Brompton is a UK phenomenon

I received a welcome newsletter from folding bike manufacturer Brompton, the UK firm that didn't know that you can't make things in London:

"Finally, 2008 saw the 20th anniversary of the full-time production of Bromptons in March 1988; having finally secured funding, Andrew Ritchie and two staff began producing a handful of bikes per week in a railway arch about a mile from our current factory. 20 years later, having seen his small project grow to become a globally-recognised brand, Andrew stepped down as Managing Director in April, though he continues to be heavily involved, as Technical Director, in the day-to-day activities of the company, in particular in quality control and training."

The newsletter contained some interesting information about product enhancements for 2009. Not even the collapsing pound is slowing them down:

Will Butler Adams, managing director of Brompton Bicycle, said: “The weakening of the pound against the euro is great. We export 70 percent of our products, 35 percent to Europe. So this makes our bike more competitive.” More here.

Imperial victory

Pathetic persecution of the 'metric martyrs' to end in the UK.

Light shed on Beacon

I am grateful to Ron Stockey for pointing out the code for the Canada Life Building weather-forecasting beacon on University Avenue here in Toronto. Wikipedia explains.

Lewes-Uckfield line in limbo

This article about a disused Sussex railway is by Dick Tyler of Railwatch magazine:

There is disbelief locally at the long-awaited report which has ruled that there is an “insufficient business case” for the reinstatement of the Lewes-Uckfield rail line in East Sussex. The line is in the most crowded part of the country, would give relief to an overcrowded Brighton line, and passengers are returning in droves to the environmentally friendly railways because of the rise in motoring costs.
The negative Network Rail report commissioned by the Central Rail Corridor Board was published on 23 July.
But former transport minister Tom Harris said before the board convened: ‘I would really like to see this go ahead, I think you have a very good case.” He added: “I want this project to succeed.”
Although there are no major obstacles to the reopening and the reinstated line would make a profit, Norman Baker MP, one of the board members, revealed the “business case” flaw. Network Rail is obliged to use current cost benefit analysis models which are loaded against rail. A review of the process is under way and hopefully there will soon be a new approach to analysis.
Currently the Treasury says time saved for the motorist is a benefit and has a monetary value while time saved for train and bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians is unimportant. It does not know the monetary value of landscapes, global warming, accessibility, social inclusion and quality of life.

Comment: People who live in Lewes know only too well the traffic chaos at rush hours and the buses needlessly traversing the town one-way system, at all hours of the day, for the lack of a roundabout. They also know that the town increasingly depends on good rail connections to London and elsewhere. East Sussex has been starved of investment by governments of all stripes. The policy is tax the peasants and give nothing in return.
Under the present NuLabour lot revived railways are sprouting up in Wales and Scotland, as payoffs to their voters, while the rest can go to hell. RLT.

Sayonara to British industry

The not so British bullet train in The Daily Mail.

Update: Some good news for travellers on the west coast line.

Picture this

Picture the scene. It is Christmas Day and the turkey is on the table, roast spuds and all the trimmings, crackers to be pulled, party hats all round. You have a large bottle of D'Aquino Pinot Grigio delle Venezie chilling in the fridge, purchased at Ontario's scrooge-like monopoly, the LCBO. Time to pull a cork as the party gets started. What is this? The wine turns out to be water. Some civil servant forgot to check the contents and you've been had. No chance of buying a replacement - a monopoly opens to suit itself - not the customer. Cheers and Happy Christmas everybody!

Downtown train of thought

To downtown on a freezing cold day in Toronto. Take the subway train two stops to Dundas West and switch to the King streetcar #504. After a longish wait I manage to get a seat and the car heads down Roncesvalles which has a light dusting of snow. The crowd thins out on the car as we approach the Queensway. Punters are clutching coffee and mobile phones - "I'm on the streetcar!" I'm reading the free paper "The Metro," a wire-service rag.
We go past an empty Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealers. The graffiti is already taking hold. On past the Palace Arms, weekly rooms, affordable rates. Toronto needs to look after itself for it could go the way of Detroit, although other factors were in play there. The anti-business attitudes of the freeloaders in City Hall do not help. Some time ago I spoke with a businessman from Chicago who said he would never do business in Canada, after, he felt, being insulted on a visit to Montreal. The smug anti-American attitudes of many Canadians does untold damage to trade relations south of the border.
To HSBC bank to change some cash from Sterling to Canadian Dollars. The pound is sinking like a stone under the incompetent government of Gordon Brown. Send for a novice say I, surely better than "bottler", the new Mr. Dithers. He is running up a national overdraft for those yet unborn to pay off.
The girl behind the counter dutifully urges me to open a new savings account that the bank are pushing. I say "at these interest rates who cares? The best thing you can do with your money is spend it." They are so busy propping up failed borrowers that saving is for mugs.
I duck into Starbucks on University Avenue. More jolly Xmas muzak - "I've got my love to keep me warm" - AGAIN. Standby for "Frosty the snowman." Onwards up University Avenue where the Canada Life building is forecasting the weather in lights - if only I knew the code. Past Roy Thomson Hall and the theatre district. My pen is freezing up on the notepad. I duck into the foyer of the Royal Alexandra Theatre and see the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton in the distance. Who will be living in this swish hotel? I guess the real fat cats are immune to the economic troubles, perhaps they will be downsizing.
On to Steve's Music Store at 415 Queen St. W. This is a legendary place for Toronto musos. They don't get up much before midday so the store is quiet, as I purchase a BlueMic SnowFlake - a portable professional USB microphone - $66.67 incl tax. I ask if any tunes are banned as a punter tries out a fuzz box. "No Stairway" is the reply - "I cut the wire to the amp" says a girl. The whole place is like Spinal Tap with endless solid-bodied guitars hanging from the rafters. I walk on to Spadina and ride the streetcar in the sunshine through Chinatown, should be called Vietnam town these days.
I should go out more often.