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A Freightliner Class 66, 66590 pauses at Stechford Station (Birmingham) before proceeding south, for a crew change.
British Rail Class 321 'Dusty Bin' 4 car 25kV Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) 321364 working the 1Y05 06:52 (07:33 RT) Abellio Greater Anglia Ipswich- London Liverpool Street service train on August 12th 2017 southbound at Hatfield Peverel Station on the Great Eastern Main Line in Essex (UK).
Note the Dellner type coupling system at the front of the train. The Dellner Coupling is a version of the Scharfenberg coupler which connects pneumatics and electronics at the same point of contact.
www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/tags/class321/
My Hatfield Peverel Railway Station album flic.kr/s/aHsjD3AKYz
Adtranz (Derby) Class 168/0 "Clubman" 4-car dmu No.168 002 of Chiltern Mainline at South Ruislip on a Marylebone - Birmingham (Snow Hill) service, 12/05/14.
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
* * Costa Rica
For decades the remote Pacific Coast of northern Costa Rica — the Guanacaste province — was the domain of die-hard surfers and backpackers, with other visitors deterred by the grueling five-hour drive from the country's main airport in San José.
In 1982 the Costa Rican government passed law 6370 allowing for the development of the State owned area of land known as Polo Turistico Golfo de Papagayo located in the province of Guanacaste. The area includes tropical dry forests, 15 miles of Pacific coastline and 31 separate beaches Guanacaste was mostly the domain of cowboys called sabaneros, whose legacy lingers at local rodeos.
In Costa Rica (which means "rich coast") all beaches are public. The local municipality owns coastal land 200 meters (656 feet) inland from the average high tide, often referred to as the maritime zone. The 50 meters (164 feet) closest to the ocean are reserved for public use while the next 150 meters (492 feet) called the “concessionable” area, may be leased to private parties. Maritime zone concession agreements are used by municipalities throughout the country to promote tourism development. Between 1991 and 1999, 23 concessions were granted.
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast tourism has promoted different models of tourism -- beach, golf, tennis resorts, all-inclusive resorts, residential vacation home rentals, cruise tourism, and camping (ecotourism/sustainable tourism). And in the case of Papagayo Peninsula - Costa Rica desired to turn it into a showcase for environmental and social best practices. The government concessioned 2,075 acres from the Polo Turistico Golfo de Papagayo to the Papagayo Peninsula Development (Ecodevelopment Papagayo S.A.). Peninsula Papagayo’s concession expires in approximately 75 years, on January 15, 2091.
* * Papagayo Peninsula development (Ecodevelopment Papagayo S.A.).
Wayne Bishop, co-founder of Minneapolis architecture firm Walsh Bishop Inc., visited Costa Rica in 1994, he was wowed by the country's natural beauty. So Bishop spent the next several years looking for land on which he could build a Western-style resort. Bishop identified and successfully pursued Peninsula Papagayo, a 2,000+ acre world class property located in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. He was the original founder/developer of the Peninsula Papagayo resort area. Grupo Situr was the parent company of Ecodesarrollo Papagayo but was bought out by the Florida Ice and Farm.
Today, Ecodesarrollo (Eco-development) Payagayo S.A., has the Costa Rican government's mandate to further develop Peninsula Papagayo. Peninsula Papagayo is currently owned 30% by Florida Ice and Farm, a public Costa Rican company that produces and distributes beverages and foods throughouth Central American and 70% by Marvin Schwan Charitable Foundation, an evangeloco Lutheran foundation based in St. Louis, MO. The Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation's endowment comes from the fortune made by its namesake in the frozen ice cream and pizza business located in Marshall, Minnesota. Wayne Bishop sold his interest to the Schwan Foundation.
Ecodesarrollo Payagayo's CEO is Alan Kelso, who has extensive real estate development experience in Costa Rica dating from 1995. Jim Preskitt is the SVP of Ecodesarrollo Peninsula Papagayo.
* * The Four seasons Resort and Golf Club
In the last few years, Guanacaste has been transformed by a collection of hotels and real estate developments aimed at America and European affluent baby boomers.
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo opened in January 2004. The resort was built on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste province in northwest Costa Rica, in the least populated, sunniest and driest part of the country. It is a 40-minute drive from the nearest airport in Liberia, where Delta, Continental and American Airlines have added nonstop service from several cities in the United States. Most of the hotel's 153 rooms are in three four-story buildings, with views of either the Virador Bay to the north or the Blanca Bay to the south.
Designed by the Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, the resort's earth-toned stucco buildings seem to grow out of a hillside that slopes down to an isthmus, surrounded by tropical dry forest and sandy beaches on both sides. In an Architectureal Digest interview Ronald Zurcher says that his challenge was to build something respectful. "I didn't want to compete with nature," he explains, pointing to some white constructions several miles away, on the other side of the Golfo de Papagayo, that do just that. "See how those buildings stand out? But if you're over there, looking this way, you don't see our hotel at all—it's camouflaged." He send Papagayo dirt to a paint laboratory so that his buildings would blend in with the ground on which they sit. Zurcher took characteristics from two of Costa Rica's common creatures - the turtle and the armadillo - to the resorts design. Zrcher gave several of the resort's low-lying buildings the round shape of a turtle's shell and mimicked the armadillo's arched, humped back for the roofs of many of the buildings on higher ground. "I noticed that armadillos walk in families, one after the other," he says. "So instead of having large, single roofs, I've done the roofs in pieces, each one in the shape of an armadillo. From a distance the buildings look like families of armadillos."
Some advice also came from Isadore Sharp, the chairman of the Four Seasons chain. Originally, Zurcher wanted a waterfall to connect one swimming pool to its lower neighbor. Sharp vetoed the idea, saying that the sound of the waterfall would drown out the sound of the waves and when people come to an ocean resort, they want to hear the sound of the waves. "He was right, of course," says Zurcher.
Atop one of Peninsula Papagayo’s highest plateaus, overlooking the waters of Bahía de Culebra sits Four Seasons Golf Club Costa Rica, designed by Arnold Palmer. Sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean are on 14 of the 18 holes. The signature hole, the par 4 number 6, El Bajo, features a dramatic 200 foot downhill tee shot to a green perched out on a cliff with the ocean behind it. Indigenous monkeys (the howler monkey and the squirrel monkey) will monitor the golfers playing Arnold Palmer's Signature 18-hole, Par-72 championship course.golf course. Serving the golf course is the 28,000 square-foot Robert Zurcher designed clubhouse. Zurcher found inspiration for the building from a conch shell. Some say the result is likened to the Sydney Opera House.
** Key players involved with the Four Seasons Resort
*Charles M. Schwan Charitable Foundation
Marvin Maynard Schwan (1929 -1993), was the founder and first president of Marshall, Minnesota based Schwan’s Sales Enterprises, Inc., one America’s largest privately held companies and one of the biggest producers and distributors of frozen and prepared food. At the time of his death at age 63, Schwan’s personal worth was $1.3 billion and the company controlled a quarter of the frozen pizza business (Tony’s Pizza and Red Baron) in the U.S. During his lifetime, Schwan created the Marvin M. Schwan Foundation, which is a major supporter of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.. Two thirds of Marvin Schwan's estate was left to the Marvin M. Schwan Foundation under the trusteeship of his brother Alfred Schwan and life-long friend Larry Burgdorf.
The mission of the Charles M Schwan Charitable Foundation is: "To provide financial support to specific religious organizations as specified by the foundations governing documents." However, the principal amount of tne trust can provide for corpus investments in real estate. In round numbers the charitable foundation invested $140 million in the Costa Rica Four Seasons Hotel and $280 million in the Grand Cayman Island's Ritz Carlton.
The 2010 IRS form 990 for the Marvin M Schwan Charitable Foundation list the following:
The Kings Foundation Investment Papagayo LLC - $12.2 million and Investment Wings of Papagayo LLC - $124.7 million for a total investment value of $136.9 million in the Four Seasons Hotel Costa Rica
The Kings Foundation Investment Cayman LTD - $276.9 million total investment value in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, a luxury resort in the Cayman Islands
In the fiscal year ending 2012 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman and its developer Michael Ryan, in whom the Charlest M Schwan Charitable Foundation invested, defaulted on a series of loans and the resort was auctioned off by creditors. During the course of these events, the Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation realized a loss of over $249 million on the investment it held in The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. However, to ensure the investment was not totally lost the foundation purchased $13.8 million of outstanding notes belonging to the developer Michael Ryan for an 11% ownership stake in the refinanced resort. The total assets of the foundation dropped from about $750 million to $500 million following the Ritz Carlton Grand Caymen debacle.
* Alan Kelso - Ecodesarrollo Payagayo CEO
The developer of Peninsula Papagayo is Ecodesarrollo Papagayo, S.A. – a Costa Rica company controlled by The Charles M. Schwan Charitable Foundation. The CEO, Alan Kelso, has extensive real estate development experience in Costa Rica dating from 1995. Unlike most developers in Costa Rica, he is a native. Kelso grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica and would waterski on the Peninsula Papagayo's calm bays as a kid. Kelso claims it is the most beautiful piece of land he's ever seen. Kelso had made his name putting together the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort 140 miles south of Peninsula Papagayo. Kelso was brought in to the Peninsula Papagayo project by the minority partner, Florida Ice and Farm, the Costa Rican beer company, in 1991. Kelso brought in the Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher who had designed the Los Suenos Marriott.
* Ronald Zürcher, Architect
Ronald Zürcher graduated from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City,and began his independent architectural practice in Costa Rica in 1978. Over the years, his practice has grown to include major hospitality design projects. Recent projects include Andaz Peninsula Papagayo - the 153 resort is on Culebra Bay and the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica.
Jim Preskitt - Ecodesarrollo Payagayo SVP
Preskitt's professional life included marketing positions at the Hawaii's Big Island resorts of Mauna Kea and Four Seasons. He formerly was vice president of marketing for Hualalai Development Co., developer or the 700-acre residential-resort-golf community property on the coast just north of the Keahole Airport. Also, Preskitt, was in charge of marketing homes and lots for the Kaunaoa Development at Mauna Kea Resort. Preskitt's reputation in Hawaii was marketing to the “decamillionaire” (those with a net worth of $10 million or more).
Luis Argote, Four Season's Hotel Opening General Manager.
Luis received his Bachelor’s degree from the National Education Cooperation Institute (INCE) of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Caracas, Venezuela. A native of Venezuela, Argote is fluent in Spanish, French and English. He came from the Four Seasons Mexico City to the Four Seasons Costa Rica. He served as GM from 2004 to 2011. He currently serves as General Manager at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota.
Pascal Forotti, Four Seasons Costa Rica General Manager
Pascal was appointed General Manager in 2011. He was the second in command at the Ty Warner owned Four Seasons New York for 3 years prior to moving to Costa Rica. He enjoys hearing the waves crash everyday - so different from the fire trucks and taxi cabs of NYC. Pascal's hometown is Esch, Luxembourg. His Hotel Management degree is from Lycee Technique Hotelier Alexis Heck. The hotel school is named after Alexis Heck (1830-1908), hotel owner in Diekirch and a pioneer of tourism in Luxembourg.
Compiled by Dick Johnson
October 2015.
Warrior Class - Grenado Espada
This image is very special to me. I strongly believe that its the best photograph that I have shot, not just in the coplay and costume genre but ever. It amazes me that I was able to create this and I can't stop smiling when I look at it. This image makes me think about how far I've come and exicited for how far I could go.
Thank you to the stunning model Its Raining Neon for creating this amazing costume and being the reason this image can even exist.
And thank you to all of the amazing photographers who provided critique, advice, and guidance during the long and stressful process of creating this. I wouldn't have gotten this done without you all.
Thank you:
Elysiam Entertainment
JL7 Photography
Chou-wa Photography and Cosplay
Soulfire Photography
Bentpic5 and
Donna L Photography
Heathrow Express Class 332 lifted on the jacks at the Open Day at Heathrow Express Old Oak Common Depot.
My auntie Sybil at school in London she is standing 3rd row 5th from the right .
I'll add some more details of the school as soon as I find out .
Not really sure why the boy is holding a board with the I , perhaps that is the year 1 class .
I love some of the expressions of the kids and the girl standing next to my auntie looks like she just said something to make her laugh .
BREL (York) Class 313/1 Standard Mk.II 25k v ac overhead/750v dc 3rd rail 3-car emu No.313 107 of London Overground in LO-branded Silverlink Metro livery at Gospel Oak on a North London Line service (Richmond - Stratford), 02/08.
The Taigei class submarines are the newest class of conventionally powered Attack submarines of the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force). With a planned number of 7 (with 4 already in operation), they are the quite possibly the most advanced convenional submarines in the world.
With a crew of 70, a length of 84meters (275ft) and a displacement on the surface of 3000 tons, these subs are equipped with an advanced Air-independent propulsion system (AIP) which gives them considerable range efficiency and noise reduction underwater compared to older submarines.
To know more about it´s history, click here for the next picture:
www.flickr.com/photos/einon/54411951896
Eínon
In the days when Class 92s had some freight work on the Northern parts of the WCML 92011 is seen hauling 6X12, the 17:34 Carlisle Yard to Eastleigh service. The location iirc is Clifton to the South of Penrith and the date 6th June 2006.
Scan from a 400 ASA Fuji colour negative.
On 20 September 2003, 508203 stops at Paddock Wood on the 1700 Maidstone West - London Bridge via Redhill. Class 508s are no longer used on South Eastern.
Greater Anglia Class 321 'dusty bin' EMU, 321325 London Liverpool Street bound on the GEML at Generals Lane Boreham (UK)
Used a different lens to my usual. Not happy with results so abandoned the photoshoot after one shot.. ;-(
Class 31 31224 is pictured heading south through Oakleigh Park on the up slow line on September 12th 1976.
Brush Type 4 (Class "47/0") 2,580hp Co-Co No.47 207 (ex-No.D1857) "Bulmers of Hereford" (later "The Felixstowe Partnership" in BR "Railfreight Distribution" livery and yellow lower front end at Bristol (Bath Road) MPD, 05/89. Scanned photograph taken with a Miranda MS-1N.
Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matthew Platkin, and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan attend the New Jersey State Police Training Academy 164th State Police Class Graduation at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. (New Jersey State Police / Tim Larsen)
British Rail Class 321 'dusty bin' 4 car 25kV EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) 321336 working the 12 car 1P65 19:30 (20:30 RT) Abellio Greater Anglia Norwich- London Liverpool Street service train at Colchester Station on The Great Eastern Main Line in Essex (UK).
Abellio Greater Anglia Norwich- London Liverpool Street service trains of course should be worked by Class 90 traction and Mk3a coaches but this particular replacement train was allocated an uncomfortable and non air conditioned outer suburban EMU due to the 19:00 ex Norwich service cancelled due to staff shortages (allegedly) and much to the disgust of several patrons.
Photography courtesy of my regular photostream contributor David on his travels and is posted here with very kind permission.
Nostalgia!
A class 306 in green approaches Ilford; September 1966.
Not the ILFORD running in board is still in Eastern Region dark blue
Named after their primary shipyards installation, the Sovernmy-class destroyer is the Straser Imperium's response to the Casian Dart-class. While designs for a universal destroyer were already in the works within the Imperial Navy, the start of the Feral War halted new productions. Once the Great Scouring was over and the Casian Federal Navy unveiled the Dart-class, a new design was quickly adopted and put into production. Supposedly designed by Alferd Sovernmy himself, the Sovernmy class destroyer is considered slightly overweight for a destroyer, approaching the size of a frigate, but it makes good use of this extra weight, which comes mostly from armoured hull portions. In fact, the Sovernmy is the most heavily armoured destroyer class on the Continent. It sacrifices speed and maneuverability for this, but it also has a respectable amount of weapons, featuring seven light repeaters, four aerial torpedo launchers and one missile launcher. These weapons are sparsely distributed along the hull, further increasing survivability.
The Sovernmy class is in many ways an opposite to the Dart class, favoring armour over weapons whereas the Dart crams as much firepower as possible onto its hull. In theory, these two destroyer types should be relatively evenly-matched, with the Sovernmy's higher numbers giving it the advantage. In practice, however, the slow speed of the Sovernmy denies it the ability to avoid the Dart's massive firepower, and allows the Dart class to stay out of range of the Imperials' slightly less capable guns while staying in range of their own guns. Consequently, Sovernmy class destroyers are always deployed in large numbers, usually with a larger vessel in support. While this gives the Imperial Navy a strong fist, it lacks strategic mobility and tactical flexibility.
The Sovernmy class was too late to see action during the Feral War, but saw its first action soon after in the Annexation Conflict, proving itself very capable when deployed in large numbers. It reinforced its reputation further during the Rasyan Civil War, which was the first conflict in which it was pitted against the Dart class. The results were inconclusive, with neither class destroying the other in any significant numbers. However, it was during the Continental War that the Sovernmy was truly put to the test. The backbone of the Imperial Navy, more numerous than any other warship on the Continent, was thrust against the might of the Allied Nations.
It is doubtful whether the Allied navies could have individually beaten the colossal weight of the Imperial Navy, but together, they managed to secure victory after victory, the Sovernmy was just not capable enough on its own to stand agianst its foes, and large fleets are easier to track and ambush.
Overall, while lacking in terms of pure performance, the Sovernmy is still a foe to be reckoned with, and its ease of production and low cost have made it a favorite of navies throughout the Continent, many of whom do not hesitate to buy warships from a nation they were once at war with.
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COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/SUGGESTIONS/FEEDBACK/REQUESTS ARE WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!
Class 317 EMU, 317655 with 317XXX possibly on ECS 3S61 Ilford- Clacton trials northbound at Boreham on the GEML.
It's been 5 years since the Class of 2004 stepped out into the real world from Augustana! Over 35 classmates met for their reunion at Bracco in Sioux Falls.
CLASS OF 2004
back row (l to r): Ryan Williams, Alex King, Nick Gustafson, Shannon Loveland Gustafson, Mitch Swanson, Kira Christensen, Megan Mathison Wynia, Leah Khan, Micah Aberson, Teresa Resch, Sarah Larson Halverson, Rhea Staniszewski, Mindy Knudson Dooley, Mark Heinemann, Owen Hoegh, Leah Enstad Hoegh
third row (l to r): Rachel Black, Jennie Graves Doyen, Coleen Klungseth Hillesheim,
Staci Mascher Kucker, Rebecca Kucker Becker, Heidi Hansen Berry, Molly Hoffman,
Emily Peltier, Nikki Nolz Escobin
second row (l to r): Jessica Krueger Jensen, Elizabeth Hoium, Elizabeth Cruse,
Ann Rosendale, Steve Watson, Nick Buus, Dana Lauer Buus, Amy Lems Kerkvliet,
Megan Olson Johnson, Katie Sonnichsen, Allison Berg Heinemann
front row (l to r): Julie Newbrough, Katie Bauman, Kim Van Loan McFarlane