Wheels of Fortune...

No, it's not about TV game shows!  The British are a sentimental bunch when it comes to transport, so I thought it would be nice to show off some of the various vehicles that have are still held in high esteem.  It certainly brings back some memories for me...

Routemaster Bus

One of the things that foreigners have always loved about Britain is the double-decker bus.  There have been many designs over the years, but the one that we all love is the iconic Routemaster, once such a common sight on the streets of London.  London Transport introduced them in 1956, and while they are no longer in active service, there are some tourism companies that still use them.  One of the things that was so special - despite being ill-advised - was that you could hop on and off while they were moving!

London - "Routemaster" Bus by Roger Wollstadt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2/0

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

The RH & DR is a 15 inch gauge steam railway that runs along a 13 mile stretch of the Kent Coast from Hythe to Dungeness.  Constructed by a wealthy racing driver, Captain J.E.P. Howey, the railway opened in 1927.  As well as being a tourist attraction, it also provides a public service between several towns along the route.  I have spent many a happy hour on the RH & DR...

Lighthouse Departure by Ben Salter is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Knowledge

We return to the capital, and have a look at another common sight on the streets of London - the wonderful "black cab".  Of course, modern-day taxis come in all colours and liveries, thanks to the age of advertising, but we still call them black!  There have been many different models and manufacturers over the years, but they do generally have a very similar look.  "The Knowledge" is an incredibly difficult test that prospective London taxi drivers have to pass before getting a licence.  It is simply a way of proving their knowledge of the entire Greater London area.

Condemned by InvernoDreaming is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Blackpool Tram

Blackpool is one of England's finest resort towns, and one of the best modes of travel is the tram system that runs along the seafront.  Running eleven miles from Blackpool to Fleetwood, the tramway is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 1885.  In recent years, the older trams have been replaced by a fleet of "Supertrams", although the older models are still used on weekends through the summer.  Other than the the "Supertrams", the system operates a variety of vehicles, including single-decker, double-decker, and open-top trams.

Vintage tram by Jon's Pics is licensed under CC BY 2.0