heritage Archives - Mechtraveller

The annual 1000 Miglia classic car rally is both a motorsport and tourism event

Alastair — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:40:13 +0000

This year’s ‘1000 Miglia Experience Italy’ classic car rally is almost upon us*. For the first time, the 1000 Miglia will take place entirely in Puglia. From 9 to 12 April, the crews will embark on a journey that combines a passion for driving with the exploration of iconic landscapes and villages steeped in history, […]

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Great Central Railway is to host a classic diesel locomotive this year

Alastair — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:18:56 +0000

The Great Central Railway (GCR) has confirmed that Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar will be based at the heritage railway during 2026* and that it will hopefully mark a major milestone for diesel preservation when it hauls its first passenger train in 29 years. Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS), D9015 is one of […]

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India to build world’s biggest National Maritime Heritage Complex… inland

Alastair — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 09:13:34 +0000

The Indian Government has approved plans for a huge National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat, an inland archaeological port site from the Harappan era (aka the Indus Valley Civilisation), now 30 miles from the sea. It is being billed as the biggest maritime heritage complex in the world. The museum complex, a […]

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The Fontinettes Boat Lift, Arques, Pas-de-Calais

Alastair — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:44:19 +0000

The Fontinettes Boat Lift (Ascenseur à bateaux des Fontinettes) in Arques, Pas-de-Calais. is a magnificent piece of 19th century engineering and architecture. It was built in the late 19th century at Fontinettes* to replace a set of five locks on the Neuffossé canal which linked/s the canalised rivers Lys and Aa**. This was an important […]

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Musée des Arts et Métiers, Paris

Alastair — Tue, 21 May 2024 18:27:08 +0000

The Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Crafts) in Paris is almost the French equivalent of the Science Museum in London, and it is absolutely packed with the most fascinating historic, scientific, mechanical, experimental and industrial exhibits. Be prepared to allocate plenty of time for your visit! The museum, created in 1794 […]

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The extraordinary ‘Mount Emily Shay No.1’ geared steam engine has a new home

Alastair — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 12:31:51 +0000

The 100-year-old American steam logging locomotive, Mount Emily Shay No.1, travelled by flatcar to its new home, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, on Thursday (15 Feb). The historic locomotive had been in the care of the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) for more than six decades when, in 2022, OHS chose to transfer the Shay to […]

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Blenheim Palace’s annual deep clean and clock repairs are underway

Alastair — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:14:00 +0000

Blenheim Palace, home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, has started its annual deep clean, which, it turns out, is quite a complex process requiring more than a can of Pledge (other multi-surface cleaners are available) and a feather duster! The deep clean includes everything from silverware and sculptures to tables and tapestries, including […]

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Historic Alvis Grand Prix race car resurrected

Alastair — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:21:40 +0000

The sole surviving Alvis Grand Prix racing car, once abandoned in a scrapyard in Coventry, is being revived by The Alvis Car Company, and will be making its first public appearance tomorrow (14 April) in Chiba City, Japan at Automobile Council 2023. Its unveiling comes 96 years after its race debut at the 1927 Junior […]

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Pingtan Book House Architectural Award

Alastair — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:59:07 +0000

Love this! It reminds me of a ‘Bee Hotel’! The Pingtan Book House in China’s Hunan province* is designed to provide space for children to read and play. The design, by Hong Kong based Condition_Lab, has just been awarded ‘highly commended’ in the Cultural Building of the Year category of the annual Dezeen Awards. The […]

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Norfolk and Western Railway archives have a new home

Alastair — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:10:19 +0000

The Norfolk Southern Corporation is donating its complete collection of historical documents and archives from predecessor company Norfolk and Western Railway to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC). The collection dates from the 1840s and includes thousands of photographs and glass plate negatives, as well as business records, annual reports, blueprints, plans, bridge […]

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