Logology And Other Stuff (4)

Here are five more logos!

 1  

 2 

 3 

 4 

 5 

Identify these logos/brands from transport operators. Answers tomorrow.

An Island Appeal

fbb quotes the message in full, almost!

The opportunity has arisen to purchase from the last surviving vehicle of the Vectis Bus Company, Daimler CK/Dodson DL5084. This came to the Island in 1927 and was a 1919 built reconditioned running chassis (which may have carried passenger or goods bodywork when new) fitted with the body from Vectis Bus Company 1922 Vulcan DL2907 - the transfer, and lengthening, of the body being carried out by Margham of Newport.

The bus was displayed in our former museum at Newport Quay and is now stored on an Island farm and will probably remain there for the time being pending the investigation of lottery funding for a major long term restoration, which will have to be carried out by specialist outside agencies.

The bus, having been used for some years as a 'live in' immobile caravan, was due to be broken up in 1966, when purchased by John together with the late Rex Watson. Included in the purchase are all the Daimler items located and bought by John over many years - including a correct sleeve-valve** Daimler engine ...

... a set of solid tyred wheels (with axles); a similar CB Daimler dismantled chassis, and several other parts.

Please help us to finance the purchase, which will ensure the bus remains on the Island rather than being sent for auction on the mainland.

Donations, which may be Gift-aided if applicable, should be addressed to myself, Bill Ackroyd, 8 Twining Road, Ventnor, IOW, PO38 1TX any cheques being made payable to the IWB & CM.

Alternatively they can be paid directly into the museum account, sort code 30-97-21 account number 00685797, marked Daimler. My email address is william.ackroyd@talk21.com if you would like more information.

We are looking to raise £9,000, and if members wished to form a group to “adopt” the bus, this would be acceptable.

If for any reason the purchase does not proceed, all monies would be returned. This appeal is in a similar vein to the Ryde appeal of four years ago, and look how successful that was!

A photo of a similar vehicle on the route via Blackgang Chine to Newport gives some idea of what this very old girl looked like.

**And "sleeve valve"?

Apparently the valves in your car are technically "poppet valves".

In a sleeve valve system a "sleeve" (the clue is in the name) slides in the cylinder and this opens and closes holes in the cylinder wall (ports) to allow fuel in and waste gases out.

Christmas 1987

A reminder to fbb (who had forgotten) that in 1987, Christmas Day services ran in Sheffield. They were tendered by the City and operated by SUT, one of the many deregulated companies that clogged the streets in the early post 1986 days.

These three, with an RE going to Totley Brook, are lined up outside Sheffield Cathedral in a spot now taken by the tram stop.

In 1987, the buses followed the night bus routeings many of which were combinations of two (or more) daytime services. Nowadays both the night bus network and Christmas Day buses are just a fond memory.

Thanks to Roy for the picture.

Borders Buses Becomes Bigger

West Coast Motors bough Perrymans Buses then the remains of First Scotland East to become the dominant operator in the south eastern areas of  Mrs fbb's home nation. The operation was branded Borders Buses.

Initially the company agreed to operate to First Bus's timetable but reserved the right to "review" services later. Surprisingly, perhaps, there have been no major cut-backs, yet again begging the question, "Why couldn't First make a go of it"?

Borders X62 is still every half an hour!

First Bus claimed to have lost 40% of its business on this route as a result of the re-opening of the Borders railway line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

Borders has now consolidated its hold on the region by taking over the routes operated by BARC Coach Hire.

BARC operated (on tender) local services in the Border towns, most of which were once the prerogative of First Bus or its predecessors.

Yesterday's Logology - The Answers

1. Highland Omnibuses
2. Inverness Traction (Stagecoach competitive onslaught)
3. Sealink (flag)
4. Northern Rail
5. Capital Citybus (London)

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    Post-Advent CALENDAR - 27     

It was an eventful "Presentation" of baby Jesus at the Temple. After the spooky but accurate predictions of elderly Simeon, an equally elderly woman joined in.

There was a very old prophet, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple; day and night she worshipped God, fasting and praying. That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.

But free from what?

Some were looking for political freedom, which only came Post World War 2; so this, again, was the freedom from the burden of "sin" that figures so highly in the Christian Gospel.

The world needed to know more.

Enter (in due course) a gaggle of Zoroastrian astronomical astrologers - bearing gifts.

Maybe with silly hats, but definitely NOT riding camels!

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 Next Logology blog : Thurssday 28th December 

Logology And Other Stuff (3)

Here are five more logos!

 1  

 2 

 3 

 4 

 5 

Identify these logos/brands from transport operators. Answers tomorrow.

Back To The Future?

In their plans for the network in Leeds, First Bus include an illustration of a bus in yet another new livery.

The colours, if not their arrangement, have a strong affinity with those used by Leeds City buses in their latter manifestation before becoming west Yorkshire PTE.

Cotonopolis Christmas

Manchester offered one bus service on Christmas Day, namely the 43 to the Airport.

In true festive style, Stagecoach could not even be bothered to publish a full timetable! The local Mancunian Press did, however, manage to report a "feel good" story about one of the drivers.

Clive says that he does the job "because he enjoys it"! His enjoyment might be enhance a tad by the payment package and an extra day off?

But It's Where The Passengers Want To Go

Now that we have decided that diesel is evil, the health police are worried about too many buses in central London.

Oxford Street, with its plethora of shops, is typical.

Lots of people want to go to Oxford Street so, as part of a clever plan to encourage more folk to use public transport, London Mayor Mr Khan ...

... is "consulting" on a cunning plan to remove all buses from the street and pedestrianise most of it. This will be achieved by reducing through services dramatically, terminating routes short and those that remain will clog up the back streets.

Here is an extract from the current network ...

... with loadsa useful buses.

This is replaced with a huge gap ...

... with only a couple of routes "round the back".

So well thought out is he plan, that one service doesn't even have a route number. It is called the "TBC".

One justification for this demolition of a well-used and popular network is that everyone will be using Crossrail a k a The Elizabeth Line.

Sadly, you cannot see the Christmas lights from the Underground!

Here is an "artist's impression" of the pedestrianised proposals ...

... complete with tetrahedral artistic dangly things and coloured pavements. Here is the same picture on Google Streetview ...

Quiet isn't it? 

Rapido's Brummy Bus Progress

CAD (Computer Aided Design) versions of the Birmingham so-called "new-look" bus model have now appeared. The real thing was scanned at Wythall Transport Museum ...

... and the clever little Chinese people have now turned these bits of computer stuff into detailed drawings.

Mr Schram, boss  of Rapido, claims this will be the most detailed model of a UK bus ever made. It does look that way!

fbb may have to buy one - for evaluation purposes and in the interests of journalism, of course.

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    Post-Advent CALENDAR - 27     

What would happen if, at a present day Christening, some aged weirdo sprang out from the dark recesses of the Church, grabbed the baby and started spouting poetry?

Police called? Handbagged by a bevvy of doting aunts in posh hats? Ushered away by an usher?

Embarrassment all round at the very least.

At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's promised Messiah. Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple and  took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God:

Now, Lord, you have kept your promise,

 and you may let your servant go in peace.

With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:

A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles

and bring glory to your people Israel.

The child's father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.”

The Nativity, a pretty story? Not really - there are some tough times to come - in about thirty years.

Simeon is as much part of Christmas as the shepherds and the angels - and the wise men, when they get there!

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 Next Logology blog : Thurssday 28th December 

Christmas Baubles (3)

Lunch On The Big Day

After a successful church service, the fbbs made up a tensome for Christmas Dinner - with all the trimmings - in the church hall. Yummy yummy. Of note were the table decorations, supplied by one of the guests, which still bear their original price tag.

5/11 = approximately 30p!

After lunch fbb was given a transport related gift by one of the guests.  The prints are of the LMS loco 6100 (later BR 46100) Royal Scot ...

... and LNER 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley.

The became 60007 in B R days. This locomotive will be familiar to model railway enthusiasts as the crack express 3-rail model train.

But fbb needs his readers' help. Which stations are depicted in the above prints? Or, are they generic "old stations", depicted with artistic licence?

Answers to fbb@xephos.com

Post Prandial Santa

Two rail related  gifts to enjoy were removed from Santa's sack. A nostalgic video set from No 3 son provided enjoyment for fbb, Mrs and the boy (aged 37!!!) as they recovered from the delights of a splendid luncheon.

Most of the footage has been used before and would be familiar to Southern region fans, but the set brings together a huge feast of railway nostalgia including the Isle of Wight, your blogger's home planet from 1995 to 2013.

Much to enjoy over the next few days. Plus a book.

Wolmar's stuff is always very readable and the volume will provide some pleasant chuntering over the next few days. Expect a blog!

Having just watched the exciting Christmas Day edition of Dr Who, revealing the new female Doctor (no good will ever come from such a thing?), fbb notes that a Dr Who novel (never made into a TV programme) is also called:-

fbb never knew that the Doctor was a rail enthusiast!

The Nastiness at Bedford

Long term blog readers will remember the bungling of bus information at Bedford. With the new bus station, opened in 2015 came a splendid Travel and Tourist Information Centre, see in the picture below on the right.

But soon, the Council, desperate to encourage the use of public transport, consulted on a plan to close it down. Apparently they consulted Sid Boggs, a gentleman of the road ...

... who said that he had no need of an enquiry office. So, amidst howls of protest from everyone except the bus and rail companies, who seemed disinterested in telling anyone where their services ran and when, it closed.

This really helpful notice adorns the door.

Welcome to Bedford!

There is no one to ask at the bus station, unless you can hijack a passing driver; and, round the corner in the library ...

... there are a few Stagecoach leaflets and one for a rail company that no loner exists.

There is nothing for any other bus operator. fbb,  thinks that East Midlands Trains and whatever Thameslink is called this week both serve Bedford Station.

Information, what information?

Thanks to Northampton correspondent Alan for his observations at Bedford.

Is bus travel growing or declining in Bedford?

Skulking Under Cover of Darkness

Seen at Northampton station.

A train in (ugly) London North Western Railway livery. Or is it The train in LNW livery?

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    Post-Advent CALENDAR - 26     

What happened next?

Have the wise men completed their tortuous journey?

Not yet!

The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord.” They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.

Similar to today's Christening?

The "two doves" sacrifice was a specific concession for poorer people - which is why Mary's blue frock is wrong. Blue cloth was expensive!

It would seem likely that, by now, the "Holy Family" will have left the comfort (?) of their stable/cattle shed/cave and found somewhere to rent. Maybe carpenter Joe had found himself a bit of fettling work in and around Bethlehem.

This would save another lengthy walk back to Nazareth and back back to Jerusalem.

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 Next Baubles blog : Wednesday 27th December