MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Big Kev]

Drat, Big Kev has got it spot on - `Dunluce Castle in the background and the Giant's Causeway Tram'. (How did you work it out Kev? I did a Google Reverse Image search and the pic didn't show up so I thought I was on safe ground!) The pic is of an artist's impression of the Giant's Causeway Tram passing the ruins of Dunluce Castle.
And as Stanley asks, `what powers the carriage?'

The castle looked familiar, turns out it was one of the locations used in Game of Thrones (not that I've ever watched a whole episode) I must have seen it in a trailer for the series. A search of set locations turned up an image that looked familiar. More 'looking' mentioned the Gian'ts Causeway Tram, it's electric by the way
Giant's Causeway Tram

[Tizer]

Well done, I've not seen Game of Thrones so I didn't realise people would be familiar with the castle. Every interesting out-of-the-way place seems to have been shot at some time or other by Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings or similar! Electric yes, but how?

Here's another pic from the book where I got the images and information. It shows the Giant's Causeway tram at the Causeway Hotel, 1910. The book is `The Giants' Causeway and North Antrim Coast' by Philip S. Watson, 2000, The O'Brien Press, Dublin.

[Stanley]

You'll be putting another up straight away Peter?
PS. I furtled a bit and came up with a site that contained this.... Explained why some images had overhead wires and some did not.
"The initial electric cars were Midland Carriage and Wagons which were later followed by GEC and a Peckham car. Although hydro-electric power was used, most of the time two Wilkinson steam locomotives hauled the carriages. It originally ran from Portrush to Bushmills with a later extension added to the Giant's Causeway. In 1899 the live rail which ran alongside the track, was replaced by an overhead electric wire, steam haulage ended in 1916. The tramway ran for 65 years before finally closing down in 1949."

[Tizer]

Thanks for that, it mentions the hydro-electric power which was the extra bit of information that I was looking for. The Causeway Hotel was also lit by HE. There's a story in my book which may be apocryphal (we are talking about Ireland!). Not surprisingly, some of the locals resisted the setting up of a railway with a live electric rail and gathered by the hotel to complain. The story states that the man who was responsible for the project was a bit of a wild character and he said he would prove to them that the electric was safe - he dropped his trousers and sat on the live rail! It's claimed that he got a bigger shock than he expected but made a sterling effort to pretend he wasn't hurt! (I wonder if he had someone out of site switch the power off for him?)

[Stanley]

What and where?

[Bodger]

Vacuum railway, plagued by rodents chewing the leather seals ?

[Stanley]

Sorry Bodge, no.

[plaques]

Looks broad gauge so I'll guess at Isambard Brunel and the tunnel to Bristol. Memory is failing with old age.

[Stanley]

Sorry Ken but once more, no. This is going quite well.

[Tizer]

Railway powered hydraulically by the waterwheel in the background?

[Big Kev]

Not too far from where I used to live if I'm not mistaken...

[Stanley]

You're on the right track Peter but stop thinking of it as a waterwheel. Notice there is a chimney as well.
Sounds as though you are teasing me Kev!

[Stanley]

You need a clue. Not all atmospheric railways were on the Great Western lines....

[Tizer]

In that case, and in view of Kev's comment, I would guess the London and Croydon Railway which I believe had an atmospheric component - but I can't see a vacuum pipe on or in the track in the image.

Later...I've been misled! It's the Crystal Palace pneumatic railway and that was to dispense with the tube on the track and use a tunnel as the vacuum tube. "The contemporary illustration showing the line disappearing beneath the landscape seems to be no more than artistic licence although, as built, earth may have been drawn up around the structure." Wikipedia As for my `waterwheel', "The power was provided by a large fan, some 22 ft (6.7 m) in diameter, like a paddle-wheel in an iron case (see image) that was powered at 300rpm by a former steam locomotive, mounted on a plinth, acting through leather belts". For a sixpenny ticket you got sucked through the tunnel in 50 seconds (and perhaps had your bowels emptied in the process!).

Congratulations on a very good Mystery Object, Stanley!

[Stanley]

Thanks Peter and yes, you have it exactly right. I have an Idea Kev knew what it was but held back.
I didn't know about it until I went looking for a mystery object.
Next one?

[Stanley]

Where is this unusual grave monument?

[Cathy]

This might prove to be an interesting one.
Or maybe not... “Quiet there in the back”.

[Tizer]

If Donald Trump sees that he'll have a bigger one made!

[plaques]

We've had it before but I'll keep quiet. I saw one very similar but in standard stone in Accrington.

[Stanley]

I can report that I checked and yes, one had a small dimple in the very top....
Thanks Ken.... I don't think a Google Image Search will help with this one. Clue, not in UK.

[Stanley]

You've all given up haven't you. I found the gravestone (and others like it) in the graveyard at Lac des Deux Montagnes in Quebec. I don't know whether they were intended to represent what they look like but they were certainly popular there.
Next one for shaving?

[Stanley]

Lead balloon country.

[Stanley]

What and where?

[Gloria]

Is it what used to be a river boat?

[Stanley]

On the right track Gloria but no not 'river boats'.