PhilJ W

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Had a great day at Ipswich today, spent oodles of modelling tokens, not all of it on myself and not all of it on models. On previous occasions I have spent the initial time there at the transport museum but last year a new event (IPMS show) threw the planned itinery out so this year we took the bus to the various events first leaving the museum to last which worked out far better even though there was an additional mini railway exhibition held in a pub! After chucking out time at the museum we made a visit to the local model railway emporium and disposed of more modelling tokens. Now feeling completely kernackered.

The 'Q' engine also rotated anti-clockwise (when viewed from the front). AEC developed a similar reversed version of the RT engine for use in tanks paired with a conventional engine. After the war they adapted this engine for left hand drive buses but with a conventional clockwise rotation.

What about a 'stretched' Q1, say to a 2-8-0 (8F?).

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A quick hello as I'm off to Ipswich for the model and transport festival.

Possibly because they used a Leyland engine. Leyland (and AEC) made their engines with all the fittings such as injectors and manifolds on the left hand side making them easily accessable on a half cab bus. Post war AEC, who had a strong export market produced a reversed version of their engines for countries where the drive on the right is the rule. Leyland never bothered and only offered right hand drive versions.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Getting stuff ready for tomorrows day out, snacks and drinks are waiting in the fridge and the tote bags and modelling tokens are at the ready. An interesting effect is if two mirrors are placed in a right angled corner if you look into the corner you do not get a reverse image. This is because you are looking at the reflection via two mirrors. This is more often seen in mirror lined lifts.

Not quite sure if the Bristol has been converted to left hand drive.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny this morning and no sign of the (predicted) humidity. Tomato seeds do pass through humans and other animals unharmed, thats what they are designed to do. As a propagation strategy its perfect, the seeds are distributed over a wide area and with their own package of fertiliser. Muggatee to be drunk, be back later.

Licencing is a significant issue, it took several years to get a licencing agreement with JCB and Rolls-Royce and then there are conditions attached as to scales that they are able to produce. Also the liveries of commercials may also be subject to licencing.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Just spent an enjoyable evening at the home of one of the SEERS members who has a large garden railway that also occupies his garage and a large shed. I took my friend and the boy with me, the lad thoroughly enjoyed himself being allowed to operate the layout. Earlier today when in Tesco's I had a rummage in the reduced price box and found a DAB radio reduced from £25 to £6.25 due to the mains connector having gone AWOL. However it could also operate on 4 AA batteries. A further rummage discovered the required number and type of batteries also at reduced price. So I now have a brand new working radio at a quarter of the price.

I seem to remember there being a fatal accident involving an old car that was the catalyst for the introduction of the MOT test. IIRC the brakes failed and the vehicle ran away down a steep hill and two children in the vehicle were killed.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Heavy rain last night but bright and sunny at the moment. The usual bin wagons dawn chorus with the lesser spotted glass and bottle wagon this morning. Thats it for now, be back later.

The MoT test has evolved with the vehicles to be tested. When it was introduced 60 years ago there was no requirement for seat belts or exhaust emissions testing and certainly no computers in cars. Presenting a 60 year old car for a test today would probably leave the examiner scratching his (or her) head. Many a modern day test station would be incapable of testing a vehicle over 40 years old. The only answer would be an exemption as applied or test stations set up to test older vehicles. To set up such test stations would be expensive and such a service would be patchy, OK if you lived in a town or city but those in more remote areas could find themselves many miles from the nearest test centre.

Goodnight all.

Thanks.

A recent survey has revealed that women who carry a bit of extra weight live longer than men who mention it.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Who put the lights out? Up to about half an hour ago the sun was shining now its turned very dark and its started raining. MRC tonight so I've got to get ready, be back later.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I only heard one rumble of thunder last night but there was still plenty of rain. I think as Tony said it passed to the east of us and I'm only five miles west of Tony. Back to roundabouts the worst mini-roundabout hereabouts must be Wilson's Corner in Brentwood. Not only is it a double roundabout but all four entrances/exits have a push button pedestrian crossing within a few yards. I mentioned the other day that my friend was having electrical problems. Well thats now been sorted, the problem was the main feed from the distribution board to the kitchen. It was the original 65-year-old cable and the insulation was beginning to break down. The cable has now been replaced and its also cured the crackling on his bedside radio. I spotted that last night, beware of the awl!

Goodnight all.

A bit more about the Sollershott roundabout. http://www.britainbycar.co.uk/letchworth/217-britain-s-first-roundabout

Evening all from Estuary-Land. When I went on a fly drive holiday to the USA some forty years ago I stopped off at Gettysburg which had a roundabout of which the locals were very proud being only one of three in the entire USA at the time, it might even have been the first one in the USA. Incidently the first roundabout in the UK was installed in 1909 in Letchworth Garden City and its still there (Sollershott roundabout).

The old Triang model was based on an Alco.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. In a dry spell at the moment between showers but heavy rain predicted overnight. The one day cricket records have fallen today, well done England.