Beautiful, ancient things. Sometimes I wonder if humans have really progressed at all in one-thousand years.

Here's what got me looking at vids on YouTube tonight: it's No. 60163 Tornado, the newly-constructed near-replica of an LNER class A1 4-6-2, which has recently entered service hauling special trains. It's limited to 75mph for now, but the fact that it was blowing off steam in some of the videos whilst running at line-speed with a full load shows that it's capable of plenty more. There are loads of shuddery, out-of-focus videos on YouTube of it flashing by, but I think the one below stands out. Not only is No. 60163 a mechanical work of art, but the rapid acceleration within a few seconds demonstrated here with a thirteen-coach train - longer and heavier than any in normal service today - shows that steam power wasn't quite the redundant, archaic technology it was made out to be in those days when it was considered politically expedient to scrap steam and spend £millions on feeble, untested, unreliable diesels in the name of 'modernisation' (i.e. bailing-out private industry with public money: nothing new there, then). Incidentally, the video was taken by an eleven-year-old lassie, which just goes to show why adults should never be condescending towards children!

Probably not a job I'd choose to do...the aviation equivalent of a shunter on the railway:

Ye olde Sad Sock at The Ark on 4th October, 2008:

I've just discovered this video which has been posted in my cardiacs_fans community by caveynik. It's a very old song and in my opinion far from their best ever, but it shows why they're such an amazing, brilliant band. How is it possible to compose stuff like this, never mind play it? Every time-signature, every scale and every note seems calculated to be exactly what you don't expect, yet they look like they could play it in their sleep with their guitars behind their heads; and I know, because I saw them doing this very song at The Garage in Highbury a few years ago, and I could hardly believe my ears and eyes. I must remember to look up the Cardiacs on YouTube, because I've no doubt there are more wonders to behold.