I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor