Jodrell Bank 2020
Category: Machine World
Cycling down to Jodrell Bank
This year I seem to be spending more time riding to the south and west of the county, the “lowlands” as I call it. Jodrell Bank is one of Cheshire’s most iconic landmarks and has become an honorary symbol for the county. It is a fascinating Heath Robinson structure which has played a very significant role in science, research, technology and space flight for more than 60 years.
- Aperture: ƒ/11
- Focal length: 50mm
- ISO: 100
- Shutter speed: 1/125s
Post attribute - Category: Machine World
Avanti Pendolinos
Category: Machine World
Railways and particularly high speed trains are usually a popular subject for my stock collection. During this time of “lock-down” I am being responsible and limiting my outdoor activities to the permitted local geographic range for outdoor exercise. Cheshire constabulary is one of the most effective in the North West and they are frequently stopping and questioning cyclists and generally doing a good job of enforcing social distancing policy. In such circumstances the local railway always becomes a good subject for photography and the secluded crossing is also one of my favourite places to relax.
The pictures show London Euston – Manchester services which are now operated by Avanti. The disappearance of Virgin liveried Pendolinos was literally instantaneous, I wonder where they have gone?
Main image exif: –
- Aperture: ƒ/5.6
- Focal length: 50mm
- ISO: 100
- Shutter speed: 1/500s
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Art of Pylons
Category: Machine World
Samuri pylon herding cows in New Mills, Derbyshire. A comic allusion that can not pass without comment haha. Something about pylons has always intrigued me, possibly because I have a life long fascination with everything electrical but also there is a curious resonance with something primordial and universal in the environment. The universe of esoteric quantum energy, electricity and atmosphere, electricity weather and cosmic radiation. Pylons, or more specifically, the power lines they carry, do interact directly with this environment of esoteric energies. Solar storms, thunder storms and strange emanations from deep space all impinge on this expansive electrical network and impose measurable effects and changes on it.
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Stanlow Chimneys
Category: Machine World
Strong contrast and a convoluted composition of the chimneys at Stanlow refinery near Warrington. These are sometimes known as “flair stacks” and are really giant Bunsen burners that are used to burn off accumulated vapours of some sort? It is am impressive sight to see them in operation, particularly after dark, though these burn offs are quite rare.
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Hale Cold War Relic
Category: Machine World
Four Minute Warning
It’s still there! Had another day cycling around my old home turf of Hale and noticed that this once ominous relic of the cold war is still in place. This is the the siren that would have given the residents of Hale village the “four minute warning” so we could all scuttle into our makeshift (useless) home-made “Protect and Survive” shelters as megatons of nuclear firepower burst over the city and the nearby airport!
I vividly remember the chilling sound of this very siren being tested and creating a hellish drone beating with our local siren on the roof of the Unicorn (pub) hotel in Hale Barns; a mile up the road. The siren was originally hooked up to a nearby telephone pole and was activated by a special signal sent over the telephone network. This, at the time, secret civil defence system hidden in plain sight was known as HANDEL, the switching circuit in that box on the pole was constantly listening to the speaking clock until this special signal came along to activate the siren and warn us that the unthinkable was actually underway and the end of our technological civilisation and the lives of millions was suddenly a horrible reality — The sight of this thing dose bring back a lot of memories of my youthful anxiety about nuclear war.
- Aperture: ƒ/11
- Focal length: 50mm
- ISO: 100
- Shutter speed: 1/125s
If you are interested in reading more about this intriguing subject or just want to indulge technical geekery with a dose of miserabalism then you may find some of the links below interesting: –
My own piece on the “Backbone” tower at Sutton Common: BT Tower, Sutton Common
A detailed explanation of the HANDEL warning network: British Nuclear Warning System
UK cold war plans & exercises: Struggle for Survival
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Prestbury Carpark
Category: Machine World
This is a pictorial record of the development of the new car park in Prestbury Village, This development on New Road has been a cause of some contention in this picturesque village where even some hedgerows and garden walls are listed by English heritage. However, the new development appears to be an improvement for this small patch of land if only for the fact that it is being extensively landscaped and surrounded by an attractive laurel hedge. Today the builders are applying the finishing touches and planting out the borders with a variety of other attractive shrubs and also a few sub-tropical bromiliads. I’m pleased to see that there are no new lampposts going up.
