Challenger II

If you look at any list of 'World's top ten tanks, you will never see it at the #1 position, except maybe in battle..
It has the best armour, shares the best gun with its allies, and has been proved to be durable in the extreme. However, the lists mark it down on 'fear factor' because there simply is not enough of them. I don't know about you, but I would be fearful if one of them had its sights on me. This tank can take out anything with one hit, regradless of whose side the recipient of the hit is.
Only three have ever been lost, which shows a better survival rate than either the Leopard 2 or M1A2. Make no mistake, the German and US tanks are amazing machines, but I think that the Challenger is every bit as good, and all should be = 1st.

The Stanier 4-6-2

Known as 'Big Lizzies' by their drivers, the Coronation class locos were built in Crewe for the LMS Railway. They first appeared in 1937, and disappeared after 1965 along with all other steam locos. Some were streamined, but not all. The streamlining was fitted originally when they first started pulling the 'Royal Scot', but it was later removed as it did nothing for speed and impeded maintenance.     

Duchess of Hamilton is now preserved at the York Railway Museum in streamlined form. The Coronation class locos were not the worlds most famous British locos. That honour goes to A3 4472 Flying Scotsman of the LNER. They were't the fastest either. That honour goes to A4 4462 Mallard of the LNER. They were, however, the largest, most powerful locos ever built for use on British rails, and arguably the most beautiful steam locos ever built anywhere in the world (not the streamlined versions).  

 It wasn't all glamour. Rogue embers from the fire boxes could start fires in fields and on washing lines that were close to the tracks, and houses built adjacent to the tracks close to major stations were blackened by the continual output of soot in the smoke.   

 It still remains one of the iconic sights in Britain, an express loco charging across the countryside, laying a plume of white smoke behind it. See one in action. Sit back and enjoy the sight and sound of the Duchess of Sutherland and other preserved Great British Steam Engines..

The London Taxi

Most were all black, some were maroon, and some were a mix of the two colours.

The bodies were made by Carbodies, the mechanics underneath courtesy of Austin, and the vehicle was badged 'FX4', was designed to be 'easy entry', could turn in 24 feet, and there are/were thousands of them.


Later models could even be fitted with wheelchair access..

To be a London Taxi driver, you need to have the 'knowledge'. You get this by riding around London and environ on a scooter. Want to know what you have to know? Read this.. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartners/taxisandprivatehire/1412.aspx

Black Sabbath

Fronted by Ozzy Osbourne, they were 'The very best heavy' group ever. I remember sitting in a room, lit only by a church tower shaped candle, headphones on, blitzing my ears with the first track on their first album. It was called 'Black Sabbath', and the tracks that followed it were just a huge bonus.

I don't hear so well these days, and I don't doubt that Ozzy and the guys were partly to blame, but it was all worth it.

Sit back and listen..

A Sunday treat

Its made from batter, and is traditionally eaten with roast beef. I am, of course, talking about Yorkshire Pudding.

Forget healthy eating. As said already, it is made from batter to which one applies drippings from the beef as it cooks. The most tasty things to eat are rarely good for you, but who cares. I don't know if there is an equivalent anywhere else, but I do know that nationals from other countries generally get an instant liking for it.

In Yorshire, it is sometimes eaten as a first course, but most have it with the beef, roast potatoes and vegetables of choice. And they say that English food is boring!!

In the photo, it is easy to spot the Yorkshires. They are the golden, gravy soaked bits on the right side of the plate. Don't tell me that it does not make you feel hungry. I would never believe you, and neither would millions of other Brits..

The big red bus

Without a doubt, this is the most famous bus anywhere in the world. AEC RT's and RM's were specifically designed for use in London, the RM probably being the most recognisable. The bodies were made at the AEC Park Royal coachworks, and were pretty much all aluminium, making them light and nimble. Drivers were particularly pleased with the fully automatic gearbox. There were/are other manufacturers of double decker buses, Daimler, Leyland, Bristol to name others, but the London Transport Routemaster is probably top of the tree.

The Daimler CVG6 was the bus of choice where I was born, and I do have a special place for it. The chassis was made in Coventry, the body I most liked was the Metro Cammel Orion (lightweight like the AEC RM), and it was powered by the ubiquitous Gardner 5LW/6LW coupled with a four speed pre-selector gearbox.

The Rocket

The year is 1829 and the Rainhill Trials  had been won by George Stephenson’s Rocket. It was the very first steam locomotive to use a multi-tube boiler configuration, the standard by which all steam locomotives would be made regardless of location.

Note also the angle of the cylinders. They were originally inclined at 35 degrees which reduced the swaying motion brought about by vertical placement. Eventually, they were moved to a horizontal position which virtually eliminated any tendency to sway. This was another feature which became the standard for nearly all that followed.