The Semi-Retired Foamer has been a railfan since he was around 5 years old, oh yes a very young age, an age when one really should avoid being involved with the gunzel community to any great extent. A few rather unsavoury people bringing that fact home.
After a few decades of train chasing, one decided to break with protocol and get married, thus leading to a severe cut in railfan activity.
Subsequent dealings with hate breeders, lunatics, mental defectives and self-appointed preservation overlords lead to an even greater decrease in my hobby participation.
However things have changed thanks to our small group of trusted mates, interest has returned, and now I have become a bit more involved yet again.
.
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Over the years I have tried my best to further both the hobby, as well as the friendships that it brings. I have done this by setting up proactive groups both here in Australia, as well as the Philippines. It is with huge honour that I am often considered the founding father of the railfan hobby in the Philippines (my second home).
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I don't take the hobby too seriously and I am a friend to anyone who is good and genuine. But never forgive those who have used their hate to destroy my hobby or hurt the friends within it.

Let's Make The Hobby Great Again!
I aim to share the era that I considered mine, the 80s and 90s. I also like to help promote, and even raise funds for, the various heritage societies that keep the era alive
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**** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS ****
-
We occasionally publish information on the locomotives, and rollingstock, from railways in Australia and the Philippines.
All are available for
FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Friday, February 29, 2008

Lurking Around Hurlstone Park!

Howdee,
MMM FM had designated it 'Gay Day' in recognition of this being the weekend of that Mardi Gras thing.
With this in mind, the Colonel wished to celebrate the event at Hurlstone Park and asked me to join him, ahmmmm, for train and woman watching only.
Sadly, the increased domestic responsibilities that come with being a father mean't that, despite much drooling, the Colonel didn't go across to the bottle shop to partake in some Bundy Bombs and remained in a 'highly unusual' upright position all day.
Anyway lets get into the all important train sighting information.

442s2 Up Mannway 09.39
48162 dn 3xXT 09.42
4906 4903 up conts to Botany 09.50
3106 852 2202 2201 ARG to Nowra 09.58
EL53 62 64 conts to Botany 10.04
3102 3101 2208 dn L/E 10.05
8253 22 39 21 dn mt coal 10.18
8208 8107 dn mt coal 11.09
8148 8153 dn gravel 11.34
8207 8111 8129 8137 dn mt coal 11.46
8230 57 18 8181 dn mt coal 12.01
8226 GL106 8237 up coal 12.14
48162 up L/E 12.20

All totally enthralling!
Brad

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Cadney Park Today!



Dick Holland has generously shared his photos of Cadney Park taken late last year.
Not one of Australia's more bustling centres :-)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Cadney Park Revisited!




It has been some time since we first looked at the 1984 train orders from Cadney Park over in South Australian.
They were indeed popular and I have been planning to show more ever since.
Well work finished early today and the torrential rain has cancelled any need to take number 1 son to footy training, so what better way to spend the afternoon than with a few rums and rambling on with bollocks around the internet.
With this in mind, I hope you like the latest Cadney Park selection.
No doubt we will be revisiting here yet again in the future.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Random Piccies!

It is time for a selection of random photos with no real theme at all.
In a couple of weeks time we will be moving north to take an extended look over the now closed Moreton Mill system at Nambour, locomotives, safeworking, structures.

For now I am going to be quite the bludger and just place up a few random selections.
All the following train shots were taken during the forst two months of this year.

5002 5009 have just passed under the new flyover at Sandgate and are turning towards Kooragang Island where their load of coal will be dumped.The coal system in Newcastle has been struggling to cope with the increased loads nowdays, with one mine, Austar, appearing to have found a solution in containerising the black diamond.


A face that will soon change. Cs5 still retains her lovely Silverton blue/yellow livery, but for how long. Gradually the class are going through major overhauls and reappearing in a new livery, still yellow and blue, for 'South Spur Rail'.
While the parent company, Coote, has purchased most of the earlier sold Silverton fleet from ALLCO, the C class were not included and are leased from the ALLCO/CFCLA joint venture.
Cs5 is seen here at Port Botany in January.

Undergoing somewhat of a revival of late, the 80 class have been returning to service, some even recieving major overhauls and repaints.
8042 is seen passing through Belfield in January with two recently refurbished fuel tankers, presumably from a siding at Meeks Road.


Ahhhhhhhhh Philippine beauty. Far more easier on the eye, and the lens, than trains.
These two sweeties were at the '2007 Philippine Fiesta' at Rosehill Racecourse and pretty much sum up why my photographic interests are more aimed in that direction nowdays.

See you at the 2008 Fiesta.

EMD on the SMR!

Morning,
Regular readers of this blog would be well aware of my interest, hmmm perhaps fetish, for the 'South Maitland Railway'. Its history and current day operation continuing to be a great source of interest.
So it was with immense arousal, well, perhaps thats a little strong a word, that this week I discover that 'South Spur' are supposed to start hauling containerised coal out of Pelton utilizing two T class.
Initially one treated it as a rumour, not unlike all the ones that seem to surround this line, but further reports have been forthcoming from many areas and it now seems that one of the rumours is about to come true.
Being in containers would no doubt mean they can now bypass the coal unloader problems in Newcastle, with the containers loaded just like any others would be. It would also beg the question as to whether or not more Hunter miners may take this direction.
From a purely 'dribbly foamer' point of view, this is exciting due to the fact something other than blue 48/PL class will be seen after many years, not to mention that these are almost certainly the only EMDs ever to traverse the SMR, beyond East Greta Junction anyway, since the day it was built.

Neath Railfan Night anyone?????

Brad

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt7

Alas we come to the grand finale of our little Victorian trip, not due to a lack of photos, there is after all about 300, however we have had enough Victorian for a while.
I trust you have been aroused by our little Victorian sojourn, I am sure we will visit again very soon.DRC41 at Stony Point.

Harris set stands opposite Pakenham station awaiting the next peak hour.

Pantograph test car 533 at Preston Workshops.



Former Sydney K class tram, later used in Melbourne as scrubber car 11W, is seen here at Preston Workshops.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Congratulations to Colonel and Mrs Chunder.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Sometimes also known as David (to Railpagers davo_1620) and Anna Phillips, just after midnight last night they, well Anna actually, popped out a baby girl.
Bubs is said to have mommies eyes and nose, leading the Colonel into a worry that boys will be drooling over her before to long. Imagine being the poor boy who has to go home to MEET THE PARENTS!!!!!
Anyway congratulations to our great mates 'Anna and The Colonel', no doubt there will be much 2am screaming in coming weeks getting her lungs ready to a life full of karaoke nights.

Brad

*** As we don't have a picture of the actual baby, here is another taken recently.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Newcastle Mystery Bridge!




This bridge is something I first noted, while passing at speed, about a year ago while returning from Newcastle. I had the wife with me, so a brief glimpse was all I got, while the idea of turning back for an investigation was simply out of the question.
Yesterday, while doing a job in Newcastle, I thought I would take the opportunity to have a closer look. Earlier I had consulted a local historian who believed what I saw was actually an old road bridge.
All I could remember was it was to the left of the road from Barnsley towards Fassifern and just south of the Killingworth turnoff.
Didn't take long to find it, but the distance view was not going to give any confirmations, so a bit of bush bashing was to follow. We followed a black pipe that ran along what looked to be a very old formation, until we finally reached the bridge in question, complete with a couple of dog spikes and a length of rail sticking out of the dirt on one side.
Didn't have my camera, so the mobile phone shots here will have to suffice until I return.
Certainly didn't feel the timbers were in a condition to hold us, so dreams of crossing were soon abandoned.
Can anyone identify the bridge and what this line was?
The road appears to be a more recent addition and would seem to be somewhat higher than the formation. It could not be determined where it went after crossing the road, a large grassy hill may have been created during the road work wiping out the continuing formation.
What appears to be an old mine or quarry lies just beyond this hill.
Any helps and history would be welcome.

Brad

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt6

A QUICKIE!

This is going to be a quick one as even foamers need to get some sleep. Anyway, I don't think anyone can honestly say they are disappointed with a quickie.



The splendid VR blue livery was getting a bit tatty by the time we found T356 at Geelong loco on March 10th, 1987. Regardless, a grotty VR loco was always savoured and many shots were exposed on this beast.
T356 is today preserved with Steamrail Victoria.


DRC41, a member of Victoria's least successful railcar type. It was only in their final years did they overcome the reliability problems that plagued them.
On March 5th it is seen waiting to leave Spencer Street. Today, according to Wikipedia, it is in store at Newport.

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt5

At the risk of being classed as a pervert by more heavy rail orientated gunzels, I am going to return to trams yet again.
Actually it is an interesting subject in itself. Why do many railfans, many of them who themselves are only borderline able to be able to string two words together, often look at you as if you should be pitied for being interested in trams?
Some railfans will even lower the tone of their voice when mentioning their interest, for fear of being branded a weirdo, or an outcast, by those who are often weirdos or outcasts. I wonder if this would indeed render you part of normal society then?
Anyway, thats for some psychiatrist to write a book about, for now we shall get on with the business of Melbourne in 1987.


During this trip I made quite the effort to get the older W class trams. It was known that their time was limited, something that inspires everyone to go grab piccies before it is to late.
Collins Street, just behind our hotel of choice in those days, was a prime hunting ground for some early W type prey. The whole street was riddled with them, trying to look unnoticeable amongst all the private vehicle traffic.
So it was that, after a great breakfast, we found our bums firmly planted at a tram stop.
No sooner were cameras, an old Canon T70 from memory, out of the bag than 431 was found rattling her merry way towards us.
Intense dribbly excitement saw us hop on board for a short run.


A few days later, on a very quiet and boring Sunday (8-3-87) around Melbourne city, I took to the streets in search of some tram shots.
It had been a less than fruitful day, the only movement of real note being that curry chicken sandwich that I thought smelt suspect, when a last minute decision to walk down Lonsdale Street greeted me with a 427 surprise.
From memory Lonsdale Street was not used regularly on Sundays back then, perhaps even now, so this was considered quite a score.


OK enough of this self satisfying tram guff, lets finish with a train shot.
They had a face that only a mother could love, but the fact there was not many of them, made for quite a bit of interest in the railfan community down Vic way.
A refurbished Harris set (they looked better originally) is seen standing at Port Melbourne station. Not sure if the station is still there, perhaps a local can enlighten us, but this line is now served by good ol, well quite modern really, trams.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

48 Class Update!

G'day,
The recent sale of ALLCO owned locomotives to Coote has seen a change in ownership for a number of 48 class listed a couple of weeks ago.

All 48s class (28-37), as well as 4809, 4828, 4837, 4841 and 4842 have made the move.
Not sure what this will mean for the the stored 48 class, all of which are in a less than fruity condition.

Brad

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Subscribe - To Save Time!


Howdee,
One of the major complaints about blog site from people is that you often waste time checking back just to find there has been no updates.
To combat this I am trialling a new subscription idea, the link to which can be found on the top of the right column.
It uses Yahoogroups as a basis, but only allows for notifications of updates to the 'Semi-Retired Foamer" blog site.
There is no option to reply to anyone except for me, so your inbox will not be full of the rantings of other people, while the subscriber list is not available to members.

So to save time between updates give the 'FREE' subscription service a go!

Cheers
Brad

PHOTO: E1106 was only in occasional use on perway duties by the time she was photographed at Jolimont. Thankfully she exists in preservation to this day. 3-3-1987

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt4


OK, yes I have been remiss in my postings again.
Perhaps a firm bott spanking is in order, but that would waste precious time and prevent me from getting around to dazzling you with part 4 of our Victorian journey.
Alas work occasionally gets in the way of the more important stuff and prevents me from drooling forth with endless bollocks about past escapades to hordes off people who probably don't really care one way or the other. :-)

While on the subject, which I wasn't, our 1987 trip to Melbourne was timed, by coincidence, with the upcoming closure of heavy rail services to St Kilda and Port Melbourne. Plan were afoot to convert both into tramways (light rail if you like wankie modern terms) linked into the rest of the tram system.
At this time St Kilda was 100% passenger service, while Port Melbourne, along with its passenger services, still had a daily freight service to Traralgon.


This service was cause for great throsbys amongst local railfans as it would often utilize quad L class electrics.



Indeed I made a special attempt to get out there for it on many an occasion during the trip, however only once did I catch the famed quads and, even then, I didn't get a good enough shot of it.

PHOTOS:
T: Up Spark arrives at South Melbourne station. 3-3-1987
M: Hitachi set sits at St Kilda station before returning to Flinders Street station. 3-3-1987.
B: L1156 and L1150 cross the Yarra River with a goods train from Port Melbourne to Traralgon. This was a Monday-Friday service departing Port in the late afternoon.