Streamlined Train Wonders of the Art Deco Era Don't miss our previous article Super High Speed Trains in Japan and France. Here is another collection of cool and technologically splendid trains that caught our attention recently. You know how they say: '1000 destinations to travel, before you die', '1000 awesome things to try, before you die', '1000 ways to prepare pasta, before you die' (really, they should sell a book 'One simple way to prepare a poisonous mushroom, before you die'). But we agree, there are multiple worthy activities to undertake in your lifetime. Learning about awesome trains and railroads is one of them.    (images via LIFE MAgazine 1, National Geographic, November 1939, 2) The gorgeous streamlined steam and diesel locomotives from the 1920s-1930s scream 'steampunk' and 'dieselpunk' to anyone who can appreciate it, and also provide an ample field for research for train historians and collectors. This was the era of The Mighty Streamlined Machine, and it plainly shows even in black-and-white photographs that remained. Here is the glamorous 'Broadway Limited' Express:  (image credit: Andy Romano) Milwaukee Road Hiawatha F6 Engine competes with the Packard LeBaron V-12 Coupe:  (art by Jack Juratovic, 'Road and Track', November 1935 - via) F7 competes with Duesenberg:  (art by Jack Juratovic, 'Road and Track', November 1935 - via) Many streamlined mighty engines proweld the nation at the time, including ones on C&NW (Chicago & North Western), the Hiawathas on the Milwuakee Road, The Aeolus steam engines on the Burlington Route (as backup to the famous Zephyrs):  (images via) And of course, '20th Century Limited' on the NYC (New York Central System):    Milwaukee Hiawatha's Skytop Panoramic Room:   (images via 1, 2) Union Pacific strange-looking M-10000, and another Union Pacific streamliner:   Pennsylvania RailRoad Locomotive (Designer Raymond Loewy) from 1939:  (images via) To see more great examples of streamlined locomotives, go to this great site. Soviet Railways S-ZhD 2-3-2v (left), and А691 4-6-2 locomotive of the Italian State Railway (right). Top speed - 150 km/h, built in 1939:  (images via 1, ) NMBS/SNCB: 12.004 was a streamlined 4-4-2 passenger locomotive of the Belgian National Railroads. Top speed 100 mph in 1939! -  (photo by Marc Petit) These engines were living, breathing mysteries of steam and iron. Many years from their heyday, the wonder still remains:  (photo by National Geographic, November 1939, via) Interesting Train Art and Concepts Retrofuture concept for a gigantic passenger train, introduced in 1947 (Note the spacious interiors and huge bed options) - more info:    (images via) 'Mine Clearing of Arctic Regions', by Vladimir Kufeld (click to see the bigger version):  (image credit: Vladimir Kufeld) Another unholy union: huge steam locomotive and a World War I battleship, by Marco Edel Rolandi (click to see the bigger version):  (image credit: http://anacardo.cgsociety.org/gallery/340944/) The idea is not new - here is a Victorian postcard, featuring even weirder Combined Ship & Railway Locomotive (from Hildebrands, a turn-of-the-20th-century German chocolate company):  (image via) Here is the steampunk church / train hybrid, courtesy Silverwhite  (image credit: Silverwhite) Futuristic train by Benedict Campbell:  (image credit: Benedict Campbell) All Sorts of Train-Related Coolness A bunch of mining steam trains in China:  (image via) Even more interesting convergence of trains - Triple Railway Crossing in Richmond, Virginia:  (photo by National Geographic, November 1939, via) Interesting locomotive spotted in Omsk, Russia. It doubles up as a power station: built in 1960, it can generate 300 kWatt -  (image via) Another weird Russian locomotive - with an engine from small Moskvich car, photo taken in Krasnoyarsk in the 1960s:  (photo by Yury Lucevich, via) How about Tama the Cat as a train conductor in Japan? More info can be found here, but it seems that this cat boosted local economy by at least $10 million in tourist visits. Here is the obligatory cat image 'I'm in ur stashion, chekin ur tikits':  (image via) 'Unloading Passengers' (photo by Bob Avery) -  (image credit: Bob Avery, Railpictures.net) Steam Engines Used as Street Trams in the Czech Republic, especially neat-looking in the winter's traffic:     (photos by Michal Uhler) Backyard Train - Russian version of Thomas the Tank Engine? It seems that this miniature train is a good helper in household construction:   Is this train broken? -  No, it's not broken in any way, this is the Mt Washington, New England, cog train, designed to go on a steep incline (more info)   |
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Trains And Railways Extravaganza, Part 2
Trains And Railways Extravaganza, Part 2:
World of Tanks - Sports Cars Trailer
World of Tanks - Sports Cars Trailer:
I liked a YouTube video: World of Tanks is a free MMO - http://www.worldoftanks.com/
In WORLD OF TANKS, there are more than 150 armored machines from pre-WW2 era up to the Korean War, which are organized into three trees according to the nation they belong to: America, G...
In WORLD OF TANKS, there are more than 150 armored machines from pre-WW2 era up to the Korean War, which are organized into three trees according to the nation they belong to: America, G...
Video Illusions
Video Illusions:
I love optical illusions, and I’m fascinated by the mechanics of vision, so I have to share with you this video. This technique of animation has been known for a long time, but it’s still pretty cool.
Another video discusses how this is done. I had a card I carried in my wallet for years that did a similar type of illusion using a lenticular overlay which, when you moved the card back and forth, made it look like little colored spirals were rotating in different directions. I bought it when I was in college, but sadly I lost it last year (I’m pretty sure I dropped it at Comic Con). I have no idea how to replace it. If any of you has seen something like it, please let me know!
Night People Are Smarter Than Morning People
Night People Are Smarter Than Morning People:
Crap. I’m an early riser. I should have been a farmer. Now I find out that people who stay up later are smarter? Then why in the hell don’t they run things? Don’t tell me it’s The Peter Principle: Morning Edition.
Hungry Bear clearly doesn’t stay up late. But he sees double rainbows.
Summer Swimwear Trends
Summer Swimwear Trends:
Spring and summer are such exciting seasons for women. Swimsuit season makes many women anxious especially when trying to decide what type of swimsuit to buy or wear.
During this year, you should expect to see a lot of graphic prints in all types of swimwear fashions and clothing. The trend follows in the footsteps of all those graphic prints we saw in dresses and gowns in the last several years.
The New collection spring-summer 2010 of PianuraStudio, dedicated to the hippie-chic globetrotters, Their design was not give harem pants to cotton muslin and ultra-flat sandals.
Showcase of Beautiful Photography
Showcase of Beautiful Photography:
Sometimes, a picture can be powerful enough to be inspirational material all by itself. To provide you with some inspiration for the upcoming week, this sunday we feature some truly beautiful and impressive images from talented artists and photographers worldwide.
Whether in black and white or in colors, they are all related by a strong sense of composition and an emphasis on lightening and colors work. All images are linked to their sources, which you are encouraged to visit. Other work of the photographers we have featured here is certainly worth discovering as well. Please notice that some images are available as prints as well.
[Offtopic: By the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has a mobile version? Try it out if you have an iPhone, Blackberry or another capable device.]
Beautiful Photography
Dreaming
Amazing sleeping beauty, where the beauty is actually also the beast, by Peter ツ. Prints are available as well.
The Endpoint
By Jeannette Oerlemans.
Song of Tide
By Wira Nurmansyah from Indonesia.
Blue
By Earl A. Jones.
Bunny Bokeh
Happy bunny bokeh wednesday, by Little Miss Patricia.
Abstract
By tanakawho.
Ink Sea
By Hermin Abramovitch.
Fan’s Eye
A macro shot by LauHi.
Painter
By an unknown artist (please let us know the photographer in the comments).
Ant, The Driver
By Raphael Guarino.
A purple leaf
By National Geographic.
Flower Petal
By Alistair Campbell.
Keeper
By Wysseri.
Who Feels Love
By Ciuky.
In The Mood 4 Love
By Antonio Navarro Wijkmark.
Tunnel
By Kleemass.
Eyjafjallajökull
By Skarphéðinn Þráinsson.
Susanna Majuri
A disturbing yet insteresting serie of images by Susanna Majuri.
blue canary
By Ursula I Abresch.
Bearded Dragon
A macro shot by LauHi.
Ant (by Unknown)
Please let us know who is the author of this image in the comments.
Light Paintings by Twin Cities Brightest
Last Click
The Plugs
Well, that’s not a beautiful photo per se, but we are confident that this image will spark your imagination for a more productive workflow — at least when it comes to handling cabels and plugs!
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