Collecting
An odd obsession
There is a saying that one chainsaw is too many, but 10 is not enough…. I have fidddled about with mechanical things all my life – not only because of the enjoyment but because of [more…]
Engineering
19th Century
Today’s 200th Anniversary of The Railway
This weekend sees the 200th anniversary of railways – or at least of the first steam locomotive-hauled passenger service, which took place on the Stockton to Darlington railway 200 years ago today (27th September). On [more…]
19th Century
The Shock of The Modern
Besides excitement and trauma, might the shock of the new also provide a synapse re-ordering adrenaline burst that remodels the brain? As a little boy the make-believe near-future modernist world of Thunderbirds (and the like) [more…]
Engineering
Solar Panel Installation for Dummies
I thought I might share my limited knowledge and experience with fellow GPers regarding solar panels or solar PV. From Wiki: ‘Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the [more…]
20th Century
Always Worth Saying’s Railway Review
One tires of the streetcars of Paramaribo, the mineral railways of the Amazon, and even of rural Albania in the 1980s. Railway Review’s roving reportage shall change continents and seek excitement (but not too much) [more…]
19th Century
Sir Joseph Whitworth and the Confederate Sniper
Introduction In March 2024 I purchased a first generation, Birmingham-made Parker-Hale replica of a Whitworth military pattern muzzle-loading rifle of the late 1850s. These iconic rifles gained legendary status following their use in the American [more…]
Economics
The Case For SMR Hesitancy
As Energy Secretary Ed Milliband’s Net Zero cultural revolution gathers pace, this week he announced a nuclear renaissance. A new £14bn reactor is planned for Sizewell. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are being championed through a [more…]
Engineering
Home Backup Systems, Part Three
Four months on So far I am very pleased with it. No alarms, no problems and good customer service from both sales and technical support. I’m not saying other vendors aren’t as good but Pecron [more…]
Engineering
Home Backup Systems, Part Two
What You’ll Need A Home Backup System, in my case (AC300 + B300K) Solar panels 405w £50 each Solar cable, from Bluetti with connectors and 50m cable only from Electrical World Solar cable crimper Staubli [more…]