Broithe

A vectis would be a lever or bar-shaped tool of some sort - there are scoops for hoicking wax out of your ear that that would be the technical name for now, but I think it was just a word that the Romans used as a name for the island, possibly a similar-sounding corruption of whatever the Britons there at the time called it themselves - as they would do themselves all around the world a bit later on... I presume Wight is a further transformation of the name over later years. although possibly originating in a word meaning 'separate' or 'isolated' and just passing through the Vectis-phase whilst the Romans were around. As for the hovercraft - there have been several attempts at tunnels and there was a referendum about having a bridge a while back - the residents voted against it, despite the crossing being on the high side, in terms of price per mile travelled, they seem to value the separation. Mr Vectis is quite a dour character, but he does know what it's all about... As for having stuff under my belt, I got my second jab this morning and the jabber told me "My mother would make you eat a sack of spuds!"

I've 'assisted' at a few fairs where Mr Vectis has had a stall and we've had the odd chat - particularly about the origin of the name. Having lived in Hampshire for a couple of years in the late 60s and done a bit of Latin, it seemed odd to me that an organisation based in Teesside should be named after the Roman name for the Isle of Wight. He explained about the origins, as in the 'About Us' on the website. Naming a company after a place can have its drawbacks, if a move happens, but using a 'defunct' version of the name can hide it from most people. In the 80's I bought a few electronic items from East Cornwall Components, who were, by that time, actually in Wem, in Shropshire. And Wilmslow Audio is now somewhere around Leicester or Coventry...

The terrain in the background at Ballybrophy would be rather less of a 'parkland' aspect.

A potential 'problem' with that might be the portrayal of the swastika on the smoke deflector. There might be some ways round the restrictions in Germany, but it might just be felt easier to not do it there? It might also be felt that, for international audiences, the use of the symbol may be more important to the narrative than the use of the right locomotive?

This reminded me of an event that happened in the filming of the excellent Private Schulz. Michael Elphick, as Schulz, and Ian Richardson, as Major Neuheim, were required to be filmed, from a distance, appearing to be on foot in the foothills of the Alps, somewhere in Austria. It was felt that could be be done adequately in a Scottish glen, so they set off up there. Schulz and Neuheim were in full uniform and walking along one side of the valley, with the rest of the crew on the other side - by means of signals, they managed to take a few shots before a drizzly shower closed in the visibility for a while. As they waited for it to clear, sheltering under a child's pink umbrella, two hikers appeared in the distance, unable to see the film crew, because of the rain. As the hikers approached them, they felt it necessary to speak, and possibly to offer some sort of explanation. Then, they discovered that the hikers were actually German and seemed content to carry on as though it was a completely normal thing. Pleasantries were exchanged and the hikers went on their way. It's a great shame that the encounter wasn't recorded on film.

This bridge, close to Junction 3 on the M8, is known as The Woodenbridge - the decking being made from old sleepers. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rathdowney,+Co.+Laois/@52.8534538,-7.4618162,197m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x485d1e368d613f97:0xa00c7a997318630!8m2!3d52.8557157!4d-7.5867228 There are three steel beams, one at each side and one central - with a steel chequer plate on the road bed, to reduce abrasion of the wood and provide a bit of grip in wet weather. The road across the bridge has a 3 tonne weight limit indicated at each end,

Rumour has it that it may have something to do with a Disney film..?

For those who like to record livery variations.

If you stand at the end of the runway, you can sometimes get quite a close look at them...

There's a good bit of interesting footage in this - it passed me by at the time.

@jhb171achillis actually quite well known in some rather niche sporting circles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudu_dung-spitting

Not just East European staff on the Cork run... Don't sit in his seat...

It is often a bad idea to watch a 'factual TV programme' about anything that you have more than a passing knowledge of. In terms of enthusiasts parting with money, there can be a general tendency to make the "Will I? Won't I?" decision easier to take as the distance from home goes up. It can become an "It's now or never" choice. On the Big Island, I live about thirty miles from the Severn Valley Railway, but I've never been there - because I can always go next week.... (Well, in 'normal' times I can)

His own channel has a good bit of railway stuff on - mostly UK, but some continental places from various tours.

There are a few well-known ones - Pete Waterman, Rod Stewart, Nail Young, etc., but there are others. Here's two, from the opposite ends of the musical spectrum. Antonin Dvorak - http://music-toronto.com/train-spotting-with-a-famous-composer/ Captain Sensible.

Further events as part of the weekend of yellow festivities are occurring.

Shortcuts westwards over Donegal were not actively discouraged. There were many of the coastal signs, some are being re-established. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mayo,+Co.+Mayo/@54.3267829,-9.3462255,138m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x48595d749ddbec0d:0x91b3fcc43f2cb67c!8m2!3d54.0152604!4d-9.4289369