AndrewGrantham.co.uk

The IANS news story of October 24 Pakistan forfeits $500,000 from Chinese firm says

A Chinese firm that was prevented by Beijing from supplying 300 railway bogies [meaning bogie passenger coaches] that Pakistan had contracted for has lost the Rs.30 million (about $50,000) guarantee money it had paid toward the Rs.1.6 billion contract after Islamabad forfeited the deposit.

Pakistan railway ministry officials were ’shocked’ to learn that the firm that had been awarded the contract ‘was forcibly stopped by the Chinese government from delivering the consignment’, The News said Wednesday.

…

The contract for the bogies, meant for developing rail links with Afghanistan, has now gone to an Iranian firm.
[more]

Another photo of the Abbot’s Cliff mirror between Folkestone and Dover, take in June by Hilary who says “Fascinated as we had never seen one before.  Now planning to check some others out.”

Shepway council has a general view of the cliff but the mirror isn’t visible.

Meanwhile, an architect in Seattle e-mails to say An architect friend of mine sent me your link and to tell you the truth, I have found it fascinating. I couldn’t have even imagined anything such as this existing. The structures are unique, reminiscent of some ancient civilizion or culture. I was absolutely intrigued by the construction, form and design of the assemblage.

Sort-of sound mirror related, but adults only…

There is some discussion in the associated forum about the mathematics of mirror shapes, for those of us who have long-since forgotten the difference between a parabolic curve and an elliptical one.

The Daily Telegraph of October 12 2007 has an article by Damien McElroy entitled “Iraq insurgency: Defending the railroads”.

McElroy reports from al-Qaim,saying

The unending suspension of Iraq’s national railway stands as a stark symbol of the failure to rebuild the nation.

Getting the network operating is not one of Washington’s 18 benchmarks for progress in Iraq but the resumption of scheduled services along thousands of miles of track would mark a momentous breakthrough four years after the war to depose Saddam Hussein.

…

Two Iraq Republic Railway inspectors at the remote desert railhead in al-Qaim have defied terrorist threats and criminal gangs to loyally keep the railway open on limited local runs.

Freight trains carrying supplies for a phosphorous plant are the only service offered at al-Qaim, which is also the main American base.

There are also some good photos.

A Flickr photo collection with lots of pictures of the Heyratan Rail Head, terminus of the ~15 km railway line from Termez in Uzbekistan to a transhipment point on the south bank of the Amu-Darya river.

Russian Gauge Track.jpg

Originally uploaded by Ticofern

Lurking behind an ugly, box-like and sadly war-damaged museum building in Sarajevo is this armoured railway vehicle, and a big rail-mounted hook for ripping up tracks. They are built for narrow gauge track, presumably 2ft 6in/760 mm gauge as Yugoslavia had an extensive network to that gauge, but I don’t know anything more about them.

There is also a little tank, a big gun and a helicopter, all of which have seen better days, plus an abandoned statue of someone who has presumably fallen from favour and been hidden away behind the museum.

The distinctive historical museum buidling is fairly easy to find, close to the national museum. Trams stop nearby, and though the museum is adandoned the outdor exhibts are freely accessible round the back of the building.

Photos taken July 2007.

Hook

Called a Schienenwolf in German, used for ripping up tracks.

Tank

Comparing it with various other pictures of tanks online, it might be a WWII “Stuart” tank, a type which some Googling suggests the Yugoslav partisans used in the Second World War. On the other hand, it might not be.

Helicopter

This helicopter has seen better days. According to airliners.net, it is Bosnia-Herzegovina Air Force Mil Mi-8T number VF-3801.