Thursday, June 18, 2015

 

Radiant Badges

I always get my photo taken with something that names the ship I am on. Usually that comes down to a photo of me in the life-ring-thingy. These have the name of the ship and its port of registration on them. I am slowly getting a collection of photos of me in these rings, 6 at present. In the case of "Radiance of the Seas" there was an even better thing, the ship's badge. This is a big plaque with the Royal Caribbean crown and anchor flanked by what I think are sa eagles, flags and scrolls. And yes, if you look closely you can me in there as well. A good background is useful. Sometimes Mum won't let the photo be taken if there is even the slightest chance of me falling overboard, so that rules out the possible heroic ones where the waves are spectacular. However, in this case the calm water of the lagoon at Isle of Pines, near Noumea, makes a very acceptable backdrop.

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Tuesday, June 09, 2015

 

More Waterworks

Goulburn Historic Waterworks is recognized as an Historic Engineering site. This plaque on a large rock outside the entrance is the official marker. The site is listed on the State Heritage Register and that of the National Trust, so this great example of Victorian engineering is well protected. The boilers were the ones that supplied steam to the Appleby engine. They were operated in rotation, one fired up and the other being cleaned. The one in use would be operating 24/7. The engine in the bottom photos is the oldest of just three of its type left in the world. It is a Hick and Hargreaves Horizontal Engine and uses a rare type of valve gear. It was used in a gold mine at Araluen between1867 and 1896, then in a tannery at Botany until the early 1960s, finally being restored at the Waterworks in the 1970s. As you can see, this small bear was allowed to check the valves on the piston housing; not many visitors can do that.

 

Long Weekend - Historic Waterworks

Last weekend was a three-day one. The Monday was a public holiday to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Actually the Queen's real birthday is on a totally different day; sometimes I don't understand the way people do things. Anyhow, Sunday was a great day for a drive, so Dad and I surprised Mum by taking her to somewhere she had never been. At Goulburn there is a historic waterworks that has survived intact since 1885. Not just the buildings. There are two working steam engines there, one that pumped water for the city for 32 years. Goulburn was one of the first inland towns to supply piped drinking-quality water to residents. The top photos show the building and the weir that water was pumped from. The bottom photos are of parts of the huge Appleby Beam Engine that drove the pump. It was built in 1883 and was used until 1918 when electric pumps took over. Fortunately, the engine was preserved and we were lucky to see it steamed-up and operating during our visit. It is so big that you can't get all of it into a single photo, so the left one is the piston housing. The pistons move one end of the huge overhead beam (in the centre photo) which rocks and drives the cranks that operate the pump and the flywheel (right). This is the only Appleby Beam Engine left in the world. Actually, the Historic Waterworks is the only complete, operational steam-powered waterworks, still in its original location, in the southern hemisphere.

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