Picture(s) of the day....

[NewcastleFalcon]

It appears as though something has been invented which allows the conversion of sunlight into electricity.

Appearing now in some unusual locations.
Hexham yesterday

POTD Solar Panels in the wild

Ad Gefrin Distillery Wooler (now fully open)



Neil

[mickthemaverick]

My first reaction to that picture was, I hope they don't get a hurricane up there, which led me on to wondering, Has anyone built a wind turbine with solar panels along the blades? One installation to cover both renewable sources and therefore probably generate in all conditions?

[myglaren]

They are growing them from seed in Yorkshire

[Rp0thejester]

growing quite happily all by itself in Stratford

[momag46]

There are plans for the largest wind farm in Europe at Essendine (near Stamford) called Mallard Park. The name comes from the A4 stream engine that came through the village during its record breaking run, as you can imagine, there is a lot of opposition to it.

[NewcastleFalcon]

The name comes from the A4 stream engine that came through the village during its record breaking run, as you can imagine, there is a lot of opposition to it.

Thanks Maurice I like to read a post which inspires a bit of consequent random association, and an excuse to recall some gems lying dusty and unloved in the archives of the FCF. As an aside if you missed out on Lincolnshire's day in the spotlight on the FCF (April 10th 2022 and number 34 of 92 counties) its here for a five minute coffee time browse. link viewtopic.php?p=714326#p714326

On to the Mallard

Mallard. Now this was an achievement. Taking a non-blurry picture from a moving train at precisely the right moment I mean! If you have travelled the East Coast main line through Lincolnshire you will have passed it, but probably not seen it.

Steaming into the record books

© Copyright Ian Paterson and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.[]
]ep[][p[e87

Only 6 A4's left............quiz of the day...name them if you can

Spoiler: show

Mallard, Bittern, Sir Nigel Gresley, Dominion of Canada, Union of South Africa, and Dwight D Eisenhower

Uniquely altogether at Shildon in 2014


Durham's Wharton Park is in my estimation the finest place on planet earth for watching trains. I am biased of course filled with nostalgic memories of hot summer days in the early sixties when I was a boy. High above the city with its own little mock castle viewpoint, the magnificent castle and cathedral in the background and a tremendous viaduct to allow the locomotives to make their dramatic entrance to the scene.

..and yes, the greatest excitement of all was the sight of a "Streamliner" thundering through.

Trainspotting tower Wharton Park Durham

[mickthemaverick]

That spotting platform is very familiar to Jim and I too. Neil took us to see the trains during our walking tour of Durham in June. Not quite as spectacular as an A4 but at least we saw a couple of modern trains to give us the idea!! Thanks for that memory Neil!

[myglaren]

My dad would have loved that, he and his dad worked on the Mallard and Sir Michael Gresley, probably the others too.

Had a trip to Sunderland Police yesterday and this is from near the police station, just before several police cars came screaming past, all lights and sirens. Doughnut run

Not terribly exciting but shows the new bridge superstructure, Penshaw Monument (Acropolis copy) and parts of Washington and up to Annfield Plain. (Just past Beamish)

[momag46]

In the late 50s my brother was train mad (still is) and we used to bike to Essendine (about 5 miles from Bourne) train spotting. This was when Essendine was a busy station, the main line London to Edinburgh trains used to come thundering past. What a site, the modern trains still come past, no station, no smoke, and like the moon, no atmosphere!

[NewcastleFalcon]

POTD Today's Bird in the spotlight

Falcon Original

Neil

[myglaren]

One for the coincidences thread too.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Blue Sky Hazel Nuts
Falcon Original

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

A different take on the orange theme of recent days:

MTMO

[NewcastleFalcon]

POTD Bird of the Day

Northumberland Black Penguin

Neil

[bobins]

A three-fer from me.

A lovely reliable gas fired power station along with a couple of independently minded small wind turbines - one of which had decided to actually turn

Small scale generation - own work

Not just a picture of the bright blue briny, but actually a very large energy generating plant....... when it wants to be. Zoom in and it's the Rampion offshore wind turbine field.

Large scale generation - own work

Not a bored walk, actually quite a bit to see/sea. Sunny Worthing in the distance complete with pier.

Worthing on the horizon - own work