British Ajax Series!

 Britain's new MBT and Vehicles Generation.

All is running late and many difficulties lay ahead as the U.K. launches its new generational military hardware, some of the vehicles meet a more robust format, but the new tank does not so the media reports, it is behind, but the existing equipment is still sufficient for operational use!

It is not known at this time if there will be any foreign sales in the pipe-line for the Ajax series, but nations that have bought British before may continue to buy, unless they are lured away now by the plethora of similar on the world arms market?

Apart from the tracked MBT all the other vehicles are wheeled and are fitted with a newer type of gas cell constructed wheels that allow the machines to continue working with the self sealing punctures!

Alternative Energy.

Diesel and bio-Fuel.

Most of the machines that are working today around the world are operated by Diesel engines, until recently this was thought to be the best performance fuel over that of petrol?

Many nations want to use alternative energy over that of the fossil fuels of coal, gas and oil, but two factors come to the fore?

One cost and two much of what we have in alternative energy will not power the plethora of machines in existence around the world?

When Diesel invented his first engine it was powered by peanut oil and this has lead to much research into various forms of bio-fuel mixtures, lead by the aviation industry! Cost is the main factor in the production of hybrids other than motor cars and it may be some time before we will get over our new pollution problems?

Electric engines are and can be made across the board in relation to the railways, the main problems is again cost as in the GWR Padding to Swansea plan being cancelled in the U.K. The other is that third rail is susceptible to the weather from slipping leaf fall to frost, ice and snow fall?

It's Christmas. Part-Two.

Ice Vehicles.

There is a whole plethora of tracked, sled and four plus wheeled drive vehicles across snowy world to come with both permanent snow and winter conditions. But it amazes me that still the U.K. is not able or wants to be able to operate normally in snow.

Back in the 1970's British Rail always excused its stock problem delays with its the leaves on the line or I once hear on a train 'its the BR pork pies.'

It is claimed by many experts that snow varies from country to country and that is why it's not worth investing here in the complex machinery needed. Airlines and rail enjoy making money out of the traveller and it would seem sensible to not cause them delays.

Anyway Happy Christmas to you all.

Vehicles and Bodies.

Using variety.

It never fails to amaze me how many different types of bodies can be fitted to certain vans such as the Ford Transit and to various, if not all truck models. The plethora and ideas of the human mind to conceive almost every practical use of a vehicle has now been achieved.

When the mass production of the Thorny Croft truck for World-War I (1914-18) was demanded, it only came to fruition in the surplus of the after war years. 

The 1920's saw these trucks appearing as buses, charrabangs, coaches, recovery vehicles and many other weird and wonderful concepts.

Today the pick-up has deliberately been designed to be adapted and is another platform added to what is already established.

 I hope to get up a few more little films of various types of vehicles and their uses of the next few months.

Many Thanks  for watching.

Multiple Units.

Diesel and Electric.

The multiple unit in the railway world is described as a people mover, it has been designed for that sole purpose. Initially the idea was for a clean and smooth operation into and out of suburban areas, work on rural lines with a rail/auto coach, railcar.

Some auto coaches had the facility to carry light loads, mail, small boxes, milk churns and they appeared in the steam era. But it was the electrification of east/north-east and southern lines to overhead and third rail that introduced the first trains.

Today we have a plethora of types operating in the U.K and Ireland, from single railcars to two, three and four units trains, some are made up of two four unit trains that can split up to form two trains.

The introduction of the diesel powered units allow extensive operation across any part of the country. I hope to cover individual types and their operational working in the months to follow.