ChatGPT says…! " The lozenge-shaped logo on the side of the vehicle in the background suggests that it might be associated with Rolls-Royce or Crossley, as both companies used similar shapes for their branding on military vehicles during certain periods. Based on its design, it could be a Rolls-Royce Armoured Car or a Crossley Armoured Car, both of which were used in the early-to-mid 20th century by the British Army and Commonwealth forces".
Do you concur?
My errant imagination suggests that Musk is more likely to be influenced by the vehicle shown in the foreground….
I asked further of ChatGPT which said “The markings “Royal Tank Corps 247 M” strongly suggest that the vehicle is a Rolls-Royce Armoured Car from the interwar period or World War II”.
You may, or may not, be right, but Crossley was an English maker of commercial vehicles and infamously doctored some with armour to be used by the Black and Tans in Ireland. They were known as Crossley Tenders.
Interestingly, I came across a Crossley Railcar in Queensland in the '60s. It was a normal control (ie engine out in front) bus with its usual undercarriage removed and the chassis and body bolted to railway running gear. I got onto it, paid the driver who was sitting there just as he would in a normal bus with gearstick, handbrake and pedals but with one massive difference, no steering wheel. He looked a bit lonely as he drove away with nothing for his hands to hold onto.
But if you don’t find that interesting, how about this. I have searched high and low for 60 odd years to find any reference, picture or someone else who rode or saw this apparition. I even joined a specialist railway forum in Oz some years back with no luck and a current friend of mine, a retired driver who lives in Queensland, has published in another forum several railcars, but no Crossleys.
I am 100% certain that I saw and rode on this creature, but nobody will believe me.
I fed your comment, above, into ChatGPT and there’s a lot on info about the Crossley Railcar in 1960s Queensland, but no mention of it lacking a steering wheel. But it does say…
“It is possible that some versions or conversions of railcars had unconventional or simplified control mechanisms compared to standard locomotives, potentially leading to anecdotal accounts of operation without a visible steering wheel. Such configurations might have utilized lever-based or mechanical control systems for track alignment instead of a traditional steering wheel, which is unnecessary for vehicles constrained to fixed rails.”
There’s quite a lot more useful info…if ChatGPT isn’t telling porkies. Two and a half A4 pages.
Just found this…
" Yes, there are photographic records of the Crossley Railcars used in Queensland, especially during the mid-20th century. These vehicles, like the ones modified to operate on railway tracks, were significant for their unique design and utility. Notably, images exist of a Crossley railcar used during the 1927 Royal Visit in Brisbane, depicting the railcar at Government House, which offers insight into their appearance and functionality".
For a detailed exploration, platforms like the Colin’s Railways of Queensland Photo and Video Collection include various images related to Queensland’s historical rail infrastructure. You may find some relevant pictures and additional descriptions there.
Thanks @Bonzocat , that is brilliant, just the very fact that the things I have been banging on about for years is recognised by another being, even a non human one.
I did go to that Colin’s site and tried to email the owner but the link didn’t work for some reason, so I’ll try again later.
DIL delivered our xmas dinner yesterday to my fridge. She paid €59 for a hand reared poularde which still has the head on to preserve it, the feet and the giblets and the producer at the market has prepared it to be kept in the fridge. Not looking forward to doing the decapitation and feet removal or putting myhand up inside, used to be nothing to me to do that but having became slightly vegetarian over the past years, not really something I will relish doing. Now I have to supply the veg, the stuffings with real chestnuts, the dessert and the wine as my contribution. They are coming to me on the 25th for the day so I have stated everyone in xmas jumpers as dressing up is not something I enjoy especially to cook and lounge around afterwards stuffing choccies and booze so got a nice one yesterday.
No, refrigerator NOT freezer. The farmer prepares them like this for customers every year. It has to be kept covered in cloths and on the middle shelf. If you think back to beg of last century, poultry hung up inside and outside of butcher’s shops for ages and was deemed edible. You would not be able to do this with a supermarket bird though, that would be dangerous but these birds are free range and fed only cereal with no drugs given.
I remember turkeys being hung in the butchers windows back in the 60s/70s, but only the week before Xmas. I didn’t realise they (poularde/capon) would keep for so long.
Well obviously they must do as he wouldn’t be back year after year and the authorities would find out too if folks were taken ill. Apparently its all to do with the head and feet being left on that conserves it longer plus the cold but not ice. Bit like being in a morgue I would have thought, they keep bodies for weeks, months or even years.
Just had a few hours moseying round the shops and could not believe the number of people about plus lots of kids who are not crêche age but primaire as well. Found Terrys chocolate oranges in Carrefour but not actually orange, just milk chocolate and I thought it would be nice to start the tradition in our family again when we always had one on xmas day shared out.
We (or rather I) buy a few when Madame buys her pralines. There’s a lot of variation, but my preference is for super thin, super dark choc and a slightly bitter orange. Have made my own with Seville orange peel, but could never get the choc thin enough.
I don’t like them too sweet. Bitter chocolate with bitter orange peel is best. Never tried to make them with orange peel, straight from the orange. Had mixed success making them myself as the candied orange peel yo can buy has generally been too sweet for me.
