Andrew Waugh
@mandrewwaugh.bsky.social
I know a bit about digital preservation and railway signalling
Re the second picture... does anyone know what the NSWGR considered to be the difference between a 'Ticket Office' and a 'Booking Office'? Both signs are present, so was there a difference?
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Re the second picture... does anyone know what the NSWGR considered to be the difference between a 'Ticket Office' and a 'Booking Office'? Both signs are present, so was there a difference?
Cf the Prince of Wales and all of the Japanese battleships that survived until close to the end of the war
November 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Cf the Prince of Wales and all of the Japanese battleships that survived until close to the end of the war
No - it's the logical consequence of their historic strategy of supporting big business. In Australia that means mining.
As Australians have become more frightened of climate change, a higher % of remaining Lib/Nat MPs represent coal mining electorates such as New England. It's self re-inforcing.
As Australians have become more frightened of climate change, a higher % of remaining Lib/Nat MPs represent coal mining electorates such as New England. It's self re-inforcing.
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
No - it's the logical consequence of their historic strategy of supporting big business. In Australia that means mining.
As Australians have become more frightened of climate change, a higher % of remaining Lib/Nat MPs represent coal mining electorates such as New England. It's self re-inforcing.
As Australians have become more frightened of climate change, a higher % of remaining Lib/Nat MPs represent coal mining electorates such as New England. It's self re-inforcing.
You mean like Cecil from Footrot Flats?
November 12, 2025 at 4:04 AM
You mean like Cecil from Footrot Flats?
Note that the Commonwealth style is dependent on the quote, so an automatic check would be an educated guess.
And the Canadian style guide I quoted isn't official. Here's the Australian government style guide... www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punc...
And the Canadian style guide I quoted isn't official. Here's the Australian government style guide... www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punc...
www.stylemanual.gov.au
November 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Note that the Commonwealth style is dependent on the quote, so an automatic check would be an educated guess.
And the Canadian style guide I quoted isn't official. Here's the Australian government style guide... www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punc...
And the Canadian style guide I quoted isn't official. Here's the Australian government style guide... www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punc...
Is your software US? If so, I wouldn't trust it. Here's a Canadian guide that indicates Canada follows the Commonwealth with the punctuation going inside if it belongs to the quotation, outside otherwise.
gildedquillcommunications.com/wp-content/u...
gildedquillcommunications.com/wp-content/u...
gildedquillcommunications.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Is your software US? If so, I wouldn't trust it. Here's a Canadian guide that indicates Canada follows the Commonwealth with the punctuation going inside if it belongs to the quotation, outside otherwise.
gildedquillcommunications.com/wp-content/u...
gildedquillcommunications.com/wp-content/u...
It's interesting to reflect on how changed it is today. All of the right hand side is gone as freight, and most of the left hand side is significantly rebuilt
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
It's interesting to reflect on how changed it is today. All of the right hand side is gone as freight, and most of the left hand side is significantly rebuilt
Yes, absolutely (all his three tech books are worth reading: cable, interurbans, and narrow gauge, and the last is a beautifully produced book).
But that point is one of the reasons why Melbourne trams are such a great path dependency: it depends at the start on quite specific circumstances.
But that point is one of the reasons why Melbourne trams are such a great path dependency: it depends at the start on quite specific circumstances.
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Yes, absolutely (all his three tech books are worth reading: cable, interurbans, and narrow gauge, and the last is a beautifully produced book).
But that point is one of the reasons why Melbourne trams are such a great path dependency: it depends at the start on quite specific circumstances.
But that point is one of the reasons why Melbourne trams are such a great path dependency: it depends at the start on quite specific circumstances.
Indeed. In the mid 1880s there were only three tram technologies - horse, steam and cable. Cable was the best if you could afford the capital costs and had the traffic, and the MT&O passed the major part of the capital costs to the Trust.
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Indeed. In the mid 1880s there were only three tram technologies - horse, steam and cable. Cable was the best if you could afford the capital costs and had the traffic, and the MT&O passed the major part of the capital costs to the Trust.
Seriously? There's a much better story to be told than that. Melbourne's trams are a fantastic example of path dependency. Starting with the cunning wheeze the capitalists of the MT&O Coy pulled to avoid the huge capital costs of cable trams.
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Seriously? There's a much better story to be told than that. Melbourne's trams are a fantastic example of path dependency. Starting with the cunning wheeze the capitalists of the MT&O Coy pulled to avoid the huge capital costs of cable trams.
OTOH, again IMO, the dismissal has made a republic harder.
No PM, lib or lab, will countenance a head of state not firmly under the prime ministerial thumb.
And the rest of us can't see the point unless the HOS is chosen by the voters.
No PM, lib or lab, will countenance a head of state not firmly under the prime ministerial thumb.
And the rest of us can't see the point unless the HOS is chosen by the voters.
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
OTOH, again IMO, the dismissal has made a republic harder.
No PM, lib or lab, will countenance a head of state not firmly under the prime ministerial thumb.
And the rest of us can't see the point unless the HOS is chosen by the voters.
No PM, lib or lab, will countenance a head of state not firmly under the prime ministerial thumb.
And the rest of us can't see the point unless the HOS is chosen by the voters.
Interestingly, IMO the object lesson of the fate of Kerr means that it's highly unlikely that a sane future GG (or G) will choose to make the same decision in the same way. The personal cost will be seen to be too high.
Irrespective of academic or pundit musings about the legality of the action.
Irrespective of academic or pundit musings about the legality of the action.
November 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Interestingly, IMO the object lesson of the fate of Kerr means that it's highly unlikely that a sane future GG (or G) will choose to make the same decision in the same way. The personal cost will be seen to be too high.
Irrespective of academic or pundit musings about the legality of the action.
Irrespective of academic or pundit musings about the legality of the action.
As a curse, you must admit it was extremely effective.
Kerr was pretty much ostracised by everyone after the dismissal. He became a drunk and was exiled (self imposed). The family didn't announce his death until he had been buried.
It was terrible after life, whatever you think of the act itself.
Kerr was pretty much ostracised by everyone after the dismissal. He became a drunk and was exiled (self imposed). The family didn't announce his death until he had been buried.
It was terrible after life, whatever you think of the act itself.
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
As a curse, you must admit it was extremely effective.
Kerr was pretty much ostracised by everyone after the dismissal. He became a drunk and was exiled (self imposed). The family didn't announce his death until he had been buried.
It was terrible after life, whatever you think of the act itself.
Kerr was pretty much ostracised by everyone after the dismissal. He became a drunk and was exiled (self imposed). The family didn't announce his death until he had been buried.
It was terrible after life, whatever you think of the act itself.
Incidentally, I'll bet they don't realise (or care about) the heritage significance of the two former siding gates. They're the only gates left intact sitting on their original foundation, probably with the operating mechanism intact under ground.
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Incidentally, I'll bet they don't realise (or care about) the heritage significance of the two former siding gates. They're the only gates left intact sitting on their original foundation, probably with the operating mechanism intact under ground.
The irony is that there already is a pedestrian underpass at this level crossing. It was filled solid with concrete 20-30 years ago.
The two lines of bluestone blocks are the tops of the retaining walls for the access staircases.
The two lines of bluestone blocks are the tops of the retaining walls for the access staircases.
November 10, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The irony is that there already is a pedestrian underpass at this level crossing. It was filled solid with concrete 20-30 years ago.
The two lines of bluestone blocks are the tops of the retaining walls for the access staircases.
The two lines of bluestone blocks are the tops of the retaining walls for the access staircases.
Once saw clown 1 stop well forward, past the stop line (and detection loop), and clown 2 stop nearly a car length behind. Neither of them could work out why they weren't getting a right turn cycle. Even after multiple main road cycles had come and gone.
November 10, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Once saw clown 1 stop well forward, past the stop line (and detection loop), and clown 2 stop nearly a car length behind. Neither of them could work out why they weren't getting a right turn cycle. Even after multiple main road cycles had come and gone.
These are everywhere these days - you can see the grooves cut in the road surface to embed the detection loops.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM
These are everywhere these days - you can see the grooves cut in the road surface to embed the detection loops.
The position of the funnel is a bit of a give away
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The position of the funnel is a bit of a give away
Remember even at the Bourke St end you originally had to leave the Myki area to get to the country platforms; the current narrow concourse inside was a retrofit and you still have to go out to get to Platforms 1 & 2.
November 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Remember even at the Bourke St end you originally had to leave the Myki area to get to the country platforms; the current narrow concourse inside was a retrofit and you still have to go out to get to Platforms 1 & 2.
Sure got the hell out of it once it sensed your arrival.
November 6, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Sure got the hell out of it once it sensed your arrival.