The Anonymous Widower

Do The British Like Marxism?

If the Exit Poll produced by the BBC, ITV and Sky is correct, the Tories will have a majority of 86.

In the General Election of 1983, Michael Foot, who was not as far to the left as Jeremy Corbyn won 209 seats.

The Exit Poll is showing that Corbyn will win only 191 seats.

I don’t think the British public like Marxism, especially when it comes from someone in London, who went to a posh school.

December 12, 2019 Posted by | World | , , , , | 2 Comments

MSU Research Leads To North America’s First Commercial Hydrogen-Powered Train

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in Railway Age.

This is the introductory paragraph.

Research from Michigan State University’s Center for Railway Research and Education (CRRE) contributed to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s (SBCTA) decision to order the first commercial hydrogen-powered train for use in North America.

These statements were also made.

  • The research was conducted in partnership with the Birmingham CRRE and Mott MacDonald.
  • Funding was from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).
  • The trains will be built by Stadler, probably in their US factory.

There is also a picture of the hydrogen-powered Flirt in the article, and it is very similar in formation to a Class 755 train, with a PowerPack in the middle.

The picture shows a Class 755 train at Norwich station.

The article indicates that hydrogen-power was chosen, as the rail line may be extended by sixty miles to Los Angeles.

Conclusion

After reading the full article, it certainly looks like San Bernardino County Transportation Authority have planned their new railway in a very professional way.

 

 

December 12, 2019 Posted by | Transport | , , , , | 2 Comments

Buried Utilities Threaten To Delay TfL’s Barking Riverside Extension

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on New Civil Engineer.

This seems to be the curse of so many rail and I suspect road and other projects in the UK.

  • As it’s a new rail line, this one is not down to British Rail or their predecessors.
  • It appears, that it is Thames Water and BT.
  • Nothing in the article gives any details of when the utilies were installed.

At least the contractors and the utility owners seem to be getting on with sorting out the problems.

I’ve always felt that in the past, when large projects were undertaken, the builders felt that there was no need to properly document everything, as the team, who did the work, would still be around twenty years in the future, if the project have to be revisited.

Unfortunately, this time, there will be a need for an accurate survey and a redesign.

But at least it is a site with plenty of space.

December 12, 2019 Posted by | Transport | , | 1 Comment

Welcome To The LNER Stadium… Train Operator Sponsors Lincoln City Football Club Stadium

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Advent.

Sincil Bank willnow be the LNER Stadium.

In LNER To Put Lincoln On The Rail Map, I detailed LNER’s plans to run five trains per day in each direction and also to increase weekend services.

I also speculated that LNER might extend the service to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

Conclusion

It does appear that the extra services between London and Lincoln and the sponsorship of the stadium are part of a larger plan.

This might fit in with an extension of the service to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

December 12, 2019 Posted by | Sport, Transport | , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Curious Election

I voted early this morning about 09:30

Because, the usual Polling Station in a school was unavailable, two stations had been combined in a local community hall.

Usually, Labour Party supporters are busy outside making sure that they maximise the vote for Meg Hillier.

But today there was no-one outside and the only greeting was from the Poll Clerk.

There didn’t seem to be too many people voting either. I don’t think it was as busy as 2017. And I always vote early!

Was it the weather, was I too early or was it some other reason?

All very curious.

The betting odds seem carious too! Both Tories and Labour seem to be dropping, with the others steady.

Does this say that the LibDems and others are getting squeezed?

 

December 12, 2019 Posted by | World | , | 2 Comments

Boeing: US Regulator Admits ‘Mistake’ Over Aircraft Crashes

The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the first three paragraphs.

US aviation regulators allowed Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft to continue flying despite knowing there was a risk of further crashes.

Analysis after the first crash last year predicted there could be up to 15 disasters over the lifetime of the aircraft without design changes.

Despite this, the Federal Aviation Administration did not ground the Max until a second crash five months later.

The FAA chief said it was a mistake.

I would class it as a very big mistake.

When are Boeing going to come to the conclusion, that they can’t stretch the fifty-year-old design of the Boeing 737 and they need a new modern design?

 

 

December 12, 2019 Posted by | Transport | , , | 3 Comments

Advertising With Electric Cars

I took this picture in Islington of cars used by Chestertons; the estate agents.

If I was thinking of selling my house, I might pop-in to their office round the corner.

December 12, 2019 Posted by | World | , , | Leave a comment

Class 755 Train Details

These pictures are a collection of some of the details of Class 755 trains.

I shall add to this collection of pictures.

If you give me a credit, feel free to use them in anything you write.

December 12, 2019 Posted by | Transport | , | Leave a comment