Broithe

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2023/0308/1360992-dart-services/

Trackside safety needs to be taken seriously, of course. Issuing swans with hi-vis is long overdue.

I probably* still have one in the system, from a few years ago, where they claimed it was going to be delivered the day before it was despatched. When it was finally delivered, the system seemed unable to cope with such a time paradox and left it existing in some sort of Back the Future limbo. * They now can't find it at all, three years later - "Sorry, we're currently unable to confirm the status of your item with reference GQ171144677GB . Please try again tomorrow." It did finally appear, but the system never got further than shown in the picture, I looked every now and then until I got fed up.

https://www.ft.com/content/19df5640-af10-4716-b10d-083a1bdf7f44

It was only Silk Cut Purple, honest.

Have you actually seen this in real life? Or was it possibly a vision that you had whilst relaxing after a hard day?

Yeah, I'm far too young to remember the start of the second half of the last century. I do remember some things that have changed, like spelling the verb form of 'show' as 'shew' - that was regarded as a 'better form' in the posh parts of England, and people who worked for councils or solicitors, etc, would often be required to do it. I have an early edition of The Last of the Mohicans and 'ankle' is spelt as 'ancle' all the way through.

Agreed! Time to rein it in, lads.

Three locos, put through a mincer, all the bits supplied in the one plastic bag, no prior identification. Let's see how good he really is.

Or just run saddle tanks..?

During a post-fire renovation of a local pub, I was tasked with remounting some pictures - amongst them was a mirror identical to this. I was struck by the spelling.

Only 'cos it's easier to spell than "Yes"..?

No hard border down the middle of the Liffey.

Some sort of power-sharing agreement?

They had other interesting company that was less welcome - WR986 was written off due to a rat infestation. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/157361

It is remarkable that what was, essentially, a Lancaster Mk 3 served on into the 1990s. Also odd, was that they got steadily better-looking as they were modified over the years.

If customisable sounds become available on EVs, I'll be looking for Shackleton sound files.

It seems to me that it should be fairly easy to have convincing sound effects, both inside and outside the vehicle. Almost like DCC sound is, but with a bit more 'scale and depth'.

I once saw a 66 at Holyhead, that, apart from the sweeps of the wipers, looked like the whole thing had just been given a nice even coat of Halfords grey primer. I wasn't in a position to record the image, unfortunately.

Be fair! You would need a big pipe to get a coach in and the fumes would not be ideal.

Where I worked, we would often get requests for spares from the past. As is common, some very early products will last a long time, before people get pressures from accountants to cut costs, once some experience has been got. I once got a letter from some obscure place in the ex-colonies, asking for a spare terminal bushing* for a thing that I'd never heard of. Some searching found the details of the component. It was clear that there would not be 'one lying about somewhere' and, it would be hugely expensive to attempt to make one, plus the design required materials that would have been illegal many years before, so it would require a completely new design. I informed the potential customer of the ridiculous price that we would require, should we agree to have a go at making something that might work. They got quite shirty about us not having one on the shelf, even after I pointed out that they had bought it before my father was born. * This sort of thing.

I hadn't noticed the white circle! I must find out if that is intentional. The school has a quiz running tonight, that I have been roped into - I'll see if I can find out who is responsible...

Do you have an obtrusive oil tank? And a bit of spare paint..? Street View caught it in process... https://www.google.com/maps/@52.8515444,-7.672642,3a,15y,274.61h,89.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7cuZr9Zfj1o3Ft6FGlo4BA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 I await complaints about the livery...

An article about hybrid trains. https://dublininquirer.com/2023/03/01/to-cut-fuel-use-and-pollution-irish-rail-adds-new-transmissions-and-batteries-to-its-trains