I exaggerate somewhat for effect 
I think they exemplify my (amateur) opinions about modern design, not just of wagons but coaches (they all look the same and none attractive) and so on. I know itâs a sign of becoming crusty old git, but still.
Possibly Quercus robur (itâs called English Oak here too, Pedunculate Oak in England), though why youâd be exporting from France to the land of Uk I have no idea.
I donât know how the economics of it all works, but I do know that several sawmills in the north of France export to various UK timber dealers.
Some of them seem to be independently owned, but deal with a broker of sorts. I spoke with one English born lady who was working for them and learning to translate all the technical stuff relating to various cuts and types of timber. If you want to fit a rafter you donât want a joist deliveredâŚapparently.
Edit to add. Some wine producers make a point of specifying American Oak, or French Oak, for their barrels. Yet another variable for the vintners to play with.
Sounds to me like plantation oak and your mention of barrels (casks) might reinforce that. âAmerican Oakâ might be Quercus alba or something else entirely, the thing with common names is that they vary by location or use, e.g. French Oak seems to be another appellant for Quercus robur aka English Oak.
Arenât there oak plantations in Britain?
I donât know how much oak is harvested in the UK. I do know that oak is harvested in Normandie.
Density of population? Woodland vs land for shooting, vs land for farming of all kinds? And the time it takes to grow oak to a commercial size? A lot of variables at work here.
I guess that oak is not much grown as a crop in the UK.
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A youtube video entitled âThe Rise and Fall of Leyland Trucks and Busesâ:
Iâm not an expert by any stretch and I donât mean to knock, but⌠he rattles off so much so fast itâs difficult to keep track, and I suspect there are several errors in it. Have a shufti and see what you think.
Obviously not a Ford van.
Yes, his stuff is really frustrating. Some of his truck ones are littered with inaccuracies. One of the biggest drawbacks of his films is that he uses really good pictures and tons of superb footage, much of it completely mismatched to the script.
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Whoa, donât try to jump in on our territory, some of us are REALLY old, not only that we are PROFESSIONAL crusty old gits.
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Itâs amazing the angle a double decker can go to without toppling over. I seem to remember an official test somewhere where they were on a machine which gradually tilted but there was a frame which held it if it started to go I believe.
28 degrees IIRC. And yes theyâve had tipping over machines for double-deckers for decades. That particular one is a lowbridge model, so lower centre of gravity and less likely to go over.
I wonder if this chap was on the phone!
I am but an apprentice in the ways of being as cantankerous an old git as you, hol(e)y one. 
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Blood y amazing car, the Tatra 603. Rear-mounted air-cooled V8, luxurious interior and pretty much hand-built: not for the proles, obviously.
Well yes, on paper it is a Ferrari with 4 seats and no troublesome water pump to fail.
Phone or not Iâll bet it cured his haemorrhoids.
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