Diary of an Ordinary Van

[Vee4]

Transit with Pylon - Number 2 in a Series

This fine example from 'north of the border' was contributed by ake:



I think it's probably a double-circuit PL16 - I need to engage the Pylon Appreciation people as consultants for positive identification! Interesting stringing too, with the deviation-type insulators on the lowest arm - probably to improve ground (or tree) clearance.

Hazards encountered by photographer: wet boots from water in ditch.

[Vee4]

Being a Blue Boar Bore

There was another feature (they did a programme for the 50th anniversary in 2009) about this famous watering hole on BBC Radio 4 this week: Late Nights at the Blue Boar.


The Blue Boar in the Sixties (courtesy of http://www.msatrivia.co.uk)

Now known to most people as Watford Gap and operated by roadchef, it is still referred to, among the cognoscenti, as the Blue Boar. The programme is well worth a listen because there are many mentions of the Transit as transport of choice for the bands of the sixties and seventies, and it includes a claim that the Transit was faster than the police cars of the time and thus also favoured by the criminal fraternity.



Above is a picture of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes with their new Transit, not at the Blue Boar although I'm sure they will have stopped there many times. Does anyone recognise the venue?

I have stopped at the Blue Boar many times myself, and I would have passed it this morning in the Ordinary Van if the M1 hadn't been blocked by a truck crash. I haven't been in the restaurant for years as I suspect that egg, chips, beans and a cup of stewed tea have been replaced by ciabatta with sun-dried tomatoes and a café latté.

The picture of the Blue Boar above came from the Motorway Service Area Trivia site. Who'd have thought it - a web site for Motorway Services? One of these days, I expect someone will start a site for Transit Van owners!

[transitandy]

Great work as usual

[Altransit]

One of these days, I expect someone will start a site for Transit Van owners!

Who on earth would be daft enough to do that

[Vee4]

OMG! An MPG update

From a combination of:

• Warm weather (fuel characteristics and more efficient engine operation)
• Light application of the right boot (a proven method)
• Traffic avoidance strategies (routing and journey timing)

I've got the Ordinary Van's long-term average on the trip computer up to 41.5 MPG, and I've seen 'range' indications (trip miles plus distance to empty) up to 760 miles. Cumulative figures (calculated), since new:

• Best ever on a tankful: 43.11 MPG
• Long term average: 38.96 MPG

What price Econetic now?



The picture links to a Fleet News review, with one comment from an owner who is also a Forum Member, from the moniker. Do any Forum members operate Econetics? I don't recall seeing any out on the road.

[Vee4]

Transit with Pylon - Number 3 in a Series

This interesting example was provided by transitandy:



Features of interest:

• Proximity of housing - this suggests that the towers were there before the houses because such proximity would be less likely nowadays.
• It's an L4M tower (I think) - so it probably has replaced an older tower during refurbishment of the line. The next one along, just visible, looks like a PL16.
• Deviation-type stringing - although in a straight line, probably for increased ground clearance and reduced possibility of conductor clashing in high winds.
• Almost forgot - there's a nice, clean looking Mk5 parked near the foot of the tower.

[AndyG]

Nice MK5

[transitandy]

I wish it was clean must try and get one of the camper as well now

[transitandy]

So we just need a mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4, and a mk6 now then

[Vee4]

So we just need a mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4, and a mk6 now then

It's as much about different types of pylon as different types of Transit ...

[transitandy]

So we just need a mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4, and a mk6 now then

It's as much about different types of pylon as different types of Transit ...

Of course that goes with out saying

[ake]

So we just need a mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4, and a mk6 now then

It's as much about different types of pylon as different types of Transit ...

Do we need each type of pylon with each type of Transit That could take a while

[transitandy]

So we just need a mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4, and a mk6 now then

It's as much about different types of pylon as different types of Transit ...

Do we need each type of pylon with each type of Transit That could take a while

That would take years to do ake He wants pics of transits with pylons It may be easier just to delete my other post to save any confusion

[bigjohnthomas]

pylophiles

[Vee4]

Transit with Pylon selection criteria

In the Pylon Appreciation Society guide, I counted 10 basic types: PL1b, PL16, L66, L2, L3, L6, L8, L9, L12, and L4. There are many variations of the basic types: single or double circuit, suspension or deviation (or combinations as we have already seen), terminal, low height, etc.

My idea is to have a Transit pictured with each type, including major variations, e.g. L6 suspension and deviation. Thus, if a member 'bags' an L6 D30 with their Transit (of any type), that will be 'ticked off' and we'll go looking for different types until they are are all done. It might be an idea to put the whole series in the Gallery at that point, for the benefit of future generations.

When you have a picture, send the link (or the file) with any comments and I will format the entry and post it as soon as I can.

Nice tulips by the way, bigjohnthomas!