs' Fellowship meetings were preparing the "congregation" for next month which is a week after Easter. The Cost of The Cross and the way in which God prepared the Cross and Resurrection from the very beginning of the Bible are important thoughts and themes for the real Easter; much more important than fluffy bunnies or chocolate eggs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Peculiar Paris Pod blog : Thursday 7th March </b></div><div><div><p></p></div></div></div></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-44679586022735272522024-03-05T02:00:00.082+00:002024-03-05T07:29:32.660+00:00A Peculiar Paris Pod (2)<p><span style="font-size: large;">Pellerin's Pet Project</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2z1MBP2EfCN-WqqQpeCHLFDgr0FvaqNpy2Ks6VCuN5lFbf12TZ56MTByborXO8ftBEUVafnQKbmuBIkXPm9MsGdknRq6ltWkIvDHiMSuYVNT38CxKWQWXrKRCTcjcWNeVZuVQrlfO-QACKo0I2RfhPOY5Kq7_qTAUx9tO3r9h4SXUhtFbZmtwwQUN7r/s361/Screenshot_20240302-190459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2z1MBP2EfCN-WqqQpeCHLFDgr0FvaqNpy2Ks6VCuN5lFbf12TZ56MTByborXO8ftBEUVafnQKbmuBIkXPm9MsGdknRq6ltWkIvDHiMSuYVNT38CxKWQWXrKRCTcjcWNeVZuVQrlfO-QACKo0I2RfhPOY5Kq7_qTAUx9tO3r9h4SXUhtFbZmtwwQUN7r/s320/Screenshot_20240302-190459.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was a developer notably famed for one stunning building at La Defense, the huge business district to the west of Paris.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk2ZA2sjmc-6RmxHp9F86U-SDsS_IUu6Zeu6JuWYefNI7_4p4Y0JX5JqG9gpTB-AedOufb_forsicN9wNPRaeOAq6SxJ-BMIf6HGeUz2cg6ZhvZmwBQfwM6EaVIUvCPEycOWuzEgOA0yPgZ4dE-HZw_gBrWhj85FnQDZFkcOUi7CLKlWoRRj0dgSk9Onz/s720/Screenshot_20240304-131542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="720" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk2ZA2sjmc-6RmxHp9F86U-SDsS_IUu6Zeu6JuWYefNI7_4p4Y0JX5JqG9gpTB-AedOufb_forsicN9wNPRaeOAq6SxJ-BMIf6HGeUz2cg6ZhvZmwBQfwM6EaVIUvCPEycOWuzEgOA0yPgZ4dE-HZw_gBrWhj85FnQDZFkcOUi7CLKlWoRRj0dgSk9Onz/w400-h230/Screenshot_20240304-131542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>His baby was the Tour Pacific ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrwLrsuv2_XTiWIDijhVG5y5pXD6j3-fUqTPTXBj0zM5qOCKQu1s_29Rug6UjhyphenhyphenO6JwslJr1CUGhjpzXCREvxRJlnLefmXURO0sxvFNdWtNfsNhDszNQxPtVyCLawGcFTapJa8ZKEG5N53oZE4GtFzbCMeH4PyrTsAKfsBVcmMog-tuojTUlxBsNw6snq/s706/screenshot.27206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="392" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrwLrsuv2_XTiWIDijhVG5y5pXD6j3-fUqTPTXBj0zM5qOCKQu1s_29Rug6UjhyphenhyphenO6JwslJr1CUGhjpzXCREvxRJlnLefmXURO0sxvFNdWtNfsNhDszNQxPtVyCLawGcFTapJa8ZKEG5N53oZE4GtFzbCMeH4PyrTsAKfsBVcmMog-tuojTUlxBsNw6snq/w356-h640/screenshot.27206.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>... a huge block with a huge hole in the middle.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5vVVut8o4eY7f1u97KTjPQG3Pqcun8YcdqQYAGq6QLWYBLZ7HQcF-hzNUpiixPbkehgAacnxuDBeQwEkqv2ztsM10nJot-GiORug4UFwzl5yytE9-7VB3pi-PCUsIBgiZyzQ1XlEyu5DQqWDkFusCJqXNLe_Zok3_wXyOzJe3JeVB8yNgj_28ysUqpoA/s778/screenshot.27207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="470" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5vVVut8o4eY7f1u97KTjPQG3Pqcun8YcdqQYAGq6QLWYBLZ7HQcF-hzNUpiixPbkehgAacnxuDBeQwEkqv2ztsM10nJot-GiORug4UFwzl5yytE9-7VB3pi-PCUsIBgiZyzQ1XlEyu5DQqWDkFusCJqXNLe_Zok3_wXyOzJe3JeVB8yNgj_28ysUqpoA/w386-h640/screenshot.27207.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>Buoyed by his success out west, M Pellerin turned his mind to his next project. There was a development opportunity at Noisy-Le-Grand a suburb to the east of Paris.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq6lilTsiJ3pvCK3VXZ44Vo079nkHVgwztwk6akp0ksMa5-S0fNm9C1oNIfEJlBEfJSK7DJsUtvt1p4Lreh3Oghm4TXi6jGapYGPaO9Fkxe1C7e8NAONOUbSFh_d-PzMxtWDzgcozBSyuDyswgXSEPpmxa0u_tqxY1bE_NEh_a6TNAnPkYVkvFSovdX-Z/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="720" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq6lilTsiJ3pvCK3VXZ44Vo079nkHVgwztwk6akp0ksMa5-S0fNm9C1oNIfEJlBEfJSK7DJsUtvt1p4Lreh3Oghm4TXi6jGapYGPaO9Fkxe1C7e8NAONOUbSFh_d-PzMxtWDzgcozBSyuDyswgXSEPpmxa0u_tqxY1bE_NEh_a6TNAnPkYVkvFSovdX-Z/w400-h199/Screenshot_20240302-190525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Noisy-le-Grand was once a relatively insignificant village served by a creaky double deck tram.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopXOXhmZChiS_7d5PDj9vC6FzN30Hfp7jEzTL42JlKuf9zSRwQUtREGXRWNd7Wil_qgkA0uuWIeZAkrNEM1i5JGhsXm5GwyQsi2Nyz_gb6Ax-sYvbouG8MsJGg6js18mvVexA-191d_3Zpa5v75T8N6ii7GJgMcPA8sHgETJMsEhjpZ9MM5aH5NKy0Wpu/s701/Screenshot_20240304-104408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="701" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopXOXhmZChiS_7d5PDj9vC6FzN30Hfp7jEzTL42JlKuf9zSRwQUtREGXRWNd7Wil_qgkA0uuWIeZAkrNEM1i5JGhsXm5GwyQsi2Nyz_gb6Ax-sYvbouG8MsJGg6js18mvVexA-191d_3Zpa5v75T8N6ii7GJgMcPA8sHgETJMsEhjpZ9MM5aH5NKy0Wpu/w400-h204/Screenshot_20240304-104408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But its 1960s development was to encompass all sorts of "trendy" architecture. Like one of these ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4egxj8KEXKjoruPJSZHwTsZby5cnFqAXnxvvwYnqHklqDFq3RoEy5_r1eGVopx_BUAeGXUtTThktaF7r5NHLq5T1QjhwbX4-jqea5YTuk2czhUfjFjVU2pnUfSu9mZp6AfORbPDTQAJOKYqJnCDBDHxY5Ah1Wa-S5GFlZwtNkshAPDLT9jVd6yf818uqc/s878/Screenshot_20240302-192327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="467" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4egxj8KEXKjoruPJSZHwTsZby5cnFqAXnxvvwYnqHklqDFq3RoEy5_r1eGVopx_BUAeGXUtTThktaF7r5NHLq5T1QjhwbX4-jqea5YTuk2czhUfjFjVU2pnUfSu9mZp6AfORbPDTQAJOKYqJnCDBDHxY5Ah1Wa-S5GFlZwtNkshAPDLT9jVd6yf818uqc/w340-h640/Screenshot_20240302-192327.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>... or a bit of this.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWn6Xb-u2n69iY8rE_DRGiZURued2VwCMShzeBvqP_agXoadUYvifIG-ZMm19AQ8u2wG0ryzBTxWfw2SMGtAfR5r_mtZd7jhnLooH8-c-XSMmAFeYIdnKn4hqmX_ME1QYuhewb3O0QsMhPn-vWqVN4U1ds8jb9aMJJQ0CYmdesLviQk38rfK7lJ64cEvq/s649/Screenshot_20240302-192523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="649" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWn6Xb-u2n69iY8rE_DRGiZURued2VwCMShzeBvqP_agXoadUYvifIG-ZMm19AQ8u2wG0ryzBTxWfw2SMGtAfR5r_mtZd7jhnLooH8-c-XSMmAFeYIdnKn4hqmX_ME1QYuhewb3O0QsMhPn-vWqVN4U1ds8jb9aMJJQ0CYmdesLviQk38rfK7lJ64cEvq/w400-h261/Screenshot_20240302-192523.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Like so many sixties developments things are looking a little tired at Nutty-the-Great but M Pellerin had big plans for big development in the late 1980s - perhaps not as big as La Defense.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7kkJiY4cyzNgX9BZ1hpx3q1tVVVs5_8HBKS5pPjXh-cHOxCJg2pp26BW4YfLF9br7LzkUq2NsONWyvZgOSAoGqLgvrYHGFDMCkk8ofBGlEbJXQcSBiHJNqyNQ0aA0Sj0_4ETaHaOPuCyHR0cZLAYJ9gHwbjUZui9kF6a5nzbJnZmwMLsUCP25gipuuh/s659/Screenshot_20240302-190543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="659" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7kkJiY4cyzNgX9BZ1hpx3q1tVVVs5_8HBKS5pPjXh-cHOxCJg2pp26BW4YfLF9br7LzkUq2NsONWyvZgOSAoGqLgvrYHGFDMCkk8ofBGlEbJXQcSBiHJNqyNQ0aA0Sj0_4ETaHaOPuCyHR0cZLAYJ9gHwbjUZui9kF6a5nzbJnZmwMLsUCP25gipuuh/w400-h231/Screenshot_20240302-190543.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>His initial proposals were for a "business centre" to the west of the town centre.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpNj4NHksyGS5BMZ-uoDONQYh5L4KXXOOmkiPnE5K_Jnko7moK0gLkkkecmkn4lItlwJnuLPQAq8QSwo3gGj4VzSeZT3v2XUzRuNaEV51DN_kyerCU1wrG2q5nCF-9tpFAwlHRn0kfICYuk-2dNMn_dkSfdvCwBjNLKcBlwe-k4cZ5TyGQmE58KWW7EyA/s544/Screenshot_20240302-190137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="544" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpNj4NHksyGS5BMZ-uoDONQYh5L4KXXOOmkiPnE5K_Jnko7moK0gLkkkecmkn4lItlwJnuLPQAq8QSwo3gGj4VzSeZT3v2XUzRuNaEV51DN_kyerCU1wrG2q5nCF-9tpFAwlHRn0kfICYuk-2dNMn_dkSfdvCwBjNLKcBlwe-k4cZ5TyGQmE58KWW7EyA/w400-h174/Screenshot_20240302-190137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was to be called Maille Horizon ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYUILVAIspymyYA05QvBd3QTpq96g7FRfJmH7zixQZlQN7Doz2q5HJ6eC6yS84vB544PTpB6EaRUd7mb4l-2zwH2mh4BZJfBuMRoBjCChfxSIpg8lQ48lBjd2pP1TAC8CdBtooMurzZMaU9m8Mpr44GFeMOa35Jd6Ezd7TkvH9rqR3L5-OAKA5EjoDyGZ/s546/Screenshot_20240302-185723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="546" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYUILVAIspymyYA05QvBd3QTpq96g7FRfJmH7zixQZlQN7Doz2q5HJ6eC6yS84vB544PTpB6EaRUd7mb4l-2zwH2mh4BZJfBuMRoBjCChfxSIpg8lQ48lBjd2pP1TAC8CdBtooMurzZMaU9m8Mpr44GFeMOa35Jd6Ezd7TkvH9rqR3L5-OAKA5EjoDyGZ/w400-h171/Screenshot_20240302-185723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and would be joined to the main station by a mysterious red line.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Noisy-le-grand is on RER Line A which tuns to Marne la Vallee Chessy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg3ssfNwb0qbNdg2VEkw4_utC3lvEb2zZDxu2KZj0UPwei7UIHjZZlsm4lzJ6MDD8bxBwY0ksVfVDahFPqkIUtqJjVSi9a7IvDDCmyrCWPK9LL4t6Iup51NjkloXE8QdfZq3gBReDRcW-24LpjPrWenOlCw-LkL1jiPCb7Saw5w1EZGnLQqgAf9yKCwIQ/s720/original_6148a325-937a-49c1-95aa-3c23d68c1b0f_Screenshot_20240303-115514.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="720" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg3ssfNwb0qbNdg2VEkw4_utC3lvEb2zZDxu2KZj0UPwei7UIHjZZlsm4lzJ6MDD8bxBwY0ksVfVDahFPqkIUtqJjVSi9a7IvDDCmyrCWPK9LL4t6Iup51NjkloXE8QdfZq3gBReDRcW-24LpjPrWenOlCw-LkL1jiPCb7Saw5w1EZGnLQqgAf9yKCwIQ/w400-h343/original_6148a325-937a-49c1-95aa-3c23d68c1b0f_Screenshot_20240303-115514.png" width="400" /></a></div>It has a distinctive building as befits the trendiness of the town. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36SJfQSVJHEf650llORfsKgyffL8A32jSgphHKoHhUP4ofUBepVfqs6eWZgO8PI3CX2Yjl0uPs2ZMJJfsabo4PYVehwCgCqF0Kbi4J4wmKy0d9HjWZqFrwZmg0Wj0fj0ooJJDxCcmt85ueGXz_jwpsbbTfL3HpvsSZemtO8nMYsM5npfTWkAUnLWjLyIW/s720/original_d8575004-a758-42f1-8e41-ca492e05a857_Screenshot_20240303-115713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="720" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36SJfQSVJHEf650llORfsKgyffL8A32jSgphHKoHhUP4ofUBepVfqs6eWZgO8PI3CX2Yjl0uPs2ZMJJfsabo4PYVehwCgCqF0Kbi4J4wmKy0d9HjWZqFrwZmg0Wj0fj0ooJJDxCcmt85ueGXz_jwpsbbTfL3HpvsSZemtO8nMYsM5npfTWkAUnLWjLyIW/w400-h246/original_d8575004-a758-42f1-8e41-ca492e05a857_Screenshot_20240303-115713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Needless to say all the bus services stop just outside!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2k4GYn6Mq6szmbKBzcx9jsVfnbYzH1KK8RvR7niSUsWiOu9Loa0XNebi5aGwppk3dGHDs10L-44mnfbrAoUdR6AbQtQmLDAgI4r8_Y7BBs6zAi9xbb1pPHlVHZY1Xym3yHF27-QA97toSiob_k0lTEwGEhuD4uweXhcuc8m1gYXoDKibuZNlIU9CxNSf/s690/screenshot.27197.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="690" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2k4GYn6Mq6szmbKBzcx9jsVfnbYzH1KK8RvR7niSUsWiOu9Loa0XNebi5aGwppk3dGHDs10L-44mnfbrAoUdR6AbQtQmLDAgI4r8_Y7BBs6zAi9xbb1pPHlVHZY1Xym3yHF27-QA97toSiob_k0lTEwGEhuD4uweXhcuc8m1gYXoDKibuZNlIU9CxNSf/w400-h361/screenshot.27197.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But if you look for M Pellerin's development at Maille Horizon you will only see a few chunks of open space ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0tVO1wYOZ7EqFeD47cp7X1rrcuJCL_oU4HxTiMZSYOEaVV0YRkngMwu7vHtAwxwy0aU1jI7PyYiu9PUhQEZadPk3hyphenhyphenAnSRm8J5K2EqhWDzTFi1vD-DPdPnX4su6bsrbBacN5GbZIFtDwV1UYcQqyQWblqHWR0GjHBA5172NPLiN5o8dmE7uQTSgkxmkd/s720/Screenshot_20240302-190643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="720" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0tVO1wYOZ7EqFeD47cp7X1rrcuJCL_oU4HxTiMZSYOEaVV0YRkngMwu7vHtAwxwy0aU1jI7PyYiu9PUhQEZadPk3hyphenhyphenAnSRm8J5K2EqhWDzTFi1vD-DPdPnX4su6bsrbBacN5GbZIFtDwV1UYcQqyQWblqHWR0GjHBA5172NPLiN5o8dmE7uQTSgkxmkd/w400-h208/Screenshot_20240302-190643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and some large chunks of modern housing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6QnBTIFWybQ1W7KXR8v9W7eXc-g6lYKyU4UILQylNFR_E_KShvRiLzyAYY2rtcgYjXljEYvwl1P1lkop7MabC5pN20UyDYV5sqOkAHeL0TId4hdp_-090edHUTTl7SzwpKngGHTFUfiQd-xL6Xs3K1UE6J-SLmw_FVhByPRHwkI_sqjpNG5w-3wfUFOX/s717/Screenshot_20240304-132052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="717" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6QnBTIFWybQ1W7KXR8v9W7eXc-g6lYKyU4UILQylNFR_E_KShvRiLzyAYY2rtcgYjXljEYvwl1P1lkop7MabC5pN20UyDYV5sqOkAHeL0TId4hdp_-090edHUTTl7SzwpKngGHTFUfiQd-xL6Xs3K1UE6J-SLmw_FVhByPRHwkI_sqjpNG5w-3wfUFOX/w400-h249/Screenshot_20240304-132052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is no shopping center and no tower blocks!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">M Pellerin's company went bust with only one of his three key projects constructed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we saw in yesterday's blog, the "Mini-Metro" was built!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmsVz_WGHMFNk3cL-s-pf16F6Wm3dx3mTPhWHCoiY7B4QmyT8kfKlY-HkuqpzJ9ccEoJd5afgNhqEzVGOnaWoxCdUUiqcJBzTAibdc_atpPd4tuMjWnvGLR0yoB4otl6Sj5E8BbTITn2vnn-SfOLiZQMNmvX5H5woeU-eRV8ibVk9s5822SVCPUYf5-AF/s299/Screenshot_20240304-103339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="299" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmsVz_WGHMFNk3cL-s-pf16F6Wm3dx3mTPhWHCoiY7B4QmyT8kfKlY-HkuqpzJ9ccEoJd5afgNhqEzVGOnaWoxCdUUiqcJBzTAibdc_atpPd4tuMjWnvGLR0yoB4otl6Sj5E8BbTITn2vnn-SfOLiZQMNmvX5H5woeU-eRV8ibVk9s5822SVCPUYf5-AF/w400-h349/Screenshot_20240304-103339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We saw the delights of the terminus serving the RER station yesterday, but however intense his search, fbb could find no mention, no picture or no diagram of the Pod Metro at the RER station.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It just wasn't there!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the station has FOUR exits; one leads out to the bus station area as you would expect ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghex7jqFw_qKyRHwo7YGx14DD1Th0KPXKqUhVAwexWzMu_tTBoFIR4unkZuyehoBsa43WmTyCLOw0hZDYhjGoV0FwyU0pboPFp-IHlZDTK3b-h6O5jmb96Ns5KKUEXtaSEDckyPIo0Y23tEWrZKzlePTLpEwpoQ3-Qynq63cn5XaDmCRIALBqCCmlUNjjT/s678/screenshot.27208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghex7jqFw_qKyRHwo7YGx14DD1Th0KPXKqUhVAwexWzMu_tTBoFIR4unkZuyehoBsa43WmTyCLOw0hZDYhjGoV0FwyU0pboPFp-IHlZDTK3b-h6O5jmb96Ns5KKUEXtaSEDckyPIo0Y23tEWrZKzlePTLpEwpoQ3-Qynq63cn5XaDmCRIALBqCCmlUNjjT/w305-h400/screenshot.27208.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>... seen here on a station map ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqKU0F3lgCMYCv0KqGV83mzO3X3WgRVtaJi-zTInv3l8MCEk6WULAvmqgGZxlQ6q4DSUtHyc8UU-NnuihHNUGIMMmEEZbNq-c3d_juB6mZb6jg5Ft_tbNbX3yFuZ0GUiHsf5MVvqBkyGBxmg7GnQJ-31vS3QmOYKlR45ORPNxBRuGaYrhtNSL8Ysjl63X/s641/Screenshot_20240304-115642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="641" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqKU0F3lgCMYCv0KqGV83mzO3X3WgRVtaJi-zTInv3l8MCEk6WULAvmqgGZxlQ6q4DSUtHyc8UU-NnuihHNUGIMMmEEZbNq-c3d_juB6mZb6jg5Ft_tbNbX3yFuZ0GUiHsf5MVvqBkyGBxmg7GnQJ-31vS3QmOYKlR45ORPNxBRuGaYrhtNSL8Ysjl63X/w400-h244/Screenshot_20240304-115642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and here in more detail as entrance and exit 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJWdoRrTKY3qe4kfgYauHcXyXJuOb4f5pcM7-ONUM0AZHgmLwgzUV3s6j1AePLDk0I9HU-ytFisRPhv5iycPcEEbcT1-Bxa1Ac15BZzBTmP6LOH2uzfBFuHoV8sfL7v9yDiLrmWfB2qYpo3791SI7GDzqUfTpHu_f5mg37K7RF96tCROz76hh3EbgIzSS/s720/Screenshot_20240303-223325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="720" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJWdoRrTKY3qe4kfgYauHcXyXJuOb4f5pcM7-ONUM0AZHgmLwgzUV3s6j1AePLDk0I9HU-ytFisRPhv5iycPcEEbcT1-Bxa1Ac15BZzBTmP6LOH2uzfBFuHoV8sfL7v9yDiLrmWfB2qYpo3791SI7GDzqUfTpHu_f5mg37K7RF96tCROz76hh3EbgIzSS/w400-h229/Screenshot_20240303-223325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The three others are along an underground passage which emerges in the depths of the Arcades shopping centre.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_QzMGwbFKAjaDtMrtnMrfbV0DT32mqToquXwrj3PSolwIyTwUMBcn6VEtH6Qs-r5l8p59YYHHiuSquCXPa0xCN2QDiNZrVOa3alfXuybCniygKl9NwJnkEJzHFzOxdi9YRl4kOSIDLRjBIUWjzOVr33MCGbRgXG19lZHznt_edRofmWdnstVBx9_1mg/s778/screenshot.27205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="778" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_QzMGwbFKAjaDtMrtnMrfbV0DT32mqToquXwrj3PSolwIyTwUMBcn6VEtH6Qs-r5l8p59YYHHiuSquCXPa0xCN2QDiNZrVOa3alfXuybCniygKl9NwJnkEJzHFzOxdi9YRl4kOSIDLRjBIUWjzOVr33MCGbRgXG19lZHznt_edRofmWdnstVBx9_1mg/w400-h270/screenshot.27205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These are numbered (surprisingly) 1, 2 and 3.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FJl85QRdd7fEevWXRPTm3UT_XYW4yOljgc5flwSanE3b9eQyF5hXUaYpDsOjZq-z6EF93ihk_-r9xe35lHSNVIuIqgUsh9d4rlT2EcbOK5yOWpH82wUqyYyJVyMAeLo4gdK39Yv6vaR_gCX9BJVtNUGSRBJUoT471QYWjJZkhHn8NbNLJDhNq0QHadl/s583/Screenshot_20240303-223511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="583" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FJl85QRdd7fEevWXRPTm3UT_XYW4yOljgc5flwSanE3b9eQyF5hXUaYpDsOjZq-z6EF93ihk_-r9xe35lHSNVIuIqgUsh9d4rlT2EcbOK5yOWpH82wUqyYyJVyMAeLo4gdK39Yv6vaR_gCX9BJVtNUGSRBJUoT471QYWjJZkhHn8NbNLJDhNq0QHadl/w400-h276/Screenshot_20240303-223511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unfortunately, StreetView does not fully penetrate the shopping centre and its many crooks and nannies ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpVExpsm9D9-novq6lNct2Iz2c10koFJvxDi8HZqyDHkndNAB3tt5pMWC47w1uFVaH6oN8EsQc6IlZjQ6QDyby1bfjGPabgPiOWyBRc_i41IingsiYiP5LMflEDh5npBofhcIZQgtHZutOV3QPtiL3M62-35Z-c-eilvmuIKhqpxPczc2VFLVofimVaWV/s696/screenshot.27202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="614" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpVExpsm9D9-novq6lNct2Iz2c10koFJvxDi8HZqyDHkndNAB3tt5pMWC47w1uFVaH6oN8EsQc6IlZjQ6QDyby1bfjGPabgPiOWyBRc_i41IingsiYiP5LMflEDh5npBofhcIZQgtHZutOV3QPtiL3M62-35Z-c-eilvmuIKhqpxPczc2VFLVofimVaWV/w353-h400/screenshot.27202.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>To add to the challenge, parts of the shipping centre are/were undergoing refurbishment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEslaKDU7Yq9wCvUeeAaZHxbhKSSz_XBSvKAc8-MdJvu7yAaZaaVs6pBjgawV1RnF5OvlKE_r8N10CQE3_GYVbS_lD5OCsqjwIYNPaHKu7SgsTAnmLoTCpoN2AmLT6r1xTT0lVdjIk0560hNXLnCGV10HRMBzlBqvVUu0IMQl1t3yh8PbgTTl7pWZIQSX/s467/Screenshot_20240304-103032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEslaKDU7Yq9wCvUeeAaZHxbhKSSz_XBSvKAc8-MdJvu7yAaZaaVs6pBjgawV1RnF5OvlKE_r8N10CQE3_GYVbS_lD5OCsqjwIYNPaHKu7SgsTAnmLoTCpoN2AmLT6r1xTT0lVdjIk0560hNXLnCGV10HRMBzlBqvVUu0IMQl1t3yh8PbgTTl7pWZIQSX/w285-h400/Screenshot_20240304-103032.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>StreetView does, however, retain one sign and one obvious (?) entrance and exit.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVb-z8pzC_y4_tE0dRnfzWMw26QBZXB2PRs-Ls2QdeVYHIIz3CwS5YyEV0F73whiHNxX5CycRk4asFIIRjH6Av9bvH_jUQ264ddHRVrnRIrGqWMLYlZ0FzSoz2O9S7Xu6ayRQF1bA0ncmXAxDkPCvISfE26AI1NFtEgdltguE1KgC69FhK2PvFdQZQgQQ/s602/screenshot.27203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="602" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVb-z8pzC_y4_tE0dRnfzWMw26QBZXB2PRs-Ls2QdeVYHIIz3CwS5YyEV0F73whiHNxX5CycRk4asFIIRjH6Av9bvH_jUQ264ddHRVrnRIrGqWMLYlZ0FzSoz2O9S7Xu6ayRQF1bA0ncmXAxDkPCvISfE26AI1NFtEgdltguE1KgC69FhK2PvFdQZQgQQ/w400-h328/screenshot.27203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Can you spito the lavish entrance to the "M" Mini Metro?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzJsU4ZE_k-PN8hPLy2-dOjFR-_ZsUymViB14sqzAZhLNNxcqs2e9nucNrsf-nZYVIzyHXDMdrJERu7l2bkG2Bs419BbV6_PHDropz_LlJgR70TnSaQg_Pp4_VklDxY6TRVCGmvakGHD0LLNtJ2dGTl3ZaumcxiUkQjqH9lL37kMLy3Ysa7rsGENIAFQj/s596/screenshot.27204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="572" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzJsU4ZE_k-PN8hPLy2-dOjFR-_ZsUymViB14sqzAZhLNNxcqs2e9nucNrsf-nZYVIzyHXDMdrJERu7l2bkG2Bs419BbV6_PHDropz_LlJgR70TnSaQg_Pp4_VklDxY6TRVCGmvakGHD0LLNtJ2dGTl3ZaumcxiUkQjqH9lL37kMLy3Ysa7rsGENIAFQj/w384-h400/screenshot.27204.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>Not very imposing is it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another entrance to the lower floor of the shopping mall is equally uninspiring.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL15I1k2XEqzZ8NNJ9mcN2ArzcBO4R4cxRBdkeAT2a83No9TNmIfdYpkaBvBMYOScB30IaYUrk0TrZ83q2ayI_THPbLTa28rjgZcQPSCBpWPQ2snmRDZjqViEQAPXMcC4S5zjqv0Y88cnnYc6sttNz4oHDJppn6PGdjtoKyycFg6NLL6G17N6q57_tDMN/s720/Screenshot_20240303-223046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="720" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL15I1k2XEqzZ8NNJ9mcN2ArzcBO4R4cxRBdkeAT2a83No9TNmIfdYpkaBvBMYOScB30IaYUrk0TrZ83q2ayI_THPbLTa28rjgZcQPSCBpWPQ2snmRDZjqViEQAPXMcC4S5zjqv0Y88cnnYc6sttNz4oHDJppn6PGdjtoKyycFg6NLL6G17N6q57_tDMN/w400-h289/Screenshot_20240303-223046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>By now our astute reader will have discerned that the Mini Metro no longer operates. There is no Maille Horizon Business Centre for it to operate to. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! It's pushing up the daisies! Its technological processes are now history! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off the railway map, run up the siding and joined the eternal depot invisible!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Even more, although the Mini Metro was kept in working order for a number of years, it was subsequently abandoned completely.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it is no wonder we cannot find any sign of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dR_wDPYtzI4byZmkT1-wgD7syK0dis_6IMQmjSTQoax9f_G_R3zJwfAjgXUdqGezGqJPFGFYES41qWr7ma43kJwbcfk4WSWU8KhTc5YOW3mC_eEz6elQ85Y9DVOLinkCsrZxbS2Xe3O6b0DGYEpWUYjUoPPHHDw1e0S-TEwKgKPKL6M35SkWaKlTh7RM/s878/Screenshot_20240304-104108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="371" height="774" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dR_wDPYtzI4byZmkT1-wgD7syK0dis_6IMQmjSTQoax9f_G_R3zJwfAjgXUdqGezGqJPFGFYES41qWr7ma43kJwbcfk4WSWU8KhTc5YOW3mC_eEz6elQ85Y9DVOLinkCsrZxbS2Xe3O6b0DGYEpWUYjUoPPHHDw1e0S-TEwKgKPKL6M35SkWaKlTh7RM/w326-h774/Screenshot_20240304-104108.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>Maybe there <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>IS</i></b></span> something to see.</div><div><br /></div><div>More tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">===============================</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Quiz Answers : 1974 prices</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Crisps - 3p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Sliced loaf - 10p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">2nd class stamp - 3.5p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Pint of Red Barrel - 16p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Pint of milk - 7p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Newspaper - 3p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Short bus ride - 5p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Tights - 19p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">W Midlands semi - £7000</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Austin Mini - £695</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Twin tub - £87</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Colour TV - £239</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Scientific calculator - £90</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Omega watch - £33</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Electric kettle - £6</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Bottle of whisky £3</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Litre of petrol 7p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>Average weekly wage £37</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The big challenge, however, is to apply inflation to these figures and see which items, if any, are cheaper than on 1974. Any guesses? It is no secret that most products are dearer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">===============================</div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Peculiar Paris Pod blog : Weds 6th March </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-34334204470774198032024-03-04T02:00:00.178+00:002024-03-04T10:16:40.106+00:00A Peculiar Paris Pod (1)<p><span style="font-size: large;">But First, A Heathrow Pod</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHYx0JteV26e_w0UcZ4oyH71w5gCZ7ZnB5aiNzAUfXYM2f1by4fjUKpm17cEgCxdq2zPBG6GuaIZSN8lNqrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Did you note that it runs on "roads'" controlled by lasers that guide the pods using the roads:' kerbs. Simple?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But The Paris Pod?</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT6EHAlgi0mO5TY-IrfeRhlStBAjiW_xTZrmks_DfRZG1wSeey4s2BpQIA-O39DR0ZYWugQTY86hXsWrXGe6iE9vnSJrWvCCIifKKfUPy1fPpj-F3uRcHWfgFxtch_ww59go1PrxnpeK1_OrNPeoIv6cnb4BPqf8z1hohnWZSHEo4v7lZf6Yn7I6fFYe8/s762/Screenshot_20240302-184924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="657" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT6EHAlgi0mO5TY-IrfeRhlStBAjiW_xTZrmks_DfRZG1wSeey4s2BpQIA-O39DR0ZYWugQTY86hXsWrXGe6iE9vnSJrWvCCIifKKfUPy1fPpj-F3uRcHWfgFxtch_ww59go1PrxnpeK1_OrNPeoIv6cnb4BPqf8z1hohnWZSHEo4v7lZf6Yn7I6fFYe8/w345-h400/Screenshot_20240302-184924.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>It looks like a straightforward cable car but with no wire from which to dangle. But it is hauled by wire as in this example from Russia.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygFCondeED5TpWbR982sRwg_oarqc4iBzS47GumcDWhndmLz1Uautb_7trXkpFyNCSoRLY0VGv4ZgQGOVOuJsn0EEYXc7MomscHHGHF7Fj6vlQIBZgNUNO6TgMY7gUBKZcXWdVCWJaEAbyC03VqXluKt-LgLlVIdLWhenPqGvJO2q2gpL0_CjcaFqcoh8/s802/screenshot.27189.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="802" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygFCondeED5TpWbR982sRwg_oarqc4iBzS47GumcDWhndmLz1Uautb_7trXkpFyNCSoRLY0VGv4ZgQGOVOuJsn0EEYXc7MomscHHGHF7Fj6vlQIBZgNUNO6TgMY7gUBKZcXWdVCWJaEAbyC03VqXluKt-LgLlVIdLWhenPqGvJO2q2gpL0_CjcaFqcoh8/w400-h339/screenshot.27189.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Imagine, say, a cable car but technologically turned upside down. The mountain cable car turns on a big wheel at the end of its run ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0czAouKtDDWbOFyXsKWXcEXfEoZpYup_BCB3pTMxR2vrDL55IKuogL-rFf8gn28uBUYkkTIby53zSpNX0vwjW2Eora8M370b_LMoxn0dL-lIVuS6aF4LhHDckV-dMEVfubua1zT-CXJemx3fYCEhCF3VTnK6GeUIxfIqfBigD66lrYAm71ZxcNOQWfF5m/s482/screenshot.27187.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="482" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0czAouKtDDWbOFyXsKWXcEXfEoZpYup_BCB3pTMxR2vrDL55IKuogL-rFf8gn28uBUYkkTIby53zSpNX0vwjW2Eora8M370b_LMoxn0dL-lIVuS6aF4LhHDckV-dMEVfubua1zT-CXJemx3fYCEhCF3VTnK6GeUIxfIqfBigD66lrYAm71ZxcNOQWfF5m/w400-h265/screenshot.27187.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... rotating slowly on a carousel in the ceiling ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZMpjseGWA2lNnPfYpEWU9Lq4njjty8WCB9r-PLjL9Q-1RXuQZ2hWM-brtpeQrxxg-pZNwT69dTYCTAH4IbgzTLQPgpE0g9F3bK0X2Dqv8GYE5vlyQrIV7spRZhhy5a_ICD_W_vDgcD5SNTSYmBxMV1iBXk26ccqMOVrEK4VLso7Bdv8aqdDd3gEO7gKA/s714/screenshot.27188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="714" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZMpjseGWA2lNnPfYpEWU9Lq4njjty8WCB9r-PLjL9Q-1RXuQZ2hWM-brtpeQrxxg-pZNwT69dTYCTAH4IbgzTLQPgpE0g9F3bK0X2Dqv8GYE5vlyQrIV7spRZhhy5a_ICD_W_vDgcD5SNTSYmBxMV1iBXk26ccqMOVrEK4VLso7Bdv8aqdDd3gEO7gKA/w400-h265/screenshot.27188.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... so you can hop on or off! The mechanism then hooks you on to the main, faster cable and off you jolly well go into the wide blue yonder.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLh8pp1Dg0-TxKhXvV-DXiwYXN-OW3UEoi20sqTYXE9VvGHEAI8RaPEL8bijorMN6bsFRMRGiSjb34_gVvT7tvTe-dauJPpePwAuW2n-C4v47wC8WRmAAm7V-YGCwpUl1XE-t5T7ctRoEaq4IB0tw_Qp3KPIY8xLHIFNLTjpd-XQRfJBktk17v0uWnLA1/s436/screenshot.27190.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="436" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLh8pp1Dg0-TxKhXvV-DXiwYXN-OW3UEoi20sqTYXE9VvGHEAI8RaPEL8bijorMN6bsFRMRGiSjb34_gVvT7tvTe-dauJPpePwAuW2n-C4v47wC8WRmAAm7V-YGCwpUl1XE-t5T7ctRoEaq4IB0tw_Qp3KPIY8xLHIFNLTjpd-XQRfJBktk17v0uWnLA1/w400-h303/screenshot.27190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Paris pod functions in a similar manner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>There is a video of the pods on-line but it is a bit long and in French, so fbb has snatched some screen shots, alas of poor quality. But you will get the idea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here the man tells us about the lift, escalator and stairs ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6RMtZ3reLuqAn_DKEd1FlzWbMvxYr5_2Dq1OWUItI1xjyBhJT65vrGug7RQfhKdYrvQLi0nNJDl_KOupcU0mtnV_eQoeFEO-jXpFWWq8OSS4mj3TGoqFQXM7MzGPAvNeQl9tGEF2A5TSDhg9Ie-NxXwD-LLnV5N0shCu_K9UB-xIVUaGwPDf-T4-Oh5H/s902/Screenshot_20240302-183214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="902" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6RMtZ3reLuqAn_DKEd1FlzWbMvxYr5_2Dq1OWUItI1xjyBhJT65vrGug7RQfhKdYrvQLi0nNJDl_KOupcU0mtnV_eQoeFEO-jXpFWWq8OSS4mj3TGoqFQXM7MzGPAvNeQl9tGEF2A5TSDhg9Ie-NxXwD-LLnV5N0shCu_K9UB-xIVUaGwPDf-T4-Oh5H/w400-h319/Screenshot_20240302-183214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and the ever present self-service ticket machines i.e. no staff.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUB83zUYLYn6n4arme6s7E6bDIyPdATuqB5X8W0OvyWkBzKEkjTgOH8FbzwGcwjo6DOmXDB_KmG_i1ov4Oo-NgTf6VTCpChG2vzxjUoYhplB-wZyzX4TGrEslqa-0SQhjU3kiQ04RCKRWFIZ2rVfKlW1gaP0je9VQyrSV1DdhzRMfXkLv0e2CS7Nh-CQV/s691/Screenshot_20240302-185042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="691" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUB83zUYLYn6n4arme6s7E6bDIyPdATuqB5X8W0OvyWkBzKEkjTgOH8FbzwGcwjo6DOmXDB_KmG_i1ov4Oo-NgTf6VTCpChG2vzxjUoYhplB-wZyzX4TGrEslqa-0SQhjU3kiQ04RCKRWFIZ2rVfKlW1gaP0je9VQyrSV1DdhzRMfXkLv0e2CS7Nh-CQV/w400-h330/Screenshot_20240302-185042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Downstairs we first glimpse the "turning cage" ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBaJ3_BUVFoPC-ZzFyWhlhHuHKkVpDl38pE0TSwRHA3OYvqLQRzcResuk8wRciyhzFhLT-OegfnDVKCEtLtXnpSsTwCQ3tQ5CfN8YQCRxy5uwV2PklNebnegUIo_FFYAhqxp2GQb6zOPe9xjk0dxOEBSMcVdFCkmw_xWfGjXLpLjiNxNODNnzmKZ6Dwp4/s908/Screenshot_20240302-183441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="908" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBaJ3_BUVFoPC-ZzFyWhlhHuHKkVpDl38pE0TSwRHA3OYvqLQRzcResuk8wRciyhzFhLT-OegfnDVKCEtLtXnpSsTwCQ3tQ5CfN8YQCRxy5uwV2PklNebnegUIo_FFYAhqxp2GQb6zOPe9xjk0dxOEBSMcVdFCkmw_xWfGjXLpLjiNxNODNnzmKZ6Dwp4/w400-h318/Screenshot_20240302-183441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and the control room where skulk the staff on duty.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl8DzHwL62pfbJmgT-2mqnTrpc1bdJYOi-d8FT8YMeO7Ui1_5KO0ejNT34m-vRJMwDEPiik_PeTObmCrabZv9tIGEAyjwqECKaQQXXNCW4A6y4VZ1lnL09giCy4NjoYJhoLW7YFk2zT6cD6Zba4qCI4Ba1ePXXQt4CfpQqYWxgsa1SfOSdidSPNAROhJf/s915/Screenshot_20240302-183630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="915" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl8DzHwL62pfbJmgT-2mqnTrpc1bdJYOi-d8FT8YMeO7Ui1_5KO0ejNT34m-vRJMwDEPiik_PeTObmCrabZv9tIGEAyjwqECKaQQXXNCW4A6y4VZ1lnL09giCy4NjoYJhoLW7YFk2zT6cD6Zba4qCI4Ba1ePXXQt4CfpQqYWxgsa1SfOSdidSPNAROhJf/w400-h315/Screenshot_20240302-183630.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We can see the "carousel" below the pod ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rYicrWvbft1Klv6uVZw2o1yZ_tO80YYzPdrL8Oj7_C0LvjLisquHJfOqgQzTerqGwD-Wck2F0wHnIlsJleeR9q2ayZas7qbFO197usu-QOgsaRAehw4kPdXkAazviElmuq747m7a0_1XPSvNvErdOQscn7fNqoJmz6eu3uPvXZAb_uac_WQLdLh2aZCn/s904/Screenshot_20240302-183724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="904" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rYicrWvbft1Klv6uVZw2o1yZ_tO80YYzPdrL8Oj7_C0LvjLisquHJfOqgQzTerqGwD-Wck2F0wHnIlsJleeR9q2ayZas7qbFO197usu-QOgsaRAehw4kPdXkAazviElmuq747m7a0_1XPSvNvErdOQscn7fNqoJmz6eu3uPvXZAb_uac_WQLdLh2aZCn/w400-h319/Screenshot_20240302-183724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... showing how the little car is turned.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNn3QoL1d9JMHErM-v3zMbJqhAJgyIUy4hSk5v4VdEr66SoyBjxctYi5MBOKeIEaF59GUFfa63cFp4LutgNJ-Egz0CYTnRMz6JN6lBp8PubWFjmcC7u0vnxHazUvPu2XRb5e1Olq_ao_VnkMUzdeOlM4oS3LyPEyOM2hidqHmxJq9QmZibN1IKL0T7m1B/s931/Screenshot_20240302-183512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="931" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNn3QoL1d9JMHErM-v3zMbJqhAJgyIUy4hSk5v4VdEr66SoyBjxctYi5MBOKeIEaF59GUFfa63cFp4LutgNJ-Egz0CYTnRMz6JN6lBp8PubWFjmcC7u0vnxHazUvPu2XRb5e1Olq_ao_VnkMUzdeOlM4oS3LyPEyOM2hidqHmxJq9QmZibN1IKL0T7m1B/w400-h309/Screenshot_20240302-183512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There isn't a lot of room inside and the "seats" look less than comfortable.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83XgRtamQW87p0Y-qo9vlHmkvAfnNi1H5WhcZNqE3uu53bZGa2mvrEtTWqF-lfBFKUS9vhQblsI79xRw233rDkAS6tQWyO-YYFreQ5gweQTRdk8KTBgOAmseUlefSo9wHoAPt5LuskXjB2qSXNBEhLWAxGDGUjsirqHvn68yTQjAryrEzdLxUspmvqT30/s910/Screenshot_20240302-183828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="910" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83XgRtamQW87p0Y-qo9vlHmkvAfnNi1H5WhcZNqE3uu53bZGa2mvrEtTWqF-lfBFKUS9vhQblsI79xRw233rDkAS6tQWyO-YYFreQ5gweQTRdk8KTBgOAmseUlefSo9wHoAPt5LuskXjB2qSXNBEhLWAxGDGUjsirqHvn68yTQjAryrEzdLxUspmvqT30/w400-h316/Screenshot_20240302-183828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It then whisks its sardines off ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx9M4vqjeeuxpmpOstds8oQt22i35YE6YqlPOqKJQD8RjVfl-pKpoRLGQkK3KfOOTqVg-SPFBVhz4WyIcl1QZ6mQuFKE-OGwQNLn8JTFHotogkmvrRHv2SHOV-T6aU9-bshJ_c9rt8_jWIuQoXueZSA2TtEiIG8zRoq5kywCpSsJ4kiRxYSiYcnGE4IlI/s837/Screenshot_20240302-184106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="837" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx9M4vqjeeuxpmpOstds8oQt22i35YE6YqlPOqKJQD8RjVfl-pKpoRLGQkK3KfOOTqVg-SPFBVhz4WyIcl1QZ6mQuFKE-OGwQNLn8JTFHotogkmvrRHv2SHOV-T6aU9-bshJ_c9rt8_jWIuQoXueZSA2TtEiIG8zRoq5kywCpSsJ4kiRxYSiYcnGE4IlI/w400-h344/Screenshot_20240302-184106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... to the far terminus, in the Paris case a journey of about three minutes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are no intermediate stops.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb has not shown the far end as it is a clone of the start "station"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyl2riTVMYrpEZuqh8gFcD3HsjN3VI2QbFrF4qtz07U9_gB66UelcdyPpbz-spZKWTs9zmannIUv8m13hH_bhAM2ouA4uY2rVJoekusEMFvDmRST8QzkfYIuXQulZkdihaIN2G-5673FM4zMFsewH6VMK-4vPBNA9QYyfM-G5jkHalW8E0o4T-6VBnXm0/s693/Screenshot_20240302-185011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="693" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyl2riTVMYrpEZuqh8gFcD3HsjN3VI2QbFrF4qtz07U9_gB66UelcdyPpbz-spZKWTs9zmannIUv8m13hH_bhAM2ouA4uY2rVJoekusEMFvDmRST8QzkfYIuXQulZkdihaIN2G-5673FM4zMFsewH6VMK-4vPBNA9QYyfM-G5jkHalW8E0o4T-6VBnXm0/w400-h221/Screenshot_20240302-185011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb came across this nugget of transport intrigue in a YouTube video by Tim Traveller (bet that's not his real name) ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ-fyou6__pBZT0Cnip-qXkxzq90Scej_v7x8WL6lLMFSbZDW_SLLYInwP_499DB2yfTglOH87v8Bofv1sTzhudlGBgi5h-Oh0i7GHmmnCRfrUZRqGTLewCIgoLAECXA-yFGn8eFx3QfeUuxpAM58RvubpwKj8xSep3ffScBNW8H2BraFcacMdF-LaBRP/s391/original_3677f50b-89a6-48df-be46-440640a92694_Screenshot_20240303-131540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ-fyou6__pBZT0Cnip-qXkxzq90Scej_v7x8WL6lLMFSbZDW_SLLYInwP_499DB2yfTglOH87v8Bofv1sTzhudlGBgi5h-Oh0i7GHmmnCRfrUZRqGTLewCIgoLAECXA-yFGn8eFx3QfeUuxpAM58RvubpwKj8xSep3ffScBNW8H2BraFcacMdF-LaBRP/w161-h200/original_3677f50b-89a6-48df-be46-440640a92694_Screenshot_20240303-131540.jpg" width="161" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... a chum of UK YouTuber Geoff Marshall. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDg3bR9kfNtFcZIBj1ZfvWerPRTZ4Xo6Bqlu23qwsZ_E213QhDvquZ5zpawTVoOnEgRnnVbzvFGFT31tHgTz5whulW02sSzoDyStXylTEYjacqGmdHRkMBHZmsqwBgEQMC6U0sTBGVs29zUULIJ71GiiyOSqet7gZUMTKF8zihTFCV0D90dvUj6z6Lxkd0/s562/original_e52fa112-007b-4804-bb4e-862599b1c890_Screenshot_20240303-131426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDg3bR9kfNtFcZIBj1ZfvWerPRTZ4Xo6Bqlu23qwsZ_E213QhDvquZ5zpawTVoOnEgRnnVbzvFGFT31tHgTz5whulW02sSzoDyStXylTEYjacqGmdHRkMBHZmsqwBgEQMC6U0sTBGVs29zUULIJ71GiiyOSqet7gZUMTKF8zihTFCV0D90dvUj6z6Lxkd0/s320/original_e52fa112-007b-4804-bb4e-862599b1c890_Screenshot_20240303-131426.jpg" width="188" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tim is English, but lives in Paris and blogs/vlogs about transport stuff world-wide. Both blokes are rail, bus and tram nuts of very high nuttiness. Their videos are always fascinating but (Geoff's especially) can be so nerdy as to be almost mystifying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Geoff's latest project is to see how many eggs he can balance on the arm rest of an Underground train until at least one of them falls off as the carriage jiggles a bit too much.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually, fbb made that up, (you would never have guessed), but with Geoff it is certainly possible!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So why had fbb never hitherto heard of the Peculiar Paris Pod?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For this, we need to meet this man ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XCTPsiPiApMlaoqI1Ty_-rJqLfgeEJjJvo4rTw_nxrjKX1CtOsFTSEakVyE1N12n6qAdtYcn1HX7liuYwbtJ865y4u5Mt-ZYtAG7jGSdGORa5qiUs6O6xhSb83OqNGCZk3zZsmDekPrIBVFcSerZv1sZI-Zvf3oi_ZLuwdBMeVkEd05dhN7gyvPXi6FF/s361/Screenshot_20240302-190459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XCTPsiPiApMlaoqI1Ty_-rJqLfgeEJjJvo4rTw_nxrjKX1CtOsFTSEakVyE1N12n6qAdtYcn1HX7liuYwbtJ865y4u5Mt-ZYtAG7jGSdGORa5qiUs6O6xhSb83OqNGCZk3zZsmDekPrIBVFcSerZv1sZI-Zvf3oi_ZLuwdBMeVkEd05dhN7gyvPXi6FF/s320/Screenshot_20240302-190459.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>... but there is a bit of a hint in the time stamp on the video screen shots!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">How Much?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It wouldn't be a fellowship meeting month without fbb's published quiz. The topic of the leaflet is <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cost</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How much does it <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cost</b></span> to become a Christian?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What is the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cost Benefit Analysis</b></span> of a commitment to "following Christ"?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What did it <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cost</b></span> to make Christianity work. (Obvious clue : <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>we are approaching Easter</b></span>!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBqwsSfkAPhc7hOUDXTdxNSSGT4TT2u_nx-TDIzvxqhyoS2EdsUT6ZlzXs8c-0meZ5bc2BTwRJ7HvTi5fkbJTr6qwAoKvQnIJZNr4bdnXkCN7NWaWKvmOH0FjhZTg_yIbrPfoIzG2vcDpWR2j_qkmm1LX9fJjy07ZTZG-ULe0P0B3gyMgQbgBnSoa0kko/s792/screenshot.27191.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="792" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBqwsSfkAPhc7hOUDXTdxNSSGT4TT2u_nx-TDIzvxqhyoS2EdsUT6ZlzXs8c-0meZ5bc2BTwRJ7HvTi5fkbJTr6qwAoKvQnIJZNr4bdnXkCN7NWaWKvmOH0FjhZTg_yIbrPfoIzG2vcDpWR2j_qkmm1LX9fJjy07ZTZG-ULe0P0B3gyMgQbgBnSoa0kko/w400-h209/screenshot.27191.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the quiz is about the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cost of Living</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You may need to enlarge the graphics. The challenge is to remember or guess the Cost of things 50 years ago</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eYK-Zy9G5_eJa5q40ii9-hxFj1GecvhLODiwhXxqKaMJI_JpP7qAn_AidlZ5WVNCCCAq_5TNkWHSeIkIeWhknRW0Keiov-bM1t2KmEXhZvmq6V6pDdc-YCYYm_SK008K9MggHfcktL4zwBswM6CRk1y9GYgxS-QEHjBDstSRYwnsWTHyE9VL0KJ_Cir8/s806/screenshot.27192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="806" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eYK-Zy9G5_eJa5q40ii9-hxFj1GecvhLODiwhXxqKaMJI_JpP7qAn_AidlZ5WVNCCCAq_5TNkWHSeIkIeWhknRW0Keiov-bM1t2KmEXhZvmq6V6pDdc-YCYYm_SK008K9MggHfcktL4zwBswM6CRk1y9GYgxS-QEHjBDstSRYwnsWTHyE9VL0KJ_Cir8/w400-h363/screenshot.27192.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Some more expensive items?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzXTT_qkquqU1-6FPhyphenhyphenGxhudEXi8h6Er-zGubX6a4jDWayJ0grWR3pZJBYPy_vnfmNFYO4JfoPHFxIbd3QKtDATXljC-ADRzdo_apvSFCNp6jcOLbGfvedmgshUpuweCV1umKZpLSlWDdQsSaoZwSPPY1MGtg4nH1S7PW_tk4ZT6cMnd6zzw0S908BAcv/s816/screenshot.27193.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="816" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzXTT_qkquqU1-6FPhyphenhyphenGxhudEXi8h6Er-zGubX6a4jDWayJ0grWR3pZJBYPy_vnfmNFYO4JfoPHFxIbd3QKtDATXljC-ADRzdo_apvSFCNp6jcOLbGfvedmgshUpuweCV1umKZpLSlWDdQsSaoZwSPPY1MGtg4nH1S7PW_tk4ZT6cMnd6zzw0S908BAcv/w400-h223/screenshot.27193.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And a few more.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_zseI-kI9ihTFzd_wzCQMAO1NXl4qa3GW2HtHf62D9FnhC9xCQgTyqP5aUeWA1omnRtiGlOhL_6fQBOeYXngABmhQOh4IEfxgOGGBhF9-El0PasbTT2WTnBVzBTbOsHL8HKGuKaxHlyZpCnySFeAJj1iLO0n_XSoRKzXQmwhTnHClfDwyNUi6ljVNccP/s816/screenshot.27194.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="816" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_zseI-kI9ihTFzd_wzCQMAO1NXl4qa3GW2HtHf62D9FnhC9xCQgTyqP5aUeWA1omnRtiGlOhL_6fQBOeYXngABmhQOh4IEfxgOGGBhF9-El0PasbTT2WTnBVzBTbOsHL8HKGuKaxHlyZpCnySFeAJj1iLO0n_XSoRKzXQmwhTnHClfDwyNUi6ljVNccP/w400-h216/screenshot.27194.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Answers tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzle Picture</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Its Lego!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmtj7qNHMdQ7vYimsYz-SrE5gfi0rZ6YpukNfECw2SN0FONfnK_IB1RtOltXut5n3fHbazqI7ljHb8ixfO4yCJ4NjOedqrErZr5170WvPJ6glLM29USs2rWNypmlQWFqlA4E6uXt2de-k6q8em7SRulmKtMzPKi-P4zULIbzTpBYyGsKnzhV5JKb1q4Hr/s629/Screenshot_20240301-174802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="629" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmtj7qNHMdQ7vYimsYz-SrE5gfi0rZ6YpukNfECw2SN0FONfnK_IB1RtOltXut5n3fHbazqI7ljHb8ixfO4yCJ4NjOedqrErZr5170WvPJ6glLM29USs2rWNypmlQWFqlA4E6uXt2de-k6q8em7SRulmKtMzPKi-P4zULIbzTpBYyGsKnzhV5JKb1q4Hr/w400-h353/Screenshot_20240301-174802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Once upon a time you bought a box of Lego and made up a series of models as your imagination led you. But that was for the kiddies. Now Lego (like Model Railways) has become a rich old man's game. You buy an expensive kit, make it up and then, well ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... look at it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On balance, fbb prefers the real thing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3Mu23dNCIduZ_C0rRekahTDbcrzZ1xqh4YueMUEj-j0mZpaB3p0B1eYnZkIQAr6vfwZA0k7FuIODM5hHrRi08TJRPlISLcw_jmZO3GAOcCi1Z9-c7Ln_KMgmi8DOcfEqb9GVVsKUJ71q8p00fSGJZjtsMvixD5zW8zy4yM6RijaAaohbdOH-XzAN_Ze4/s682/screenshot.27195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="682" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3Mu23dNCIduZ_C0rRekahTDbcrzZ1xqh4YueMUEj-j0mZpaB3p0B1eYnZkIQAr6vfwZA0k7FuIODM5hHrRi08TJRPlISLcw_jmZO3GAOcCi1Z9-c7Ln_KMgmi8DOcfEqb9GVVsKUJ71q8p00fSGJZjtsMvixD5zW8zy4yM6RijaAaohbdOH-XzAN_Ze4/w400-h266/screenshot.27195.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was also an Airfix kit for a life-size Kingfisher.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR95zT3S5mNNk4s5dhgQGib2xMEntLnjAMQR0S8dnbgdCvM-oabEQah5PIPUHaAP4KPaE165ithgDkMRJ5oQxE88QrpfQDt0-SbbtsP-E8BwL6wOzkBrRrGsV3N79PINyGcw7FnRgztwGMea24cHgpd5kfER7ftvEb-Ts2CnP-pG2YHRzKh8bue7IN1BOW/s604/Screenshot_20240303-230154.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="604" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR95zT3S5mNNk4s5dhgQGib2xMEntLnjAMQR0S8dnbgdCvM-oabEQah5PIPUHaAP4KPaE165ithgDkMRJ5oQxE88QrpfQDt0-SbbtsP-E8BwL6wOzkBrRrGsV3N79PINyGcw7FnRgztwGMea24cHgpd5kfER7ftvEb-Ts2CnP-pG2YHRzKh8bue7IN1BOW/s320/Screenshot_20240303-230154.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemsSlTmzCTVKVudbSWH7lUhiQBe3Y2nJ_abK7yKM5Xxyjl2FJ1x66WQNj_4YPtWsjDuq8MUPOASrUV0B-WaQCbtm1s1SDouK_GlOKFpatEY6819uO6zs0NQtiAhagaxg38CI7mZ6gTl_iA2tErheSlX6BCclRZy0Zg44Zxqq5ixHyTk7wfhJXpKZ4O33R/s632/Screenshot_20240303-230412.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="632" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemsSlTmzCTVKVudbSWH7lUhiQBe3Y2nJ_abK7yKM5Xxyjl2FJ1x66WQNj_4YPtWsjDuq8MUPOASrUV0B-WaQCbtm1s1SDouK_GlOKFpatEY6819uO6zs0NQtiAhagaxg38CI7mZ6gTl_iA2tErheSlX6BCclRZy0Zg44Zxqq5ixHyTk7wfhJXpKZ4O33R/s320/Screenshot_20240303-230412.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The loco was an LNER A4 Pacific named Kingfisher; (as in Mallard).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Paris Pod blog : Tuesday 5th March </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-87457960703811029192024-03-03T02:00:00.199+00:002024-03-03T07:34:52.987+00:00Sunday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">Confused.com (2)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQXzyrYH-8Mh-kz4FclXJko90g1pG52keTEirFBl7RKNFdPp2sx6eoFsmmAK53J9xG85NDKD86seU7U2IjZ9mq-0WhFYST1GUxA4HN7ZO06-7It_r3o3RypmZCq_Bj7W0hoaFlSlP3zu4Y5kfnCQ0SUI0s8_LoNZCo2tnYPaWcLmFIqoD8hyphenhyphenPixtH6s4D/s720/Screenshot_20240229-163244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQXzyrYH-8Mh-kz4FclXJko90g1pG52keTEirFBl7RKNFdPp2sx6eoFsmmAK53J9xG85NDKD86seU7U2IjZ9mq-0WhFYST1GUxA4HN7ZO06-7It_r3o3RypmZCq_Bj7W0hoaFlSlP3zu4Y5kfnCQ0SUI0s8_LoNZCo2tnYPaWcLmFIqoD8hyphenhyphenPixtH6s4D/w400-h300/Screenshot_20240229-163244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now fbb reckons that he is fairly well knowledgeable in matters ferroequinological even if the dates and detail fade into the depths of the cerebral coal measures. But the above picture baffled the old bloke. It was captioned <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>BR class 37 with condensing tender</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of us know about Metropolitan Railway tank locos with "condensing apparatus", namely a big pipe to take steam back to the water tank to be re-used and, at the same time, to reduce exhaust in the tunnels.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zw-s2yYKzm0vHbIrl8wMrc4qUFcGJsksHQ-VBe95XFa1_t_VDBt3ssu83PjudSnxuwRjGW-jOzdN4u6JxIpVbrbVc4gV4ASERetMtm4PAsR9goBzOrpJ2yVR6qHfwXcysL_lvCwtwwF__EP6f6fmpRpa9cKTNNfJxVJgo6y34BVxO7SOETDtMj8EvcP8/s942/screenshot.27177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="942" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zw-s2yYKzm0vHbIrl8wMrc4qUFcGJsksHQ-VBe95XFa1_t_VDBt3ssu83PjudSnxuwRjGW-jOzdN4u6JxIpVbrbVc4gV4ASERetMtm4PAsR9goBzOrpJ2yVR6qHfwXcysL_lvCwtwwF__EP6f6fmpRpa9cKTNNfJxVJgo6y34BVxO7SOETDtMj8EvcP8/w400-h303/screenshot.27177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But the top picture above is something different.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a condensing tender with fans to cool the steam and turn it back to water. Here is an even bigger tender.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUQWIPw7ci6pWZDXJNc12vf0kio1oraGMcF8ZrdyOM7dPPdmO91AAlcYv-hxFRgXgPgvK5EEjQIUaVpqMreVAbRIo5vekgvqNMlDl1F3XH925VcOwfn2Imqjcw9pSdwVlMJ8M9Rf8V4gtewsPGOwoT7EOYZUZuzBbL7LF32IjlWIBO6vgf-awOTAPRCtt/s643/screenshot.27178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="643" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUQWIPw7ci6pWZDXJNc12vf0kio1oraGMcF8ZrdyOM7dPPdmO91AAlcYv-hxFRgXgPgvK5EEjQIUaVpqMreVAbRIo5vekgvqNMlDl1F3XH925VcOwfn2Imqjcw9pSdwVlMJ8M9Rf8V4gtewsPGOwoT7EOYZUZuzBbL7LF32IjlWIBO6vgf-awOTAPRCtt/w400-h231/screenshot.27178.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But nothing like this has ever been used in the UK, hence fbb's confusion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aha, the "BR" loco is from German Railways, a well known 2-10-0.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Oa6m_eB1xeyERNcW355ml8QrukCKugn3jxqCeRSwXA0JWkk3959E3AYLpyz93kd5Y3ilUhCATdPufxNoqUZ2FOsjNmIbvRwQBAVMX00LMiArdUWldBRHy8YsTKhS0Yf4J4lARrXTrG-VyTbQGBD2ZBSa8tsaD6lbU7sMYYCdJDyVTRArQlj3lShnRhr6/s449/screenshot.27166.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="449" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Oa6m_eB1xeyERNcW355ml8QrukCKugn3jxqCeRSwXA0JWkk3959E3AYLpyz93kd5Y3ilUhCATdPufxNoqUZ2FOsjNmIbvRwQBAVMX00LMiArdUWldBRHy8YsTKhS0Yf4J4lARrXTrG-VyTbQGBD2ZBSa8tsaD6lbU7sMYYCdJDyVTRArQlj3lShnRhr6/w400-h229/screenshot.27166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Some of them were poshed-up for front line passenger use ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAywnE-YuvNNWCxD-D0UNMnpH3Y71FX7iDILhxH7HZPcKjWjGRh19vJpF_cQdy_Cthqj9M3vke4nb9xichc_BLeqPXmoN3dBJ7A8InEfIZnO5-5HiiBjqncHzm_kYhpIBydMHEVnBBzRQMnvkPxuu3bpPJeiGzjBfEpFiLSdZ3bQQU9bZEphdIeM2of-_/s449/screenshot.27165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="449" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAywnE-YuvNNWCxD-D0UNMnpH3Y71FX7iDILhxH7HZPcKjWjGRh19vJpF_cQdy_Cthqj9M3vke4nb9xichc_BLeqPXmoN3dBJ7A8InEfIZnO5-5HiiBjqncHzm_kYhpIBydMHEVnBBzRQMnvkPxuu3bpPJeiGzjBfEpFiLSdZ3bQQU9bZEphdIeM2of-_/w400-h225/screenshot.27165.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but generally, the condensing idea was not very successful and not used very widely. HO models are available, but the biggest financial OUCH of the class is from Marklin with is non-standard "third rail" stud contact.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkAMYtZtVXdU9ASMBS1EW5RLdAcljW9IVAubuSULAHL1KCNqFVNWsQDrTuOso8LdnkBZGYYkSBkLjqUzMfoceG6hTXvoli5s8MNXiViFSln07cN-AZoEibyBsHVH7F3SsmjSMTNTkITNwI4JQ2O65bFXAReKGcYD-EApbApBTR8uKeCBG8Y5MFGJGpmtP/s517/screenshot.27162.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="452" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkAMYtZtVXdU9ASMBS1EW5RLdAcljW9IVAubuSULAHL1KCNqFVNWsQDrTuOso8LdnkBZGYYkSBkLjqUzMfoceG6hTXvoli5s8MNXiViFSln07cN-AZoEibyBsHVH7F3SsmjSMTNTkITNwI4JQ2O65bFXAReKGcYD-EApbApBTR8uKeCBG8Y5MFGJGpmtP/w350-h400/screenshot.27162.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">£535!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>It is quality but at a price. Slightly more affordable is a similar model from Liliput.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv2crd9yJheeUG-DVuN4DHCf0bsFkeGVj5W6ABBdgTjxLiMg3QH1VHhklSyMJFRFyXNaardhEXW65M2TdtyW91O8B-UP2dZe6P2YeaFqlFkMNNNe64VlcZQdACtSEY78EycHTECuHmylmg-FCFCFt5_HN5Q_jup6pYavOIV0c1J14kE2bLqVKnVGYsEal/s431/screenshot.27162%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="431" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv2crd9yJheeUG-DVuN4DHCf0bsFkeGVj5W6ABBdgTjxLiMg3QH1VHhklSyMJFRFyXNaardhEXW65M2TdtyW91O8B-UP2dZe6P2YeaFqlFkMNNNe64VlcZQdACtSEY78EycHTECuHmylmg-FCFCFt5_HN5Q_jup6pYavOIV0c1J14kE2bLqVKnVGYsEal/w400-h385/screenshot.27162%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As far as fbb can discover, nobody has offered a condensing tender for an HO model!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Aldridge Old Station, New Route</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aldridge is on the so-called Sutton Park line ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLQ4U9RuBT1PvJHdSSko9hlhzpUYmmA5f0EpU5kM582ItYF0r8g53WF-nJfxLuSII3Y_iV_INHG3AP0s7QfNcEUCav4bakL-Fovo7dPcRDpB_h-Xtb_wRfrsHN-ejR1YPMv09fw_sybGqM1Mk0ZAEpxyo5tcbfzHU-Nu23GTwIasxINd1wOrMZ0ZeCz4F/s715/Screenshot_20240302-091228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="715" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLQ4U9RuBT1PvJHdSSko9hlhzpUYmmA5f0EpU5kM582ItYF0r8g53WF-nJfxLuSII3Y_iV_INHG3AP0s7QfNcEUCav4bakL-Fovo7dPcRDpB_h-Xtb_wRfrsHN-ejR1YPMv09fw_sybGqM1Mk0ZAEpxyo5tcbfzHU-Nu23GTwIasxINd1wOrMZ0ZeCz4F/w400-h251/Screenshot_20240302-091228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... which runs (still open for freight) in a big loop from the main Birmingham line at Water Orton and on to Walsall. It takes itd name from the fact that it crosses a northern chunk of the fantastic Sutton Park.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgXgiRkpUPRqaUl8BLkQGglNviPl5Ae4NWyc-qDkSlsc7TcnzM0jkGknpIGiVLgiH6jHfMWJUOhiJI0xrv39QDJfBFGBTAlLRT3_L7anVr8jQWYh9PEYIZ8D84a7onH7aUaONP81uJVIkguZqwUFOZlx9HS2b3dCObLATZKWzX-2Nuhyphenhyphenptz4A-nkBf0SF/s726/screenshot.27178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgXgiRkpUPRqaUl8BLkQGglNviPl5Ae4NWyc-qDkSlsc7TcnzM0jkGknpIGiVLgiH6jHfMWJUOhiJI0xrv39QDJfBFGBTAlLRT3_L7anVr8jQWYh9PEYIZ8D84a7onH7aUaONP81uJVIkguZqwUFOZlx9HS2b3dCObLATZKWzX-2Nuhyphenhyphenptz4A-nkBf0SF/w380-h400/screenshot.27178.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>In 1957, fbb (aged 12) travelled from Northampton to Streetly at the apex of the park on an excursion train to visit the Jubilee World Scout Jamboree. All he can remember is trudging in boring tedium around ranks and ranks of tents and a whole heap of temporary Coca Cola stalls.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there has been pressure to re-open the Sutton Park line to passengers and the Birmingham mega-Mayor has included it in his extensive aspirational rail plans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Somebody has found a bag of pennies down the back of the corporate sofa; and authorisation has been obtained to start work on a one-stop branch from Walsall to Aldridge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebjSioC8eZAnyt56hZNVIhESKL9SnHp_Bz7ZxnMscQyBxfW3ekO-wJxHhyFVEHQwbA4ofjqxo3S8cRh5zCck5R8ID-cn-WuQhGBj22zGavUsYpTFMtQUpUrTVnd5f8E6ulClBseGjJ1eDBOPngoiKMh4csQTNTC6yvAb5YK0l9t0Xgk188i8IdaXT7EH1/s720/Screenshot_20240302-091626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="720" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebjSioC8eZAnyt56hZNVIhESKL9SnHp_Bz7ZxnMscQyBxfW3ekO-wJxHhyFVEHQwbA4ofjqxo3S8cRh5zCck5R8ID-cn-WuQhGBj22zGavUsYpTFMtQUpUrTVnd5f8E6ulClBseGjJ1eDBOPngoiKMh4csQTNTC6yvAb5YK0l9t0Xgk188i8IdaXT7EH1/w400-h364/Screenshot_20240302-091626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is nothing left of the station today ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjg87dUyDdV8_V2G6_WU22bKitpUST11Jafnf5qcCnt2Ggc_geKeMYf7oezxm9FDFjpkIBGeAh6MO3Wj1M3i3HTnmHj9Y9kYbkhgVk7dz82ze6xIwAMoCbhyphenhyphenuzvfWXzuCEdytwaoxngSdxLGQ2F2R9bP1_G8oXGF-OOJplUnx_9LaI8QRXylc2NAaIMZq/s720/Screenshot_20240302-090950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="720" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjg87dUyDdV8_V2G6_WU22bKitpUST11Jafnf5qcCnt2Ggc_geKeMYf7oezxm9FDFjpkIBGeAh6MO3Wj1M3i3HTnmHj9Y9kYbkhgVk7dz82ze6xIwAMoCbhyphenhyphenuzvfWXzuCEdytwaoxngSdxLGQ2F2R9bP1_G8oXGF-OOJplUnx_9LaI8QRXylc2NAaIMZq/w400-h260/Screenshot_20240302-090950.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but the original two platforms will be reduced to one for the first phase of the full re-opening. The Old Aldridge used to be a reasonably busy stop ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WGTIAtDvUAdMgJrfsbgN3gW5auhRIa2ycoJTQALSUMl5FZ-yk0jL3zObpsrPIKIPxkoLt7ubWmUpBrkJaDT5039YD4xydD9Df9j-1zinBG-KTcaEsDtv-Gh2cTQPXRMHZ8_I3O4E4qXyNS7Qu8ZQJSu8p67vxYLdvhR-9A3AqCkqKXSCl1xBFZ7DSA4J/s622/Screenshot_20240302-091429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="622" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WGTIAtDvUAdMgJrfsbgN3gW5auhRIa2ycoJTQALSUMl5FZ-yk0jL3zObpsrPIKIPxkoLt7ubWmUpBrkJaDT5039YD4xydD9Df9j-1zinBG-KTcaEsDtv-Gh2cTQPXRMHZ8_I3O4E4qXyNS7Qu8ZQJSu8p67vxYLdvhR-9A3AqCkqKXSCl1xBFZ7DSA4J/w400-h199/Screenshot_20240302-091429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... although the frequency fell well below today's plans.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQXkkXxnnmuH_qUHP6S_Wa2Xki4EZB08PBi5Jm6AzyAYme4-eOi56igh6XkIR30Y6HAPhYI7wRlCEcvmk6hT-JfhfdrRwVfJwO9c9s9ZOf6Mzsl7W1LwNSBYXeMW1r22MABbZXRSfBUsbm6gWACov7UUuBh0ZjMIIL1FyK7XPfZwpDhFVVCHfxdnNHS3W/s699/Screenshot_20240302-091319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="699" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQXkkXxnnmuH_qUHP6S_Wa2Xki4EZB08PBi5Jm6AzyAYme4-eOi56igh6XkIR30Y6HAPhYI7wRlCEcvmk6hT-JfhfdrRwVfJwO9c9s9ZOf6Mzsl7W1LwNSBYXeMW1r22MABbZXRSfBUsbm6gWACov7UUuBh0ZjMIIL1FyK7XPfZwpDhFVVCHfxdnNHS3W/w400-h330/Screenshot_20240302-091319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Doubtless there is much celebration in the town ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyVnC8qwfIgTcDRyGGzkBAZr-p_WB94CRgupUll2QhtMEZ404CGXiWwfggDrX7BU0o-YuKhignqxpnyUR9tL4QGoGI4JqmqM3KQZhvRIiQS2phyphenhyphenlp0fbZgVuWqGgkwrIrsAHSBYs0B0yi_JpEBgWIMOcwrQ4zHLBA4CBFkHg2Cb1PCCBMFcb04xMi02Dy/s698/screenshot.27179.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="698" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyVnC8qwfIgTcDRyGGzkBAZr-p_WB94CRgupUll2QhtMEZ404CGXiWwfggDrX7BU0o-YuKhignqxpnyUR9tL4QGoGI4JqmqM3KQZhvRIiQS2phyphenhyphenlp0fbZgVuWqGgkwrIrsAHSBYs0B0yi_JpEBgWIMOcwrQ4zHLBA4CBFkHg2Cb1PCCBMFcb04xMi02Dy/w400-h321/screenshot.27179.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... but it will be a few years before trains arrive at the end of Station Road.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6RwfoHntktTjdiigCNP_k6RAQ_vqnPO2c-F8MfczJ5zWAZMADS8Gv-cLbPJ9ajYP3qREihML6mq6m-uQ8Pk7YvSCrVetpR4h340rJjieQDZv58rzOjOTKCKkzOBDCwSVtUhxklHBkKwFldJOGIgTbCr1wHkC2fqDSbUwy7NFw5-2VVThO9DKRvNYyTIv/s588/screenshot.27180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6RwfoHntktTjdiigCNP_k6RAQ_vqnPO2c-F8MfczJ5zWAZMADS8Gv-cLbPJ9ajYP3qREihML6mq6m-uQ8Pk7YvSCrVetpR4h340rJjieQDZv58rzOjOTKCKkzOBDCwSVtUhxklHBkKwFldJOGIgTbCr1wHkC2fqDSbUwy7NFw5-2VVThO9DKRvNYyTIv/w380-h400/screenshot.27180.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>It is likely that main entrance and car parking will be on the north side of the line (on the right in the picture below) ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHFhO5oBjb2ycxMEGMFqXDl_K-CZPRlfbSaM5JVASDEtY5BaTqB2UTVpyrks2wvpN393pPnwZ8uHqiow-E1CuAuAV2ukWyaD1h0CysrSI8WM7cI9fKWowS0dLiDTMd_pAKfQsGCKeXS9jUjxQf9Y7J6Ppx2e1cuDrqw0FCFCFRYJXxcgLcQevR8GkSMzF/s492/screenshot.27181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="492" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHFhO5oBjb2ycxMEGMFqXDl_K-CZPRlfbSaM5JVASDEtY5BaTqB2UTVpyrks2wvpN393pPnwZ8uHqiow-E1CuAuAV2ukWyaD1h0CysrSI8WM7cI9fKWowS0dLiDTMd_pAKfQsGCKeXS9jUjxQf9Y7J6Ppx2e1cuDrqw0FCFCFRYJXxcgLcQevR8GkSMzF/w400-h330/screenshot.27181.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... on land owned by the NHS.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Weighing Up The Options!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb's new Dapol "toplight" GWR carriage is heavy, man! To see how heavy, fbb plonked it on Mrs fbb's kitchen scales.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeemwj6yv4LUVTnaw-4VrigALpqmqn4J7wnnv4E8bh3b4HX7rgQ_vaTQBugcSJwogOnQfXXh9Ur9kWQVH6wpFkWS2rh_KQ89PelcAH5x-fO3ien4urmL9WgH5pI3XeHTpCNUGRZRVVINkylFepNtb3VS_XE49tdbBGzss5ebN1KblhSbcKtQ1VNCxM2om/s960/screenshot.27182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="960" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeemwj6yv4LUVTnaw-4VrigALpqmqn4J7wnnv4E8bh3b4HX7rgQ_vaTQBugcSJwogOnQfXXh9Ur9kWQVH6wpFkWS2rh_KQ89PelcAH5x-fO3ien4urmL9WgH5pI3XeHTpCNUGRZRVVINkylFepNtb3VS_XE49tdbBGzss5ebN1KblhSbcKtQ1VNCxM2om/w400-h274/screenshot.27182.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Well, the current kitchen gadget is just a tad more up to date.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hornby Mark 3</b></span> (fbb has no more recent Hornby products)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5AHfd9CHG_kxhgD7D4FIM7ePpL2tEGfEkkMMBKzAmmjYWdVIVwAXsuq2lkTCJBynrTHBBMUCFVmFZjSdDMPv_XX2LVkBEpcnNhpWC4rnHfuRdOa3f-Vnkk1lBuhOaoJNCcbfdd7UIluYaQvwcGI8vVqhsd_eQBE_AmLbMrdoLLc7oXSDVRo2-66P1XVK/s1212/IMG_20240302_154511_779.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1212" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5AHfd9CHG_kxhgD7D4FIM7ePpL2tEGfEkkMMBKzAmmjYWdVIVwAXsuq2lkTCJBynrTHBBMUCFVmFZjSdDMPv_XX2LVkBEpcnNhpWC4rnHfuRdOa3f-Vnkk1lBuhOaoJNCcbfdd7UIluYaQvwcGI8vVqhsd_eQBE_AmLbMrdoLLc7oXSDVRo2-66P1XVK/w400-h290/IMG_20240302_154511_779.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />A <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bachmann Mark 1</b></span> - definitely higher quality than Hornby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8JlYnWajRmslrMBhYOoQbG0a9y9Ss8JffgV_gqQEaCkpWNoLafWh03T5e35wsT9XjrM1ICly6a9KRRGJ9P-aR8LSDGzDMWJFYmkK8ZzOLd9dILcjYEP0IpKa4wMAQPpo_3nN1c31D57XUdzA9jBMJ-BjDwkuby1bIe2lYsizAsgjmT6HxpSx79TXZ3rP/s1469/IMG_20240302_154532_422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1469" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8JlYnWajRmslrMBhYOoQbG0a9y9Ss8JffgV_gqQEaCkpWNoLafWh03T5e35wsT9XjrM1ICly6a9KRRGJ9P-aR8LSDGzDMWJFYmkK8ZzOLd9dILcjYEP0IpKa4wMAQPpo_3nN1c31D57XUdzA9jBMJ-BjDwkuby1bIe2lYsizAsgjmT6HxpSx79TXZ3rP/w400-h239/IMG_20240302_154532_422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The <span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">Dapol "Toplight"</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZU2X5Gd1HerI4_JrUmqDZjafb2cUZlhslHbqVsH0Tu599DE6tVAl7qFO4ZPFx1IApC6XnGXlV6dmlAjpxnuKLB4A23YWexh8G4oRvjg7LW6O-JnBwGodhu2vpCVHsihC-TmlziMOwAt30JTz3DmY62TG0cD_t4b3AxoIyu3pLVt3IvMiWhvoeNgEQG9sD/s1803/IMG_20240302_154707_236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1803" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZU2X5Gd1HerI4_JrUmqDZjafb2cUZlhslHbqVsH0Tu599DE6tVAl7qFO4ZPFx1IApC6XnGXlV6dmlAjpxnuKLB4A23YWexh8G4oRvjg7LW6O-JnBwGodhu2vpCVHsihC-TmlziMOwAt30JTz3DmY62TG0cD_t4b3AxoIyu3pLVt3IvMiWhvoeNgEQG9sD/w400-h195/IMG_20240302_154707_236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So only a couple of grams heavier than the Bachmann BUT it is three quarters of the length ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KqlpgqYDbnq0N13w3UEnBRF0_DdBNuf3IrRuxFHkDCvX_Ybnb1FMA70719AhSVZavdhj0PqgYEYbekCwTceHSMAK2opxiBOP64ivWmVqwz_GrH5tUAA6ungpOA4b0t2r8HC-rK_rWEgInpJVc8v-tEBfq-wRoEk8GlJAORg9ogZGTpNyHT7bvlyJ3n7F/s1905/IMG_20240302_154924_606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1905" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KqlpgqYDbnq0N13w3UEnBRF0_DdBNuf3IrRuxFHkDCvX_Ybnb1FMA70719AhSVZavdhj0PqgYEYbekCwTceHSMAK2opxiBOP64ivWmVqwz_GrH5tUAA6ungpOA4b0t2r8HC-rK_rWEgInpJVc8v-tEBfq-wRoEk8GlJAORg9ogZGTpNyHT7bvlyJ3n7F/w400-h156/IMG_20240302_154924_606.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... so noticeably heavier size for size.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>The reason for the extra weight is that the coach has a metal chassis. Remember when Hornby Dublo coaches were all metal?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZfzIg7jRzpK8fREFlEC3KIwsZMYyDHboRyYEAD8bODhOiIKWrLNJTsjp4dzfaa03MNAYf-iAsaACRRsJsJrrC_gxbu8kr5EMEDfiq9kFma4BOoJJHSwTwpyFOP1rzkTxPL0ZLJ8yxuUN8jBMpVMhEQGakTKtSrihPm2DIIJxPMD_7TkzkmF27uuBkcTf/s1330/screenshot.27183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1330" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZfzIg7jRzpK8fREFlEC3KIwsZMYyDHboRyYEAD8bODhOiIKWrLNJTsjp4dzfaa03MNAYf-iAsaACRRsJsJrrC_gxbu8kr5EMEDfiq9kFma4BOoJJHSwTwpyFOP1rzkTxPL0ZLJ8yxuUN8jBMpVMhEQGakTKtSrihPm2DIIJxPMD_7TkzkmF27uuBkcTf/w400-h191/screenshot.27183.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>There is a growing trend for more metal parts in locos; but fbb thinks these are the first coaches modern-age with a cast chassis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And as well at "toplights", the model comes with lights. Yesterday afternoon fbb nipped upstairs to the Peterville layout to get some photos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heavy with Lights!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The new expensive coach has internal lights. And they look very good.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTXRmxCNCSrzTxtiL_C6jFi2vWD8b3rJKpQI1kd-v80GdCm40xHjTeaIOoq797tZKKga6yvBVKLyQetjETpCoDOdG-BjmGgd5DvuHVEfzQE0UG99NPTjFkjLNU5Kd6BNfOpSRfbL921AnPCckGvaAMUapzED1b_3lXTmDY1SscSxPc34YqgXccQoMa9M/s1596/IMG_20240302_162322_117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1596" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTXRmxCNCSrzTxtiL_C6jFi2vWD8b3rJKpQI1kd-v80GdCm40xHjTeaIOoq797tZKKga6yvBVKLyQetjETpCoDOdG-BjmGgd5DvuHVEfzQE0UG99NPTjFkjLNU5Kd6BNfOpSRfbL921AnPCckGvaAMUapzED1b_3lXTmDY1SscSxPc34YqgXccQoMa9M/w400-h220/IMG_20240302_162322_117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The station lights are on as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>You can clearly see the posh first class seats!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF1PHq2g9GFua1iyu60gqgSgcuLJWoi9bYZup-u2t1-kS5wKqVKFsayD4qSpOcQKWpveJOfV3L_w8TBMv_sA1yVZS0u8bz1hlVYGGM0VtSa4dYi1QQiMV8_I1OYwnULX1dItgsGsqW0J8WWrrT3iicmKmytU4YTjcAUgw2_whTaTSaS36a9W_H3p11mtz/s878/IMG_20240302_162443_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="573" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF1PHq2g9GFua1iyu60gqgSgcuLJWoi9bYZup-u2t1-kS5wKqVKFsayD4qSpOcQKWpveJOfV3L_w8TBMv_sA1yVZS0u8bz1hlVYGGM0VtSa4dYi1QQiMV8_I1OYwnULX1dItgsGsqW0J8WWrrT3iicmKmytU4YTjcAUgw2_whTaTSaS36a9W_H3p11mtz/w261-h400/IMG_20240302_162443_5.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>Also here is a slightly better twilight picture of the camping, glamping and holiday lets area still awaiting proper scenic embellishment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ylSwcFsMnTupxnd4VVYg0ANGUSYuy-gcP1kQqOBsXGKVqFQq4r32JOFPCbZwa3JN1gUQtP0bQn6CDhJnOsb1qzicg2VYgunvKTcd45NXMngZHyyVdqGvJ9ajoN03VyihBk7wbXHm1BGrobIOJEzSRghyphenhyphenTCAWdGJWmigJwAwXL2ITAZ01biANOlO01QFe/s878/IMG_20240302_162733_774.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ylSwcFsMnTupxnd4VVYg0ANGUSYuy-gcP1kQqOBsXGKVqFQq4r32JOFPCbZwa3JN1gUQtP0bQn6CDhJnOsb1qzicg2VYgunvKTcd45NXMngZHyyVdqGvJ9ajoN03VyihBk7wbXHm1BGrobIOJEzSRghyphenhyphenTCAWdGJWmigJwAwXL2ITAZ01biANOlO01QFe/w365-h400/IMG_20240302_162733_774.jpg" width="365" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzle Picture</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Wat is this? How is it made?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsDNMyLZ7FG2skMhGOC4enAThsmZYdYzE3AQ2smdOspY-iJS092Ggua25zSRhMZVzgpPgSY3os9b_OTdbzD4Q2UZvVYX47FlONEsWir2ToprV9TaBOyhxukK5NgKHyF26QiCasq3-5U0bL-BhUtTnAn8SGpu3PiRtbPJq2jbkqVf13Ljnbb7r-YAx0CcV/s642/Screenshot_20240227-170218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="642" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsDNMyLZ7FG2skMhGOC4enAThsmZYdYzE3AQ2smdOspY-iJS092Ggua25zSRhMZVzgpPgSY3os9b_OTdbzD4Q2UZvVYX47FlONEsWir2ToprV9TaBOyhxukK5NgKHyF26QiCasq3-5U0bL-BhUtTnAn8SGpu3PiRtbPJq2jbkqVf13Ljnbb7r-YAx0CcV/w400-h300/Screenshot_20240227-170218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Maybe this will help?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gqnc6j-nICZyC2dBQP6Q1cZwP5cfz0kMO2sC0qJlEJuyExt3PwG3UrUctVZgEjUqt-W1ssJWRtr3mx1YMzB6iChFfAhBywyr_UPiAv74ergllocrOgS3FkrzuR3QhMeMdHlqa6qQb8CHXstqFrLnrzd36pbf07ujd6DzfJAnhlvBhJASRjPugP76FlJd/s582/screenshot.27186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="582" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gqnc6j-nICZyC2dBQP6Q1cZwP5cfz0kMO2sC0qJlEJuyExt3PwG3UrUctVZgEjUqt-W1ssJWRtr3mx1YMzB6iChFfAhBywyr_UPiAv74ergllocrOgS3FkrzuR3QhMeMdHlqa6qQb8CHXstqFrLnrzd36pbf07ujd6DzfJAnhlvBhJASRjPugP76FlJd/w400-h289/screenshot.27186.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Answer tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">============================</div>Warning</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today and tomorrow are the fbb's monthl Fellowship meetings (with lavish afternoon tea:- egg and cress sandwiches, salmon sandwiches, mini-pasties and two sorts of home made cake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Monday's and Tuesday's postings may be curtailed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">=============================</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Parisian blog : Monday 4th March </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-16807841754889857972024-03-02T02:00:00.124+00:002024-03-02T07:46:20.883+00:00Saturday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">Confused.com (1) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgBCx969dZAqP_0V2t6cOaei2WU7-NdCWv5sTeZduIRlXwrnHhtgIOU6Ipp_S1TYC3sA2IARxknY3Bk9cjOdmvjN712hT6W35HX9TG96Wy6v3Zzg5MUZGeQeIy9LGDW0qgT4333M6e4nQ7unMMSd1J0gg2xehVwKNVK-Rvwakp4z4LQtvx2eQnItNP0QE/s424/screenshot.27159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="424" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgBCx969dZAqP_0V2t6cOaei2WU7-NdCWv5sTeZduIRlXwrnHhtgIOU6Ipp_S1TYC3sA2IARxknY3Bk9cjOdmvjN712hT6W35HX9TG96Wy6v3Zzg5MUZGeQeIy9LGDW0qgT4333M6e4nQ7unMMSd1J0gg2xehVwKNVK-Rvwakp4z4LQtvx2eQnItNP0QE/w400-h214/screenshot.27159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the delights of the interwebnet is that it throws up a huge amount of unexplained "stuff". One such is the picture above which was simply captioned <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Carlisle Pier</b></span>. Now fbb has done a bit of work in a past life for Cumbria council which necessitated spending some time in Carlisle. There is Carlisle ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmnNkPXDFyqLK3oeprmxKy9PRcnuje2PHmKAjE5smhFzNC-HeRSzdp1oinlRY_-rAEt3laHWDPjubD53eHRqjUdS2K1b5V2zAliWPaw6Cyx-YYu73i56joyGXo36CPYn4Qshl3SiYFvdRBOaWMTMQo9iMEbAaE53w0EUCYHZEtKbq-A5v8YFa0R7Bz5PQ/s632/screenshot.27160.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="632" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmnNkPXDFyqLK3oeprmxKy9PRcnuje2PHmKAjE5smhFzNC-HeRSzdp1oinlRY_-rAEt3laHWDPjubD53eHRqjUdS2K1b5V2zAliWPaw6Cyx-YYu73i56joyGXo36CPYn4Qshl3SiYFvdRBOaWMTMQo9iMEbAaE53w0EUCYHZEtKbq-A5v8YFa0R7Bz5PQ/w400-h268/screenshot.27160.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and the blue bit is the dog end of Solway Firth but sadly lacking in a port!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb should have guessed from the diesel loco at the head of the train but he wasn't 100% sure. But reference to the interwebnet provided this ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoJ92qdljcjuKyfsqkEvezn2BjjPan_wYyxmjjy8Y0M0YniyhgdOe7YyJ1QSQuJMkUqXhVCodF0wwBKa-i3oktQp9jfu3a2ZFvBFK_VvWDPMvjScJxTUsP-NX1ywW7V_Es7CVocFujrz-G_xY-hLaITZXYkC4l4uBz5qVIAJje2JqQCN4jlo4JPolE-sb/s660/screenshot.27167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="422" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoJ92qdljcjuKyfsqkEvezn2BjjPan_wYyxmjjy8Y0M0YniyhgdOe7YyJ1QSQuJMkUqXhVCodF0wwBKa-i3oktQp9jfu3a2ZFvBFK_VvWDPMvjScJxTUsP-NX1ywW7V_Es7CVocFujrz-G_xY-hLaITZXYkC4l4uBz5qVIAJje2JqQCN4jlo4JPolE-sb/w309-h482/screenshot.27167.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>... a short branch off the Dublin and Kingstown Railway. Oddly this line even had an atmospheric section whereby vehicles were pulled by a plunger in a pipe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFCoWu3bPjkcdYxbHFchsN8SwAGCdrcU3SzqHPFCfsorFWD5pDhZ93YAYbg1erstoN24Brxy6CiDzhkDtH-CfAd2DkLNvg5m5645balLUVf3RRyFd9nkrkC70FqFtd66Q_fMXK6rvlQisto_kBDyFkU8eCM2HTX6VkqOyPgNuWIOrBLoLOX48jhwdlInG/s828/screenshot.27166.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFCoWu3bPjkcdYxbHFchsN8SwAGCdrcU3SzqHPFCfsorFWD5pDhZ93YAYbg1erstoN24Brxy6CiDzhkDtH-CfAd2DkLNvg5m5645balLUVf3RRyFd9nkrkC70FqFtd66Q_fMXK6rvlQisto_kBDyFkU8eCM2HTX6VkqOyPgNuWIOrBLoLOX48jhwdlInG/w373-h400/screenshot.27166.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>Despite the adoring top hats, the technology was a failure and eventually the real railway continued south from Kingstown.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxewG9NdbH0FQla3UdKJCWEAA6_VdeoaO5HV7S98JK-7Oab-TLvjGzg8zTOrsFsgHiYXweSOc5OET7emdzh7CSfYRRfe_II46G6zLYP5y61vfSsjhiPGUvEnpmBSnwDI3nHPjCOIav75fu7Lx01DWMmHsavtpkJVH319iBNTk9JB8FLd-T6SjQlkiRd0T/s618/screenshot.27165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="618" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxewG9NdbH0FQla3UdKJCWEAA6_VdeoaO5HV7S98JK-7Oab-TLvjGzg8zTOrsFsgHiYXweSOc5OET7emdzh7CSfYRRfe_II46G6zLYP5y61vfSsjhiPGUvEnpmBSnwDI3nHPjCOIav75fu7Lx01DWMmHsavtpkJVH319iBNTk9JB8FLd-T6SjQlkiRd0T/w400-h366/screenshot.27165.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Later Kingstown was renamed Dun Leary and then Dun Laoghaire (still pronounced Dun Leary). Lord Carlisle built (probably paid some lads to do it) a pier where mailboats could dock serving the rest of Britain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg5z0TQkb90JABCN8dWd-_oJ_MXAnG_467iSSTYCiqcSUryRxNrUwIgc6NQDQg63wMyUR_8ZpbxeOs-7YJp0kbmMvUKlMlW7eWZ-Wh9sEsM6mmxISyTVyKb3DIZtsMWKkhT4ql7OwbUZso9cadw9SAQjUH5Zb_goH5lnlfIV_wDRtOTmrteu11mIeU3Bi/s716/screenshot.27170.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg5z0TQkb90JABCN8dWd-_oJ_MXAnG_467iSSTYCiqcSUryRxNrUwIgc6NQDQg63wMyUR_8ZpbxeOs-7YJp0kbmMvUKlMlW7eWZ-Wh9sEsM6mmxISyTVyKb3DIZtsMWKkhT4ql7OwbUZso9cadw9SAQjUH5Zb_goH5lnlfIV_wDRtOTmrteu11mIeU3Bi/w400-h400/screenshot.27170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Facilities were basic at first but were later improved - a bit!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuSzMUx0EiymSAmhrVCUZsteZgI4MnUBj1rls3T6CF5EXX2o7gwKxWBj-Hzq_eMmC4FrdyCNE2js2hJrUBC37KCQfZSm4F8HzpOnEkB3Pe_HO1kvFT-o_oY2kVyKgPdGkOcCMSouyYyZwfHrvtcMh3-C18Qx2A-fXb4wMmtwdhw_1C3qiB2Jt_jWe5H58/s720/Screenshot_20240229-190434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="720" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuSzMUx0EiymSAmhrVCUZsteZgI4MnUBj1rls3T6CF5EXX2o7gwKxWBj-Hzq_eMmC4FrdyCNE2js2hJrUBC37KCQfZSm4F8HzpOnEkB3Pe_HO1kvFT-o_oY2kVyKgPdGkOcCMSouyYyZwfHrvtcMh3-C18Qx2A-fXb4wMmtwdhw_1C3qiB2Jt_jWe5H58/w400-h220/Screenshot_20240229-190434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ultimately the pier was expanded and a "proper" terminal building added, next to which our puzzle train was standing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnzdHAYe2StjQ_z_xIg7TJVxpS2hp0_6XmT1pEye6JvaFi3EBt_w8AHkjWLLqqQP_nYNJtSTE9HQCBAEgjRPDUqLKmuEzXI9esiWGPYKABFKgBB9B6ktZLx9BgpKU6dgyex_9eNv4evu9Zx6KWUGFAhg4-jDwibYnrGz13wA0eZlzpOvGSTuV-_ryXvX9/s550/screenshot.27174.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="550" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnzdHAYe2StjQ_z_xIg7TJVxpS2hp0_6XmT1pEye6JvaFi3EBt_w8AHkjWLLqqQP_nYNJtSTE9HQCBAEgjRPDUqLKmuEzXI9esiWGPYKABFKgBB9B6ktZLx9BgpKU6dgyex_9eNv4evu9Zx6KWUGFAhg4-jDwibYnrGz13wA0eZlzpOvGSTuV-_ryXvX9/w400-h244/screenshot.27174.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Really the "pier" branch was little moe than a siding off the former Kingstown railway.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soon came the onslaught of the motor car and thr arrival of roll-on-roll-off ferries with lifting bows ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9fD-M1n5w2dmKfLW4giwPMcFfmnexNPazF4IPVeOeyFYyQVwnqbDlA2CXaiDQoLSx8wkigYm7e9Nn7LUu9VpJhIUHEOadmtMa8ChCuR7Q58jzVzxbHwnFK20yH9VA9cAs_zr7FpyKsfCqGAtliveKlmNkl2rBqPT1rfWVEm79uS5_qE7WlCYt3zisEPr/s802/screenshot.27168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="802" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9fD-M1n5w2dmKfLW4giwPMcFfmnexNPazF4IPVeOeyFYyQVwnqbDlA2CXaiDQoLSx8wkigYm7e9Nn7LUu9VpJhIUHEOadmtMa8ChCuR7Q58jzVzxbHwnFK20yH9VA9cAs_zr7FpyKsfCqGAtliveKlmNkl2rBqPT1rfWVEm79uS5_qE7WlCYt3zisEPr/w400-h213/screenshot.27168.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and then, inevitably, the closure of the mini branch and the massive expansion of vehicular traffic.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus5ZLKmwxTqBjLq8mvOM4N942PQGB8y3DVI6MjzMy14ox8iw7_5KOd0HnGasA6XqJ8e7kko98sPlmFhkdkwiJFzaob2S_-EQb5fVJXr_VLrRp95goxyac0cTH0WGL_6fSpfyzEjtNOMs5lJH4pjxLcMq9DjLLViRsDrU3QnThg8QtaTn6wFLKvkqVrbrt/s656/Screenshot_20240229-191628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="656" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus5ZLKmwxTqBjLq8mvOM4N942PQGB8y3DVI6MjzMy14ox8iw7_5KOd0HnGasA6XqJ8e7kko98sPlmFhkdkwiJFzaob2S_-EQb5fVJXr_VLrRp95goxyac0cTH0WGL_6fSpfyzEjtNOMs5lJH4pjxLcMq9DjLLViRsDrU3QnThg8QtaTn6wFLKvkqVrbrt/w400-h270/Screenshot_20240229-191628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Now even the fine terminal building has gone and a large parking and waiting area remains.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssUFzw_QetzeZwTdfOz765xRssFze4zndaBiXTrYdyiCof_y1TrRzkWhsFrYGmF-RD7yyAgBQWRYbWw6CXqn_XUpbnQsmPvQ4cDi0rHcmPK7FpuNKl5xJpooYlcwDi0B0gGg_F996vCXdUthMJMLRz8u_mxk-G3B8dtASpGd6NyIVNmZFHVP47XQkhcDz/s1092/screenshot.27172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1092" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssUFzw_QetzeZwTdfOz765xRssFze4zndaBiXTrYdyiCof_y1TrRzkWhsFrYGmF-RD7yyAgBQWRYbWw6CXqn_XUpbnQsmPvQ4cDi0rHcmPK7FpuNKl5xJpooYlcwDi0B0gGg_F996vCXdUthMJMLRz8u_mxk-G3B8dtASpGd6NyIVNmZFHVP47XQkhcDz/w400-h211/screenshot.27172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bit, if you know where to look (it's behind this digger) ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdcBuT7Ct-UKoxRTG1NBGuDtSjGAfkRW8testPwmq98UOc8z4bE-6YOPJXQWs_h6GWyQkQuO5mcYzTsA0zmKv4zxwqD9COUbuD0_Lht8UYVJEYrOkMSNk3ZuyW0aazVA0m45CHKc3VNcpIHdHiI24FQNfBm0MzMO4AvJYXZkGS4GOL02V2Uiw3-A1ZVzH/s560/screenshot.27169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdcBuT7Ct-UKoxRTG1NBGuDtSjGAfkRW8testPwmq98UOc8z4bE-6YOPJXQWs_h6GWyQkQuO5mcYzTsA0zmKv4zxwqD9COUbuD0_Lht8UYVJEYrOkMSNk3ZuyW0aazVA0m45CHKc3VNcpIHdHiI24FQNfBm0MzMO4AvJYXZkGS4GOL02V2Uiw3-A1ZVzH/w399-h400/screenshot.27169.jpg" width="399" /></a></div>... you can find where the Carlisle Pier branch emerged from the "main line", as below, without the digger.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYz0zSFCvzOkIXnYb7T-q0CkRpXl1pdBmhDU9WIUe5jLxQmYsQ-VBT2LZP-nt4-Ko1P5Pd-UTNMC8_7Dfk4XANYtQUT90u2rEhz-H5Bds-Q9-VlLAhBAgeYWcvCIPWQcifuzB9acHqg2-yZabin_xXOqs0NJ6kTF189aduM0hIXa3nJW438mcoWheuoiS/s614/screenshot.27170.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="614" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYz0zSFCvzOkIXnYb7T-q0CkRpXl1pdBmhDU9WIUe5jLxQmYsQ-VBT2LZP-nt4-Ko1P5Pd-UTNMC8_7Dfk4XANYtQUT90u2rEhz-H5Bds-Q9-VlLAhBAgeYWcvCIPWQcifuzB9acHqg2-yZabin_xXOqs0NJ6kTF189aduM0hIXa3nJW438mcoWheuoiS/w400-h280/screenshot.27170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main station that remains, much modernised ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0lTfok5su-666UcIP2sInci6HO6axc3ocyouU3MR_fXQfb5x5v_sGcEkRS1O3_p6aWwkKuMrAVEzlprcKyjugLST78ONIBfW_oyC4bOferG2SBzeMGAk21L-vzB3WlaVyVcoED8gyCpDOi8bf2l6SZapF7VEtILLQNxjAi6ikgETHYeFC7dzDXUyHMry/s580/screenshot.27163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="580" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0lTfok5su-666UcIP2sInci6HO6axc3ocyouU3MR_fXQfb5x5v_sGcEkRS1O3_p6aWwkKuMrAVEzlprcKyjugLST78ONIBfW_oyC4bOferG2SBzeMGAk21L-vzB3WlaVyVcoED8gyCpDOi8bf2l6SZapF7VEtILLQNxjAi6ikgETHYeFC7dzDXUyHMry/w400-h250/screenshot.27163.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... is called Dun Laoghaire Mallin.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJIpaqxpiHy5UwtVJXluUiqboBLq9iOJGWuDCac3bV0VbynyYKuxpLwxPyzvcVPQCIF8-HB6XZS5qY7ROl-_Rg-s422CH0Q8sxXR1GtgSFvhpZfhdCfmQDxVQVg0Aw16A1-e1HMw-c4lyvz2N1nd3z_IZiGYKG7nS5Jq7OQbZX3ymZeW6-AflZWy6JIGg/s812/screenshot.27162.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="812" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJIpaqxpiHy5UwtVJXluUiqboBLq9iOJGWuDCac3bV0VbynyYKuxpLwxPyzvcVPQCIF8-HB6XZS5qY7ROl-_Rg-s422CH0Q8sxXR1GtgSFvhpZfhdCfmQDxVQVg0Aw16A1-e1HMw-c4lyvz2N1nd3z_IZiGYKG7nS5Jq7OQbZX3ymZeW6-AflZWy6JIGg/w400-h294/screenshot.27162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It's in there somewhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZneAajLNf38d0PSW8FjGAA_Ms8wiUaDUY2JBUhRKDw2u5a41WHxAfTaskeC3D1MnTEtKAw1a9jJEPf70HRnINIZ4s-SkNgPBirh59axwH-xgRBtIAbN1Cd_bS9oEBjWQ5-HIfzeBqBpoeB2yxR2Ejl7_zjSby3DlKZK8n3p4b8Pawgm4451CvEyTeoaZ/s612/screenshot.27171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="612" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZneAajLNf38d0PSW8FjGAA_Ms8wiUaDUY2JBUhRKDw2u5a41WHxAfTaskeC3D1MnTEtKAw1a9jJEPf70HRnINIZ4s-SkNgPBirh59axwH-xgRBtIAbN1Cd_bS9oEBjWQ5-HIfzeBqBpoeB2yxR2Ejl7_zjSby3DlKZK8n3p4b8Pawgm4451CvEyTeoaZ/w400-h344/screenshot.27171.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now That's What You Call A Rail Bus!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NMv9GFouujgHEmlLWdtiAQNdNR-VMAGK9baGOOfg5-5fvB33KHZOSOvkRg_omUR7TKp9Vkoc8oUuavsi5a7Ve4xTSZBUUVzY24aKt0xe5oKHEaVO_IO0gEg1ROavyR6SYBQWeGK4Yf4rWsW3oXgcU0YU-3uY7BSLWMk9vjuGjFvkNH6F777fq3cIMZ1k/s324/screenshot.27177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="324" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NMv9GFouujgHEmlLWdtiAQNdNR-VMAGK9baGOOfg5-5fvB33KHZOSOvkRg_omUR7TKp9Vkoc8oUuavsi5a7Ve4xTSZBUUVzY24aKt0xe5oKHEaVO_IO0gEg1ROavyR6SYBQWeGK4Yf4rWsW3oXgcU0YU-3uY7BSLWMk9vjuGjFvkNH6F777fq3cIMZ1k/w400-h326/screenshot.27177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It looks like a three- wheeler but isn't. The back axle is substantially more narrow than the front. That may be because of what happens to it when it gets to a railway station having bussed along roads to get there.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfsOVfImZsxcEosyutd-Ky-uZWUo7lgwLMhcFnCuFAGIaNdR7cnGkIh940k7YpEndMaOg1bwrAOk8L8Ezl0YQWi3EUQU7ctb_oYvu9ZoNr_ZaaP_xgikqmoAvbicPx4sQXXrukIXSThu7bOUVm4byfFIQz57sDggwr3dHIuCDHKD06SyZE-RB9202Midw/s387/screenshot.27176.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="387" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfsOVfImZsxcEosyutd-Ky-uZWUo7lgwLMhcFnCuFAGIaNdR7cnGkIh940k7YpEndMaOg1bwrAOk8L8Ezl0YQWi3EUQU7ctb_oYvu9ZoNr_ZaaP_xgikqmoAvbicPx4sQXXrukIXSThu7bOUVm4byfFIQz57sDggwr3dHIuCDHKD06SyZE-RB9202Midw/w400-h126/screenshot.27176.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It drives onto rail bogies.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6BC4PuhwJxWY4haYMYWXvoUFKL3R8NxZALaVOslZs15X6M28GIMrS4ePNj0Y1spZ3R7uqPTgBHpvQGS1gVdcGpp8uzBoHHne3XAAD8F04Wzm9Rz1-WTC28oLGHPge88ablrhqzLI3m-PAFdbP8RE_d_E8S8ZBC75-j15yFEnyVqFAUchmae1Wek0m5dl/s387/screenshot.27175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="387" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6BC4PuhwJxWY4haYMYWXvoUFKL3R8NxZALaVOslZs15X6M28GIMrS4ePNj0Y1spZ3R7uqPTgBHpvQGS1gVdcGpp8uzBoHHne3XAAD8F04Wzm9Rz1-WTC28oLGHPge88ablrhqzLI3m-PAFdbP8RE_d_E8S8ZBC75-j15yFEnyVqFAUchmae1Wek0m5dl/w400-h203/screenshot.27175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Schienen-Straßen-Omnibus</b></span> (introduced by <b>Deutsche Bahn in 1951</b>) was equipped according to the regulations of rail traffic. It had doors on both sides, a train-compatible brake that acted on the track wagons, a safety drive circuit, and an emergency brake. To operate on railroad tracks, the bus was placed on two two-axle bases called "track wagons", and was outfitted with two hydraulic lifts, which served to lift the front and rear of the vehicles onto the track wagons and take them off. In front of the front axle and behind the rear axle was a bearing for the trolley pivot. A grooved track at street level was required for the positioning. While in rail mode, the front axle was completely raised off the ground, and the yires of the rear wheels were seated on the rails to provide drive. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>During the change to and from the track wagons, the passengers remained on the bus</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzoSBqfUKGJoqQEzjmtXXEXX9m01dLPDxPuAqD88GlRAM5qyBb3vp0--bgionTD93v-b50zuI0gOf9_J9wITQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It seemed a good idea at the time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We did have something similar in the UK. The idea did not catch on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVQP-LnA_nVf4MHGKmi9WN-mGk2IN9D8h9uHqw1uRWXgYKt4tlJLM_q60hdIJpoANLTBeeWhu3eJjI7xJd7XrLAx9UKDpkcitEG7HWzx1ltm1RYj0ZnLbfRpugW0MUUwIKmbT5Vd4VXNj4UAvH7ooB30Mud80iLe4-r3i38HKUYq1gYwa51mHFeTawUYB/s972/screenshot.27172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="972" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVQP-LnA_nVf4MHGKmi9WN-mGk2IN9D8h9uHqw1uRWXgYKt4tlJLM_q60hdIJpoANLTBeeWhu3eJjI7xJd7XrLAx9UKDpkcitEG7HWzx1ltm1RYj0ZnLbfRpugW0MUUwIKmbT5Vd4VXNj4UAvH7ooB30Mud80iLe4-r3i38HKUYq1gYwa51mHFeTawUYB/w400-h231/screenshot.27172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Coach for Just Over £50!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why would fbb be so profligate as to spend such a huge sum on one very ordinary OO railway coach. One reason is the leap in detail and quality.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUkvgD8Je43JJeIQf5Ar17Rk21q5XZ5AN-5gQgqann6e3zLznUnkmYcngw6C-tM9ejTsqmSuA-FwoAWXQbpTtTsBVzNIPiLB3uhndkd193k48YDAIek07nkfLEDtoSuAZ5ET1dEt_x5qXn9R3Lp2aYpEH1H2wTUe-KlpaHs9Po3m2encpvzDA1JbynJ2F/s742/screenshot.27173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="742" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUkvgD8Je43JJeIQf5Ar17Rk21q5XZ5AN-5gQgqann6e3zLznUnkmYcngw6C-tM9ejTsqmSuA-FwoAWXQbpTtTsBVzNIPiLB3uhndkd193k48YDAIek07nkfLEDtoSuAZ5ET1dEt_x5qXn9R3Lp2aYpEH1H2wTUe-KlpaHs9Po3m2encpvzDA1JbynJ2F/w400-h363/screenshot.27173.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Of course, by today's inflated standards (both in monetary terms and detailing quality) the coach is not terribly expensive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hornby's RRP (discounted by many retailers) for a Mark 4 coach is £45 plus postage. fbb's discounted purchase was £55 postage included; effectively just £5 more than the plainer LNER carriage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb has started exploring his purchase and here is some of the detail, snapped by a phone camera in poor lighting conditions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;"><b>Bogie detail:-</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDKgM0SOeNuCZ5Mx-2ywoXcQqrOp5Z4gCP3FTUdb6XO7OEy8qdHpQdRn9vFeExnTJUvBs9fcac5-TUwZbtWv5XLvuRpzIiuq8QqkOOWC1CBJ49FQ3w5WQkZuJ3N3grrmP1k7MHLb1fMBKLHRs4lGzG-P9Gilpf09XRB9x_jcganwG2i4O2Nu6x73NWA37/s1200/IMG_20240301_114117_622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="1200" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDKgM0SOeNuCZ5Mx-2ywoXcQqrOp5Z4gCP3FTUdb6XO7OEy8qdHpQdRn9vFeExnTJUvBs9fcac5-TUwZbtWv5XLvuRpzIiuq8QqkOOWC1CBJ49FQ3w5WQkZuJ3N3grrmP1k7MHLb1fMBKLHRs4lGzG-P9Gilpf09XRB9x_jcganwG2i4O2Nu6x73NWA37/s320/IMG_20240301_114117_622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial;">Paintwork and printed detail:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchexVtBGYeVSbm9YoLTrLJy-wrnNqJQqfr-CD1jsWwLX-l_sxbaXax2bQFC37hRSBYWTBeBQ4WMQ6VSAEf7vJjRbvxRa4XyZOQAqNYsOV73rhZynOD8FtFc4kj-05G2kXx8GvBxGfmF6nyZhwCXqKilJadG28IGBAek-An8OgB1MnAW0_vdoV_y-bklPu/s777/IMG_20240301_114041_427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="777" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchexVtBGYeVSbm9YoLTrLJy-wrnNqJQqfr-CD1jsWwLX-l_sxbaXax2bQFC37hRSBYWTBeBQ4WMQ6VSAEf7vJjRbvxRa4XyZOQAqNYsOV73rhZynOD8FtFc4kj-05G2kXx8GvBxGfmF6nyZhwCXqKilJadG28IGBAek-An8OgB1MnAW0_vdoV_y-bklPu/s320/IMG_20240301_114041_427.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Separately fitted door furniture:-</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCCkT63l0u3zlT7BGfgkZ7RyUCdaYcLx3iL1C9XrOJRJ2FNXS9j9INI3WQP5EZ_JhBVnbygCeRBVhlywbfKRV4rUlrL2zKl5eKwq2LI72oCA7Ush_p1zA7mAHjxs318z5gSlrOIfAY00H4CHf3Urul59qUil1BGLuCEmyjLpTWPrTxp3eDOjRqUSBrMVc/s874/IMG_20240301_114026_080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="874" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCCkT63l0u3zlT7BGfgkZ7RyUCdaYcLx3iL1C9XrOJRJ2FNXS9j9INI3WQP5EZ_JhBVnbygCeRBVhlywbfKRV4rUlrL2zKl5eKwq2LI72oCA7Ush_p1zA7mAHjxs318z5gSlrOIfAY00H4CHf3Urul59qUil1BGLuCEmyjLpTWPrTxp3eDOjRqUSBrMVc/w400-h324/IMG_20240301_114026_080.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Lettering on the chassis frame:-</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5lBqWVSiFw829dgX3BuNVGINzJrhqBYk1gexZMRGHDgLyMI8EOgP9rrw7Dpsk2AfgJ8HrYYKvWQWDQNPGMFX9QGxSmvNgJl6m8rcbtqbpy7HUyx1vwiVbQAj5r07jc2pyd1y_6iw9Ult_y6OXTrW0q4o3RMTa6Jjk2CaB2E2TgLGrn1EADnNSIqZLyfe/s819/IMG_20240301_114301_204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="819" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5lBqWVSiFw829dgX3BuNVGINzJrhqBYk1gexZMRGHDgLyMI8EOgP9rrw7Dpsk2AfgJ8HrYYKvWQWDQNPGMFX9QGxSmvNgJl6m8rcbtqbpy7HUyx1vwiVbQAj5r07jc2pyd1y_6iw9Ult_y6OXTrW0q4o3RMTa6Jjk2CaB2E2TgLGrn1EADnNSIqZLyfe/w400-h153/IMG_20240301_114301_204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Real "frosted" glazing - not paint:-</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-UmesjoLnW91qhhLP9IMFvRnbl9sQijIefTTdgSPSLVPg7j9X-IKWtqPMiu8eoekCTmpTDnlPcb0wSxz9cG0jgT4snQiJFJ7ORS_lxnF0HnK65Td6olfKHO4TpQ5hKtXYDk9SRhnFghD29hdv7oUBDmunUbwkGXI2sLfcx1qaUbO3O7MmJTdeE80Yu57/s775/IMG_20240301_114100_976.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="775" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-UmesjoLnW91qhhLP9IMFvRnbl9sQijIefTTdgSPSLVPg7j9X-IKWtqPMiu8eoekCTmpTDnlPcb0wSxz9cG0jgT4snQiJFJ7ORS_lxnF0HnK65Td6olfKHO4TpQ5hKtXYDk9SRhnFghD29hdv7oUBDmunUbwkGXI2sLfcx1qaUbO3O7MmJTdeE80Yu57/w400-h379/IMG_20240301_114100_976.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And there's more to tell, which will follow tomorrow. Also tomorrow, fbb will contrast and compare with a similar sized coach first produced in 1962 and upgraded several times since. Does it match the Dapol "toplight".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Guess!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And there's the technical detail as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bonkers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is an A1 (or A1X) loco known affectionately as a <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Terrier</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzVa3TeE4g6EXMSNzO02KHQi0ilcjrj9myPuui68bGKdc4hwScB75t90mJC42V7OwmL_XSsNC6jCiF4UWk_op4KN_frYVkITcImBUzvRI1hDp29w3zpi4JSYa310VFf3VBMLFtCiYCZEUuqQcM5q6ZyUiNawz-shkgvvo08J1nv5V8mGQ7IlwXD2ZNwm2/s1090/screenshot.27175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1090" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzVa3TeE4g6EXMSNzO02KHQi0ilcjrj9myPuui68bGKdc4hwScB75t90mJC42V7OwmL_XSsNC6jCiF4UWk_op4KN_frYVkITcImBUzvRI1hDp29w3zpi4JSYa310VFf3VBMLFtCiYCZEUuqQcM5q6ZyUiNawz-shkgvvo08J1nv5V8mGQ7IlwXD2ZNwm2/w400-h279/screenshot.27175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Next is an N gauge terrier manufactured by Dapol.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGk6RRiLIcnpVR2CPhAoMM3Wp-mclqVcpWsuTToKhnJakv6Hx9nOgezUghxrGGobTUbHc_jImhUfBjNFInNiP240JJ_Xil9d7ne-zTR0DDvnWkrKOR6-BVABBbFj_WtnY-cvEbUgSOIrYMiiA1uNUYXBllc6cRnlOznjLOk4MvAO4sgXXWAWzO6FYFOq2/s1052/screenshot.27176.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1052" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGk6RRiLIcnpVR2CPhAoMM3Wp-mclqVcpWsuTToKhnJakv6Hx9nOgezUghxrGGobTUbHc_jImhUfBjNFInNiP240JJ_Xil9d7ne-zTR0DDvnWkrKOR6-BVABBbFj_WtnY-cvEbUgSOIrYMiiA1uNUYXBllc6cRnlOznjLOk4MvAO4sgXXWAWzO6FYFOq2/w400-h216/screenshot.27176.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It will cost you about £86.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And an OO gauge Terrier, also from Dapol?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2zbDymjI4lJm2B4ULj1Xb0qpDVQSkJHW31k_-mV7KLpFcYoGmzb3c_KrQIX-twMYKhgrXqJvjBey0wsQFI3nr-jxCvT8amw6SAcAer9fcqMzHPR3iI4OtefPScbmKRVHgB5NnD7hkurcuuDZNgZP6rVAyRp9Eid6yP09BsOxRjmgbLFXM_wdMCERO14A/s878/Screenshot_20240301-202813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="513" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2zbDymjI4lJm2B4ULj1Xb0qpDVQSkJHW31k_-mV7KLpFcYoGmzb3c_KrQIX-twMYKhgrXqJvjBey0wsQFI3nr-jxCvT8amw6SAcAer9fcqMzHPR3iI4OtefPScbmKRVHgB5NnD7hkurcuuDZNgZP6rVAyRp9Eid6yP09BsOxRjmgbLFXM_wdMCERO14A/w374-h640/Screenshot_20240301-202813.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>Dapol also manufacture a range of O gauge Terriers. And Rails of Sheffield has a special offer at the moment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCCxxaJ9ujtRqUZG6I0Y4CtwZDSWOgnYTFuBaofE0kw4IwUhjof-BU1hvjDmDLdgy2ZvZWeQPaCOhjUKPLwDzS2GtvUMr4ULM2TixD3LjbA_EM7GPiGwxSoRtYCCwpBsrzAxCUaquVDR4xUJKJM1fk6nt21Z1CqJvlzl1CdVPabLJXxSQ4-a7vea9D9MH/s732/screenshot.27180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCCxxaJ9ujtRqUZG6I0Y4CtwZDSWOgnYTFuBaofE0kw4IwUhjof-BU1hvjDmDLdgy2ZvZWeQPaCOhjUKPLwDzS2GtvUMr4ULM2TixD3LjbA_EM7GPiGwxSoRtYCCwpBsrzAxCUaquVDR4xUJKJM1fk6nt21Z1CqJvlzl1CdVPabLJXxSQ4-a7vea9D9MH/w384-h640/screenshot.27180.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Bonkers 2</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">LNER (state run) is having a consultation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6csv8S_dmZrVwttlLkoT5Egh4ToZykj9N1KEdsAU5VicG1PfgYFXGRUFRd5Is-YPw69Yqis9bDtGJkznvWMVZZFc8YIdfNF4pTNXSdOlehOZHDwfz3H60aW5f91NUK_vlifvI6KXhGCrBdO-7PT8OjcEP6C5ugB5NADvDI6ax7V5HYzPDHSDczG-m1Sx/s878/Screenshot_20240301-202016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="608" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6csv8S_dmZrVwttlLkoT5Egh4ToZykj9N1KEdsAU5VicG1PfgYFXGRUFRd5Is-YPw69Yqis9bDtGJkznvWMVZZFc8YIdfNF4pTNXSdOlehOZHDwfz3H60aW5f91NUK_vlifvI6KXhGCrBdO-7PT8OjcEP6C5ugB5NADvDI6ax7V5HYzPDHSDczG-m1Sx/w355-h509/Screenshot_20240301-202016.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>So East Coast Main Line competitor with a silly name, Lumo (First Rail), sees a way of making a fast buck.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzgzfbAYfb7erpLO_30kqt3Gd6J-TAIFokaGwY9zaQF1xTMg3bWU6bdNmC8e9nFCQmrbIqCBo6-BK7JTtc9sgqhC-eIwx0z3cebg6bno5sXkWlT8D8WRvfeyvg6Ge0zZgbwjKCUShtF3V6PftITTrMtHjHTX4dULKIBMXGZ9jAqvAmj5v05Y9E8zebVl6/s878/Screenshot_20240301-202122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="612" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzgzfbAYfb7erpLO_30kqt3Gd6J-TAIFokaGwY9zaQF1xTMg3bWU6bdNmC8e9nFCQmrbIqCBo6-BK7JTtc9sgqhC-eIwx0z3cebg6bno5sXkWlT8D8WRvfeyvg6Ge0zZgbwjKCUShtF3V6PftITTrMtHjHTX4dULKIBMXGZ9jAqvAmj5v05Y9E8zebVl6/w380-h545/Screenshot_20240301-202122.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>How we <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>love</b></span> the shambles of the mostly nationalised privatised railways!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> <b>Next Variety blog : Sunday 3rd March</b> </span></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-39165938135610970712024-03-01T02:00:00.193+00:002024-03-01T02:00:00.132+00:00Dramatic Dudley Developments (2)<p>Freight Is The Future - Maybe Not?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmuMqBCSVRljzPukp56L461v45qSXy5e-JAh4Qtz4hgcZlkcT09l1EOx05zjqA3zpxmFUMt1hldhY2zHTgBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The future of freight, opines Richard Beeching, the Great and Good Doctor who, despite the misplaced opprobrium of railway enthusiasts, probably saved Britain's railways from annihilation. He came up with the concept of "Liner" trains carrying container "boxes"</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the early Freightliner terminals to open was at Dudley on the site of the demolished "town" station.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYUdEIIoFfamAaaqTvom46b4X-au-VuS5eAKRcrSyeDfhGJ5hwtC2HERREdIRkEruOy2-KEXvCFQZTxItBrWVazi68vikSloBctS5PuYti0xddyII_-iMMzrFhpSVOxWCgEV3rstAuGP35g1mFgPhuZff18tar2UjkvWKR-iwiKmvKDds8Fo_qW0ArOD4/s1024/7006931401_879e932d72_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="1024" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYUdEIIoFfamAaaqTvom46b4X-au-VuS5eAKRcrSyeDfhGJ5hwtC2HERREdIRkEruOy2-KEXvCFQZTxItBrWVazi68vikSloBctS5PuYti0xddyII_-iMMzrFhpSVOxWCgEV3rstAuGP35g1mFgPhuZff18tar2UjkvWKR-iwiKmvKDds8Fo_qW0ArOD4/w400-h270/7006931401_879e932d72_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The track from Wolverhampton and Walsall and south to Kidderminster remained to serve the terminal.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Dudley Freightliner Terminal was opened on the site of Dudley railway station in November 1967, as one of Freightliner's first rail terminals. It was an instant financial success and by 1981 was one of the most profitable Freightliner terminals in Britain, but Freightliner announced plans to close it and transfer the staff to the less successful Birmingham terminal. These plans were shelved in 1983 but resurfaced in 1986, with Dudley finally closing in September 1989. Trains continued to pass the site of the Freightliner terminal until the Wednesbury to Round Oak section of the South Staffordshire Line and Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton line closed in March 1993.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The through lines from the north can be seen in this picture of the non-terminal!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjlRB40xtSZfytrMuMq5yhfMTs3EqVT0vLR-v-tmZfMB2RStwI24xP42S0Jtd5KYTDhZy-tCsgLc9AbkAYUSk6CoQmU7GI9sj5BtZSlQzhEfoadbS0q4e77DBCqZja5bgHBj6Rn8Cu9M-FQ6DX51ywDkRSWBre3pe1HfDHwvcga9rKs8AS55tFF8vccje/s598/dudley_north_from_castle_hill_liner_remains_ted_burgess_early90s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="598" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjlRB40xtSZfytrMuMq5yhfMTs3EqVT0vLR-v-tmZfMB2RStwI24xP42S0Jtd5KYTDhZy-tCsgLc9AbkAYUSk6CoQmU7GI9sj5BtZSlQzhEfoadbS0q4e77DBCqZja5bgHBj6Rn8Cu9M-FQ6DX51ywDkRSWBre3pe1HfDHwvcga9rKs8AS55tFF8vccje/w400-h315/dudley_north_from_castle_hill_liner_remains_ted_burgess_early90s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But even these have gone - but tracks remain ...</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tasty : Technology : Trams</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplrkZaS4aQn8Mgol1O7WI8GgH2zeMonzeBSldWKJqojK-b7X-sNSOIHuWBb4UhI7dDAXOvocfYFxBgg3OnWiWcYBB-3fWQOvn76gcLnvVhNEcvX6-gHjJlkPupl1XlJ1u4jdvu8ZbPkkcm7h3WgjeA3RKYwUMxGfpCjB2ay8cuMED42Fdyc08BD9MEWuV/s720/Screenshot_20240223-092000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplrkZaS4aQn8Mgol1O7WI8GgH2zeMonzeBSldWKJqojK-b7X-sNSOIHuWBb4UhI7dDAXOvocfYFxBgg3OnWiWcYBB-3fWQOvn76gcLnvVhNEcvX6-gHjJlkPupl1XlJ1u4jdvu8ZbPkkcm7h3WgjeA3RKYwUMxGfpCjB2ay8cuMED42Fdyc08BD9MEWuV/w400-h320/Screenshot_20240223-092000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... as these souvenir sweets and this building site will illustrate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXZxBuD7_BEy6HWMhoJnl-yykLAeu51DQn9KMzdDvGJBHM1zgJQtuwjIianpGYf24Sk5uJJNWMNbn153F0Hr4HhTs3vTDi9wDQoXMgPIYl9e95G6cS7d6hwm02mIoWYit3ODTS1fKIsoa4RFHiE9OO1QtGA1LC8d6N2As0XGroJlUHB9U0wX0BQVt3AE8/s598/dudley_new.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="598" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXZxBuD7_BEy6HWMhoJnl-yykLAeu51DQn9KMzdDvGJBHM1zgJQtuwjIianpGYf24Sk5uJJNWMNbn153F0Hr4HhTs3vTDi9wDQoXMgPIYl9e95G6cS7d6hwm02mIoWYit3ODTS1fKIsoa4RFHiE9OO1QtGA1LC8d6N2As0XGroJlUHB9U0wX0BQVt3AE8/w400-h268/dudley_new.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The remnants of the tracks can be seem to the right and the building is now complete and active.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMRdmZSxMub3zq4jEUx7_gPZMbABIqyWugVDC50Q9hoCu9Ql5ieyFWBvfiiF5tbv3dAVDt58mxQud1BamiVuFXDD_i0XvTPTZl0t9Wp_9WmeOBzt33VFcRXTMEh4QH9CzcEb6OozR4lbXbuUODNeQimJEZ63UMsblOejVwPmUGQrx6Sj-SssTGTzptpeY/s580/screenshot.27012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="580" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMRdmZSxMub3zq4jEUx7_gPZMbABIqyWugVDC50Q9hoCu9Ql5ieyFWBvfiiF5tbv3dAVDt58mxQud1BamiVuFXDD_i0XvTPTZl0t9Wp_9WmeOBzt33VFcRXTMEh4QH9CzcEb6OozR4lbXbuUODNeQimJEZ63UMsblOejVwPmUGQrx6Sj-SssTGTzptpeY/w400-h293/screenshot.27012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The above view is from the road bridge on Castle Hill. Dudley Castle is on the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiYPQ_B5dXAA8MpEOe_sQeHnJebECsQOKHrUVZVmF3sLw3SfWxuxabgMcrdaXHhLAuY2ZKVi-52Jt-QCa2QSefWu_HC4qbVffacI6i54MOMbYbnP6lD7q7RiSk5uJ3-hFMXYEmPSjAOTq6ziSwwFJVNZGF4ZJVk6VoVyncAh4KX6okCsjTi9YRfGgYyDL/s698/screenshot.27146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="698" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiYPQ_B5dXAA8MpEOe_sQeHnJebECsQOKHrUVZVmF3sLw3SfWxuxabgMcrdaXHhLAuY2ZKVi-52Jt-QCa2QSefWu_HC4qbVffacI6i54MOMbYbnP6lD7q7RiSk5uJ3-hFMXYEmPSjAOTq6ziSwwFJVNZGF4ZJVk6VoVyncAh4KX6okCsjTi9YRfGgYyDL/w400-h359/screenshot.27146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the fascia board for the newbuild ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCya5Ow9447GuPCo97pCJ5oEZUP7AzyxEtR4CPSFjeD0IQR_YglGM0Ge-scnRCEO6Kup7lOfoMXMUyb7aX8unMw8zOEwZFmdYivRkQfgTNSAUdxU53ObpcFJtzRaWKx2EQE6c9wQ14MhbbOBA9xv3K9aNAlTtilujUvS4IPAUAN7Vs4rcWviIceQ8FuHD/s720/Screenshot_20240223-091813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="720" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCya5Ow9447GuPCo97pCJ5oEZUP7AzyxEtR4CPSFjeD0IQR_YglGM0Ge-scnRCEO6Kup7lOfoMXMUyb7aX8unMw8zOEwZFmdYivRkQfgTNSAUdxU53ObpcFJtzRaWKx2EQE6c9wQ14MhbbOBA9xv3K9aNAlTtilujUvS4IPAUAN7Vs4rcWviIceQ8FuHD/w400-h216/Screenshot_20240223-091813.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... because, apart from giving sweeties out to delegates at trendy environmental conferences, the building is home to the Very Light Rail project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyylaqqADTqVWqGN8sWDfZNhjPbSOj0po5HoAMIWqcMF3APa-Uo4qzY3R8NMMtBdJd7quAJFDV5L_4tWMWLGwFG6DLfqN8EFQmYfUbc4J-V-bFy_1HPBPO0_30a_jZSYQCov6qpcFcDQ4GyRZxD6O-Sa6mB_XlJnsv4UoQR35TWz1E74s5FOE7FS02ihTg/s720/Screenshot_20240223-091842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="720" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyylaqqADTqVWqGN8sWDfZNhjPbSOj0po5HoAMIWqcMF3APa-Uo4qzY3R8NMMtBdJd7quAJFDV5L_4tWMWLGwFG6DLfqN8EFQmYfUbc4J-V-bFy_1HPBPO0_30a_jZSYQCov6qpcFcDQ4GyRZxD6O-Sa6mB_XlJnsv4UoQR35TWz1E74s5FOE7FS02ihTg/w400-h265/Screenshot_20240223-091842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mini trams shuttle from outside the HQ and south into the Dudley Tunnel ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZfEwOWe5hk3Iw6wLVwi8YjfBqKUpETlydGSrvcY215_EPAh01gUXCBOHVGeeJl9FkfPcB8W6Hs5CrZSQJufIrHOGTw3a7MKlBuAecUn4BFiD-jo_AyIbw6tvm3uSJaHHgilv64vbXyMCzHVys_gZbM-gGB9mqDYN9BhljU-kPodarWgoeG5wxNIJsTmC/s720/Screenshot_20240223-091828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="720" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZfEwOWe5hk3Iw6wLVwi8YjfBqKUpETlydGSrvcY215_EPAh01gUXCBOHVGeeJl9FkfPcB8W6Hs5CrZSQJufIrHOGTw3a7MKlBuAecUn4BFiD-jo_AyIbw6tvm3uSJaHHgilv64vbXyMCzHVys_gZbM-gGB9mqDYN9BhljU-kPodarWgoeG5wxNIJsTmC/w400-h215/Screenshot_20240223-091828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... which has been poshed up to accommodate them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB41eYWCyqC8JmdyD3nSeOddlQCAZprv32lYxpb1eFTHJouQ2ieM1uGKO6nTD51N3do9IsXg_A5TsYNRf24ATN-iEwa2idgHTlPvlBYRtSw9Doe3CcrfTXqcYqu4Q9VYx112KT8M1OIpCxSlpNO30xl5wjMnAygzCOQ7ZMYjE-aIjl3crRir38__TjoxqW/s275/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB41eYWCyqC8JmdyD3nSeOddlQCAZprv32lYxpb1eFTHJouQ2ieM1uGKO6nTD51N3do9IsXg_A5TsYNRf24ATN-iEwa2idgHTlPvlBYRtSw9Doe3CcrfTXqcYqu4Q9VYx112KT8M1OIpCxSlpNO30xl5wjMnAygzCOQ7ZMYjE-aIjl3crRir38__TjoxqW/w400-h266/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb does wonder whether these diddy trams will have a future, as the present vehicle technology does require an expensive driver. Only time and an experimental line in Coventry will tell.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bye Bye Bus Station</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUrSc9eXjZIscB2BO_qmXg7GaNyXk7aD3ludbvnf3-XNmAYFoaNjycWafZhbQ28y7cuVtzKRHADvs3Ylnx5Rce-4me_SrH00LmuK_IpSRskRuCH_2wjZmAOp1XRmnhaAe19AyV4_4QAHG_rIlGS-13gstVaImRVHz83kBZbc_MuPPibkJ7FQiJUOm92d9/s646/screenshot.27147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUrSc9eXjZIscB2BO_qmXg7GaNyXk7aD3ludbvnf3-XNmAYFoaNjycWafZhbQ28y7cuVtzKRHADvs3Ylnx5Rce-4me_SrH00LmuK_IpSRskRuCH_2wjZmAOp1XRmnhaAe19AyV4_4QAHG_rIlGS-13gstVaImRVHz83kBZbc_MuPPibkJ7FQiJUOm92d9/w352-h640/screenshot.27147.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Those gorgeous pictures of "heritage" buses, some shown in yesterday's blog, do represent a rally to "celebrate" the closure of Dudley's second and most recent bus station. It closed back in January.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A missing vehicle from the range was a Midland Red D9 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMgfdanq8PM9p7XCvEgOEnSHMXV9fYFwkZpN372Bsp-9k__5q5UQCTeH3fQ-YeiXPR6nF9K3TBzkJdr669LMt9Gfm5mlgLwKUk-uHVjSBofsHiNylgzyAqMx2MuGcVlr47334DPljmjUty0E3ftc6TqOW1Ly-L_VT2ykG_Bzl-iPV0QYL7V780S5CPcL/s740/screenshot.27151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="740" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMgfdanq8PM9p7XCvEgOEnSHMXV9fYFwkZpN372Bsp-9k__5q5UQCTeH3fQ-YeiXPR6nF9K3TBzkJdr669LMt9Gfm5mlgLwKUk-uHVjSBofsHiNylgzyAqMx2MuGcVlr47334DPljmjUty0E3ftc6TqOW1Ly-L_VT2ykG_Bzl-iPV0QYL7V780S5CPcL/w400-h364/screenshot.27151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but in PTE livery ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI4dtDDArVrd-3OAhzM_akXI8_Xv3F85S_JZQczVWntmoHJzbCeSIWLWNUH1HzqddpIPh1KnpkSRXzVmSS_J7tq_yOnW9YX12f86MBOVl-_eTZypcX2CP9F05AVRAQ1jcIZ50qI461RfPYiMGk0YaH1f-sBTcXZN4_Y5lg9n6ZiXuBrirkwxDCl1lzPwa/s582/screenshot.27152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="582" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI4dtDDArVrd-3OAhzM_akXI8_Xv3F85S_JZQczVWntmoHJzbCeSIWLWNUH1HzqddpIPh1KnpkSRXzVmSS_J7tq_yOnW9YX12f86MBOVl-_eTZypcX2CP9F05AVRAQ1jcIZ50qI461RfPYiMGk0YaH1f-sBTcXZN4_Y5lg9n6ZiXuBrirkwxDCl1lzPwa/w400-h398/screenshot.27152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... adopted after the West Midlands panjandrum took over vast Black Country swathes of the glorious red bus operation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Most aged readers will know that the company was never called Midland Red; it was the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company hence the BMMO logo on the bus radiator.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Blue and cream never looked right on a D9!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUECOyO6D0a5wmHQVTSy2vpIZLzX3VTKmMkUrXAr6DEtRFhKjVhE2m-GX5PNtfZvLgzc_FIkVSl58_nECCGbp0t2Moi2veWo2URQ7w0XvYeFu5kHTnx9dv9UVSvVFaenZ0Db5qv0D-SCyYQm5SEqKW_Rv-ToZICnqRfFFEX_lN5yYeDXrR8canJP0svsp/s976/screenshot.27148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="976" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUECOyO6D0a5wmHQVTSy2vpIZLzX3VTKmMkUrXAr6DEtRFhKjVhE2m-GX5PNtfZvLgzc_FIkVSl58_nECCGbp0t2Moi2veWo2URQ7w0XvYeFu5kHTnx9dv9UVSvVFaenZ0Db5qv0D-SCyYQm5SEqKW_Rv-ToZICnqRfFFEX_lN5yYeDXrR8canJP0svsp/w400-h116/screenshot.27148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So what will the third bus station for Dudley look like? We have seen the obligatory artists' impressions.</div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipCGv-wjLCK5jOAFkyueN_7fg2rTJdigCh5MVbLoJMWODJ6-WparhKQ9fjSjrsxWsAdBe5KcGvPQKcP7R_Nc68TigaCPL5B9xWvtsM0zlnQ_V2R2jeDk8gvhlpNkkoqHIN7XqvuBGPl2LgVvKEA0caQ2ypxT_4WAmMfEUYfmmmu2HZiRieb8FE9Ggm4h7/s2048/dudley-interchange-june-2023-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipCGv-wjLCK5jOAFkyueN_7fg2rTJdigCh5MVbLoJMWODJ6-WparhKQ9fjSjrsxWsAdBe5KcGvPQKcP7R_Nc68TigaCPL5B9xWvtsM0zlnQ_V2R2jeDk8gvhlpNkkoqHIN7XqvuBGPl2LgVvKEA0caQ2ypxT_4WAmMfEUYfmmmu2HZiRieb8FE9Ggm4h7/w400-h225/dudley-interchange-june-2023-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Without a plan view, the pictures are difficult to interpret; but that roof ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8RqFB5N6SQbrp7fQGPvY-vVWnweW9XgRdHjnF7vX9TbqUxlSx__XQDzBxfa2fqxES_6ii9k9OxIzdPfKznGHSiEKyYJGlSo34xmWD4D3nLYrbgdJHCsLjXVkeuxPmsUBCmESBsqTA9FzohRC77t0eB4zXZoygVuJGVcB3ZO2AbadGejxuBi5nP-5hWaU/s2048/dudley-interchange-june-2023-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8RqFB5N6SQbrp7fQGPvY-vVWnweW9XgRdHjnF7vX9TbqUxlSx__XQDzBxfa2fqxES_6ii9k9OxIzdPfKznGHSiEKyYJGlSo34xmWD4D3nLYrbgdJHCsLjXVkeuxPmsUBCmESBsqTA9FzohRC77t0eB4zXZoygVuJGVcB3ZO2AbadGejxuBi5nP-5hWaU/w400-h191/dudley-interchange-june-2023-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... looks very expensive to maintain. Its predecessor was less whizzo but it was very easy to tack on a bit of bent tin and a pane of glass after, say, a UFO crash landed.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The out-of-date bus station is being replaced with a new interchange offering a modern, accessible environment and seamless connections between bus and Metro services.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">As part of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, the new Interchange will better connect the people of Dudley to leisure and job opportunities across the region – as well as providing a modern gateway to the town for visitors.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Set to open in 2025, the interchange is just one in a series of major regeneration projects which are transforming Dudley town centre, including the Portersfield development. This also follows recent developments at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre, Black Country Living Museum and the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm Not A Metro, I'm A Tram I Am</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XF1kvi3qOEmIFwPLMRgB81_D_Q3e__8RZzEYx7hd8hpb-VQNAAQl-TGXImLoo0oLMUQQiA5GPSlUPY795kmpc8iYWdlvKO5-EQviWfnV3qVt_4kPQ2XxTzuIKlz6JGSfD_TUmzSkpz7UpNCKstDn4uwFE-jkzXI8PcdVuC5e1yDLjKadooEbGBTajB9t/s336/screenshot.27149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="336" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XF1kvi3qOEmIFwPLMRgB81_D_Q3e__8RZzEYx7hd8hpb-VQNAAQl-TGXImLoo0oLMUQQiA5GPSlUPY795kmpc8iYWdlvKO5-EQviWfnV3qVt_4kPQ2XxTzuIKlz6JGSfD_TUmzSkpz7UpNCKstDn4uwFE-jkzXI8PcdVuC5e1yDLjKadooEbGBTajB9t/w400-h136/screenshot.27149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8zV20aZMhC1bV41UEOAVl2NbezJpBF61OxFvdkeUkR7wkS8n1vwRncVvu95kKoy1kkC5cA4vquDiOhIqkUpKRa2lB9S8IWSRW6HVD7uS4trWdjDIgndQDH1ultV01OTCtVUCETwXNt4hG8a2VvSdZm9dK04udkKCOFIMGe_RrFPXrHLLXAC8hdvm516G/s742/screenshot.27151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="742" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8zV20aZMhC1bV41UEOAVl2NbezJpBF61OxFvdkeUkR7wkS8n1vwRncVvu95kKoy1kkC5cA4vquDiOhIqkUpKRa2lB9S8IWSRW6HVD7uS4trWdjDIgndQDH1ultV01OTCtVUCETwXNt4hG8a2VvSdZm9dK04udkKCOFIMGe_RrFPXrHLLXAC8hdvm516G/w400-h264/screenshot.27151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The route in question is from Wednesbury, on the existing tram route, to the Merry Hell shopping centre at Brierley Hill.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YhuIKobjmlIQZPDd_QvKp_qoMTSpEHHC4-drRwXmfotc1tShEC-gRKHA99XYeat84fKpYFoWLHN1ik4RIXgBbPf9Rvd_QV534ZijE8oqrpftaCMhb5EJV9M8G_qrEzB3Y5YE9c3uBFMGuKUxWUq5W1C64KYZnxHskCxl_a7QZ78Aq16yxuTkQqckF9mL/s758/screenshot.27150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="758" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YhuIKobjmlIQZPDd_QvKp_qoMTSpEHHC4-drRwXmfotc1tShEC-gRKHA99XYeat84fKpYFoWLHN1ik4RIXgBbPf9Rvd_QV534ZijE8oqrpftaCMhb5EJV9M8G_qrEzB3Y5YE9c3uBFMGuKUxWUq5W1C64KYZnxHskCxl_a7QZ78Aq16yxuTkQqckF9mL/w400-h284/screenshot.27150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The first phase is to a temporary terminus in Dudley's Flood Street ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mU9t7qC5HO6prFkUfgGgk1H7rotsjZAw90mUgV5k9V0V1Rc9USY89A4bDpJuo9cZ_6bLlANSiiTm9gYK7D-7p7bndjkroH5yvKuwMZpBKnC8Ags832-E8QZnd2JkAbaadfOHjaZ5jB5Euig6JRrjIePdOBLX_3VLwHXJ74N4dATiMpNHkjodOchPfSa5/s822/screenshot.27128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="822" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mU9t7qC5HO6prFkUfgGgk1H7rotsjZAw90mUgV5k9V0V1Rc9USY89A4bDpJuo9cZ_6bLlANSiiTm9gYK7D-7p7bndjkroH5yvKuwMZpBKnC8Ags832-E8QZnd2JkAbaadfOHjaZ5jB5Euig6JRrjIePdOBLX_3VLwHXJ74N4dATiMpNHkjodOchPfSa5/w400-h319/screenshot.27128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... which will look a bit better when it opens!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZhC48JF691vhAdb9IIAM89_F2uL1VW81Kz9GLJVxh9vfpZKSHfImNcI41O255L9CwyEtu48fkrQjfpYQWIYSjlWdeONj6ieh2o3uHLSoDGtuBhkARcXUCzY0ktXmyzSMNWJKCTUjAziYE7cD5oVV7oKDOfjpTGqKYS7rmQ8QpIgsW9AehR4N11DwEiif/s1104/screenshot.27127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1104" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZhC48JF691vhAdb9IIAM89_F2uL1VW81Kz9GLJVxh9vfpZKSHfImNcI41O255L9CwyEtu48fkrQjfpYQWIYSjlWdeONj6ieh2o3uHLSoDGtuBhkARcXUCzY0ktXmyzSMNWJKCTUjAziYE7cD5oVV7oKDOfjpTGqKYS7rmQ8QpIgsW9AehR4N11DwEiif/w400-h186/screenshot.27127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Funding has now been announced for the second phase. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But here is a map of the route through Dudley itself.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JM7JJclOzkRPAyxbIz7LHjRchyphenhypheng7kHInefGWieb4qI1ndeJKpb0k-LeTH3mtJcUzk0bi_YtB44ncy4gpPWL3eb1v_NRHzzjr_RP_sztoc85PXj60OP5mziXUwq3-BSEyYdz0dOLcSlDEozHY_G-tE0ox4HMnRySbOV3b78nXBT_pOADHe69lB_60q2a9/s640/screenshot.27129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JM7JJclOzkRPAyxbIz7LHjRchyphenhypheng7kHInefGWieb4qI1ndeJKpb0k-LeTH3mtJcUzk0bi_YtB44ncy4gpPWL3eb1v_NRHzzjr_RP_sztoc85PXj60OP5mziXUwq3-BSEyYdz0dOLcSlDEozHY_G-tE0ox4HMnRySbOV3b78nXBT_pOADHe69lB_60q2a9/w376-h400/screenshot.27129.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>It is not clear from the above how the tracks will get through or round the Innovation Centre on the old station site. But Open Street Map shows a series of dotted lines which might be more accurate; certainly a bit easier to understand.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2V4xzQyq5-PxqWqBo30LPMxmfZd4h-sPE73FeEjpav2kgSc_B2ebdPWJixwMdpD-2O8AMfztx5z4_gi50k_z2SZfx90iMkjXnx6KJa-TEINn0E8pFP1XoafU2lsOcGabZNqk3bqt5r5n9rMEbTL71ngECmq5oJRJnD5qO9kjocW6RhuWpcPqODIcwb9d/s720/screenshot.27152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="720" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2V4xzQyq5-PxqWqBo30LPMxmfZd4h-sPE73FeEjpav2kgSc_B2ebdPWJixwMdpD-2O8AMfztx5z4_gi50k_z2SZfx90iMkjXnx6KJa-TEINn0E8pFP1XoafU2lsOcGabZNqk3bqt5r5n9rMEbTL71ngECmq5oJRJnD5qO9kjocW6RhuWpcPqODIcwb9d/w400-h346/screenshot.27152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Tracks emerge from "round the back" of the Innovation Centre, thence to climb a bit of Castle Hill ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_T5pFqmcepZbs0BSnVWwk78ZDrY8TlkOqlE29yrAzv0xDS91jT2CbaZBhukp14hZFRIxUJAL7zFNCAnZzgg1G4ua2aXW5SAqG0kChWvIahvOQmSEbdS5VLk4MZQ61rIPjX9-oho6Bk1IXkuwIKQ19r69nQMOQuERkwotpJe-XjFnRnJ3K-xLPOetgCDo/s630/screenshot.27155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="630" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_T5pFqmcepZbs0BSnVWwk78ZDrY8TlkOqlE29yrAzv0xDS91jT2CbaZBhukp14hZFRIxUJAL7zFNCAnZzgg1G4ua2aXW5SAqG0kChWvIahvOQmSEbdS5VLk4MZQ61rIPjX9-oho6Bk1IXkuwIKQ19r69nQMOQuERkwotpJe-XjFnRnJ3K-xLPOetgCDo/w400-h334/screenshot.27155.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... to then hang a left into the rather tatty Birmingham Street.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hX3whg3pLXVAqEkJQOJSVDggPwN-1DtDNqGMbIJvs3hAzBluXqR7WC9-THp5tYGM9umVapq-9sO2UWih2wySfQLgIQXtVaXrMeKTe0a5Jfa6Zo_-HKJXZjukS46DYs04JpBtnTGiFKUZ-t0y-k1ob9Un7W_BHxH8Nx3Dsx_la-HWRN4dDYh86jptZgy3/s616/screenshot.27153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="616" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hX3whg3pLXVAqEkJQOJSVDggPwN-1DtDNqGMbIJvs3hAzBluXqR7WC9-THp5tYGM9umVapq-9sO2UWih2wySfQLgIQXtVaXrMeKTe0a5Jfa6Zo_-HKJXZjukS46DYs04JpBtnTGiFKUZ-t0y-k1ob9Un7W_BHxH8Nx3Dsx_la-HWRN4dDYh86jptZgy3/w400-h325/screenshot.27153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Streetview enters a black hole round the back of the existing bus station, but pictures record work on King Street ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunPZMgNCgprJK-CMQc6DhRPL9FlWGnontc4iJR_yGvZNSLxQuQZIeEHf-4T40TuEdKTGpMUFGUObh33a0wjtFSCJdWXTsSAuZ9lwlJvEd-69Yw7kwkF_4fqL7KvwAAC_nuCeLzkCYMKPopiS0Ex3uj3P4xg03PbR8KX5ULr6urrYnvNeINTZT7oxjbDjq/s648/screenshot.27158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="648" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunPZMgNCgprJK-CMQc6DhRPL9FlWGnontc4iJR_yGvZNSLxQuQZIeEHf-4T40TuEdKTGpMUFGUObh33a0wjtFSCJdWXTsSAuZ9lwlJvEd-69Yw7kwkF_4fqL7KvwAAC_nuCeLzkCYMKPopiS0Ex3uj3P4xg03PbR8KX5ULr6urrYnvNeINTZT7oxjbDjq/w400-h333/screenshot.27158.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and the left turn into Flood Street ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr5Fie4QdiVnH2g37U9fvk7tCooC4bEFjtHPxIaGyWLeRaJ7zDksuEo3JxMwgmY0M9umKwTkR81PplflJo5m72aRLWIYMuD1WB8ObslxPckvFiFHqiiEzvgSFw3YPvDAj9L0_I1sR1NJvpZrDZz9fi4j8sVcjJosgH-sWOUUm5nnXQOqy6kFLRIjAXTs4/s536/screenshot.27159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="418" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr5Fie4QdiVnH2g37U9fvk7tCooC4bEFjtHPxIaGyWLeRaJ7zDksuEo3JxMwgmY0M9umKwTkR81PplflJo5m72aRLWIYMuD1WB8ObslxPckvFiFHqiiEzvgSFw3YPvDAj9L0_I1sR1NJvpZrDZz9fi4j8sVcjJosgH-sWOUUm5nnXQOqy6kFLRIjAXTs4/w313-h400/screenshot.27159.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>... and so to the temporary terminus.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOssE5311JA8HF3ef2cUOD2fdYzRV7HtP2xbSul8zcdYmPzqcfaHVrBBrfofFl-sTwN9ARhpUMspHeS7OFewp6CyhMy6s4Yr2XV0lBEMC3tx1foisultinAMzQ-C0JMKiR_hIYN6mlcOgNFM5p5CFT_k1KQ-Cx4GmIGDtefpA7tV-C1cblrILR9tfkyAY/s450/screenshot.27156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOssE5311JA8HF3ef2cUOD2fdYzRV7HtP2xbSul8zcdYmPzqcfaHVrBBrfofFl-sTwN9ARhpUMspHeS7OFewp6CyhMy6s4Yr2XV0lBEMC3tx1foisultinAMzQ-C0JMKiR_hIYN6mlcOgNFM5p5CFT_k1KQ-Cx4GmIGDtefpA7tV-C1cblrILR9tfkyAY/w334-h400/screenshot.27156.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>What fbb notices is that the trams are not routed very close to any of Dudley's shopping areas - it's very much a back street route.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But we are told much of its route is through an area due for development so ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... all together ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">It will be lovely when it's finished!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKt3DBwz-ClWih3-oY9pw0UPPBT2d1wg49nfgLYZgPnoSuzMsQlTO2pGkeKpZUv43OWOya__Vm6jsMeiVHIZ01vw2aUh4EYFItrB0H2Ws8NLw7GVxK4nvk6pBCY0mpzcA-UVO4_PC89HXMIYGg3DJNUHVo4EgaKll_jVr1GI1RkAo3aokpOT7ZZuIf9ZG/s896/screenshot.27160.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="896" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKt3DBwz-ClWih3-oY9pw0UPPBT2d1wg49nfgLYZgPnoSuzMsQlTO2pGkeKpZUv43OWOya__Vm6jsMeiVHIZ01vw2aUh4EYFItrB0H2Ws8NLw7GVxK4nvk6pBCY0mpzcA-UVO4_PC89HXMIYGg3DJNUHVo4EgaKll_jVr1GI1RkAo3aokpOT7ZZuIf9ZG/w400-h249/screenshot.27160.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy trying to work out how the tram will get to stop outside the new bus station ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwr3tmHTILxwEo0PdkBYF8MbUzy_EqM3GvzoAeb-hOCDzL_9pHzrjvLJDdW-xHjv524Vc1IXAl37_-kXNsUqiQOwJEmQwInidkCd-7KrmMP_AcbY7qAD23vJ9FOv1xMCXaYxaxgee8oJIKALej65wEr9x82wG3PURotinBhimtc9Di-IcmP7_lWXUUXD8/s850/screenshot.27161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="850" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwr3tmHTILxwEo0PdkBYF8MbUzy_EqM3GvzoAeb-hOCDzL_9pHzrjvLJDdW-xHjv524Vc1IXAl37_-kXNsUqiQOwJEmQwInidkCd-7KrmMP_AcbY7qAD23vJ9FOv1xMCXaYxaxgee8oJIKALej65wEr9x82wG3PURotinBhimtc9Di-IcmP7_lWXUUXD8/w400-h204/screenshot.27161.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... if that <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>IS</b></span> the new bus station! The castle is there, resolutely eyeing developments from on high. fbb is looking forward to seeing the new seven segment teams on the Dudley route!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Variety blog : Saturday 2nd March </b></span></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-44886353774568789252024-02-29T02:00:00.131+00:002024-02-29T07:26:16.806+00:00Dramatic Dudley Developments (1)<p><span style="font-size: large;">Nostalgia Nuggets?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRbuF2hKcX1B0JEGaFvmzz3JqQj8zp8xhfj5yK4rze2f2K4e2kEoo62_2dUm9t5CQFvuIzbm1fl8kSOOdxl0Ox8R1uXChLQhyphenhyphenNuxxNJWXl9NfqvzGHa7ANmOk8YvsQDa51PmWvYsEdhkk4Dn2HXnruSORdbZvnEJoTw7x5_E4H-KtjztWy7Z4i14GyVGM/s436/screenshot.27131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="436" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRbuF2hKcX1B0JEGaFvmzz3JqQj8zp8xhfj5yK4rze2f2K4e2kEoo62_2dUm9t5CQFvuIzbm1fl8kSOOdxl0Ox8R1uXChLQhyphenhyphenNuxxNJWXl9NfqvzGHa7ANmOk8YvsQDa51PmWvYsEdhkk4Dn2HXnruSORdbZvnEJoTw7x5_E4H-KtjztWy7Z4i14GyVGM/w400-h255/screenshot.27131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An 1835 nap (above) shows the early Dudley next to a blob of parkland on top of which (a strip of red) is Dudley Castle. The castle was once a Motte and Bailey establishment (remember from school day history) which was later rebuilt, burnt down, rebuilt and left to become a ruin. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here is the castle hill in 1938.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQkPOLYfTYLVSxyfbLXyfk1k8bJPfKII9yTtjZH8s_PtIBevZsN7_5Cx5SeAndxw0on23VKd4Ob7yUxP5kc6_FGKSrL1A_GMg2wYP4adgOmywv3qsOZuis41Rr8dFjrqYF3Svx_dMHcE982PjOjv-eqycX4anJGp5IF_J66FtI6_Zh8idb8DJMk20q94h/s774/screenshot.27137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="594" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQkPOLYfTYLVSxyfbLXyfk1k8bJPfKII9yTtjZH8s_PtIBevZsN7_5Cx5SeAndxw0on23VKd4Ob7yUxP5kc6_FGKSrL1A_GMg2wYP4adgOmywv3qsOZuis41Rr8dFjrqYF3Svx_dMHcE982PjOjv-eqycX4anJGp5IF_J66FtI6_Zh8idb8DJMk20q94h/w362-h470/screenshot.27137.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>We now have a few railway lines running to the east of the hill..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Castle mound became the site of the celebrated Dudley Zoo with its skilled advertising slogan of the 1960s.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnk11JmHU3AhwNuKbaSI5_rLO0cdd7OMN7qKZlCdtklf6xYyLF86GO_85P_dU4TOKCBMU56fcfmprs_JYWZhxMHz8JGGCwXy6UTbo-1IbNMtd-PIrma8z3FF-sFAGp8Not4lYflxMfdY7d88l7ea_xN2MkRsWz1v3JFP7V9MSK61wbf5gdGPd8cIx6Ivw/s476/screenshot.27130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="476" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnk11JmHU3AhwNuKbaSI5_rLO0cdd7OMN7qKZlCdtklf6xYyLF86GO_85P_dU4TOKCBMU56fcfmprs_JYWZhxMHz8JGGCwXy6UTbo-1IbNMtd-PIrma8z3FF-sFAGp8Not4lYflxMfdY7d88l7ea_xN2MkRsWz1v3JFP7V9MSK61wbf5gdGPd8cIx6Ivw/s320/screenshot.27130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>fbb remembers a huge poster to that effect clearly visible from Dudley's bus station. The zoo had a chair lift to assist folk up to the craggy summit ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtltfomL6cEgwYHvgsFPbKfA5lvq1Ij-k4WQwRYc3EknxIuO-8HG3ZEzRybkclxyRuCKci5YbfymLaFpkP0yOAkfkJPUmcC9otfR6CGkCPuc4FzCrBlSXnCwQKVGm9N02jl4EFLfDU9-PiigFdgTyWK5VvoIC0eu26hSNt7IarRJlP_xwsO_rN-7hEJDD/s758/screenshot.27010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtltfomL6cEgwYHvgsFPbKfA5lvq1Ij-k4WQwRYc3EknxIuO-8HG3ZEzRybkclxyRuCKci5YbfymLaFpkP0yOAkfkJPUmcC9otfR6CGkCPuc4FzCrBlSXnCwQKVGm9N02jl4EFLfDU9-PiigFdgTyWK5VvoIC0eu26hSNt7IarRJlP_xwsO_rN-7hEJDD/w328-h400/screenshot.27010.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>... and once up there you would find a whole range of entertainment including a miniature railway.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkJp49oi-G0G5iAWsfP5FxuLn7GJOnWjhTixowGHly2IxfC1YKp6LR-rVn-AFxyBQDqHfxigMVJP6H8LRLjsFveJKlWwYStgCUMYo7hdewSy4xfopN4xpB1LPFoFk36br875GNBgJ7eqD-fQVdXBbH_UxIxV1e1pQCf7UfHOjNiR6jT3_Ne5LNxuFFyZs/s546/screenshot.27011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="546" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkJp49oi-G0G5iAWsfP5FxuLn7GJOnWjhTixowGHly2IxfC1YKp6LR-rVn-AFxyBQDqHfxigMVJP6H8LRLjsFveJKlWwYStgCUMYo7hdewSy4xfopN4xpB1LPFoFk36br875GNBgJ7eqD-fQVdXBbH_UxIxV1e1pQCf7UfHOjNiR6jT3_Ne5LNxuFFyZs/w400-h229/screenshot.27011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Todays chair lift looks a lot more secure but may be the original ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHiGnw9dbMv7z7yI07fYDa1o3mSKn05pf-J3D8U68QiLflkL-RFalr1CGMAo-n9icvNp0wSeZE8-8jb5FBEQoZJZT93_42sn22IG4GdJ1_IPFFW8UG7XaEjt8ohifcj2maxpF3kuCYgXgdiRvoTVkbpoAxI6dMNHlJ9wHkzoIScLfKTyMHZfv_q_4rpGL/s750/screenshot.27138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="750" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHiGnw9dbMv7z7yI07fYDa1o3mSKn05pf-J3D8U68QiLflkL-RFalr1CGMAo-n9icvNp0wSeZE8-8jb5FBEQoZJZT93_42sn22IG4GdJ1_IPFFW8UG7XaEjt8ohifcj2maxpF3kuCYgXgdiRvoTVkbpoAxI6dMNHlJ9wHkzoIScLfKTyMHZfv_q_4rpGL/w400-h271/screenshot.27138.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and the miniature railway ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEJGXv6duVtephk9ygaOlp41Nq8ezsvBYZAebY3uXxBIVOqvuozx-Ze0IhNY5PCZdJQjuw2GVpvXzENai-cVJ4UGHUy27MQLjInutycskEPuv4Yp8Y803vzbgrigrTjl8w399tZVYgjzJQAfc_sTL7qKuYFHua72Gbb22BErb_On07B44UrEksN6iEWhJ/s736/screenshot.27140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="736" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEJGXv6duVtephk9ygaOlp41Nq8ezsvBYZAebY3uXxBIVOqvuozx-Ze0IhNY5PCZdJQjuw2GVpvXzENai-cVJ4UGHUy27MQLjInutycskEPuv4Yp8Y803vzbgrigrTjl8w399tZVYgjzJQAfc_sTL7qKuYFHua72Gbb22BErb_On07B44UrEksN6iEWhJ/w400-h309/screenshot.27140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... has taken a leap onto modernity. There is also a land train.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F9WSc6CpVZvFqe5xBqY2p67F1e273F58MtZwxIF8D5OEkoAu8fc-rP1S2f8kCCUabfTNrizH6CjsbPXCvQstcogr6gAxyzb8aB_EwwLV6zDtla-01iremsgaWmDJTaY0K993q57ypYq-z9T50z4qsfRUNXcI9bD10Ovui9WtYATy7cevQWGEVJ2HgXcP/s504/screenshot.27139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="504" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F9WSc6CpVZvFqe5xBqY2p67F1e273F58MtZwxIF8D5OEkoAu8fc-rP1S2f8kCCUabfTNrizH6CjsbPXCvQstcogr6gAxyzb8aB_EwwLV6zDtla-01iremsgaWmDJTaY0K993q57ypYq-z9T50z4qsfRUNXcI9bD10Ovui9WtYATy7cevQWGEVJ2HgXcP/w400-h289/screenshot.27139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>But next to the castle and zoo excrescence was once Dudley Town station, not to be confused with Dudley Port station or Sandwell and Dudley station.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even worse, do not confuse it with the orange line at Dudley Station ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJGJVElC71nbgK4_gzOBLpwFlyfQpn7jX5K3Gk3tT_OL_nCV1pKmzipVPJceTqShNW5r83dtll1NBwgNkx_4AjD4BydaimrczQ4I49Z6qob2S59Vf9VLmCvAcudqHPfC-p1LiJAUTiGkEqqsSbUOg4LzntI0cqnxZt_4YrZ_44jzCEvrJOQW1A2_AMNXd/s273/fake%20dudley.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="273" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJGJVElC71nbgK4_gzOBLpwFlyfQpn7jX5K3Gk3tT_OL_nCV1pKmzipVPJceTqShNW5r83dtll1NBwgNkx_4AjD4BydaimrczQ4I49Z6qob2S59Vf9VLmCvAcudqHPfC-p1LiJAUTiGkEqqsSbUOg4LzntI0cqnxZt_4YrZ_44jzCEvrJOQW1A2_AMNXd/w400-h271/fake%20dudley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... because, as you all know what fbb didn't, namely that the orange Dudley is in Boston USA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what of Dudley's Town station? Well it isn't there any more, but, as they say in all Romantic Dramas, <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>it's complicated</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uVMcDrReM3mq5xCjp8QcFPTpvYda_IbBat-HeznRZKpy558tQdzHl0XPdfPm4Rq2mP_BfVuUXCklAMVV3gqtA2bERD8MlBsxwKZPeLaM7pm2bxah6sF9t3ubsuuvXWIVqjmGdKn077f1cTdhVHHKIRHv-dZldfQfEUjYkwW4RVh1sX_7tkZ1ceSp24vA/s676/screenshot.27133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="676" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uVMcDrReM3mq5xCjp8QcFPTpvYda_IbBat-HeznRZKpy558tQdzHl0XPdfPm4Rq2mP_BfVuUXCklAMVV3gqtA2bERD8MlBsxwKZPeLaM7pm2bxah6sF9t3ubsuuvXWIVqjmGdKn077f1cTdhVHHKIRHv-dZldfQfEUjYkwW4RVh1sX_7tkZ1ceSp24vA/w400-h368/screenshot.27133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Great Western arrived ex northwards from Wolverhampton, calling at Tipton. From the north east came the South Staffordshire Railway, (later the LMS) running from Walsall via Dudley Port Low Level.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even Wikipedia struggles to tell us much about Dudley Port.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Etymology</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>Originally the canal port</b> </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">for the town of Dudley.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Proper noun</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Dudley Port</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">A suburban area in the</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell,</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">West Midlands</span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And here ... tada! ... is the Port today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmjyFcQCRz1aiHrvfalpeJ7l_-uRVopd5OcrO_stYpqPyZxu7Mu4AC3_ArJdrONEXxa15wwfBLvcyUKemRTHlExGWrVyhkgstJ5bPR970y0cnadYEoclcjZefytKDLf2QQAvlDowZR_NoQnfnLKqTTFJ4fnGCoAL9P1E4wbzsxXyCurC8tfoGMFjbpQ7n/s956/screenshot.27141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="956" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmjyFcQCRz1aiHrvfalpeJ7l_-uRVopd5OcrO_stYpqPyZxu7Mu4AC3_ArJdrONEXxa15wwfBLvcyUKemRTHlExGWrVyhkgstJ5bPR970y0cnadYEoclcjZefytKDLf2QQAvlDowZR_NoQnfnLKqTTFJ4fnGCoAL9P1E4wbzsxXyCurC8tfoGMFjbpQ7n/w400-h285/screenshot.27141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ane here it is on an aerial Streetview view.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7wY7boIKoL-7kIb6XZ2z5PEDsVz8AJF_zG7B2Dg7l7K9Tn8z_vgqBhfVI4QqQ2Cuudtt0pRtw_ifTv8EiodT8oyPMNIA-qvJNTT-J9tIAenaPEIMeFKCuJcOsFgtWJGP8VbecIrfVHgXvJ98Dj05ovHv0vCFzDPwhtHBY8KQtOfQE_cc0iJ7IODDgFUb/s606/screenshot.27142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="606" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7wY7boIKoL-7kIb6XZ2z5PEDsVz8AJF_zG7B2Dg7l7K9Tn8z_vgqBhfVI4QqQ2Cuudtt0pRtw_ifTv8EiodT8oyPMNIA-qvJNTT-J9tIAenaPEIMeFKCuJcOsFgtWJGP8VbecIrfVHgXvJ98Dj05ovHv0vCFzDPwhtHBY8KQtOfQE_cc0iJ7IODDgFUb/w400-h399/screenshot.27142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But back to the Town station. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">South of the station the line, once again, splits into two.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrQ8_w_siQDCjzQensjBT9X9-HRlyn0c46bUsESZcCkUmQ8zrWydGi9kwz4YeYZmXT-cpTmLXbxGdsXFAq6yzDJDQgxJQU9IlKL_4wF-HqbKGOGpVUbtplGe1hwCCUuo-Vc9-OHMcVh44unh4cEvUC-NUeg8S_AewprLT8ZJVFWOju0SpthQM61NyMFjw/s602/route_map.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrQ8_w_siQDCjzQensjBT9X9-HRlyn0c46bUsESZcCkUmQ8zrWydGi9kwz4YeYZmXT-cpTmLXbxGdsXFAq6yzDJDQgxJQU9IlKL_4wF-HqbKGOGpVUbtplGe1hwCCUuo-Vc9-OHMcVh44unh4cEvUC-NUeg8S_AewprLT8ZJVFWOju0SpthQM61NyMFjw/w395-h400/route_map.gif" width="395" /></a></div>The slightly more notable route for passengers was a shuttle to Old Hill.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNhkEWMr5-ER1hs-xkRjcofWjbWhxcf5I-fGLJaVOZ0t2znzI7ZtphgedFP-11ZhU_rrvoTpHpaJ2a2tIHY3SuwAGzakaWiTgVWTyLf9LdEpR8aGb0QUixS7m-0sJuK1sgurBBa_m4bD1Vle1gcXGe3bkd6lHd3A-CNLZlivnjS3XcqrNf6KbVnOfyWvy/s594/bradshaw.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="594" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNhkEWMr5-ER1hs-xkRjcofWjbWhxcf5I-fGLJaVOZ0t2znzI7ZtphgedFP-11ZhU_rrvoTpHpaJ2a2tIHY3SuwAGzakaWiTgVWTyLf9LdEpR8aGb0QUixS7m-0sJuK1sgurBBa_m4bD1Vle1gcXGe3bkd6lHd3A-CNLZlivnjS3XcqrNf6KbVnOfyWvy/w400-h122/bradshaw.gif" width="400" /></a></div>(<b><span style="color: #800180;">click to enkarge the timetable</span></b>) whilst the other route, manly freight only, continued to Kidderminster and was used to get goods trains to Bescot yard without cluttering up central Birmingham.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37QmlNk4YTYViWqxvm9Yzo19RwSriuGw16Loq8AjtZSbLaJifFZgQ9DrbAEEqZPkll42oFbAnT7agQTkot7ohvv3OmgMGpjsZU_rMY4GQKi-aqSOB7o7LarDvDp5PiHrCvJXPjfHs2O_4iIZ61JFCHlnQa5EPlqr6u_9gRKDXtpA2O82jdXpOYujpfJx7/s882/screenshot.27134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="882" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37QmlNk4YTYViWqxvm9Yzo19RwSriuGw16Loq8AjtZSbLaJifFZgQ9DrbAEEqZPkll42oFbAnT7agQTkot7ohvv3OmgMGpjsZU_rMY4GQKi-aqSOB7o7LarDvDp5PiHrCvJXPjfHs2O_4iIZ61JFCHlnQa5EPlqr6u_9gRKDXtpA2O82jdXpOYujpfJx7/w400-h250/screenshot.27134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The central Dudley station had two Island platforms, the one on the left being for GWR trains and then one, accessed via the over bridge in this north facing picture, was for the LMS. The LMS chimneys are disinc.tive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It follows that Dudley Town was, in general, served by very local trains carrying few passengers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here is a GWR train ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13Og1yDlqKPRuC82B88Nl_Prx5xVOqItkdO4xmBj4sSO88uFIlmjaYyoDsh7PYfcYsWL1vdCkpvAZmHUKVtudAAuU_ILMejKDQy91VCqjL3uX_a1OevJT7bwI3gG2N4XUNEwcD2QqQ5wU8ezxYZhUX7mnkhViubkunOkri2Gx751F1bvi03RcMrNhGK3V/s598/dudley(harden)7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="598" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13Og1yDlqKPRuC82B88Nl_Prx5xVOqItkdO4xmBj4sSO88uFIlmjaYyoDsh7PYfcYsWL1vdCkpvAZmHUKVtudAAuU_ILMejKDQy91VCqjL3uX_a1OevJT7bwI3gG2N4XUNEwcD2QqQ5wU8ezxYZhUX7mnkhViubkunOkri2Gx751F1bvi03RcMrNhGK3V/w400-h245/dudley(harden)7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and an ex LMS "rail motor".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjusNaYXFPiMxjcoaJ7qZCALXpoh0F3gd4lCdhQ34bL6KSbLH0L_GRy3SDNNK6Bw126vv2P4Q5yFxHJEumJi_kKb2trD98LZl7EITOs1igzcgN2w8b5AdKUMML-MaDK0rtRrz1Ubk_RwvXTPp-6JdDXQFcI1Y0GbAGllKSFS50pmHvRnL7tBIwdgYp5Jul/s1068/screenshot.27136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1068" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjusNaYXFPiMxjcoaJ7qZCALXpoh0F3gd4lCdhQ34bL6KSbLH0L_GRy3SDNNK6Bw126vv2P4Q5yFxHJEumJi_kKb2trD98LZl7EITOs1igzcgN2w8b5AdKUMML-MaDK0rtRrz1Ubk_RwvXTPp-6JdDXQFcI1Y0GbAGllKSFS50pmHvRnL7tBIwdgYp5Jul/w400-h244/screenshot.27136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is not at all surprising that these lines have been closed completely for passenger trains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There was a freight development which, for a time, brought Dudley into an uncharacteristic burst of railway modernity. More tomorrow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So lets look at buses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxVbeGGmSWoQFN33koKyq66eFefeeq4Y_c8Q5ZiNf4DtghyphenhyphenHvTlSrK3c9cQHgAZKvpr87pYP3p3pd6oGbsCeJYJpFgvoeGx2CEJUdInWr8IuXqtjB5MmsY34mBxAdnHdLU-ZbEf3f969I-aEFLyArYo2ozbov9gAJsyliN1MdPsGOLx2fkjt77j0Akx19/s622/screenshot.27143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="534" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxVbeGGmSWoQFN33koKyq66eFefeeq4Y_c8Q5ZiNf4DtghyphenhyphenHvTlSrK3c9cQHgAZKvpr87pYP3p3pd6oGbsCeJYJpFgvoeGx2CEJUdInWr8IuXqtjB5MmsY34mBxAdnHdLU-ZbEf3f969I-aEFLyArYo2ozbov9gAJsyliN1MdPsGOLx2fkjt77j0Akx19/w410-h477/screenshot.27143.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Across Castle Hill (the road) from the Zoo/Castle mound is a road called Birmingham Street. It is a very tired and tatty thoroughfare ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTELNh9Aq1t_EPOSvSLkbv9nqMtvT_4ARLlCtbm8TX51Cg80vfiwNkoJFzlGwuhQUu8_WJ94sv3YvhkocVole-FX7tYCFFROJfP9japUNT8orTnyBVbmlmYJMEKOjfhjfm3f-h_kyPqXaoMeusgWaG1XMQd6MZ81gWy6namQISGenB6AVkHyOJFMovi8a/s720/screenshot.27144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="720" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTELNh9Aq1t_EPOSvSLkbv9nqMtvT_4ARLlCtbm8TX51Cg80vfiwNkoJFzlGwuhQUu8_WJ94sv3YvhkocVole-FX7tYCFFROJfP9japUNT8orTnyBVbmlmYJMEKOjfhjfm3f-h_kyPqXaoMeusgWaG1XMQd6MZ81gWy6namQISGenB6AVkHyOJFMovi8a/w400-h291/screenshot.27144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... which forms a back entrance to the current bus station in Dudley. It also led to the previous bus station once visited by fbb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">The original bus station was constructed along Birmingham Street on a steep hill overlooking Dudley Castle in about 1950. It was complemented by an additional line of shelters along neighbouring Fisher Street. However, a series on incidents of buses rolling back injuring passengers led to widespread local criticism of its design. This resulted in the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive rebuilding the bus station on a completely level site along Fisher Street.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Although there is little sign of the original bus station today, you can gauge the slope up from Birmingham Street.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hnJDaSTPkUxkAtLkXcEclHB6I5lI8TfG966NWWDShwEdZvZRJJ-HJ6P08AcTxOdb4PR9NrcCwpBa66rdDWO8_NZ3jthzOgomKj4svVS93AUXRTI_gi-9EJmuOH_zmM0w9ScXscQNzfnOPTpuapMeC5-IkZlyUBkNZFBWOy9oec8-fHzeqjxVZ47uMIAA/s584/screenshot.27120x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hnJDaSTPkUxkAtLkXcEclHB6I5lI8TfG966NWWDShwEdZvZRJJ-HJ6P08AcTxOdb4PR9NrcCwpBa66rdDWO8_NZ3jthzOgomKj4svVS93AUXRTI_gi-9EJmuOH_zmM0w9ScXscQNzfnOPTpuapMeC5-IkZlyUBkNZFBWOy9oec8-fHzeqjxVZ47uMIAA/w363-h400/screenshot.27120x.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>fbb can find no pictures of the bus station as a whole, but these two buses are on the slope ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX4pv5lmgD5gWWfAMiSKRMjXvniF8pcpfyR0I-2l2tXmRrHKoEGm3qojzMhIvBLaiuMeXpBN6BtByswxDnhxApYWNpJw8egw9OYUqaM2A8aSQam0-Gj4zttXDA3loCBS8Ht3-IGAiGDilB-V03ytytbGg-weemn8vRrrXobh2iOZuG0z1mJ73G_zruTFe/s882/screenshot.27118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="882" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX4pv5lmgD5gWWfAMiSKRMjXvniF8pcpfyR0I-2l2tXmRrHKoEGm3qojzMhIvBLaiuMeXpBN6BtByswxDnhxApYWNpJw8egw9OYUqaM2A8aSQam0-Gj4zttXDA3loCBS8Ht3-IGAiGDilB-V03ytytbGg-weemn8vRrrXobh2iOZuG0z1mJ73G_zruTFe/w400-h236/screenshot.27118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and there is the castle, faint but real, top right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Construction of the new bus station began during 1985 and it was opened in 1986.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here it is, the new one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8XSgP7T7QZJaumddKVQ625nyAMlPR4twl-X-FfmnXW9_z5bzAzeXuy8yR6_Zr1MacStelW2AQbmOTqqQpJgG9i45GaoVNx4VEp6_1dHOJfGP4Y36ijzAMqtfV73lM9Vm70Tn4QQho3QyFo02XS_PezkN-lLDuuefBp8Yb4k9PdsBkXKrhYDMw5e2JPP2/s700/screenshot.27008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="700" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8XSgP7T7QZJaumddKVQ625nyAMlPR4twl-X-FfmnXW9_z5bzAzeXuy8yR6_Zr1MacStelW2AQbmOTqqQpJgG9i45GaoVNx4VEp6_1dHOJfGP4Y36ijzAMqtfV73lM9Vm70Tn4QQho3QyFo02XS_PezkN-lLDuuefBp8Yb4k9PdsBkXKrhYDMw5e2JPP2/w400-h274/screenshot.27008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It is not the most gloriously luxurious bus station but it is level, so there is less chance of being squished by an out-of-control bus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">But back in January 2024 this event was happening at Dudley bus station ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhlSugtSrnhlScPTMZMyvNhHl8Nh96lgSpFLRmF3InVnuYpPjqIKf2W2JL0VDGeJ4hrSV6MwJSaMkBHcTp0IbUqUNqhxxD0IqaWbcod1C0RBn3Cw8rmIHLK57An2_rrduWK3CHuSaiz0h9Mu53PhUJcB98vwb0H1YRjCx8FdC23rP9g_qv-qw7tujlOs6/s928/screenshot.27145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="928" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhlSugtSrnhlScPTMZMyvNhHl8Nh96lgSpFLRmF3InVnuYpPjqIKf2W2JL0VDGeJ4hrSV6MwJSaMkBHcTp0IbUqUNqhxxD0IqaWbcod1C0RBn3Cw8rmIHLK57An2_rrduWK3CHuSaiz0h9Mu53PhUJcB98vwb0H1YRjCx8FdC23rP9g_qv-qw7tujlOs6/w400-h195/screenshot.27145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... as was this.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTABjZYeWwHxnPpWfF-3k9alcL7pB-tM3g0npWFuhlN3B3_LKiHjWSud_lFkgubw2NCLUBgnayX9I7uEPJ5tLqHGCey2DFjRQv37xklQYzcfowMTvbL_yHPvyYo8ocZg8CDNpNCQcSka-gxBca07RZHRrR_fOpvQfs9pRHbn44-xP2y8EHo1AXPXb7JgVl/s1521/screenshot.27146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1521" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTABjZYeWwHxnPpWfF-3k9alcL7pB-tM3g0npWFuhlN3B3_LKiHjWSud_lFkgubw2NCLUBgnayX9I7uEPJ5tLqHGCey2DFjRQv37xklQYzcfowMTvbL_yHPvyYo8ocZg8CDNpNCQcSka-gxBca07RZHRrR_fOpvQfs9pRHbn44-xP2y8EHo1AXPXb7JgVl/w400-h178/screenshot.27146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Look, there in the background is our old friend Dudley Castle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">More tomorrow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Dudley Development blog : Friday 1st March </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-80184701969093313302024-02-28T02:00:00.213+00:002024-02-28T07:39:36.596+00:00t's As Easy As A B C - NOT! (3)<p><span style="font-size: large;">Arriva's Cunning Plan</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObsEAKJJrLlhVQll4-dElCdhIlpTZOsvbFzCXdacisImCdSiRwCBMLfu5csGoPNXgK3ZtT1Wsfh7qYmcgehKENQ1w5sdqwd9G_ugKWAlfdNswQ45rV8Wcy2VNuXm5O1Bxw8W7rUsw9zxWJqSK1sPHqozyqLidbwEFKtgfHl2rqda7dno9EGzdLZxP5lMk/s762/screenshot.27107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="562" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObsEAKJJrLlhVQll4-dElCdhIlpTZOsvbFzCXdacisImCdSiRwCBMLfu5csGoPNXgK3ZtT1Wsfh7qYmcgehKENQ1w5sdqwd9G_ugKWAlfdNswQ45rV8Wcy2VNuXm5O1Bxw8W7rUsw9zxWJqSK1sPHqozyqLidbwEFKtgfHl2rqda7dno9EGzdLZxP5lMk/w369-h500/screenshot.27107.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To mitigate the complete withdrawal of services 405 and 408/9 with a half hourly service from Askern into Doncaster via Owston, Toll Bar and Bentley, the 51 is diverted via the A19 instead of the Great North Road (A1 as was).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Odd, really, as it only provides a service between Toll Bar and Bentley as shown on the current PTE map above.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibChiMe7LBdkcayjC5V2qe3pTdniGa2-5gVwNNjcC7P8u3DIhxv7NRBxXYoB6Y30KcA2_qjICEWSrkIoqOrNaS_B5uZ6XK5RDD2BwqtWEenibZES-b3b3bPagTZ9pRcku1LpoYNsQjmUqbAgl-THoGg6lR_OqVNC65i6Gd2D2uDrO3fNE-NoBdSCMbIOCa/s736/screenshot.27108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="736" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibChiMe7LBdkcayjC5V2qe3pTdniGa2-5gVwNNjcC7P8u3DIhxv7NRBxXYoB6Y30KcA2_qjICEWSrkIoqOrNaS_B5uZ6XK5RDD2BwqtWEenibZES-b3b3bPagTZ9pRcku1LpoYNsQjmUqbAgl-THoGg6lR_OqVNC65i6Gd2D2uDrO3fNE-NoBdSCMbIOCa/w400-h341/screenshot.27108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bentley has its own 66 and 64 offering frequent buses into Doncaster. The 66 is every 12 mins ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa_A2qd1pfl0ax3tsJQNyrfEg_AvE-YTTTUHZtG7GG0vrEQnElswY_WN92Q-Z0PQiUZDepxYuZnpt35vXitveE-nYJY4GUoIh2g7ndRFKmdrUVYQkhGIxXnuB3eKuEnV4d7YbtTDzbcb47Mk3V2Lw_k1-BN-B9iInBFn_g67lMCUhDsTUivPARC3NnpiB/s644/screenshot.27115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="644" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa_A2qd1pfl0ax3tsJQNyrfEg_AvE-YTTTUHZtG7GG0vrEQnElswY_WN92Q-Z0PQiUZDepxYuZnpt35vXitveE-nYJY4GUoIh2g7ndRFKmdrUVYQkhGIxXnuB3eKuEnV4d7YbtTDzbcb47Mk3V2Lw_k1-BN-B9iInBFn_g67lMCUhDsTUivPARC3NnpiB/w400-h271/screenshot.27115.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... and the 64/64A every hour.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQuk9rFjklYGy9UYv1qao_lxFMwNuuyelLXfKwuRVRg2kfHsd36ERFYPkvcgthquycdw6xCHqXZSHgNFc_jtukeSUE0FM2RTrznGCsLMKqhJhUPAKSqi6azPQHzPFwsDcE0nPiMbub4Vr3A8u3oqtVsfibDMMTS4jtnlcyTgzu1HRf6gm_6lH-f2DvcwI/s852/screenshot.27114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="852" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQuk9rFjklYGy9UYv1qao_lxFMwNuuyelLXfKwuRVRg2kfHsd36ERFYPkvcgthquycdw6xCHqXZSHgNFc_jtukeSUE0FM2RTrznGCsLMKqhJhUPAKSqi6azPQHzPFwsDcE0nPiMbub4Vr3A8u3oqtVsfibDMMTS4jtnlcyTgzu1HRf6gm_6lH-f2DvcwI/w400-h79/screenshot.27114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>In fact there is only the community of Toll Bar to be served by the diverted 51.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCXAq9EZ_IH2O0RSlZDhaWUTyux0CyqpXqhPl5Ik9RJCteLQwGgbRtILOH3iIcp3VLmkjiGZEj866dBJY8Xd6vEBJYX_j_OSDENq8zYj6agvac5rgZZ12v3g9rmhjlTqEzb4A3eZXVxiIbuQRgoQaoNQ2OdZVyYZz80H8xFszQ91bdL16U2qpW65wX7oP/s600/screenshot.27109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="578" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCXAq9EZ_IH2O0RSlZDhaWUTyux0CyqpXqhPl5Ik9RJCteLQwGgbRtILOH3iIcp3VLmkjiGZEj866dBJY8Xd6vEBJYX_j_OSDENq8zYj6agvac5rgZZ12v3g9rmhjlTqEzb4A3eZXVxiIbuQRgoQaoNQ2OdZVyYZz80H8xFszQ91bdL16U2qpW65wX7oP/w385-h400/screenshot.27109.jpg" width="385" /></a></div>But, perhaps, fbb muses, something else happened to the 51 from October 2022, something off the top of the PTE map, possibly dramatic changes in Askern?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon investigation, it turns out that the most dramatic change is that Arriva took over the 51 service from First Bus!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what fbb needs, as he pursues his investigation, is a full route map of the Arriva 51 from October 2022. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>There ain't one</b></span>! The standard travel South Yorkshire non-leaflet is mapless!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, to help the public, there appears to have been no printed material even for the change, so more tough cheese for the confused passenger! And more frustration for fbb!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Arriva does have a map on its web site ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujyTVoo1901o2bSGxYjmXISgqq90Oka66QK9ikLGGLVHmWbHjseyeaK_VgWF8f-q1859KDUsIBJYEIGBb8CrJ5gBL7pAo_d1EusIiJV7pc1vkHe9YNWN5Lp6NaGgmTzU8EpDdxTUKM2bjB4jv91eAoRk_flbEcNj3OCXtj2iSunr7LTg16qikZS41XZRV/s682/screenshot.27110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="682" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujyTVoo1901o2bSGxYjmXISgqq90Oka66QK9ikLGGLVHmWbHjseyeaK_VgWF8f-q1859KDUsIBJYEIGBb8CrJ5gBL7pAo_d1EusIiJV7pc1vkHe9YNWN5Lp6NaGgmTzU8EpDdxTUKM2bjB4jv91eAoRk_flbEcNj3OCXtj2iSunr7LTg16qikZS41XZRV/w400-h331/screenshot.27110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... which doesn't work, in common with much of Arriva's awful web presence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moovit has an unhelpful set of wiggles which ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTUDW5ZLXpPt3oiyARktHtuzR6hjtsPrzaBejlUpML-ntszIR8Gv0D-yYZWyiDxp_trFSkv30rP21zYbRPMSKEQGUWAoD9tuJpfsZ2RvmkaM17BGtSdhtN5WhP-xD8qe6humGtasyL5DTeD4BoUMwVa01d2KOufLOefdOrL5rRqNTH1iEnHLJioPjqFhQ/s1094/original_bd8d0ab4-208d-4fc6-8efa-649d0392ff25_Screenshot_20240226-183341.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="702" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTUDW5ZLXpPt3oiyARktHtuzR6hjtsPrzaBejlUpML-ntszIR8Gv0D-yYZWyiDxp_trFSkv30rP21zYbRPMSKEQGUWAoD9tuJpfsZ2RvmkaM17BGtSdhtN5WhP-xD8qe6humGtasyL5DTeD4BoUMwVa01d2KOufLOefdOrL5rRqNTH1iEnHLJioPjqFhQ/w256-h400/original_bd8d0ab4-208d-4fc6-8efa-649d0392ff25_Screenshot_20240226-183341.png" width="256" /></a></div>... seem inadequate and incomplete.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another information provider called Transitland (no neither had fbb) looks a bit better ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvdJPD_ZRjVPi2tmVefR_XPtTlpkgRiqVwdm4STb4WevCQxc7HB4OEwp5NzzFyzacl5A0MGwKwa2zPNfzmRR-bzJ0d_xZC25L61Nu3n_o1CTOOAqSuzRw2sAiqCBehis4QRYRVhsC8qNsofRJ_SYH924WUrU2PJoF8a1iPx4Q-A5E-pXuMI7xUoGQgy1x/s720/original_234e0414-ce8c-49f3-9a53-9c0c588d6401_Screenshot_20240226-183308.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="720" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvdJPD_ZRjVPi2tmVefR_XPtTlpkgRiqVwdm4STb4WevCQxc7HB4OEwp5NzzFyzacl5A0MGwKwa2zPNfzmRR-bzJ0d_xZC25L61Nu3n_o1CTOOAqSuzRw2sAiqCBehis4QRYRVhsC8qNsofRJ_SYH924WUrU2PJoF8a1iPx4Q-A5E-pXuMI7xUoGQgy1x/w400-h295/original_234e0414-ce8c-49f3-9a53-9c0c588d6401_Screenshot_20240226-183308.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... but it is certainly not an adequate map by fbb's definition. Add this squiggle to the current Attiva timetable for the 51 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBevHj8kAohjhVXTrRj4SEjjo5MIXTN2-JoPAdAH3RhrXOap449LWcoh1nsHMVU4EuCDWNerlSMh_7_z-NQptDWXJWaJwViaX5OesPHajOlm3uQsnLVCmkN0zSpWvDuOBYE6cmxkflK5MTOo8xq5o00zHAz0wOyeRkZn0SnuNbJ4cQBr_f6ka_mJFGzepe/s720/Screenshot_20240226-183135.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="720" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBevHj8kAohjhVXTrRj4SEjjo5MIXTN2-JoPAdAH3RhrXOap449LWcoh1nsHMVU4EuCDWNerlSMh_7_z-NQptDWXJWaJwViaX5OesPHajOlm3uQsnLVCmkN0zSpWvDuOBYE6cmxkflK5MTOo8xq5o00zHAz0wOyeRkZn0SnuNbJ4cQBr_f6ka_mJFGzepe/w400-h216/Screenshot_20240226-183135.png" width="400" /></a></div>..., and it all reveal that the service now diverts via Norbreck estate and Eden Drive (as did the 405 an 408/409) and runs to Norton which was, you remember (of course you do!!) also served by the 408/409.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>But, oh for a proper ma</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then fbb had a jackpot idea. If, he guessed, Arrive did once have a map, published for the takeover, maybe it would still lie hidden in the cobweb strewn depths that is the interwebnet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It did and it was</b></span>!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxeb1xcKYUFW4nsjF12IQqigTseljqcayBoHE55wo3BTnacigqcrlGuVdQldopoqakwFUrU_PfHiKJsJG1VYedr8E4R1oLhOtloLudH7C25RfhqPEzkeOaRJ7OXlrmw29KacedmMCWhLSwpqFjjo6IHQgDO5tD1iSNmqq0wxw9LqHJk725mIpka_mBjjd/s742/screenshot.27043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="500" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxeb1xcKYUFW4nsjF12IQqigTseljqcayBoHE55wo3BTnacigqcrlGuVdQldopoqakwFUrU_PfHiKJsJG1VYedr8E4R1oLhOtloLudH7C25RfhqPEzkeOaRJ7OXlrmw29KacedmMCWhLSwpqFjjo6IHQgDO5tD1iSNmqq0wxw9LqHJk725mIpka_mBjjd/w387-h573/screenshot.27043.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>Arriva's cunning plan does something (but not that much) to offset the loss of the 400s along the A19. On the negative side, everyone who is "rescued" by the revised 51 will have a longer journey and many will inevitably abandon the bus as a result.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe that is already happening, because what now pops up on line is ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arriva's New Cunning Plan ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... complete with <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>new high quality map</b></span>. After only about 18 months of the Arriva 51, the company is proposing another major change for its hard-done-by few remaining passengers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Enter the 44 and 45</b></span>! There's a 45A evenings and Sundays!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9xFH7-kw3S0jn6kezYoaxynLBMUUhODDSAVkqmVne-USqdPyKWSqdm84DgtzqXB7weBFD33XZawFK2QTN6fenlZyFwqjd8hresQGaSUUP5ThImbbOQYbaceUFhnH3ZbftgIaWhRTzqQDVC-WF1Mxe4ERfP_FV6YTvHdvLVEunfBQtUvH0o015p5YHAGR/s1171/Screenshot_20240227-143718.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9xFH7-kw3S0jn6kezYoaxynLBMUUhODDSAVkqmVne-USqdPyKWSqdm84DgtzqXB7weBFD33XZawFK2QTN6fenlZyFwqjd8hresQGaSUUP5ThImbbOQYbaceUFhnH3ZbftgIaWhRTzqQDVC-WF1Mxe4ERfP_FV6YTvHdvLVEunfBQtUvH0o015p5YHAGR/w394-h640/Screenshot_20240227-143718.png" width="394" /></a></div>Buses are hourly each way round.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Arriva tells us proudly how much better this will be than the half houry 51.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Really?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are the main points of Arriva-speak with comments by fbb.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z5d5HQ09x9RvOKZl9LlfV-vlUEJbfW4PD9ecLoD9UAaSB3OrHmLHYmK5LDFnP-Wy9k3ou3-_CdJQ5C3_yIv7uv4d1EI4BHW7FedSZfia3C7XdDPA-rpBN-Lb6oclQu3XgGj7jPPXM-ZcVg87m0LeIVD_Xu8sYKjLF9xcuvCZIlH_S1Fwmy4cZimBeG3x/s711/Screenshot_20240227-143910.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="711" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z5d5HQ09x9RvOKZl9LlfV-vlUEJbfW4PD9ecLoD9UAaSB3OrHmLHYmK5LDFnP-Wy9k3ou3-_CdJQ5C3_yIv7uv4d1EI4BHW7FedSZfia3C7XdDPA-rpBN-Lb6oclQu3XgGj7jPPXM-ZcVg87m0LeIVD_Xu8sYKjLF9xcuvCZIlH_S1Fwmy4cZimBeG3x/w400-h106/Screenshot_20240227-143910.png" width="400" /></a></div>Two journeys Monday to Friday in the peak direction replacing 3 or 4 journeys to./from Whitley on the old 51.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgZyPV8smY43mueiZaV9JHCbDQaGqrY2cg_LmjZL_zgAXStabVenw7KV2b7nyO9uYujfSz_SCwPs6Rjg1p_sffl1moRUXsIi0d1HuETkP4atIOVqbUwu-MniGDnHRIOD3g7YvyuAIOwMF7NAl87vxw4ULjeEbA7W_Dsyi6k8S-nUdBv5jpPvnwoBL7M27/s720/Screenshot_20240227-143905.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="720" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgZyPV8smY43mueiZaV9JHCbDQaGqrY2cg_LmjZL_zgAXStabVenw7KV2b7nyO9uYujfSz_SCwPs6Rjg1p_sffl1moRUXsIi0d1HuETkP4atIOVqbUwu-MniGDnHRIOD3g7YvyuAIOwMF7NAl87vxw4ULjeEbA7W_Dsyi6k8S-nUdBv5jpPvnwoBL7M27/w400-h71/Screenshot_20240227-143905.png" width="400" /></a></div>OK, faster than the 51 but slower than the 405 and 408/409<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGJ7a-540VHWxqDgxJMI1MkwRUX9k9xBn6wBzoCejzz223PtLTqhKQYDL37cs8q6Kv0LObDuJ-yYvX-9cFxvPghC5RQL0NBFWTz3MEdVZMoKpCnjfoV6Lq4YIMhNDJMcMvupxPn7wcaDrXRYzj3T4J2FpGPPt2hVKWi2ZICNAYmjcWJesvjYR2h8Iut-O/s720/Screenshot_20240227-143854.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="720" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGJ7a-540VHWxqDgxJMI1MkwRUX9k9xBn6wBzoCejzz223PtLTqhKQYDL37cs8q6Kv0LObDuJ-yYvX-9cFxvPghC5RQL0NBFWTz3MEdVZMoKpCnjfoV6Lq4YIMhNDJMcMvupxPn7wcaDrXRYzj3T4J2FpGPPt2hVKWi2ZICNAYmjcWJesvjYR2h8Iut-O/w400-h144/Screenshot_20240227-143854.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is good to see that Councillors, not Arriva, now decide to reduce services from half hourly to hourly. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Twaddle</b></span>. The new service can only be hourly, Councillor or no Councillor. Bet his/her voters are really pleased.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjcFoyZVNiVPbT5YN4QDGl1hhOsY_rz2owAya7aH2A-3HBar3gSF-p8RMOjzUF8Ei7Y0KPGN2d7tc2T1Y_3Ae6g5lUGNBlps2fEY9xxaKOODwlujpnoOrJoWPFKqPELwdbYNknI7XOJk3JMDDqvkrM2HLoUMIVY0CurivE6FD1fFD4mpACWJyuqwXwa9J/s720/Screenshot_20240227-143841.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="720" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjcFoyZVNiVPbT5YN4QDGl1hhOsY_rz2owAya7aH2A-3HBar3gSF-p8RMOjzUF8Ei7Y0KPGN2d7tc2T1Y_3Ae6g5lUGNBlps2fEY9xxaKOODwlujpnoOrJoWPFKqPELwdbYNknI7XOJk3JMDDqvkrM2HLoUMIVY0CurivE6FD1fFD4mpACWJyuqwXwa9J/w400-h69/Screenshot_20240227-143841.png" width="400" /></a></div>Faster than the 51 but not faster than the 408/409.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXf0pNh7mG6GZ50AyKi2Ec7E5Yace1by-8W1HZluy9TtN42K6YHR2h2i7DAxUQfrK3iN7NsgnwALy7fTLcnchDLvhtdZbc3IsBpUWH98HXSlOg_CVQo20JumxM1I6ryraB9LNYfNPkpXAkztdJvVlWn_9jx8KKVELZCVEc76wuANt8lclt0TmgniEVk6_/s720/Screenshot_20240227-143833.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="720" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXf0pNh7mG6GZ50AyKi2Ec7E5Yace1by-8W1HZluy9TtN42K6YHR2h2i7DAxUQfrK3iN7NsgnwALy7fTLcnchDLvhtdZbc3IsBpUWH98HXSlOg_CVQo20JumxM1I6ryraB9LNYfNPkpXAkztdJvVlWn_9jx8KKVELZCVEc76wuANt8lclt0TmgniEVk6_/w400-h75/Screenshot_20240227-143833.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">An improvement, yippee</b><b>. </b>The southern part of Campsall was not served (was never served?) by bus!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0t0jPS5KUxJpqt2HJhq7U2-IlCapXi7zP-5xhEJuRVNTvq5hJyk0fY_-dYIXvWyvGjIuBFgT_P1S8rmqwL2LgGZlTmSEt1cNMxgLkvlQf534eYyMgj7Embj1sad3shsnNYpw9U6QtxgYTb-0onzhUmiZHyNOubh4L8_rL9n7kEZNVbTUlfhSvdobjx4E/s720/Screenshot_20240227-143738.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="720" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0t0jPS5KUxJpqt2HJhq7U2-IlCapXi7zP-5xhEJuRVNTvq5hJyk0fY_-dYIXvWyvGjIuBFgT_P1S8rmqwL2LgGZlTmSEt1cNMxgLkvlQf534eYyMgj7Embj1sad3shsnNYpw9U6QtxgYTb-0onzhUmiZHyNOubh4L8_rL9n7kEZNVbTUlfhSvdobjx4E/w400-h71/Screenshot_20240227-143738.png" width="400" /></a></div>Indeed, just like the former 408/409!<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">In general most 51 passengers are a little better off in tunning time but worse off in a halving of frequency. All former 408/409 passengers are still worse off in running time than they were with the original</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here is an extract from the new timetable which starts on April 7th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMnaTdeL48Cs4xXqn4iqVAUOZFKGj4Ia6TIN7Vbd-K5mz2RCDsHr5J2LTAU4f0FQ8bq30l9uj5eF45JYd3W1hwY9Yxf42SkoUhxKws-8mHDp1KhYptoKQJmDXUSZ5LlfvZmcg1oFQfZ2XqKDwviMYUp-RczzE_3vTAyg16sXJNyeifL2KeVmjknGcE1Xg/s732/screenshot.27113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="598" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMnaTdeL48Cs4xXqn4iqVAUOZFKGj4Ia6TIN7Vbd-K5mz2RCDsHr5J2LTAU4f0FQ8bq30l9uj5eF45JYd3W1hwY9Yxf42SkoUhxKws-8mHDp1KhYptoKQJmDXUSZ5LlfvZmcg1oFQfZ2XqKDwviMYUp-RczzE_3vTAyg16sXJNyeifL2KeVmjknGcE1Xg/w401-h492/screenshot.27113.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Notes A and B merely tell you that buses continue round the loop, "A" from Askern to Norton and "B" from Askern to Sutton.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>A</b></span>skern, <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>B</b></span>urghwallis and <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>C</b></span>ampsall solved - until the next time!</div><br /><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">It never ceases to amaze fbb that bus companies can advertise a poorer service as an improvement.</b></div><div><br /></div>It is <span style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Newspeak</b></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> of the worst kind as in George Orwell's 1984.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOtqJBO86QIaAPLRRb3-0_GMOWwtnvYSzaJ5Ds8frYMDEaP1_rD_fSRKoqrrEpz1M_6BTAQhnhHyMB2ZiE5g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Forget The Wagons</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Eat The Scratchings</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another OO fake advertising model from Rails of Sheffield, including a small bag of porcine snacks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EMRf6AhNLL58il58Iqi4bC6KkvCsvJuYWoZgLmgAdRW6JIhciMBV43X8Uq271BIzajssoO3btD2ScTv0CASX4ReQUPIFgVtn9lTcGfaxM_V3_URKUcCPoIpkS7N-wE44s5azh0Sv1bqXZ5zJK2Nsv1_eDhPeeGRA48WXRup-w820mYHMmCn6USSsfFpC/s881/Screenshot_20240227-152838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="513" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EMRf6AhNLL58il58Iqi4bC6KkvCsvJuYWoZgLmgAdRW6JIhciMBV43X8Uq271BIzajssoO3btD2ScTv0CASX4ReQUPIFgVtn9lTcGfaxM_V3_URKUcCPoIpkS7N-wE44s5azh0Sv1bqXZ5zJK2Nsv1_eDhPeeGRA48WXRup-w820mYHMmCn6USSsfFpC/w372-h640/Screenshot_20240227-152838.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>Plus postage, of course!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the big question is, are they "Barnsley" pigs, "Porkshire" pigs oir Yorkshire pigs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nlv2oWFPWH05P2mbCsLxOZw80oSgn4pwWlc96FKTltiW56SMw5zHdCpj8TxHeUcu802CPmdfp_K9vDc3TkW0jVUT5FhXZ8kYpUW1KpG-3piCW3qtGNpjeyXthUd79gC3S0RBmM79_5B148PR16R5By9CFhE7GaR35E3Nvx6fJuEzhtstdE072dcUumz8/s719/Screenshot_20240227-153051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="719" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nlv2oWFPWH05P2mbCsLxOZw80oSgn4pwWlc96FKTltiW56SMw5zHdCpj8TxHeUcu802CPmdfp_K9vDc3TkW0jVUT5FhXZ8kYpUW1KpG-3piCW3qtGNpjeyXthUd79gC3S0RBmM79_5B148PR16R5By9CFhE7GaR35E3Nvx6fJuEzhtstdE072dcUumz8/w400-h120/Screenshot_20240227-153051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>fbb is already salivating at the thought of a bagful!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJWPw5aBDZjntWK7cY9WOveWuR2bdjxkVtn5MhuMkZp13P0os3dRKqfD8pupy_E26i-i0E-z14YWNqfCCNPJXAwpky8N5o66YRfvDNS-wtLPc55uNqYRSorhF0dSSeB4Z4ztBbZt64XGKMQhs0m1EbBL_2jytQRuK5-o5ZNbz1gGPz1cu188ZLmBLy_jy/s881/Screenshot_20240227-153203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="650" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJWPw5aBDZjntWK7cY9WOveWuR2bdjxkVtn5MhuMkZp13P0os3dRKqfD8pupy_E26i-i0E-z14YWNqfCCNPJXAwpky8N5o66YRfvDNS-wtLPc55uNqYRSorhF0dSSeB4Z4ztBbZt64XGKMQhs0m1EbBL_2jytQRuK5-o5ZNbz1gGPz1cu188ZLmBLy_jy/w364-h494/Screenshot_20240227-153203.jpg" width="364" /></a></div>And only about 5 million calories a bag!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7t-kpKiypF_WBNUOPXm2D9D_3eqrNYdhiXXsistI5HS6ITwpZUNpjvPgbYyzZ_gNAZevzfW3YIWR2vla4D4bsV8lksrdD6paGonKQpJaHxhjPWQzIov4LpoCOWbTLRv390-A9EZsf6ViqmWqAZLSOwJIkh_g56JE2HgB5Btax6OXCCtr_jFDTD4-owu0/s1124/Screenshot_20240227-160134.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="720" height="519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7t-kpKiypF_WBNUOPXm2D9D_3eqrNYdhiXXsistI5HS6ITwpZUNpjvPgbYyzZ_gNAZevzfW3YIWR2vla4D4bsV8lksrdD6paGonKQpJaHxhjPWQzIov4LpoCOWbTLRv390-A9EZsf6ViqmWqAZLSOwJIkh_g56JE2HgB5Btax6OXCCtr_jFDTD4-owu0/w332-h519/Screenshot_20240227-160134.png" width="332" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow we go to a hotbed of the technical revolution,</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Dudley blog : Thursday 29th Feb </b></div><div><p></p></div></div></div></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-28461868730766473532024-02-27T02:00:00.182+00:002024-02-27T08:04:04.132+00:00t's As Easy As A B C - NOT! (2)<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Road </span><span style="font-size: large;">A19 : Transport Has-Been</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSS5iTuXf7nbNxm52ijr9HT9DNkH4AxczFKR4YW0GqVMHE58gibSS0RNHKIP4hGxuLGc1wsgoaWwT2j3CSivUy7OhufadMdNPCGk3YIRdsSYwWN5ng13N71Xf6OaJAVLCdN8cBIM8UKyR6yifP7mHCAxiIbjC5Zr2Hk3iLVb06e3itX9cHTvaz48TbZqx/s1260/Screenshot_20240225-121334.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSS5iTuXf7nbNxm52ijr9HT9DNkH4AxczFKR4YW0GqVMHE58gibSS0RNHKIP4hGxuLGc1wsgoaWwT2j3CSivUy7OhufadMdNPCGk3YIRdsSYwWN5ng13N71Xf6OaJAVLCdN8cBIM8UKyR6yifP7mHCAxiIbjC5Zr2Hk3iLVb06e3itX9cHTvaz48TbZqx/w366-h640/Screenshot_20240225-121334.png" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It turns out that these services (excluding the Doncaster local 412) run to either Selby (405) or Pontefract (408 and 409) and were once in the hands of West Riding but now Arriva.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7PkelCMqLVng9O0V9dbMQMJgzvu-e-HRRjBSdau-rYnhiQsa3H_mVN1YgwqP1R9eOCVB56UC2asBFIwAnkPAZyyuEJeGRlMkl6tGGGU0EDsFsN5HjZ8DVfzvNvYqXhsaFiMzydbA1wgj-wbb8dLhmPHFOVvoDizixAZcUAKBBgbt63jEoo7pTWbuVJti/s694/screenshot.27097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="694" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7PkelCMqLVng9O0V9dbMQMJgzvu-e-HRRjBSdau-rYnhiQsa3H_mVN1YgwqP1R9eOCVB56UC2asBFIwAnkPAZyyuEJeGRlMkl6tGGGU0EDsFsN5HjZ8DVfzvNvYqXhsaFiMzydbA1wgj-wbb8dLhmPHFOVvoDizixAZcUAKBBgbt63jEoo7pTWbuVJti/w400-h230/screenshot.27097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The hourly 405 runs pretty much straight along the A19 with a little wiggle north of Askern.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The timetable is straightforward.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y7X0ElvVaXcaXeF8YlI4o42OFyQuWoa_Q9PSUOTv3EGNp-o2XjBKRba7xqejpebASBX7rAeE1AOZPa9fvZyx47hwrl5ut1wuQ7uK8YgutFaiMPrqn4nffGx3yzMLxbqOvQc5yTnsqNebo2qpPYwi5DuJ91BKJkrTCwdXMDQtf6OZ1qntfz8s7CinjNI8/s636/screenshot.27088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="636" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y7X0ElvVaXcaXeF8YlI4o42OFyQuWoa_Q9PSUOTv3EGNp-o2XjBKRba7xqejpebASBX7rAeE1AOZPa9fvZyx47hwrl5ut1wuQ7uK8YgutFaiMPrqn4nffGx3yzMLxbqOvQc5yTnsqNebo2qpPYwi5DuJ91BKJkrTCwdXMDQtf6OZ1qntfz8s7CinjNI8/w400-h209/screenshot.27088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>From Askern, the 408 and 409 (two hourly each) cut across to Pontefract serving various communities via some wiggly bits.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDL3qDZzVB_aVXc5ez0Mpf4gI-d0GNWT61pzesoq-Xg1gq0jkMEmNsaSZamTGg-WL2rvva4CU9BZR0zdoEdBGY8SlN8Vd89ReS_6As45EQb1JknrQ4kF9GMX0Zuy4gQXoKl_sLD81UN87qKahBhVBMkUtrPn2D2Wk6Jsy4plWHWdxW-3JOp8axLSKWxlG/s702/screenshot.27092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="702" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDL3qDZzVB_aVXc5ez0Mpf4gI-d0GNWT61pzesoq-Xg1gq0jkMEmNsaSZamTGg-WL2rvva4CU9BZR0zdoEdBGY8SlN8Vd89ReS_6As45EQb1JknrQ4kF9GMX0Zuy4gQXoKl_sLD81UN87qKahBhVBMkUtrPn2D2Wk6Jsy4plWHWdxW-3JOp8axLSKWxlG/w400-h299/screenshot.27092.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnfLrJVuVONHT9YFDKYRI5I6KSOXx7XwUss-gueJ43Fyz65HvvxvO-tbzssbTZswrmPHuqwFQCXBMGtiVH0dYWyMH-knOOmYZdsGQANuLxdRAfIgfi7nFpGUIjvu-rldIYbjjAIuirnswggds9dLOk1gWLe1UFZaMJZNwVWBIyokOnct2SQ8AtFS-xjbq/s760/screenshot.27094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="760" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnfLrJVuVONHT9YFDKYRI5I6KSOXx7XwUss-gueJ43Fyz65HvvxvO-tbzssbTZswrmPHuqwFQCXBMGtiVH0dYWyMH-knOOmYZdsGQANuLxdRAfIgfi7nFpGUIjvu-rldIYbjjAIuirnswggds9dLOk1gWLe1UFZaMJZNwVWBIyokOnct2SQ8AtFS-xjbq/w400-h249/screenshot.27094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the absence of a good map, fbb can only obtain his route knowledge from the timetabled point times for the 408 and 409.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_X-D65-0uFMOqnUvacxor7TmfZdTR8SUopZvZJ11_dFTiJIUnVWp0zcXDhn3cfFohveO8pMzol-jDM1BMyMQKXpuDZunCj-u5aC5uqgvrpADYIq0tYRGq0H5Htx1X3C_qtDku8-08WjZCGcDTFX_zaNrxoEKMdEIDNFKKmbe1qVbPoAZsSzp0irrLC23/s720/Screenshot_20240225-142644.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="720" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_X-D65-0uFMOqnUvacxor7TmfZdTR8SUopZvZJ11_dFTiJIUnVWp0zcXDhn3cfFohveO8pMzol-jDM1BMyMQKXpuDZunCj-u5aC5uqgvrpADYIq0tYRGq0H5Htx1X3C_qtDku8-08WjZCGcDTFX_zaNrxoEKMdEIDNFKKmbe1qVbPoAZsSzp0irrLC23/w400-h256/Screenshot_20240225-142644.png" width="400" /></a></div>The 408 goes via Thorpe Audlin and a stop for Wentbridge but on the A1 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR_7eQEYFFhxgy0DPKx_5xnC2nqFnAZWQ5nGTqIPxoz5XVBKrQi_mcHTcYXPy2fDmifWzFtwX3pn7c8pWkSf_1t-7gWElLXc22kDkFcaxaGf1qJORqT8fTHv6kO4N6FvziZsFRBn6qAVVBTeDWROfdJdZvQ2S81newJ82wwzp6Q6sO7S9YD2u0Bj4UWQW/s668/screenshot.27098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="668" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR_7eQEYFFhxgy0DPKx_5xnC2nqFnAZWQ5nGTqIPxoz5XVBKrQi_mcHTcYXPy2fDmifWzFtwX3pn7c8pWkSf_1t-7gWElLXc22kDkFcaxaGf1qJORqT8fTHv6kO4N6FvziZsFRBn6qAVVBTeDWROfdJdZvQ2S81newJ82wwzp6Q6sO7S9YD2u0Bj4UWQW/w400-h274/screenshot.27098.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... whilst the 409 operates via Kirk Smeaton and Womersley. Both routes come back together at Darrington. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Note the village of Cridling Stubbs in the top right hand corner of the map. It was an obvious move to use that village name for two previous owners of fbb mansions, namely cats Cridling and Stubbs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Obvious!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In passing there was a third bus route between Doncaster and Pontefract operated by the gorgeously independent South Yorkshire Road Transport Limited, also from North Bridge in Doncaster. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wIEaFU3boJgK3l_Kp085WbYRgZ913CIybHI3BCeULZooD8tle8LVRw1Cir39gHjADVSdcwlOrrsJ_vX9cupmEHVgii-qYo9aX3brW2Ggtgs4p-vBiSL4TklSHvkRTtxG1Jyed6XhJuQjD8cuJNxOmON6iCEdlb9PKtbhl3luvt2cV84kw1QZ1XaoGO_-/s720/Screenshot_20240226-124105.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="720" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wIEaFU3boJgK3l_Kp085WbYRgZ913CIybHI3BCeULZooD8tle8LVRw1Cir39gHjADVSdcwlOrrsJ_vX9cupmEHVgii-qYo9aX3brW2Ggtgs4p-vBiSL4TklSHvkRTtxG1Jyed6XhJuQjD8cuJNxOmON6iCEdlb9PKtbhl3luvt2cV84kw1QZ1XaoGO_-/w400-h234/Screenshot_20240226-124105.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It ran to or via Cutsyke ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcACwAyP1fKJbHQ_r9cHCQR63HZpi88AmqomK7SQ86pgelpRlntV39TqI6j63N06hUYeXJQzPAKdEBzgWGeE_q0NF5PdSDKXTuhgZ2Dz2hgwz1eF7xp2Y55FzWFb3qvsh-hy_lasxUlfMVkCVwZQThW4rkQ_ELG2FNuNXYz73vjw5BmWlW88NCyssePKIL/s1091/Screenshot_20240226-122400.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="706" height="583" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcACwAyP1fKJbHQ_r9cHCQR63HZpi88AmqomK7SQ86pgelpRlntV39TqI6j63N06hUYeXJQzPAKdEBzgWGeE_q0NF5PdSDKXTuhgZ2Dz2hgwz1eF7xp2Y55FzWFb3qvsh-hy_lasxUlfMVkCVwZQThW4rkQ_ELG2FNuNXYz73vjw5BmWlW88NCyssePKIL/w377-h583/Screenshot_20240226-122400.png" width="377" /></a></div>... which is a suburb of Castleford, due west of Pontefract. The route was given 410 in the South Yorkshire PTE numbering scheme and the above is one vehicle that actually showed it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also of note is that the 405 and 408/9 are timed at Eden Drive Askern having wiggled via the Norbreck Estate to the east of the village centre.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mDcYvQJ5RsCocYvB8Lma3e70w3nbFBSWeyv_6-9UlLzSkJKn13B2V9b4puKXAiuXw6oNVop8_cEIgTpd6N64ALKxTB2EWFgvIxcywaSl-mOlw1nYxdmwwLf9LXV0UMhL235mYAXTFcDJ5-LeJAmAmB3qjHJNo9MH5iBg45d7e9O6FfG6-0awH0F4Mm50/s628/screenshot.27100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="628" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mDcYvQJ5RsCocYvB8Lma3e70w3nbFBSWeyv_6-9UlLzSkJKn13B2V9b4puKXAiuXw6oNVop8_cEIgTpd6N64ALKxTB2EWFgvIxcywaSl-mOlw1nYxdmwwLf9LXV0UMhL235mYAXTFcDJ5-LeJAmAmB3qjHJNo9MH5iBg45d7e9O6FfG6-0awH0F4Mm50/w400-h245/screenshot.27100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Having wiggled (and here is a 405 wigglin ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgDfivUuWgrRbVoyJae2ZeApvUn2xZvq4F52Ae1XezIx7RqWJKw-rFqsCaK4L1pPy7bM5VBg9L-8-ga94aj5gl62Mvj7IsDTBdRL7MONfbhAeFW0rtJXkGixV26gpisc_zUmEFYitMt5DWwszgxzfMuA7uR2GaCp3GBZP4PFFBhOPUz1FeLm7hhrGiZqs/s424/screenshot.27052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgDfivUuWgrRbVoyJae2ZeApvUn2xZvq4F52Ae1XezIx7RqWJKw-rFqsCaK4L1pPy7bM5VBg9L-8-ga94aj5gl62Mvj7IsDTBdRL7MONfbhAeFW0rtJXkGixV26gpisc_zUmEFYitMt5DWwszgxzfMuA7uR2GaCp3GBZP4PFFBhOPUz1FeLm7hhrGiZqs/w296-h400/screenshot.27052.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>... all thee routes terminated at Eden Drive, map below top right.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElWqtOfZV9dNHfaZN3HoOgbIWG8EP4mnhEKe2oahqom6ZRK1G0XmwLkB_XmzwjnGE_mSIu-LT_2xWotqCXameXIbLpmEknrCh87YlQ5qPXIJfrRpDvuMwALMkjLsN_mgtcbVNoYJ3x7NwcfiDhsDs727n3pYdxJP2cIOatQok1R2BsqXIMTFD6vWXH_41/s498/screenshot.27101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElWqtOfZV9dNHfaZN3HoOgbIWG8EP4mnhEKe2oahqom6ZRK1G0XmwLkB_XmzwjnGE_mSIu-LT_2xWotqCXameXIbLpmEknrCh87YlQ5qPXIJfrRpDvuMwALMkjLsN_mgtcbVNoYJ3x7NwcfiDhsDs727n3pYdxJP2cIOatQok1R2BsqXIMTFD6vWXH_41/w400-h400/screenshot.27101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here South Yorks PTE has given then a little bus shelter but no stop flag!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21DmAwZZUCz-sFIEMTBr9BhT5MKBz3j-U84l_0SapSt4B1Z4vgQLrM9JNRfE8RLIzwgslrnf2Cu8OBZ5_ND5qIshPLwt8LyXJgDyuUK63uki-eCZkB5ICI4M3IqaK7v2myhjgxIY_bOX87COzAAXbMNl7M5OOPNmESl5b_PbkZChbWjZP93gh3PAzSVZA/s678/screenshot.27102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="678" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21DmAwZZUCz-sFIEMTBr9BhT5MKBz3j-U84l_0SapSt4B1Z4vgQLrM9JNRfE8RLIzwgslrnf2Cu8OBZ5_ND5qIshPLwt8LyXJgDyuUK63uki-eCZkB5ICI4M3IqaK7v2myhjgxIY_bOX87COzAAXbMNl7M5OOPNmESl5b_PbkZChbWjZP93gh3PAzSVZA/w400-h291/screenshot.27102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So Norbreck estate and Eden Drive had two buses an hour on the 405 and 408/9.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then came October 2022 with massive Arriva cits.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>405 : Selby – Askern – Doncaster</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">This service is withdrawn as we have been unable to secure enough funding to continue running the route. We would like to thank all our customers over the years who have travelled with us on this service.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Arriva says a courteous thank you, but, tough cheese, you'll have to walk!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>408/409 : Pontefract – Askern – Doncaster</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">This service is substantially reduced as we have been unable to secure enough funding to continue running the route in its current form.</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this case a bit of the 408/409 is retained at the Pontefract end.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBavWfl9Qysn3lyHHURENXw2pvoUrB6o2MN9MFVAHft6Y0N9-NFdr_aWS6Wd0dp8W6yT7-adQ2QXxILJBKkwghQ5JX4tajg3vMPt3ZzH-MxkF6yXKRNzEoNiR8cOtno0qfejXFeKPJAXDH9HkMParqvhzEYa-zI1733yLmFrE0GkCJA873bQWkThxrWls/s720/Screenshot_20240225-143146.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="720" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBavWfl9Qysn3lyHHURENXw2pvoUrB6o2MN9MFVAHft6Y0N9-NFdr_aWS6Wd0dp8W6yT7-adQ2QXxILJBKkwghQ5JX4tajg3vMPt3ZzH-MxkF6yXKRNzEoNiR8cOtno0qfejXFeKPJAXDH9HkMParqvhzEYa-zI1733yLmFrE0GkCJA873bQWkThxrWls/w400-h214/Screenshot_20240225-143146.png" width="400" /></a></div>Basically this short 408/409 serves the same villages as before but only for links to Pontefract - so, again, tough cheese if you wanted to go to Doncaster!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Arriva had a cunning plan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It aimed to mitigate the loss of service along the A19 from Doncaster; to continue the Norbreck estate wiggle and to get folk to the pulsating hub of Yorkshire life called Norton ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTpysbSBDwWLM6Aja1JfUVmSTkyGdmiaclDdMZBmxFca3mmAdtHcYQrTTEZwLrIum97iVJWUxH2emWlNQeKydJJ8FCTvnGlY0bbu-ibKGyCDgCbtO5xFFX5ObtMMvbVzF-WQ2GRe23GiBOzV8GNrfgM90cBjK3tSmp6JWVNCEFUE4fZ4M4fPymmF1nobv/s506/screenshot.27105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTpysbSBDwWLM6Aja1JfUVmSTkyGdmiaclDdMZBmxFca3mmAdtHcYQrTTEZwLrIum97iVJWUxH2emWlNQeKydJJ8FCTvnGlY0bbu-ibKGyCDgCbtO5xFFX5ObtMMvbVzF-WQ2GRe23GiBOzV8GNrfgM90cBjK3tSmp6JWVNCEFUE4fZ4M4fPymmF1nobv/w341-h400/screenshot.27105.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>... which has TWO pubs and the locally renowned ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZR0A4fWBTUBhonfseUNuS0HqblqRNyz2tEyzQ4NJKMBpg6bi7zWD-7fgIIyopZGChWXZdMxgMSrIePBw0EkCudGFlTzdcUg4n86nhYGCf-3SVmZZtcJyFswmHJxXeMKenle9piiyQy5OjMZyPTrGt2TDyEhsjHEQKZzLcJK8QVqxKPFfRpcp2zRxmp_q/s1122/screenshot.27104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1122" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZR0A4fWBTUBhonfseUNuS0HqblqRNyz2tEyzQ4NJKMBpg6bi7zWD-7fgIIyopZGChWXZdMxgMSrIePBw0EkCudGFlTzdcUg4n86nhYGCf-3SVmZZtcJyFswmHJxXeMKenle9piiyQy5OjMZyPTrGt2TDyEhsjHEQKZzLcJK8QVqxKPFfRpcp2zRxmp_q/w400-h208/screenshot.27104.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... Baps and Apps plus Attic Antiques.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Arriva's stunning development will be revealed in tomorrow's blog with apologies for a slight change of plan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it is quite hard on your noble blogger's <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>28856 day old brain</b></span>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK the brain did work for a few months before fbb was "untimely ripped" at the Barratt Maternity hospital, Northampton - but we do not need to be too picky!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">fbb Has Bought One</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCWO95IydNrxyekKcmCCPMtnHK0gO04PN3mav5UCYrZgR6uBaYHL_15za1GNw5LAalyR0p6k7EdwHnntqWOZ6meOBIICdk0b6g6rFiDCJTnCVGMUnSSkhkt12JR-X4WPrv2O-mBDnFbsH97vkd9Uj9Z6FULRz9gfCu5tmZgRh11aYZQocrELXoOsuS8GR/s578/Screenshot_20240220-204236.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="555" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCWO95IydNrxyekKcmCCPMtnHK0gO04PN3mav5UCYrZgR6uBaYHL_15za1GNw5LAalyR0p6k7EdwHnntqWOZ6meOBIICdk0b6g6rFiDCJTnCVGMUnSSkhkt12JR-X4WPrv2O-mBDnFbsH97vkd9Uj9Z6FULRz9gfCu5tmZgRh11aYZQocrELXoOsuS8GR/w384-h400/Screenshot_20240220-204236.png" width="384" /></a></div>... and it should be arriving tomorrow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Talking Of Lights On The Top ...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">... the top oif Peterville tunnel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB2rmreCZRhS22IupViGlspvk-zMzJdR0FhlQN8iclOk7qI37TzX_dGFpoxkdeHAa91QnAioTH8ZNIdSLccNoaiRCEv3yNoe9fsjadDpH5JYcBu8Zfoa8_rA7_glIAdRGDZg7dwReAq25iSUPj8UJ1RCEzyYsSn_NV0sYfhaTc5bCYqpTqk-NnnUZ296T/s4160/IMG_20240226_133919_889.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB2rmreCZRhS22IupViGlspvk-zMzJdR0FhlQN8iclOk7qI37TzX_dGFpoxkdeHAa91QnAioTH8ZNIdSLccNoaiRCEv3yNoe9fsjadDpH5JYcBu8Zfoa8_rA7_glIAdRGDZg7dwReAq25iSUPj8UJ1RCEzyYsSn_NV0sYfhaTc5bCYqpTqk-NnnUZ296T/w325-h433/IMG_20240226_133919_889.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>The luxury Nissen Hut holiday let and the camping Routemaster are now "posed" with lights working in their future location, pending full landscaping and additional arboriculture. Peterville Castle has moved an imaginary mile or so to the north.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERQnjfcBsLvv3kk7JUKRAJ7c6y4WwB5vRJME5i6mKSMeEnDh4rDNs83-_RKPXXTGesjnJqlJYBF0Fk74vijOnPhvyhu5eF_di1njvtGoVkytCuGv2CquSVzs_JCYBocH-EViGD-YWlsaEtasGILABDEMPmGPSqdLWyoXTlzlwgJu6Gyu8fO8xQpMpCdO9/s4160/IMG_20240226_134011_216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERQnjfcBsLvv3kk7JUKRAJ7c6y4WwB5vRJME5i6mKSMeEnDh4rDNs83-_RKPXXTGesjnJqlJYBF0Fk74vijOnPhvyhu5eF_di1njvtGoVkytCuGv2CquSVzs_JCYBocH-EViGD-YWlsaEtasGILABDEMPmGPSqdLWyoXTlzlwgJu6Gyu8fO8xQpMpCdO9/w300-h400/IMG_20240226_134011_216.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>A better twilight view will materialise when the surrounding scenery is more complete. There's a log cabin and some low relief yurts to come!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">==========================</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><i><b><u>Please Note</u></b></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><i>It didn't last. After a brief burst of efficiency the gremlins at blogger/Google are back on the loose. Prising pictures out of the depths of the Googlesphere is proving frustrating and slow - one reason why the rest of this? A B C blog is delayed.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">===========================</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Easy A B C blog : Wednesday 28th Feb </b></span></div></div></div></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-60075590849519213192024-02-26T02:00:00.130+00:002024-02-26T04:11:53.919+00:00It's As Easy As A B C - NOT! (1)<p><span style="font-size: large;">That's <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">A</span></b>skern,</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>B</b></span><span>urghwallis, </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>C</b></span><span>ampsall</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKUZjgn8fF3eoBEUSQ-6S1hRNBnsqioQqPTH6SQIqSCRxwPbtwZ6CHIIbRPDmDkqnmnZ8y_D5PDKC6Iv4bZfcVKwIWVtvKBWy7ERGF1AMh5gaat9jPoLyHHBioEoOf8NBHHtYBaFfffkkp84NXc8f7KBceoIEZZNJMVPuXAlFcIMMyAGknK_Qij-flmU6/s589/screenshot.27074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="552" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKUZjgn8fF3eoBEUSQ-6S1hRNBnsqioQqPTH6SQIqSCRxwPbtwZ6CHIIbRPDmDkqnmnZ8y_D5PDKC6Iv4bZfcVKwIWVtvKBWy7ERGF1AMh5gaat9jPoLyHHBioEoOf8NBHHtYBaFfffkkp84NXc8f7KBceoIEZZNJMVPuXAlFcIMMyAGknK_Qij-flmU6/w375-h400/screenshot.27074.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These three communities, plus Skellow., Sutton and Norton, lie to the north of Doncaster between the A1 and the A19. Historically, these roads were served by a joint operation between Doncaster Corporation ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8KGTYDYqiDY-6-13-jndu7APFRAKVgVSq3ITR43ATWmQ0feEtuSMKO_EyYQiWA7udClkVVkdFzHLbGX8Z1kLEJetefAS1DuxFm9_1uhKqqn5RryI5ZOxSqJcr1JUtE6sQkk8rSmZ5JBKnOVGHiufF0pHrx699-MA5cxyq6cWzpPvKFkzZAvc0KZKxFpA/s484/screenshot.27077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="484" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8KGTYDYqiDY-6-13-jndu7APFRAKVgVSq3ITR43ATWmQ0feEtuSMKO_EyYQiWA7udClkVVkdFzHLbGX8Z1kLEJetefAS1DuxFm9_1uhKqqn5RryI5ZOxSqJcr1JUtE6sQkk8rSmZ5JBKnOVGHiufF0pHrx699-MA5cxyq6cWzpPvKFkzZAvc0KZKxFpA/w400-h316/screenshot.27077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and Yorkshire Traction ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiDWtOe1S526uIla9rqclWLfe6j4sCiSAgC_y7xo2hmpJLYLB_g8BXN_HdHM-1hB8Wyzod4J2n6YNO58PZg1C7ruIOJCr-G6zfvxRRnzQlv8l1jiY_ngchZDnsE62vNeLHV3N4lg1A59orKDufdS1sIHb8pdmQPNPHSZrs8QKiwlX2ZTui1krABUTp4L1/s800/screenshot.27076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="800" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiDWtOe1S526uIla9rqclWLfe6j4sCiSAgC_y7xo2hmpJLYLB_g8BXN_HdHM-1hB8Wyzod4J2n6YNO58PZg1C7ruIOJCr-G6zfvxRRnzQlv8l1jiY_ngchZDnsE62vNeLHV3N4lg1A59orKDufdS1sIHb8pdmQPNPHSZrs8QKiwlX2ZTui1krABUTp4L1/w400-h276/screenshot.27076.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... as were most of the services leaving Doncaster via the A1. Note that Traccy showed route numbers (as here with 52) , but Doncaster ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZefxBXH2_mVg7BprWYA5_Yuc2youLpnKY3hgB2zmHmJNs2wTycuJcEimK_AxJVuFCe-TwUU8vPl1qtrmR4rsJmX3LtqmWGEI_t7HOE6yGFF5dCWDKU4UB4XCNNJgGeetf6KfhPYo9d9OEBXY2tgxzYslVEZBzs9L-4Rulk0VMEkCez5jZVsL1VdfE-rCu/s376/screenshot.27079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="376" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZefxBXH2_mVg7BprWYA5_Yuc2youLpnKY3hgB2zmHmJNs2wTycuJcEimK_AxJVuFCe-TwUU8vPl1qtrmR4rsJmX3LtqmWGEI_t7HOE6yGFF5dCWDKU4UB4XCNNJgGeetf6KfhPYo9d9OEBXY2tgxzYslVEZBzs9L-4Rulk0VMEkCez5jZVsL1VdfE-rCu/w400-h389/screenshot.27079.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... didn't.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>This all worked out very happily and led to that joy of a passenger's life, namely a good reliable and stable service. Sadly he creations of the PTE and later privatisation led to much re-jiggling and a good few changes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The detail is beyond the wit of fbb in a brief blog and so we need to look at the outcome.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the outcome was, of course First Bus, who bought out the management buyout of South Yorkshire PTE. The Doncaster area remained complex but we join the A1 amd A19 "V" shape with First Bus somewhat dominant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the PTE as 177 to Woodlands, for example, a destination we shall meet below.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2RxpL60SZGKOQ1a5aE7l_ftekRyeW5ljErtXcT3wghq1gu3Mq2IIe-xO91U64QJJd6FIkXJx8xm6EqlD5QNcE0Ve8EWQtu6jL-mlrmxK92IPYEQp1adeH3dHS1MCsAWzqpwXWQuGqPuaJy1IzLyAkNDneTA00dRx7hk2zcFGevWZHGlNB873zp7lyP_y/s696/screenshot.27080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2RxpL60SZGKOQ1a5aE7l_ftekRyeW5ljErtXcT3wghq1gu3Mq2IIe-xO91U64QJJd6FIkXJx8xm6EqlD5QNcE0Ve8EWQtu6jL-mlrmxK92IPYEQp1adeH3dHS1MCsAWzqpwXWQuGqPuaJy1IzLyAkNDneTA00dRx7hk2zcFGevWZHGlNB873zp7lyP_y/w285-h400/screenshot.27080.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>The corporation routes ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdVhyuw8nz-1EAHa7RjM0wmZSPIxUjnCF8uvc8z1-NQN2iDxSZUxWuq_o4vwYH-aWCcVpXiX8D68JGIFuci15clVwgJvoJvD8FUZvOSVxPemDaKA5XgptaVX9FlGFBFJhXMfhJA7SM11ouLr8YMvdQOZfNyNZ4irqsHk9T54-_TCRR71iJv5KG99UJTsk/s512/screenshot.27081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="512" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdVhyuw8nz-1EAHa7RjM0wmZSPIxUjnCF8uvc8z1-NQN2iDxSZUxWuq_o4vwYH-aWCcVpXiX8D68JGIFuci15clVwgJvoJvD8FUZvOSVxPemDaKA5XgptaVX9FlGFBFJhXMfhJA7SM11ouLr8YMvdQOZfNyNZ4irqsHk9T54-_TCRR71iJv5KG99UJTsk/w400-h285/screenshot.27081.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... had become 177 and 178 under the PTE numbering scheme.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ultimately First Bus had a tidy up to create a sensible block of routes all running our of town along the A1.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQZbRQch8xRCst87-9hCUnbq470EtKWbLNZnBTmRR1wvXeqm8S7HAzd8VnM4wuoSjjDrOlA7KLLQk0ez07SCqB3IBuafDHvaViwtDIaeGKTOu-9smaf27ZP9S0wY42l7GHBC7Kns24gRsA_MRETI-3SjPvyaTigl-0ffOTerIZdNbZxvaXA-bgWkgJzgp/s1150/Screenshot_20240225-132026.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="720" height="551" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQZbRQch8xRCst87-9hCUnbq470EtKWbLNZnBTmRR1wvXeqm8S7HAzd8VnM4wuoSjjDrOlA7KLLQk0ez07SCqB3IBuafDHvaViwtDIaeGKTOu-9smaf27ZP9S0wY42l7GHBC7Kns24gRsA_MRETI-3SjPvyaTigl-0ffOTerIZdNbZxvaXA-bgWkgJzgp/w345-h551/Screenshot_20240225-132026.png" width="345" /></a></div>But now the 54 just went one way round the Woodlands loop, not alternately as with the 177 and 178.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 50 and 50a served different bits of Carcroft ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJvAePDWUk_pZ5xjeJ70_QFA0epXZ4mu-Vla-2taQexD1Z6L-3wWAduYh60q44yrxO7W3sUEYJ6FoEoxfLPcmebJTAisBYqAdODEMZZAO1vGwQBAR5hWugpboTkC3kdE6MC1GHqZmnoLputH9hbrz1iieRfh2zKjFsneWEMXoxhKfe8fncrrY5YDBBeRQ/s730/screenshot.27082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="730" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJvAePDWUk_pZ5xjeJ70_QFA0epXZ4mu-Vla-2taQexD1Z6L-3wWAduYh60q44yrxO7W3sUEYJ6FoEoxfLPcmebJTAisBYqAdODEMZZAO1vGwQBAR5hWugpboTkC3kdE6MC1GHqZmnoLputH9hbrz1iieRfh2zKjFsneWEMXoxhKfe8fncrrY5YDBBeRQ/w400-h308/screenshot.27082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... but, to add to the fun, a 50B now served both bits evenings, Sundays and early mornings. This is a chunk of the current Saturday timetable.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN4W6_-cfK-cB6URCDqoqj1t_YK9wXRIukZ2By7fIL_q5sDh0SE-yuEGe0Rmy4NVbdhTN3ZvpQMO6DYFKcfE4GvJYwjpmdHCXXThq0X1Bbyes9bsTGnorwuMMbyKwA8Avji8mdtyCBwx5OCxjIfAus4L9G_z5ThjRPurebyDg2vo-F-5jNPATrYxs1igS/s876/screenshot.27089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="876" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN4W6_-cfK-cB6URCDqoqj1t_YK9wXRIukZ2By7fIL_q5sDh0SE-yuEGe0Rmy4NVbdhTN3ZvpQMO6DYFKcfE4GvJYwjpmdHCXXThq0X1Bbyes9bsTGnorwuMMbyKwA8Avji8mdtyCBwx5OCxjIfAus4L9G_z5ThjRPurebyDg2vo-F-5jNPATrYxs1igS/w400-h70/screenshot.27089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But this blog will now focus on the A B C of Askern, Burghwallis and Campsall as in the maps at the head of this post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgibqbsKbZ0rHvi6Q8a6FISGpocDCjCcZPKNLCCZHoGZEDeZ8aQXw05rBw0SJmv-lt6g-6G-pYXvt_P6uvhIQtB98Hm2FjYm3MtjUNOmO54Msp5hF80ntJQUxPlFjSg93UrjeSqafzWQ4Lcz2cEIMCqfwF_aWt-WQeI6l1Pvv4T9PJKecAYl5e7RnJrSl/s720/Screenshot_20240225-121204.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="720" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgibqbsKbZ0rHvi6Q8a6FISGpocDCjCcZPKNLCCZHoGZEDeZ8aQXw05rBw0SJmv-lt6g-6G-pYXvt_P6uvhIQtB98Hm2FjYm3MtjUNOmO54Msp5hF80ntJQUxPlFjSg93UrjeSqafzWQ4Lcz2cEIMCqfwF_aWt-WQeI6l1Pvv4T9PJKecAYl5e7RnJrSl/w400-h378/Screenshot_20240225-121204.png" width="400" /></a></div>The terminus of the then 51/51A was given as Instoneville which is a sort of detached estate at Askern.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLXsnOjIrm1sNDL2pvKU5szVF5PtgPsJOeVJooT6YIvxh_WXcH1ixxKmPWKRrCRxo4QVKaWGErSQuuM02mGVRUhdhgL4n4bFbikBe2qQ6HX5PydVejRXAUGR4kxUjW9yQ5f7rje21cZqjGVG9W7h5WM1VAhx9ABBTsvjkJ50ylJ16bS3xIveGCVzAJ26o/s556/screenshot.27085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLXsnOjIrm1sNDL2pvKU5szVF5PtgPsJOeVJooT6YIvxh_WXcH1ixxKmPWKRrCRxo4QVKaWGErSQuuM02mGVRUhdhgL4n4bFbikBe2qQ6HX5PydVejRXAUGR4kxUjW9yQ5f7rje21cZqjGVG9W7h5WM1VAhx9ABBTsvjkJ50ylJ16bS3xIveGCVzAJ26o/w373-h400/screenshot.27085.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>As far as fbb can tell, with no corroborative evidence. buses just reversed at an innocuous junction in the middle of the housing. The time point was Avenue Road Green Lane ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MQqO6_UpUP6krBLvxrB9UBqJCG41iJYguqqgKZz9ZdHS3pA6iPh0_htrrLYC4dV_D83JsZUy-IwiTfp2J0AH3wTMh4Rt5GOKXfa2uBCLlGXtn7Qw3jH0GHFMcx4OdFHaCA3uMjWgxFZh7L3PPop0tgE0pIp5clAbaYKShwXDhP-LasS_8cyvC6ltlH52/s726/screenshot.27086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="438" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MQqO6_UpUP6krBLvxrB9UBqJCG41iJYguqqgKZz9ZdHS3pA6iPh0_htrrLYC4dV_D83JsZUy-IwiTfp2J0AH3wTMh4Rt5GOKXfa2uBCLlGXtn7Qw3jH0GHFMcx4OdFHaCA3uMjWgxFZh7L3PPop0tgE0pIp5clAbaYKShwXDhP-LasS_8cyvC6ltlH52/w241-h400/screenshot.27086.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>... with no turning facility, so just a reverse.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYZzI4aq-7dOBkjrDi3Ugz4NqVmQOti0IL57RhwlQZDDZn2COQms0BHNDGLYQYM0tEFYXzvYRyeSCUvcOgXQfy9lyiKlopQI7KLgCpshzoyZLaw94iHOMFIxVdxC4E4K4w85pz2hwpS55z3Od_TVRpvixDzYuLOg2urruzfAOJVdjZMzH2vkPcEXBOSIB/s708/screenshot.27083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="708" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYZzI4aq-7dOBkjrDi3Ugz4NqVmQOti0IL57RhwlQZDDZn2COQms0BHNDGLYQYM0tEFYXzvYRyeSCUvcOgXQfy9lyiKlopQI7KLgCpshzoyZLaw94iHOMFIxVdxC4E4K4w85pz2hwpS55z3Od_TVRpvixDzYuLOg2urruzfAOJVdjZMzH2vkPcEXBOSIB/w400-h243/screenshot.27083.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There is no evidence of the terminus now; buses no longer serve Instoneville estate but only stop on the main road.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb has unearthed an old PTE timetable on line and it is surprisingly (NOT) very helpful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The outward run shows all buses as going DIRECT to Instoneville ...,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku_aj1T5fV9zjDrY25X5rjiNjh1VSbMTiO2qive4yWpbf478y0-pq8PbqCuIdh3-fHFYvZTPUo4uS5rYzwNhy3efxNnkg09Qgw_vbJu7aMfdZjnD3C1RGETm36E3wYyr2sGDDDftRelBkb1epvBvxWrhq7FEry6GTTtK7Va1ifILZGiwGvBZv4cV74hSh/s720/Screenshot_20240225-132619.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="720" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku_aj1T5fV9zjDrY25X5rjiNjh1VSbMTiO2qive4yWpbf478y0-pq8PbqCuIdh3-fHFYvZTPUo4uS5rYzwNhy3efxNnkg09Qgw_vbJu7aMfdZjnD3C1RGETm36E3wYyr2sGDDDftRelBkb1epvBvxWrhq7FEry6GTTtK7Va1ifILZGiwGvBZv4cV74hSh/w400-h99/Screenshot_20240225-132619.png" width="400" /></a></div>... which, of course they didn't! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are good at maths you can work that out; because the 51A journey takes <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>17 minutes</b></span> from Skellow to Instoneville whereas the 51 does it in <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>9 minutes</b></span>. The map confirms these routes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFjpSs-CzOSTnQs-e12lPvK7Kz6OY-KAOXxwtiFhGaIUWQ5hXAObGDGPBz3R5HCbVJ4GxjO1HUhT9vh8l9obCEEFxSrdsIuD8ygMeeDxTvJoj4aQu9tHR9z-6CK0F37pDrr6Yz8Tei7yAhm64iu1e9nNUDcD8fRUSD5pV7Hell-w48yT3xOVifH_sJpeO/s694/Screenshot_20240225-184238.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="694" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFjpSs-CzOSTnQs-e12lPvK7Kz6OY-KAOXxwtiFhGaIUWQ5hXAObGDGPBz3R5HCbVJ4GxjO1HUhT9vh8l9obCEEFxSrdsIuD8ygMeeDxTvJoj4aQu9tHR9z-6CK0F37pDrr6Yz8Tei7yAhm64iu1e9nNUDcD8fRUSD5pV7Hell-w48yT3xOVifH_sJpeO/w400-h210/Screenshot_20240225-184238.png" width="400" /></a></div>In the opposite direction there is some help from the point times ..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgov2Br_qdBgurL-ATFvL23eR7EwIEScUZhsCo-N3kF0PQpZdvBLdjv9EWIhqRyRN8W8qdeXzhkFYN_hjyZE5cpXq_1IzSQDUwi1BbMM2RREiwH1fCxFpkuvADVvHCh02_nJ88KJJ0cPD99EUKEdVPSewzI0Fb06iRaQLMx9YqP5x52zWALiyT5t5TK-7b/s720/Screenshot_20240225-132433.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="720" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgov2Br_qdBgurL-ATFvL23eR7EwIEScUZhsCo-N3kF0PQpZdvBLdjv9EWIhqRyRN8W8qdeXzhkFYN_hjyZE5cpXq_1IzSQDUwi1BbMM2RREiwH1fCxFpkuvADVvHCh02_nJ88KJJ0cPD99EUKEdVPSewzI0Fb06iRaQLMx9YqP5x52zWALiyT5t5TK-7b/w400-h138/Screenshot_20240225-132433.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... with the 51A (out and back via Norton) getting a helpful Askern timing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 51 remained broadly stable for a while.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So that is a brief and incomplete history of the services via the A1.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what served the A19? From the map it would appear there was plenty.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfE8WM5QqOLFFPanDmFL32pV6LKNNRU7_NH9z3lIFuo-y_4oxzz58xT_Mmg7vgoPufPN-sdxgows2_aJNCrMj7_fjiT-dDmZQ3EfD0KA_gb8Hp78fgDZmHayEbsEiRPZH1HnvEru3YqShHJ_stZi6pdCi2LGfEKHM-1kXr5XsJuKMS1Ora8jkzDZLRMj/s1260/Screenshot_20240225-121334.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="720" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfE8WM5QqOLFFPanDmFL32pV6LKNNRU7_NH9z3lIFuo-y_4oxzz58xT_Mmg7vgoPufPN-sdxgows2_aJNCrMj7_fjiT-dDmZQ3EfD0KA_gb8Hp78fgDZmHayEbsEiRPZH1HnvEru3YqShHJ_stZi6pdCi2LGfEKHM-1kXr5XsJuKMS1Ora8jkzDZLRMj/w278-h485/Screenshot_20240225-121334.png" width="278" /></a></div>Historically these were West Riding bus routes to Selby and Pontefract which sort of skulked into a small bus station north of the railway bridge, called, surprisingly, North Bridge bus station.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhdKN7Ql2evbQS7UjErThHCLq59oDWmumUfySJnhD3WJyAP07Z4QvVtRHgtT-EWVhYBh36nmfSSwnlHT8nlcgLKV4IvG8z00Vg5WjaKg9vMP_jP1P3DJtKgJ1H8EsprDN3MqWynRqJdHJoogQMmleHHsSya29Eq2sRuMq3lyNuMtJVwZ2hPjtXpcLru1S/s748/screenshot.27087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="748" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhdKN7Ql2evbQS7UjErThHCLq59oDWmumUfySJnhD3WJyAP07Z4QvVtRHgtT-EWVhYBh36nmfSSwnlHT8nlcgLKV4IvG8z00Vg5WjaKg9vMP_jP1P3DJtKgJ1H8EsprDN3MqWynRqJdHJoogQMmleHHsSya29Eq2sRuMq3lyNuMtJVwZ2hPjtXpcLru1S/w400-h289/screenshot.27087.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The 412 was a local-to-Doncaster route, the X45 was an occasional evening variant so we are looking for 405, 408, and 409. These are services that passed to Arriva on privatisation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb will conclude this tale, including the latest development, in tomorrow's blog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were big happenings in October 2022.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">===========================</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Two Delightful Prezzies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial;"><b>The Coffee Cake</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqMN0nA4bGPYFgf0DujMTrF7yokKk2lPM_hLf5gwZe0XlAP-_utyNs85rrjbrcwuCJIiDa2JI5LvUS-dJzou6ihsEmFZ_I7SuFCuCDjmwGpvN18P3plvyCHthtUtx006CUV1IBBN-7CxknK9v3CQdoFAXxy8fGYkQnNvSgfc9fZbTbTxEaNzlDFJjRNy7/s2565/IMG_20240225_141603_653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="2565" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqMN0nA4bGPYFgf0DujMTrF7yokKk2lPM_hLf5gwZe0XlAP-_utyNs85rrjbrcwuCJIiDa2JI5LvUS-dJzou6ihsEmFZ_I7SuFCuCDjmwGpvN18P3plvyCHthtUtx006CUV1IBBN-7CxknK9v3CQdoFAXxy8fGYkQnNvSgfc9fZbTbTxEaNzlDFJjRNy7/w400-h278/IMG_20240225_141603_653.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>A Packet of Clothes Pegs</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwS6_VDp60jEwPFqH4VeHxDUcBXACkEgpAw8wTGUagsoiu-TWbqIrHzp7EfHAe5uo8tCP2gClE1jUgKHY8lHH1vPV4zxipbB-MwJX7xWW2PkUKgnYHNkGiK3TIFueWuhHH08HZX1ACitZM0q8dw7BL4przoW839u-0_dFOnJ8AUSiVvuo8FR0_fY1fntK/s2032/IMG_20240225_192826_736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1859" data-original-width="2032" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwS6_VDp60jEwPFqH4VeHxDUcBXACkEgpAw8wTGUagsoiu-TWbqIrHzp7EfHAe5uo8tCP2gClE1jUgKHY8lHH1vPV4zxipbB-MwJX7xWW2PkUKgnYHNkGiK3TIFueWuhHH08HZX1ACitZM0q8dw7BL4przoW839u-0_dFOnJ8AUSiVvuo8FR0_fY1fntK/w400-h366/IMG_20240225_192826_736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Readers may find this gift somewhat perplexing. But remember that fbb does "borrow" Mrs fbb's pegs to act as mini-clamps for his railway modelling.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsR1Cuy6PHy2JHm5QlmJNVdZVJwZKy-B7mGhq5LYR7uBZu4r1zbLrYjwQg0Nj20ni92Lnr2o9YZjduzTcBa8DO8nsGC1PDgod1-ao1d4ZKi_kAAwT9We5S5lRh2TjPo-fzfg_GcJD72evP7JjadzEAdz3zdD-kHG6bMQHW8jfvjHCYOLwKHJz3W9hwsEV/s3120/IMG_20240216_091835_424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="3120" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsR1Cuy6PHy2JHm5QlmJNVdZVJwZKy-B7mGhq5LYR7uBZu4r1zbLrYjwQg0Nj20ni92Lnr2o9YZjduzTcBa8DO8nsGC1PDgod1-ao1d4ZKi_kAAwT9We5S5lRh2TjPo-fzfg_GcJD72evP7JjadzEAdz3zdD-kHG6bMQHW8jfvjHCYOLwKHJz3W9hwsEV/w400-h354/IMG_20240216_091835_424.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gift pegs are smaller in size which makes them more useful. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet will arrive in three weeks, generous and much appreciated prezzy from "the boys".</div><div style="text-align: center;">===========================</div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Simple As ABC nlog : Tues 27th Feb </b></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-80881504247232457422024-02-25T02:00:00.295+00:002024-02-25T07:40:41.199+00:00Sunday Variety<p><span style="font-size: large;">A Special Day?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7cBjAjBjJW2Hms47P0PUvfvMcVKjAPc6InlTIqRxtKGI4RIom7s8MoH3eyCPWX67i4luZ4wfREDRW1YPHTVIQ1hm4O52cHC8DlvTzfRb_jfFH5yvxbQfzd3Du4ylobkA_zTeTyPwDS3KDvv0NP45WtKFo3rZoTYk-x_dBQVkk9TAMmjjTPADrV6ea0V/s650/screenshot.27069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7cBjAjBjJW2Hms47P0PUvfvMcVKjAPc6InlTIqRxtKGI4RIom7s8MoH3eyCPWX67i4luZ4wfREDRW1YPHTVIQ1hm4O52cHC8DlvTzfRb_jfFH5yvxbQfzd3Du4ylobkA_zTeTyPwDS3KDvv0NP45WtKFo3rZoTYk-x_dBQVkk9TAMmjjTPADrV6ea0V/w348-h400/screenshot.27069.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">U N O Change? : New? No Change</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VUo3PTdUvgT-Dx_LlmsdVx2iJ4NH-Rtyn1XMmJwZGJHnyvtJvMS98mLjJ8ZR2O4NpUnlmeUdyKBuglbIG8m9czVsOg0SGayUNyxTtG-XQ0_-ahVI_qytEtydcVtSJLJU_U8olwXm1B_pK2IPi4a5NBGWbf-NyzXqb7Ergc-1w6MYwQnMAbhkc2chW_ND/s590/screenshot.27056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VUo3PTdUvgT-Dx_LlmsdVx2iJ4NH-Rtyn1XMmJwZGJHnyvtJvMS98mLjJ8ZR2O4NpUnlmeUdyKBuglbIG8m9czVsOg0SGayUNyxTtG-XQ0_-ahVI_qytEtydcVtSJLJU_U8olwXm1B_pK2IPi4a5NBGWbf-NyzXqb7Ergc-1w6MYwQnMAbhkc2chW_ND/w339-h400/screenshot.27056.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">UNO is leaving Northampton; we don't know whether the operator jumped or was pushed but Stagecoach is about to take over.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As confidently predicted by fbb, but helped by early Stagecoach press releases, the main University of Northampton route 19/19A from the new (ish) southern campus north to the Halls of Residence is simply merged with the existing Stagecoach 4 which runs to Sunnyside. (It used to be called Obelisk Rise after a local, erm, obelisk!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLowi7EJP-hvKds5BTr_ZnTUS6VwmcaMOVLoBxWtiGyEpPUguc8cOxYsK-TnBP3lS2BlmX8qdB1mPK5DdMLoXtT0Qde3xIyzhU5fbr-tXggcRbczrtZdAcp_nfXtOEnI8Cc1UDJAkNsGUPGyuHkeOGKfAL89K_JJS22SCBDnkQzmRWvAvidOf3r_sMoDG/s658/screenshot.27057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="276" height="657" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLowi7EJP-hvKds5BTr_ZnTUS6VwmcaMOVLoBxWtiGyEpPUguc8cOxYsK-TnBP3lS2BlmX8qdB1mPK5DdMLoXtT0Qde3xIyzhU5fbr-tXggcRbczrtZdAcp_nfXtOEnI8Cc1UDJAkNsGUPGyuHkeOGKfAL89K_JJS22SCBDnkQzmRWvAvidOf3r_sMoDG/w276-h657/screenshot.27057.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>The 19, straight up Kingsthorpe Road, Eastern Avenue and then right onto Boughton Green Road becomes the 4A, whilst journeys via Kingsley become 4B.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seemples.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElM7vWQdUqcls1iu_ijhPgAgA-xqnwQu_nB_0E8s3Ir4U_eR4i0Ih4nVp4KRgdgQpTL0hEu16SZ7wu-efgMT-_ngXVaSzvq7MLmN_5bsLFPEEApDANemIHLGTD4pvNg7IRoc5XxmHW9nftj7V9M1P4Wv7ZMgpvCnoU4PeYpujUFvrsbCJ0J7SBuxDU3zT/s1077/Screenshot_20240223-134621.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="489" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElM7vWQdUqcls1iu_ijhPgAgA-xqnwQu_nB_0E8s3Ir4U_eR4i0Ih4nVp4KRgdgQpTL0hEu16SZ7wu-efgMT-_ngXVaSzvq7MLmN_5bsLFPEEApDANemIHLGTD4pvNg7IRoc5XxmHW9nftj7V9M1P4Wv7ZMgpvCnoU4PeYpujUFvrsbCJ0J7SBuxDU3zT/w290-h640/Screenshot_20240223-134621.png" width="290" /></a></div>The current 4 timetable is every 15 minutes, BUT ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8HPFvx-8gNf3FaQ28g4We4t50OdYof_C9BFqtumZVKXcjxKkBHZU0XVjv3nWdrklCSdjgyvpiRMNcx7dngbMOuiUDKpIVE4N6kCJXgesF1tNHMr3Z2lo58s7PlyyBP6dwQbgoOISBMkArOO6TTeTN-wl14EYwA6bJNW9XeZUGQxd5OTI_Wwn-FDm-Emy/s720/Screenshot_20240223-135117.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="720" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8HPFvx-8gNf3FaQ28g4We4t50OdYof_C9BFqtumZVKXcjxKkBHZU0XVjv3nWdrklCSdjgyvpiRMNcx7dngbMOuiUDKpIVE4N6kCJXgesF1tNHMr3Z2lo58s7PlyyBP6dwQbgoOISBMkArOO6TTeTN-wl14EYwA6bJNW9XeZUGQxd5OTI_Wwn-FDm-Emy/w400-h115/Screenshot_20240223-135117.png" width="400" /></a></div>... The new 4 is <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>reduced to every 20</b>.</span> Somewhere at the back of fbb's mind is that the original Stagecoach service to Obelisk Rise ran every 10 minutes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The new 4A/4B with a combined 20 minute headway ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArVae-D70tX_H3FEHgRkU54TBC-FB1ZiN3ngkPOBLf6JXb-PoOmPW_6uBm7z00TZ_9GbmYoOSFN_1bVcFCeHX-ZYrxc8-xtw-n0osq3kEieH8X2lvQ6QrReA6qtFYRrhkjbUjIZAW6usSK7b11QWWjSDr0w9CStKZ4Yx-UVmU6wbLwRgkOz7dQYTXMVAf/s720/Screenshot_20240223-134214.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="720" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArVae-D70tX_H3FEHgRkU54TBC-FB1ZiN3ngkPOBLf6JXb-PoOmPW_6uBm7z00TZ_9GbmYoOSFN_1bVcFCeHX-ZYrxc8-xtw-n0osq3kEieH8X2lvQ6QrReA6qtFYRrhkjbUjIZAW6usSK7b11QWWjSDr0w9CStKZ4Yx-UVmU6wbLwRgkOz7dQYTXMVAf/w400-h190/Screenshot_20240223-134214.png" width="400" /></a></div>... means that there is a bus every 10 minutes serving the Waterside Campus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The U N O non unversity competitive service 21 to Blackthorn ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEs7t54GjK2bRjIAUz4iDRVZzs9eCR59h-VcMSWQGALYHCEZxoawEdYMrjdvDvcLSL_c8AJKu5eS9rorEZdsCLJN-CUjOoc_ixewN5L1WgFXvucspTK3VNi48_Loajr7U1DsEZpwgZWG_jGQP70D2oTFtxW9Z1auyMLuQ5mSlRBg2vHbM1jbpTsEDg6I1/s676/screenshot.27055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="676" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEs7t54GjK2bRjIAUz4iDRVZzs9eCR59h-VcMSWQGALYHCEZxoawEdYMrjdvDvcLSL_c8AJKu5eS9rorEZdsCLJN-CUjOoc_ixewN5L1WgFXvucspTK3VNi48_Loajr7U1DsEZpwgZWG_jGQP70D2oTFtxW9Z1auyMLuQ5mSlRBg2vHbM1jbpTsEDg6I1/w400-h284/screenshot.27055.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... is replaced by extending the Stagecoach Kings Heath <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>route 8 cross-town on a similar 20 minute </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>frequency</b></span>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1eGR7xl3Nh2F0HSxYCj27Tw2zjhPjR4-QIQLnLzCEgD1y0z3mk1S8TYzARCdslCNiVQS8-VAMvKojmAtmv8jbUmq4vy7qI7Jh_dxnqSz1FZQFnT_WzFo13z8nE3zC70ZljiI9zm79DI_uHMHzlPjWtH2nzQjJGF7WmCEuisdndEuYjRMV6ZynzLvD4jo/s696/Screenshot_20240223-134306.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="696" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1eGR7xl3Nh2F0HSxYCj27Tw2zjhPjR4-QIQLnLzCEgD1y0z3mk1S8TYzARCdslCNiVQS8-VAMvKojmAtmv8jbUmq4vy7qI7Jh_dxnqSz1FZQFnT_WzFo13z8nE3zC70ZljiI9zm79DI_uHMHzlPjWtH2nzQjJGF7WmCEuisdndEuYjRMV6ZynzLvD4jo/w400-h194/Screenshot_20240223-134306.png" width="400" /></a></div>There are now three Stagecoach routes serving Rectory Farm on the east of the town and close to fbb's Little Billing childhood home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYF22kpM6Zy7_bnCJu1OWcketv_Y3K5xx-bEgJreMfVGUli2dJ5CDBoorBviLxGV_L_ayR9dvQROsd5aWYKOrkuXn1SyOIcUGOPpi5WeylrCvVovOoAzw1yDCtGCHkVNyK5HY3fGwfI53XXuavEghsFMuw2amZOEVLBmXR05V7MPY16oJ81S4WBd9HGNQ/s720/Screenshot_20240223-134738.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="720" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYF22kpM6Zy7_bnCJu1OWcketv_Y3K5xx-bEgJreMfVGUli2dJ5CDBoorBviLxGV_L_ayR9dvQROsd5aWYKOrkuXn1SyOIcUGOPpi5WeylrCvVovOoAzw1yDCtGCHkVNyK5HY3fGwfI53XXuavEghsFMuw2amZOEVLBmXR05V7MPY16oJ81S4WBd9HGNQ/w400-h203/Screenshot_20240223-134738.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They use different roads to exit the "traditional" areas of the town, two (1 and 8) providing a good service to the mega Tesco at Weston Favell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Which leaves the Sixfields Park and Ride, route 18.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4P-PSnOFLxSHZy2yt8iLxypGSu0tFGa5SatYwA3grI8HG-OQeAZj1lUskOxt4SLlhQYnB0BLg1xDCbKOYMcE8vM6Ybotx0CVr_c9eK8Ch0FFaeR-Xp1zuYhuCo6kQVlrhk-iG2dwQ_6K25c4z8S9mF3nWKqnEoZLW5cCMwRLbiyny3jl6FDQx15y_fD/s696/screenshot.27054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4P-PSnOFLxSHZy2yt8iLxypGSu0tFGa5SatYwA3grI8HG-OQeAZj1lUskOxt4SLlhQYnB0BLg1xDCbKOYMcE8vM6Ybotx0CVr_c9eK8Ch0FFaeR-Xp1zuYhuCo6kQVlrhk-iG2dwQ_6K25c4z8S9mF3nWKqnEoZLW5cCMwRLbiyny3jl6FDQx15y_fD/w308-h400/screenshot.27054.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>Under U N O "ownership" it was probably the worst park and tide service in the western arm of our spiralling galaxy. The buses were often observed by Northampton Alan whizzing past the railway station bereft of passengers; </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Doubtless that astounding success will remain when Stagecoach takes over with its service 18 ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAdLGXp6qWdVWd_i6OAGjzKv7z_ZeZLvopMwDUgROuh0nU8RHVl9LK7mgDMYV4vwTPsD_73vyOVLUVWGvIuOpZ8TGY4VIBc7oX7t1aZ0fk0feEdPi7DHJLWdSDPQbNK56_UOHxA9KQ7oxpitFq0IQBEEq1tL49WDxNvYaJE1j2PAgIh6nC4_B9cJEAN1_/s720/Screenshot_20240223-134435.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="720" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAdLGXp6qWdVWd_i6OAGjzKv7z_ZeZLvopMwDUgROuh0nU8RHVl9LK7mgDMYV4vwTPsD_73vyOVLUVWGvIuOpZ8TGY4VIBc7oX7t1aZ0fk0feEdPi7DHJLWdSDPQbNK56_UOHxA9KQ7oxpitFq0IQBEEq1tL49WDxNvYaJE1j2PAgIh6nC4_B9cJEAN1_/w400-h108/Screenshot_20240223-134435.png" width="400" /></a></div>... which runs <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>every 50 minutes</b></span>. Please Stagecoach, make it every hour then at least the handful of daily "commuters" to the Uni campus (it doesn't even serve the town centre) might remember what time the buses run. But if you just miss one it really is quicker to walk!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully the university is paying?<br /><br />We are left with the 59 and 60. These rural "oddments" have been tendered to a whole host of operators over the years. Now Stagecoach have the dubious pleasure of winning the tender.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bad luck folks?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stagecoach tells us that the times will not change but doesn't tell us what those imes are. U N O offers a PDF of a couple of service 59 journeys ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtK4pI9QUP62Qwv-QN9ph0QB4OWE3XccoeJPvXGZhZ4yELcD70tlSfWPi_ipokKdyBlzYPlMKmyrnB7E6GYijgbGgKBOfSyo3BGONgA8aKgssVH4AN9rNWo_2TrJlLzuwnH3KYS66rb1s80weAzr0k4ahWSiVeckdeeACIdLqK-uXxifj9fnY0cZ54nNS/s566/screenshot.27059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="566" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtK4pI9QUP62Qwv-QN9ph0QB4OWE3XccoeJPvXGZhZ4yELcD70tlSfWPi_ipokKdyBlzYPlMKmyrnB7E6GYijgbGgKBOfSyo3BGONgA8aKgssVH4AN9rNWo_2TrJlLzuwnH3KYS66rb1s80weAzr0k4ahWSiVeckdeeACIdLqK-uXxifj9fnY0cZ54nNS/s320/screenshot.27059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JxyGgsFP2Dv3sWLJt2o0hJd8dagDJvEhklm1wShT4nW5SmvQgHOdFuWwDw3ugsfpSEubiagwuT2AUFXs-d6p2un2Puxxe_uaGgw3-lch2ZqFAL0Klceh_rdkvisnBDuLpyEujZ8iwwElZ_2ojIVU6AQs7Q0OvllE_u7PfarBWGwP-1pETaOpURNZv0hz/s558/screenshot.27060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="558" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JxyGgsFP2Dv3sWLJt2o0hJd8dagDJvEhklm1wShT4nW5SmvQgHOdFuWwDw3ugsfpSEubiagwuT2AUFXs-d6p2un2Puxxe_uaGgw3-lch2ZqFAL0Klceh_rdkvisnBDuLpyEujZ8iwwElZ_2ojIVU6AQs7Q0OvllE_u7PfarBWGwP-1pETaOpURNZv0hz/s320/screenshot.27060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>... but not the whole timetable</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, best of luck if you were hoping to travel soon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F-OVJCrUCnDCBN6v5I_3jckU6D_cItSHpeLbG7PdLVQyou0swaYubW9LYVqPT65_fQA3GZM7ZITCKznTxrZpmthSlrB-ouoaqRoF8Dxo8xhyphenhyphenGZbO3KCui8yIdQQvpbIA6Kc-_ulpXtVKxWo2YS9afSPjl67SJXKjmu2I5dYkIvmxCdJ0AK-b71DG3USU/s600/screenshot.27061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F-OVJCrUCnDCBN6v5I_3jckU6D_cItSHpeLbG7PdLVQyou0swaYubW9LYVqPT65_fQA3GZM7ZITCKznTxrZpmthSlrB-ouoaqRoF8Dxo8xhyphenhyphenGZbO3KCui8yIdQQvpbIA6Kc-_ulpXtVKxWo2YS9afSPjl67SJXKjmu2I5dYkIvmxCdJ0AK-b71DG3USU/s320/screenshot.27061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Needless to day, a full timetable can be found carefully hidden in the dark depths of the 'on-line" world, but dated 2020.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINsTmkwfcFSx_mE_w9M0vZ_bRZA69X3SRvVXjll4CJBwpA9qEQeubAtRerW9PxOfsDk63BxCTgTk6vEGOwmy2ra_hrn3cPmIKoY-GGOOafAD1A1H4Y9J0mmWfa3IvAbkgmpuKC-B3KMDS1ZygPJuvQ2tDlzl-_lHds4ffhhsgxS73ODG9rgf0xW8-fBnd/s546/screenshot.27062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="546" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINsTmkwfcFSx_mE_w9M0vZ_bRZA69X3SRvVXjll4CJBwpA9qEQeubAtRerW9PxOfsDk63BxCTgTk6vEGOwmy2ra_hrn3cPmIKoY-GGOOafAD1A1H4Y9J0mmWfa3IvAbkgmpuKC-B3KMDS1ZygPJuvQ2tDlzl-_lHds4ffhhsgxS73ODG9rgf0xW8-fBnd/w400-h238/screenshot.27062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZ7lyrekOpX7Bn__hdH2ZMexhyphenhyphennjc4nFFRLZjzGHo2Ory6tJoBu5A2hkaqbuTsWuBeOMW8LO-cv-OU0mCQRO_JQpnFhfVZc6-H1H0uG-bqMbvSPBwBXQbWxMn_8fCwSpKrzDvsRHi8hG2hYs7uIHIyJ0vCgcXK4OJRPdnUVqyVpKzeRkFc0RJLdPh-54/s558/screenshot.27064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="558" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyZ7lyrekOpX7Bn__hdH2ZMexhyphenhyphennjc4nFFRLZjzGHo2Ory6tJoBu5A2hkaqbuTsWuBeOMW8LO-cv-OU0mCQRO_JQpnFhfVZc6-H1H0uG-bqMbvSPBwBXQbWxMn_8fCwSpKrzDvsRHi8hG2hYs7uIHIyJ0vCgcXK4OJRPdnUVqyVpKzeRkFc0RJLdPh-54/w400-h225/screenshot.27064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQSYxocqwk6Fca1bACc1YHoLgEWRh9m5HHFmk7lTW9VSOaawizWvBe1AE2yLHy_cm55jAKts4WoTFVZeWZqfNws1uuGt06Vcz6tpAHTJzARwIdLdHoiXcb1CljK2Yn58nIrJUbbjKc7_xveFdtxiUSCAF8Fy1umGb8h4yEcyXfDCK06CPhA4004mRuIFd/s490/screenshot.27063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="490" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQSYxocqwk6Fca1bACc1YHoLgEWRh9m5HHFmk7lTW9VSOaawizWvBe1AE2yLHy_cm55jAKts4WoTFVZeWZqfNws1uuGt06Vcz6tpAHTJzARwIdLdHoiXcb1CljK2Yn58nIrJUbbjKc7_xveFdtxiUSCAF8Fy1umGb8h4yEcyXfDCK06CPhA4004mRuIFd/w400-h330/screenshot.27063.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mzlP0rXXWRN9_N_lAEceUg_4xoFImzMIOs60ipsM-tcL-4Nnyjl92lrVyq7PBKOZPmeFa_RWBMzci0CFPLqOMHefxjRqryYbGWrKGMys4m1UFuBl5bCmALEIvMsOyM8Qx6ESVBvjKpLCRSRovzIkZVvNUx9KwEeT0dYWzCD2GnjdVdLfj4Hx_1GASZN8/s482/screenshot.27065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="482" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mzlP0rXXWRN9_N_lAEceUg_4xoFImzMIOs60ipsM-tcL-4Nnyjl92lrVyq7PBKOZPmeFa_RWBMzci0CFPLqOMHefxjRqryYbGWrKGMys4m1UFuBl5bCmALEIvMsOyM8Qx6ESVBvjKpLCRSRovzIkZVvNUx9KwEeT0dYWzCD2GnjdVdLfj4Hx_1GASZN8/w400-h370/screenshot.27065.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oooh, look! The two journeys between Welford and Market Harborough (Tuesdays and Fridays only, see above) are still the same - UNO has lost the rest!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Top Light : Looks Right : Price Fright!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some time back, fbb was musing on some new OO coaches to be produced by Dapol. They were to be GWR Toplight passenger carriages and the models have now appeared fir real.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Toplight?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a fairy bog-standard GWR coach.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEi_eCCwLQi58evU7jA4L7uwtp0uP4rKbDfHBUkmGyLYLu_PtuGWLnDmfIw6U5mHsPTxkYB_OOls-JuslWSc6sE0CUdTLOExzEyvSt41ZSt-jZCRTjiRH7SVWdvRjlkq1xeoydyHXVP3y1JszZ28HO-cG6t2-C8nG9y43Hhwv-Z3TbHcMddGne0s7MXua/s678/screenshot.27049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="678" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEi_eCCwLQi58evU7jA4L7uwtp0uP4rKbDfHBUkmGyLYLu_PtuGWLnDmfIw6U5mHsPTxkYB_OOls-JuslWSc6sE0CUdTLOExzEyvSt41ZSt-jZCRTjiRH7SVWdvRjlkq1xeoydyHXVP3y1JszZ28HO-cG6t2-C8nG9y43Hhwv-Z3TbHcMddGne0s7MXua/w400-h214/screenshot.27049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Note that it is for suburban use rather than express city to city work. Just observe the tops of the doors and the windows. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Observed? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now look at this one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswHJXf9T4RCs_y9tzF-blBQ4zVj-rbhkhPMqIsNIpr4spbFr7fTNmlv0y_kuqlNdhx7eD29FLTbM3bgTzhfvFDAu_zGD6rKiLzVq6LNvUYcr4WDXlQcsn9n0Ad5uhZKMpyJEPGksNUJPeMpakCb_WtUhl3jfbiVZiCMwGUE4ZH-FZU4f3Y3tmXQ3UsZQJ/s480/screenshot.27046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswHJXf9T4RCs_y9tzF-blBQ4zVj-rbhkhPMqIsNIpr4spbFr7fTNmlv0y_kuqlNdhx7eD29FLTbM3bgTzhfvFDAu_zGD6rKiLzVq6LNvUYcr4WDXlQcsn9n0Ad5uhZKMpyJEPGksNUJPeMpakCb_WtUhl3jfbiVZiCMwGUE4ZH-FZU4f3Y3tmXQ3UsZQJ/w395-h400/screenshot.27046.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>It has diddy extra windows above the windows, but not above the doors. Here we can see them inside - First Class ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1TxT8mTICICv220Rt7s9uAofphaLUqwSsmcWhtP9FVVuw6WTxrIuXZehLpywEtWgm23D9icTtum8icCCl5B4G0i7JNAD8FbFx2xSp0qVylNLpUt9JZ2xdNmkLACPjiBOQGxfzIXKGWmDXuDcpFNEcG4KCLma-nCj8hLxaVjx06HJvVJMyn8h-x82caDl/s674/screenshot.27047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="674" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1TxT8mTICICv220Rt7s9uAofphaLUqwSsmcWhtP9FVVuw6WTxrIuXZehLpywEtWgm23D9icTtum8icCCl5B4G0i7JNAD8FbFx2xSp0qVylNLpUt9JZ2xdNmkLACPjiBOQGxfzIXKGWmDXuDcpFNEcG4KCLma-nCj8hLxaVjx06HJvVJMyn8h-x82caDl/w400-h294/screenshot.27047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and Third Class.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QiIh69-wsybIVAOyMXrotTnvz0MlvBXrIK4l9pqxQXOD5myVwgODgaH-wpvciD8TGjIOZTO-xTiFJar8GID1c8vppVSCfPov1MmnlIEyHxv0VLnOh40BZEjIEv95C9YmAJSyEkNEIkYY73In5_zJg5_u57p6paW0EzsDG0qRtcvamG5SrTiN5HjE0-kY/s670/screenshot.27048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="670" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QiIh69-wsybIVAOyMXrotTnvz0MlvBXrIK4l9pqxQXOD5myVwgODgaH-wpvciD8TGjIOZTO-xTiFJar8GID1c8vppVSCfPov1MmnlIEyHxv0VLnOh40BZEjIEv95C9YmAJSyEkNEIkYY73In5_zJg5_u57p6paW0EzsDG0qRtcvamG5SrTiN5HjE0-kY/w400-h300/screenshot.27048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>fbb guesses that they were intended to provide extra daylight in the compartment. Oddly, and for no reason that fbb can think of, they were fitted with frosted glass.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But these coaches have become known as "Top Lights".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dapol's models are exquisite in detail inside and out ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW2OUTUZlSvBgNAT814riAOKQI9KDqiekN2j1u572qNjn3WPFgG_xV-sPbX3D2m08x-14iCBTmlrHdLLnUznv9_LZJzdy6sw9kZ2DN8QNd5-h1H0mNFv6UGZedoSOTRB38NDcMYlNZbocg_Uusy5vVPEAAGEYMs7GYZjqLpJGXbAaoMAon8VmhzmcM88f/s720/Screenshot_20240219-101352.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="720" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW2OUTUZlSvBgNAT814riAOKQI9KDqiekN2j1u572qNjn3WPFgG_xV-sPbX3D2m08x-14iCBTmlrHdLLnUznv9_LZJzdy6sw9kZ2DN8QNd5-h1H0mNFv6UGZedoSOTRB38NDcMYlNZbocg_Uusy5vVPEAAGEYMs7GYZjqLpJGXbAaoMAon8VmhzmcM88f/w400-h399/Screenshot_20240219-101352.png" width="400" /></a></div>... AND the toplights have frosted "glass"!! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As is usual for today's models, they will be available in many many different versions.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a14mxDm-cMqlFQbimO3NxU8R4p1vlWKL86swar9-ZSoR_HoWowDSt4rDNJJpDKbaEK8eiIt8Kp7K2r7243JToXeapmKcz6fpgUohV6YHuN0FYFKKz6lJJAT0XFrWoPYmPdK5woSGx-cyHXLCn5KVJfB6Ig_GYezAIvcEy1ybSwP3RFhFalW_yPklLYDm/s787/Screenshot_20240219-101422.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a14mxDm-cMqlFQbimO3NxU8R4p1vlWKL86swar9-ZSoR_HoWowDSt4rDNJJpDKbaEK8eiIt8Kp7K2r7243JToXeapmKcz6fpgUohV6YHuN0FYFKKz6lJJAT0XFrWoPYmPdK5woSGx-cyHXLCn5KVJfB6Ig_GYezAIvcEy1ybSwP3RFhFalW_yPklLYDm/w366-h400/Screenshot_20240219-101422.png" width="366" /></a></div>The specification is spectacular in the extreme.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XFkuyIoCD18xcOifDTNJGUzwylxiHSbfiHWRRfMVQaoQdQum6AGTjo6B99cakR6pBAd9QO_2fgut_u5CN5Ham6Wpi2jl-SbO4JFAS7iqKMg-VWclIXjiHE9gblUGVDfS2ivi27rWAwBwoSr2lkEu7Fvw5aLCmcDNC9jcGhpvqXvHgvmj0W4g4PIhGdHC/s847/Screenshot_20240219-101200.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="720" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XFkuyIoCD18xcOifDTNJGUzwylxiHSbfiHWRRfMVQaoQdQum6AGTjo6B99cakR6pBAd9QO_2fgut_u5CN5Ham6Wpi2jl-SbO4JFAS7iqKMg-VWclIXjiHE9gblUGVDfS2ivi27rWAwBwoSr2lkEu7Fvw5aLCmcDNC9jcGhpvqXvHgvmj0W4g4PIhGdHC/w388-h456/Screenshot_20240219-101200.png" width="388" /></a></div>And there's more!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSJ8DZU3SdfzTsq8HB8En-tpQqonPBgZsRv1BU5UDwLPLg6kotG6v4dV25JZAro6RKcOJzG4Zw0vbkgKZkxkmGml6KqpyP4JkKP5rGbVmQ7J9eHEqPxrrQIcZYAMVgoz_teSpRq47wx5YfQpqMQ4yEM1sMJpahGNp5HLoaOGjkKIfsrJOYyi0QmaBRcwM/s666/Screenshot_20240219-101256.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="636" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSJ8DZU3SdfzTsq8HB8En-tpQqonPBgZsRv1BU5UDwLPLg6kotG6v4dV25JZAro6RKcOJzG4Zw0vbkgKZkxkmGml6KqpyP4JkKP5rGbVmQ7J9eHEqPxrrQIcZYAMVgoz_teSpRq47wx5YfQpqMQ4yEM1sMJpahGNp5HLoaOGjkKIfsrJOYyi0QmaBRcwM/w384-h402/Screenshot_20240219-101256.png" width="384" /></a></div>Of course, this comes at a price. RRP from Dapol is <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>a tad under £65</b></span> per coach. One might utter the usual OUCH but ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you remove the magnetic roof and look inside, you can see why the price is high. In fact, by today's standards it is not at all high.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But just look inside.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdWen3GJtEkf5KGYIQSWeb2m8ZzWbm9AApgPE6X1Um3qXztfRmaYnYOXriUlHlADp6dznrV3MYrWpKg1pavvB7S2vLNL3GWu4eQLD4QDXQcMsET0M61xJs7aM8wtRw2Jc6J6pXlvWPjD7z6Py1ii4XvYDNk8wPet7dPk5cQT0CaNEVrbnKjUmXEq4qrQ4/s492/screenshot.27066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="492" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdWen3GJtEkf5KGYIQSWeb2m8ZzWbm9AApgPE6X1Um3qXztfRmaYnYOXriUlHlADp6dznrV3MYrWpKg1pavvB7S2vLNL3GWu4eQLD4QDXQcMsET0M61xJs7aM8wtRw2Jc6J6pXlvWPjD7z6Py1ii4XvYDNk8wPet7dPk5cQT0CaNEVrbnKjUmXEq4qrQ4/w400-h389/screenshot.27066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>fbb doesn't think the green first class armrests lift up to slot in their slots! Disgraceful. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sad fact is that most of this detail cannot be seen as the carriages trundle past - but wealthy model buyers are <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>thrilled to know it is </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>there</b></span>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Underframe detail is exquisite as well ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4lPSWBnUOHH4rlKFold32iJDWVTOkn0n2baq01SVKLbwhAiUQZ3CE0VbMpVNeZArPBHa9XP_WPtXnR1lIWYg5Pk1iwOCRWjwMpF_lHwZHCYyb7RvkqWYZWwzBlcl6F8CVwV3Ur5X6fWVwjxO-cSM2G_OGv2E7Tvl1x32RtLJNd6rao9vRN4K8njZabkM/s536/screenshot.27067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="536" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4lPSWBnUOHH4rlKFold32iJDWVTOkn0n2baq01SVKLbwhAiUQZ3CE0VbMpVNeZArPBHa9XP_WPtXnR1lIWYg5Pk1iwOCRWjwMpF_lHwZHCYyb7RvkqWYZWwzBlcl6F8CVwV3Ur5X6fWVwjxO-cSM2G_OGv2E7Tvl1x32RtLJNd6rao9vRN4K8njZabkM/w400-h236/screenshot.27067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and you can't really see it either!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some retailers are discounting the price by up to £14 and fbb may well ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq6R3CSsKJvpDUg-KBt784xEqdMFeISvVPEEk_tIq04xJYhs6M4-rbQAr3-LqZngtgnFeDz9V3ceqTMbcLSqWtFy65Imgned4rCQV0L23XPYmgB0QdifGrtQgnrre2AdtbarnKWs40x0VfZKOqu0GYcKGo2KPo1ksfjp6K8T8zuUS720i5oSKxZ-a9mSd/s472/screenshot.27070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="472" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq6R3CSsKJvpDUg-KBt784xEqdMFeISvVPEEk_tIq04xJYhs6M4-rbQAr3-LqZngtgnFeDz9V3ceqTMbcLSqWtFy65Imgned4rCQV0L23XPYmgB0QdifGrtQgnrre2AdtbarnKWs40x0VfZKOqu0GYcKGo2KPo1ksfjp6K8T8zuUS720i5oSKxZ-a9mSd/w400-h314/screenshot.27070.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">... use some of his Birthday spending money - <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>if only anyone had given him any</b></span>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Helping Hand For Hornby?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember Mike Ashley? He was/is the often controversial owner of Sports Direct, now part of the Fraser's store group.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvh9mpe2NET_uomwg_BbQ5RHuIW3OA9jPpA-QseZLUzmzQ8o4iFfJRHrqNRsskI6hl1uHpFKr3e6jKuNtYpmhvPdsKS4p9A6vdg7EJJau8ILmcyjm4oD-IqlIOS-ZK68e6XurfH9li2vpw0mXESvrRPEcjfntk50sDI61XNZ2E2lBGX8EafYMdvsYy-E-/s1152/screenshot.27068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1152" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvh9mpe2NET_uomwg_BbQ5RHuIW3OA9jPpA-QseZLUzmzQ8o4iFfJRHrqNRsskI6hl1uHpFKr3e6jKuNtYpmhvPdsKS4p9A6vdg7EJJau8ILmcyjm4oD-IqlIOS-ZK68e6XurfH9li2vpw0mXESvrRPEcjfntk50sDI61XNZ2E2lBGX8EafYMdvsYy-E-/w400-h217/screenshot.27068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>He specialises in investing in companies that he thinks are undervalued on the stock market and which he is convinced have huge potential for growth. His business style is ruthless but usually successful.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYhwWQopDoZiuAgjf4STHCbR-OLeRvpzplMvXMR7PC5NxWqb7hL5RiA_WZroGH6AuLL8GQ5ihx_gXRSSCu6OxfZ6xiI6gE_Z1rk_LcHPfW7M9ivsy1yW8fCuwbS9C8yNH_-IxTQ8e3p-zNyOOBG1cuCQzWa7YI3etdG75lNBgdCXKWVrh1f-KmihArpVl/s720/Screenshot_20240224-155345.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="720" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYhwWQopDoZiuAgjf4STHCbR-OLeRvpzplMvXMR7PC5NxWqb7hL5RiA_WZroGH6AuLL8GQ5ihx_gXRSSCu6OxfZ6xiI6gE_Z1rk_LcHPfW7M9ivsy1yW8fCuwbS9C8yNH_-IxTQ8e3p-zNyOOBG1cuCQzWa7YI3etdG75lNBgdCXKWVrh1f-KmihArpVl/w400-h376/Screenshot_20240224-155345.png" width="400" /></a></div>He now owns 9% of Hornby, making him the largest single investor in the company. In practical terms he probably only needs about 25% to take control.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdSnICpE8PdSE73hZkeQ8P1dBPVnvQog2B7sDDRaJnhyJaTGr7ZySzUgvQ8CKN7f4U-pAxT02BNWwauUQWsXtRL2hCBxIwDk9RYjWSp3v_icfgZ3GBgn2SEzoLpuIFmHkd9pdyn29OS3g_nYfJn-yxhbhV-1NdujsoAZm5-VLdscgJoVGRAiIr0O9HSxw/s1090/Screenshot_20240224-155328.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="720" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdSnICpE8PdSE73hZkeQ8P1dBPVnvQog2B7sDDRaJnhyJaTGr7ZySzUgvQ8CKN7f4U-pAxT02BNWwauUQWsXtRL2hCBxIwDk9RYjWSp3v_icfgZ3GBgn2SEzoLpuIFmHkd9pdyn29OS3g_nYfJn-yxhbhV-1NdujsoAZm5-VLdscgJoVGRAiIr0O9HSxw/w367-h556/Screenshot_20240224-155328.png" width="367" /></a></div>Will this be good news for Hornby - yes! Will it be good news for railway modelling - pass!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There has been much in the serious press recently predicting the end of railway modelling as a hobby; but Mr Ashley's cash would seem to suggest things may be looking up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyiVt0sOSGxHm3erZPpiJMaB61j5hjYe3iZxloGMTlMhKieLfWvvGsZeqqT9kLIqTskwHqz9lCUViaXIqfLzXvMv4KpBZIi8hTCEzlYf8j46wvoCA1UL9YEll9BpTNyR8hE1JQBm9GGj-jWg4mmX_Tyq6xCGi6XPUmj6NJDLNIjhHBnWLJiGa-MPz84qU/s889/Screenshot_20240224-155549.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="720" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyiVt0sOSGxHm3erZPpiJMaB61j5hjYe3iZxloGMTlMhKieLfWvvGsZeqqT9kLIqTskwHqz9lCUViaXIqfLzXvMv4KpBZIi8hTCEzlYf8j46wvoCA1UL9YEll9BpTNyR8hE1JQBm9GGj-jWg4mmX_Tyq6xCGi6XPUmj6NJDLNIjhHBnWLJiGa-MPz84qU/w354-h437/Screenshot_20240224-155549.png" width="354" /></a></div>While there are old men (with more money than sense?? fbb is, obviously, an old man but his financial resources are not vast) prepared to pay for expensive models like the Toplight coaches, at least parts of the industry will thrive. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But many feel that Hornby is trying to be too many things in too many markets and some manufacturers need to relearn the trade in much lower priced items of reasonable quality to welcome in today's younger generation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This video may not be the commercial future of model railways but it sure looks like fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwY-k5LgrtnMeqUGCL0fg-q-RhKh8UAulEDiUW1gBc5QWSHV4G_CswD_tt_HeN95XYS627ETURMTUbKQaIIiw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>And there's more!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyliRYbxAvZnvg0wdM2infIOG7Ow1PdEWxTsA1zPlAT-XtBX7IWb7A7xMMrTwqXUgs3ae0gddiImPRPj3mfyg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Give that wee lassie a whole box of chocolate peanuts!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzle Picture</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZZNbQbsDL5aEJ_cVVWoworPAnH5T7OQ4_FA05b11AhY51DicPot9cghhuivHTY2rnV6E3WyP7RNlH83paRvElKpbifiiF3dB3Pq2yFaGGXqVyIhPHTEPS_-LzpNuQkWwugyIpYkIgVDiZ_d9knVeUl0er3GRhYbwoa8LoW5AL6okMeVNnY97Eyi-Nxxv/s720/Screenshot_20240211-185514.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="720" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZZNbQbsDL5aEJ_cVVWoworPAnH5T7OQ4_FA05b11AhY51DicPot9cghhuivHTY2rnV6E3WyP7RNlH83paRvElKpbifiiF3dB3Pq2yFaGGXqVyIhPHTEPS_-LzpNuQkWwugyIpYkIgVDiZ_d9knVeUl0er3GRhYbwoa8LoW5AL6okMeVNnY97Eyi-Nxxv/w400-h379/Screenshot_20240211-185514.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's <b>BRIGHTON STATION</b>, probably sometime in the 1960s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, there is no room for cars under the porte cochere - it's all about catering!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5njonhfnq1pPrb12kcPCCaBah8QlGFtW8_yf8CxD_zetfmWMH5_8pBpwJn5ST6PsnA5BTP1PHi_5dN_2UdAbBee7_T8xisGBRyiYVxsdvKBpsMgNeQnjzSucu6tiFBmkE-tuDhC9ygd5zr_jmoWoEQOW4HVX3I9UFUbXLC8oyNSAu8r6HdTTZjJUSyj7/s700/screenshot.27073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="700" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5njonhfnq1pPrb12kcPCCaBah8QlGFtW8_yf8CxD_zetfmWMH5_8pBpwJn5ST6PsnA5BTP1PHi_5dN_2UdAbBee7_T8xisGBRyiYVxsdvKBpsMgNeQnjzSucu6tiFBmkE-tuDhC9ygd5zr_jmoWoEQOW4HVX3I9UFUbXLC8oyNSAu8r6HdTTZjJUSyj7/w400-h306/screenshot.27073.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entrance to the Toy Museum is under that bridge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next ABC North of Doncaster blog : Mon 26th Feb </b></div>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-88711446666909137692024-02-24T02:00:00.071+00:002024-02-24T07:44:50.887+00:00Saturday Variety<p> <span style="font-size: large;">An Amazing Idea</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1uFZPK4BZc3qMX0bXvkjiik2o-UgpR5Zqfw9ffo-kiAe6G3Kz0rZs_yplt4a2m9HslGQZos8N3W0OgEISFKffCL5wpluJCkjoMXYhP_6-S3XYTNSwiQBpRVeulFypssnF2cAM7msnvuk75GU8fiehZsLuzEqqmHSJJ8z4KiVXYdlS8GSklkHixXrI-Hv/s720/original_8b3b5842-9927-4256-b4bc-d3cce9e427aa_Screenshot_20240223-102654.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="720" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1uFZPK4BZc3qMX0bXvkjiik2o-UgpR5Zqfw9ffo-kiAe6G3Kz0rZs_yplt4a2m9HslGQZos8N3W0OgEISFKffCL5wpluJCkjoMXYhP_6-S3XYTNSwiQBpRVeulFypssnF2cAM7msnvuk75GU8fiehZsLuzEqqmHSJJ8z4KiVXYdlS8GSklkHixXrI-Hv/w400-h165/original_8b3b5842-9927-4256-b4bc-d3cce9e427aa_Screenshot_20240223-102654.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At first glance, Samsung (a global electronics giant) wants to save the Galaxy ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNGO_iawbuZpK3O1WYC_LqfGowc4P-m5at-5FFQjKbM3l2m79wtRPOeIdJu2NArcr0Pw_hNJd0f9qZb3DtleOxw54ynq5iCdEGFI-d9TjX3k6GawJQu_KciywBeJqwxgU0Z3bHKlDX5ss8lnTgDweCM6UR_VESCFRMzWDMkGyn0v9prExezhDNkYnogeB/s780/screenshot.27021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="780" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNGO_iawbuZpK3O1WYC_LqfGowc4P-m5at-5FFQjKbM3l2m79wtRPOeIdJu2NArcr0Pw_hNJd0f9qZb3DtleOxw54ynq5iCdEGFI-d9TjX3k6GawJQu_KciywBeJqwxgU0Z3bHKlDX5ss8lnTgDweCM6UR_VESCFRMzWDMkGyn0v9prExezhDNkYnogeB/w400-h201/screenshot.27021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">... thus taking a step beyond just protecting the planet. Wondering what fbb could possibly do to protected the Galaxy, which is fairly big, he clicked on the link and ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHexIveH9jlZ69d3Fk1yWlxdQkGnKDKKv3w3Y-BFiKKlWQPoDXN-wl3dVcy8kP7VjUlxfPONdMFtX-mvs29qysOaybvzHCqcXyYBizMKlFaVs3gnIjimJvqh0sb86hc1kV12zzFXqWh7zopEr6-UYdbZwderHpkc_wyhKpCGl7aNlJxLCNRZna5K4D2LPm/s1056/original_4ae63303-6af8-4744-addd-277e58e6b3f6_Screenshot_20240223-102711.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHexIveH9jlZ69d3Fk1yWlxdQkGnKDKKv3w3Y-BFiKKlWQPoDXN-wl3dVcy8kP7VjUlxfPONdMFtX-mvs29qysOaybvzHCqcXyYBizMKlFaVs3gnIjimJvqh0sb86hc1kV12zzFXqWh7zopEr6-UYdbZwderHpkc_wyhKpCGl7aNlJxLCNRZna5K4D2LPm/w273-h400/original_4ae63303-6af8-4744-addd-277e58e6b3f6_Screenshot_20240223-102711.png" width="273" /></a></div>... the above screen appears.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keep On With The Tablet</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">fbb currently takes three a day - all for standard old man's conditions, none of them serious, thankfully. One is for blood pressure and the other two for an enlarged prostrate as a good Isle of Wight chum called it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">But this tablet is the technological version.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qAYw1x6yqwUA9fC1GxLnpos_yKJpF6uvQXEYygMp1xc0J0VJEoEG0pTEJ_NjSBijPa1IMXKGqpDcRspVg5DLDeciD-wn8ZCLSfQC1Gpy38jiEM6Dg-8SuGebxzxUtsBKrxqg6g6UB-0ouQIdsL83ruZ9BnYvQTvVqapxD-uko0quWKV9ANbD8VJmRnhH/s3089/IMG_20240223_141458_478.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3089" data-original-width="2407" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qAYw1x6yqwUA9fC1GxLnpos_yKJpF6uvQXEYygMp1xc0J0VJEoEG0pTEJ_NjSBijPa1IMXKGqpDcRspVg5DLDeciD-wn8ZCLSfQC1Gpy38jiEM6Dg-8SuGebxzxUtsBKrxqg6g6UB-0ouQIdsL83ruZ9BnYvQTvVqapxD-uko0quWKV9ANbD8VJmRnhH/w311-h400/IMG_20240223_141458_478.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>... as fbb is trying the Sony (above) prior to receiving the Galaxy Tab A9+ from sons as a birthday prezzy. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The aim is to help the old man cope with his ARMD</b></span>. But he is not permitted to have the device "in hand" until sons visit for a compulsory training session in March.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It would appear that the new Tablet is already talking to fbb's phone. It will, sons explain, be faster and better in every way than the old creaky wind-up Sony; and fbb will be able to "do so much more" (?) and, probably, understand so much less.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNDjBfULHux4oDwqytY3dXCtKThudDvRf741Nt1k6lLVtNCbDOYNOEtKd5f1E65ApdBLGMDUwD61CrPHg7ZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>It's good to get that sorted!???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">But the clunky Sony and fbb's stubby incompetent fingers may well explain some of the poor prufe churking in reesent bloggs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It will get better - promise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Numbers Game - Doncaster</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Readers will be thrilled to know that fbb will only be giving outline current information on this proposed scheme from First Bus. That's because the company's "consultation" has vanished from the ether and your elderly blogger has to rely on his memory.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">So fat chance there!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">But a bit of background. Like Manchester, an early decision of South Yorkshire PTE (Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley) was to adopt a county-wide route numbering system.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The SYPTE scheme was relatively unintrusive.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVFijAHppUIMXHtfebjV1XQHnBuhDVXZ7KFDG2YyEKLLATovgkhyEfuPrWdVeWESbCbGej4gN2sWrSCqlH68nJ3lXRg-ZRhLlFpgrU2KLUtrEDqCBWrvHcQ3J7MMR6zfClbljug7aWR7bg5fFRHg7QkXEpyK0i4f2UkWYSPg_h3F0vd2d4q8zdqEaUBuu/s516/screenshot.27022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="386" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVFijAHppUIMXHtfebjV1XQHnBuhDVXZ7KFDG2YyEKLLATovgkhyEfuPrWdVeWESbCbGej4gN2sWrSCqlH68nJ3lXRg-ZRhLlFpgrU2KLUtrEDqCBWrvHcQ3J7MMR6zfClbljug7aWR7bg5fFRHg7QkXEpyK0i4f2UkWYSPg_h3F0vd2d4q8zdqEaUBuu/w299-h400/screenshot.27022.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>Sheffield city routes were unchanged.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_r5N2s42X93q7393sgwRLUoLBsy9RZfSEayEcOIFm7XsASqbcpyvcnwwrfgxBz80yFa_uAI3vQd5UHJMEzKptHn_wZS4zf3u4aUvjgiIL-MNTxsxw2BT7b9YhhJxztRMVhPWQlXtEDa-NNmhejwzLvkHIOD_oIfLAZT7l0Gwpe92GH5X2GEopLj-RQNr/s572/screenshot.27020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="572" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_r5N2s42X93q7393sgwRLUoLBsy9RZfSEayEcOIFm7XsASqbcpyvcnwwrfgxBz80yFa_uAI3vQd5UHJMEzKptHn_wZS4zf3u4aUvjgiIL-MNTxsxw2BT7b9YhhJxztRMVhPWQlXtEDa-NNmhejwzLvkHIOD_oIfLAZT7l0Gwpe92GH5X2GEopLj-RQNr/w400-h313/screenshot.27020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rotherham routes just had 100 added; so the 16 (above) became the 116; and apart from a very few routes, all the town services were numbered below 50, so new numbers from<span style="font-size: medium;"><b> 101 to 149</b></span> did not cause much confusion.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V3ii_hNtjtm9ID2SCEMoJKxV9DDQel3R4AbWC73RBjFXUb6zMVSW508oCC4Kn2oh_dx9oJgArdKsur7EmBNBgqEUVxFMt2uf_4lsYipHjNOOxeDq9mmSLlQmdy9IcMOvCG-b1jy1DtiId_v40b9c1U9y7IcRmkag0uVRs_bGHt-DKcNDY-hISDefdzSf/s582/screenshot.27018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="582" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V3ii_hNtjtm9ID2SCEMoJKxV9DDQel3R4AbWC73RBjFXUb6zMVSW508oCC4Kn2oh_dx9oJgArdKsur7EmBNBgqEUVxFMt2uf_4lsYipHjNOOxeDq9mmSLlQmdy9IcMOvCG-b1jy1DtiId_v40b9c1U9y7IcRmkag0uVRs_bGHt-DKcNDY-hISDefdzSf/s320/screenshot.27018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Doncaster tended not to show route numbers anyway, neither did the large number of independent operators who came under the umbrella of the PTE and were later taken over and fully absorbed. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Doncaster numbers were 150 to 199</b></span>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Hence Leon Motors of Finningley's 191.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJacdZY8DnkWtz09CH9YvnpavGANzIOpAoT4OQlG1MHdh5SDcW3BDVJ-87BOUDUtc8IXj1BjpRGUNwS02OTcnCa_E31pIJy1xLDjTVNkFW2sSAGMTsdnLr5dTvMRPntWaxTl7yW_SKrdeZGSpT-lxpH2tJmruLT9l3KqDawl-FSDk2xuHb1byR-3qDYwQQ/s682/screenshot.27032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="682" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJacdZY8DnkWtz09CH9YvnpavGANzIOpAoT4OQlG1MHdh5SDcW3BDVJ-87BOUDUtc8IXj1BjpRGUNwS02OTcnCa_E31pIJy1xLDjTVNkFW2sSAGMTsdnLr5dTvMRPntWaxTl7yW_SKrdeZGSpT-lxpH2tJmruLT9l3KqDawl-FSDk2xuHb1byR-3qDYwQQ/w400-h299/screenshot.27032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Routes between the districts were numbered in the 2xx series, so 77, Sheffield Rotherham Doncaster became 277.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It was Yorkshire traction, based in Barnsley, that suffered the most numerical disruption.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieyNPipDqNDiB6tNZ_BAhd9L-QQSCG5RNuVqY3Im6Z-NXKWm4huUtL8-F_zi-lhS9VUW8DFbtbpdhUvnw3sjgNn14cuv9Yl949rM-ZjCAOS4dClWXiXRk5XIjMAYh-OlZ3g6sC2vjp87AuSfMWGZ6Z8wSCU-FFrtcH4C5ZnEWa5nRAz17p7yOMrj3npnG/s784/screenshot.27017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="784" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieyNPipDqNDiB6tNZ_BAhd9L-QQSCG5RNuVqY3Im6Z-NXKWm4huUtL8-F_zi-lhS9VUW8DFbtbpdhUvnw3sjgNn14cuv9Yl949rM-ZjCAOS4dClWXiXRk5XIjMAYh-OlZ3g6sC2vjp87AuSfMWGZ6Z8wSCU-FFrtcH4C5ZnEWa5nRAz17p7yOMrj3npnG/w400-h248/screenshot.27017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Barnsley town routes had 300 added whereas most of the rest of Traccy's empire, as a BET company rather than a municipality, ran between districts and gained 2xx numbers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">But the tidy scheme did not last, especially after privatisation. First Bus, in particular, started reverting to one and two digit numbers in Rotherham and Doncaster caring little for the fact that many were duplications or even triplications of the former Sheffield City numbers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">That remained until First closed its Rotherham depot. Because First's depot coal-fired computer systems could not cope with duplicate route numbers, back came the "add-on" 100s!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rotherham Corporation 15</div><div style="text-align: left;">East Herringthorpe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh968fvJXpNGVq7QkDCKKyi_eHDWHatyXAZxBCd_TfLwiyJaEOslQz3s7a-HK1pjClwKKavaa5Iv4WPVTQEtdmbd7FyOfHEpa8apkygMcxf6dc9PY5Wy8ImW7IBOTZvLvPsSgkuK6yLlKFxUbVG_dVfHEqS8vHIgCIo6-8UtsIYyI0l0Ruc8q51riO2gpOd/s278/screenshot.27029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="278" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh968fvJXpNGVq7QkDCKKyi_eHDWHatyXAZxBCd_TfLwiyJaEOslQz3s7a-HK1pjClwKKavaa5Iv4WPVTQEtdmbd7FyOfHEpa8apkygMcxf6dc9PY5Wy8ImW7IBOTZvLvPsSgkuK6yLlKFxUbVG_dVfHEqS8vHIgCIo6-8UtsIYyI0l0Ruc8q51riO2gpOd/w320-h233/screenshot.27029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ex PTE Mainline 115<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xLMqFG-ktHR8ibKt1CaSfoAFXQETJG4V32gDgJs7LGLv0x2ERqNRetzbHeZ7LzfswIkeWr_NET_zmvKhczn6pSZ70jLQs_fJ-yliGmBm57olB6sB5bKoKT0qjpXhu_WBaSl1RnrDZdi1VV2THRuvz6UBUdhQtoaqAoRVuAsq8xrFNZxK5uEezTL5mZZN/s588/screenshot.27030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="588" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xLMqFG-ktHR8ibKt1CaSfoAFXQETJG4V32gDgJs7LGLv0x2ERqNRetzbHeZ7LzfswIkeWr_NET_zmvKhczn6pSZ70jLQs_fJ-yliGmBm57olB6sB5bKoKT0qjpXhu_WBaSl1RnrDZdi1VV2THRuvz6UBUdhQtoaqAoRVuAsq8xrFNZxK5uEezTL5mZZN/s320/screenshot.27030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Early First Bus 115 (Ex London Capital Citybus vehicle)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu9A-mDAnTPbzvxbXNehs5qtIEJney8X_-nIhLAwwjH5-ObGOGohzzUL8dltCzCtL4IiDkcaETvEILYdaqyWBgsrBcJOl8dpwfc87pLfozs0GjRtZVHtgYlqzmc9BtC9DjtqC1VLqGeYvQuZpvZLYdh5ZUpAH4GCmE7PjjFYkQFVUtIFWHjitZ2L3ahpx/s612/screenshot.27031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="612" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu9A-mDAnTPbzvxbXNehs5qtIEJney8X_-nIhLAwwjH5-ObGOGohzzUL8dltCzCtL4IiDkcaETvEILYdaqyWBgsrBcJOl8dpwfc87pLfozs0GjRtZVHtgYlqzmc9BtC9DjtqC1VLqGeYvQuZpvZLYdh5ZUpAH4GCmE7PjjFYkQFVUtIFWHjitZ2L3ahpx/s320/screenshot.27031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>First Bus renumbered 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEHUTbwopWoCiHqPEOlPVkc14mj_7iJiYVNw7cCVoyM-PbcFYFGP7g2CKE3N62x5C26VTeBvPlDrKAxdHWDhfRUXyKEgPFORy3atu5jtxKLhgYoZVEvbRZqcmOsMKdk646lRePtAepKsqMobattXg8juTQ6UN7NOVm4rQFm5n8579TL8R85ogYv7Xa0Cx/s528/screenshot.27024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="528" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEHUTbwopWoCiHqPEOlPVkc14mj_7iJiYVNw7cCVoyM-PbcFYFGP7g2CKE3N62x5C26VTeBvPlDrKAxdHWDhfRUXyKEgPFORy3atu5jtxKLhgYoZVEvbRZqcmOsMKdk646lRePtAepKsqMobattXg8juTQ6UN7NOVm4rQFm5n8579TL8R85ogYv7Xa0Cx/w400-h365/screenshot.27024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>First Bus Re-Renunbered 115 ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipGy3LGlDDRSgMO_UApeIGvsVCBNRaOPytQifogyAUYIv5bO-VQw-iae4-Q5A1ogd1eCucLOO4K5f79j9mf1KH3S3VaOxzp0Lm3bBfqgmDFH4zj6VQVqVjnUhrDUFeYpXVadxvjrT6lYkew0TYuSxpCfcyU8yVvc_nKbkT3zSyegUvrx0NYVQvjzPl4Lj/s604/screenshot.27025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="604" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipGy3LGlDDRSgMO_UApeIGvsVCBNRaOPytQifogyAUYIv5bO-VQw-iae4-Q5A1ogd1eCucLOO4K5f79j9mf1KH3S3VaOxzp0Lm3bBfqgmDFH4zj6VQVqVjnUhrDUFeYpXVadxvjrT6lYkew0TYuSxpCfcyU8yVvc_nKbkT3zSyegUvrx0NYVQvjzPl4Lj/w400-h274/screenshot.27025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>... and, yes, First did run out of buses hence "dealer white" livery!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The policy, as always, was to make things easier for the company and to care little for confusion for the passengers. After all, passengers are always a gross inconvenience when administering a busy bus company!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">So First Bus is now proposing a wholesale <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>renumbering of Doncaster routes</b></span>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Of course, the sensible move would be to revert to numbers in the range 150 to 199 - but that might even be sensible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">First's plan is to group everything in a 3xx series, including several three digit route numbers with an "A" suffix, making the numbers more difficult to read on destination screens and too tiny to read on bus stop flags.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Seems a jolly good idea all round. NOT!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Running A Little Late (1)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstoAsN1dLoG_AgRtVmHYLO3vcIVcZDY42ATmXqTlUBimAEiV0MlZrWcVLm-HF84B4cv-YnPrEX7YBhicP2eG75u4NspCHk0m42559ucXzJH6aB1nt-m_6mFP9jPK16hlEOUoO7DA2OeL4mcX275kqBNawGjFYXyRUmoaMeVsJfsLIIvRWFhwVWUl5fAK/s868/Screenshot_20240222-061726.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="582" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstoAsN1dLoG_AgRtVmHYLO3vcIVcZDY42ATmXqTlUBimAEiV0MlZrWcVLm-HF84B4cv-YnPrEX7YBhicP2eG75u4NspCHk0m42559ucXzJH6aB1nt-m_6mFP9jPK16hlEOUoO7DA2OeL4mcX275kqBNawGjFYXyRUmoaMeVsJfsLIIvRWFhwVWUl5fAK/w331-h493/Screenshot_20240222-061726.png" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So why the delay? It looks as if something in the electronics doesn't ackle as it should. Well, that IS a surprise!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5T6qssN69zAN_1m2TUj74ztJHRYluKF1SXD2SxOrTynARann7VglaEUwZiK-66mIoWiAYoXEmLipR781aCsIqHZCEZq09hx7IUX__1sGhVmu9-5FIs9-OwUM5viFr6pkSf3_5qc_gL2O5E1DE1YwqC6mUBKmlagSFj7VD3sMIPnDqCvAhyzBgXFhOKq_/s633/Screenshot_20240222-061749.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="581" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5T6qssN69zAN_1m2TUj74ztJHRYluKF1SXD2SxOrTynARann7VglaEUwZiK-66mIoWiAYoXEmLipR781aCsIqHZCEZq09hx7IUX__1sGhVmu9-5FIs9-OwUM5viFr6pkSf3_5qc_gL2O5E1DE1YwqC6mUBKmlagSFj7VD3sMIPnDqCvAhyzBgXFhOKq_/w343-h373/Screenshot_20240222-061749.png" width="343" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a special bonus prize, DLR are asking readers to explain, using the information given above, what "April 2024" and "Quarter 1 2024/2025" actually mean in practice..</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Running A Little Late (2)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember Great British Railways? Yes, you do, it wasn't a dream - really it wasn't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW1fF2lL_fynlA6CA-cBzCmkRsFmPH92YV9TTOWpPG1AI2swLEbufzGS4HKqALR8r1rJu1KYk86-TJbKNAo0WP0QELfw31Qoh_pPfl2CC4Na68_SHnYhuAH4u9mDz8GG3R5Ufm9gY5SbYZWxxK5rX7ZjMS8QeM8ouara8FPiipGOAqqvEfY_nH7tbaCDe/s554/screenshot.27033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="382" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW1fF2lL_fynlA6CA-cBzCmkRsFmPH92YV9TTOWpPG1AI2swLEbufzGS4HKqALR8r1rJu1KYk86-TJbKNAo0WP0QELfw31Qoh_pPfl2CC4Na68_SHnYhuAH4u9mDz8GG3R5Ufm9gY5SbYZWxxK5rX7ZjMS8QeM8ouara8FPiipGOAqqvEfY_nH7tbaCDe/w328-h475/screenshot.27033.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well the Draft (Enabling) Bill has just been published.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn-oxr9Dgwba9_pCX33G6F0bipzEShSrm_matz_KF1LroNuX6EDQPrydYm7fG9NKIBbEdh8UVZmxQEOcdPNBlFoUCMsBNW9iebMhnhWt9uEbPsbQaV-q-XoiHSMFm2-7h9fSuQL39uCIOtisMuLXx7LOt3vr8Rx7PeEnAJtLeyIY7ZtK-kR6Srqe2hpBv/s963/Screenshot_20240223-154240.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="656" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn-oxr9Dgwba9_pCX33G6F0bipzEShSrm_matz_KF1LroNuX6EDQPrydYm7fG9NKIBbEdh8UVZmxQEOcdPNBlFoUCMsBNW9iebMhnhWt9uEbPsbQaV-q-XoiHSMFm2-7h9fSuQL39uCIOtisMuLXx7LOt3vr8Rx7PeEnAJtLeyIY7ZtK-kR6Srqe2hpBv/w334-h491/Screenshot_20240223-154240.png" width="334" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Guardian puts it all in context.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_C5bY8zbvlNczFA7eAd5K-yVtW2HoVkzFU4h75kz8cyxbMuCddzJeAOYK9XjVJxtFyLNnlFreNAUoO3WqFSjGDizX9m4XqnJQPicfn2s7x6Yq1cKylSMuPoNiOvc36N2K-LegZbMsbsNEukBoCt5xrMRRk8twsCqySPJi79L9e1XpaS8-ExeFRI-d53S/s932/Screenshot_20240223-154344.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="678" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_C5bY8zbvlNczFA7eAd5K-yVtW2HoVkzFU4h75kz8cyxbMuCddzJeAOYK9XjVJxtFyLNnlFreNAUoO3WqFSjGDizX9m4XqnJQPicfn2s7x6Yq1cKylSMuPoNiOvc36N2K-LegZbMsbsNEukBoCt5xrMRRk8twsCqySPJi79L9e1XpaS8-ExeFRI-d53S/w341-h469/Screenshot_20240223-154344.png" width="341" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't worry. Nothing will happen.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then, after the General Election it will all have to start again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So, late and useless.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Sad Farewell</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">fbb says farewell to a Good Friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSme3f0kU2vYr08IhAGFmTR-nS2BYIpTzWVkPdoBnot2trsieeGOuMoQpxGKwFTQbNmUTp1BhWvYZyDv2_QQ0mnbngRzbbaXMN73yQqdlmpIk56tf9DU8GHsyTEQK11mNnpctHemSvZz8g7dCFgC_wmdbeYmPm1LS-iv4RgY2KRwOfkMysFnjzf03O1fF/s667/Screenshot_20240223-131703.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="667" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSme3f0kU2vYr08IhAGFmTR-nS2BYIpTzWVkPdoBnot2trsieeGOuMoQpxGKwFTQbNmUTp1BhWvYZyDv2_QQ0mnbngRzbbaXMN73yQqdlmpIk56tf9DU8GHsyTEQK11mNnpctHemSvZz8g7dCFgC_wmdbeYmPm1LS-iv4RgY2KRwOfkMysFnjzf03O1fF/w400-h196/Screenshot_20240223-131703.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A substantial amount of fbb's model railway has been purchased from Hattons second hand lists. There is nothing else like it. Each day the company posted an eclectic range of "pre-owned" models, track and scenery - in fact anything they could sell on as single items. There is nothing similar from any other trader even the great Rails of Sheffield.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where will fbb now go for his cheap stuff? Remember the £9 railbus?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Zq_oUZhHUI5wuReO3HGCRzj5dTU9m3HGlFGhw7KevZ3hPMxFPsLdm5Ebk0YoFlR1pmNPKwfV62GLlpikMcBXmNp7P8uE1GYf49TjsNCekoxKZVLOwpgnYC__YlGYmdDR0O08XMUu6A3vsJhl__zsWwo2I5o3UwaLi6cHzAYnsvnJitMhqe97pUn9rN1/s720/Screenshot_20240223-191448.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="720" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Zq_oUZhHUI5wuReO3HGCRzj5dTU9m3HGlFGhw7KevZ3hPMxFPsLdm5Ebk0YoFlR1pmNPKwfV62GLlpikMcBXmNp7P8uE1GYf49TjsNCekoxKZVLOwpgnYC__YlGYmdDR0O08XMUu6A3vsJhl__zsWwo2I5o3UwaLi6cHzAYnsvnJitMhqe97pUn9rN1/w400-h250/Screenshot_20240223-191448.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK, not quite as nice as the above version.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74PfiBIKbdPEJC-j3w5TkPQxx_DKpod2CyMjM0YMRxsbAmxUMlrCkNcVh-d2DmnH_Wi1urMr4YJncbCVfyv-6pmeYs02YX3YPWnTaJ4g-pRanBXsBp8QJf9RlksN0rOz9UEtwnQpZxYeDL85IPfeNBtIgTrwhP2oSMjIt8OsNeNhZKldmoL0ezBQN47dx/s706/Screenshot_20240223-131606.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="576" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74PfiBIKbdPEJC-j3w5TkPQxx_DKpod2CyMjM0YMRxsbAmxUMlrCkNcVh-d2DmnH_Wi1urMr4YJncbCVfyv-6pmeYs02YX3YPWnTaJ4g-pRanBXsBp8QJf9RlksN0rOz9UEtwnQpZxYeDL85IPfeNBtIgTrwhP2oSMjIt8OsNeNhZKldmoL0ezBQN47dx/w357-h438/Screenshot_20240223-131606.png" width="357" /></a></div>It was ever and always Hattons' family business.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxziVMbgsSTMOerahrWiy9o6smgJkHlaQ1RmuF8ELS-Um_rmzyFIqDWDPHgFLUsEAmM5PzPO7WFEKpAH5owHkFkXx7KQ46XGpdGJhfh-bhx1vJEaLeNFK8pAaJ1fkZivIW7ho9u9dhKUiJgWX5rDl1JHZ1MNZBPO4BfZfz5mqjRYCLurEOY7mrrc8vBDMP/s578/Screenshot_20240223-131640.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="578" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxziVMbgsSTMOerahrWiy9o6smgJkHlaQ1RmuF8ELS-Um_rmzyFIqDWDPHgFLUsEAmM5PzPO7WFEKpAH5owHkFkXx7KQ46XGpdGJhfh-bhx1vJEaLeNFK8pAaJ1fkZivIW7ho9u9dhKUiJgWX5rDl1JHZ1MNZBPO4BfZfz5mqjRYCLurEOY7mrrc8vBDMP/w361-h202/Screenshot_20240223-131640.png" width="361" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzle Picture</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZZNbQbsDL5aEJ_cVVWoworPAnH5T7OQ4_FA05b11AhY51DicPot9cghhuivHTY2rnV6E3WyP7RNlH83paRvElKpbifiiF3dB3Pq2yFaGGXqVyIhPHTEPS_-LzpNuQkWwugyIpYkIgVDiZ_d9knVeUl0er3GRhYbwoa8LoW5AL6okMeVNnY97Eyi-Nxxv/s720/Screenshot_20240211-185514.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="720" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZZNbQbsDL5aEJ_cVVWoworPAnH5T7OQ4_FA05b11AhY51DicPot9cghhuivHTY2rnV6E3WyP7RNlH83paRvElKpbifiiF3dB3Pq2yFaGGXqVyIhPHTEPS_-LzpNuQkWwugyIpYkIgVDiZ_d9knVeUl0er3GRhYbwoa8LoW5AL6okMeVNnY97Eyi-Nxxv/w400-h379/Screenshot_20240211-185514.png" width="400" /></a></div>Where is this terminus?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Answer tomorrow which is a special day for fbb. Mrs fbb is baking a coffee cake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> Next Variety blog : Sunday 25th Feb </b></div></div></div><p></p>fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.com2