Diary of an Ordinary Van

[transitandy]

Genius

[Vee4]

The Ubiquity of the Transit

Transits turn up everywhere! After all, the Transit has been the light commercial of choice since 1965.

Stories appeared in the Sunday Sport claiming that a double-decker bus had been found in the Antarctic ice, and that a WWII bomber crashed on the Moon, but they were misleading to say the least. The vehicles in question were, in fact, dark blue Mk7 Transits.



If only Captain Scott had taken a Transit on his ill-fated 1911 attempt on the South Pole, he surely would have reached the Pole before Amundsen.

Also, it's little known that Neil Armstrong fluffed his lines as he stepped off the LM in 1969 because he was surprised to see that he was being observed from a dark blue Mk1 Transit 190. Of course, the Cousins maintain the pretence that they got there first ...


Thanks (and apologies) to Luc Viatour for the Moon image

It has come to my attention that there is one place in the known Universe not yet reached by intrepid Transit drivers - the island of Jinsy:


Click map to enlarge

This island and its inhabitants are featured in a new comedy show - This is Jinsy - airing on Sky TV (see website for timings). The first episode goes out tonight (19 September 2011), featuring a guest appearance by David Tennant. I watched the pilot episode on BBC TV last year and it's highly recommended ...

Stand by your Tessellators!

[ake]

I wish to dispute the moon landing claims, It was a white Transit

[transitandy]

I wish to dispute the moon landing claims, It was a white Transit

ER it was a mk1 as well

[Vee4]

I wish to dispute the moon landing claims, it was a white Transit

ER it was a Mk1 as well

In 1969 when Armstrong and Aldrin landed, of course it would be a Mk1 (as noted), but where do you suppose the expression "once in a blue moon" comes from?

[transitandy]

A blue moon now there's a question

[Vee4]

One of the few dates actually written in the Diary ...

17 September 2011 - Ace Café - veggie breakfast, etc.



Thanks to petervanlee for booking the slot, to andyg for being in charge and to transitandy for the picture (click to see more).

[transitandy]

I must admit that is one of the best piccies i have ever took its a shame we did not have the a mk2,3 and 6 to complete the line up

[Vee4]

It's a shame we did not have the a Mk2, 3 and 6 to complete the line up

We could have staged it from the vans that came along: the old grey Mk2 and Thrud's Mk6 perhaps. Was there a Mk3? Then there was the confusing Mk4/6 hybrid - where would you put that in the line-up? Perhaps with the Mk1 camper on the back if they didn't fix the radiator leak!

[transitandy]

Jono was there in his mk3

[Vee4]

Transit with Pylon - Number 7 in a Series - The Electricity Well

This contribution was sent in by ake. It shows one of the ultra secret electricity wells, where electricity comes out of the ground and is fed onto overhead transmission lines:



Hazards encountered by photographer: undoubtedly, some Scotch Mist was involved.

But seriously, the engineering of substations is fascinating - you even have to careful with the fences. The author of the recommended text recalls seeing gates welded shut by currents induced by stray field from nearby equipment.

Recommended reading:



GBP120.00 (Amazon 96.17 - prices vary from time to time)

Unless you are desperate, it's probably better to wait for the Fourth Edition, due December 2011. I will be putting this update to my own Second Edition on my Christmas list. You should also be able to order it from your local library (you are a member, aren't you?). As an added benefit, this weighty tome can be used for ballasting the rear axle of your Transit when running empty.

Finally, does anyone know of a firm of commercial plumbing and heating engineers in the Perth area?

[Altransit]

Finally, does anyone know of a firm of commercial plumbing and heating engineers in the Perth area?

Not a clue





But Ake may know of someone useful

[ake]

Finally, does anyone know of a firm of commercial plumbing and heating engineers in the Perth area?

Not a clue





But Ake may know of someone useful

I know the man who drives that van, and sadly its not me anymore but stay tuned for some 'Connect with Pylon' pics

[Vee4]

Party time again!

Well, sometime soon. Blow the dust from your party poppers and banish those party poopers!

We've all been preoccupied with major world events, such as the return to Ambridge of Clive Horrobin, but there's always something to celebrate, as stated before.

The recent workload has been overwhelming but the Ordinary Van has just kept going, without complaint. That was one of the reasons for its purchase after all. QED. As well as that, this virtual celebration is particularly ambitious and it's taken a long time to organise. The grip trucks and scenery wagons (Luton Transits, of course) will soon be pulling away from Transit Towers and it will only remain to roll out the red carpet (with a blue oval pattern superimposed - a lovely colour combination) to welcome the guests. The carpet is oil-resistant so just drive up in your Transit.

Here is an obscure clue:

[Vee4]

Full Moon in Transit

Another full moon tonight and we're still going a roving.


Original image by Luc Viatour

Even if the sky is clear tonight, you may not be able to see the dark blue Transits - they are normally visible during a solar eclipse when they are silhouetted against the solar corona.