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..
_
 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).
_
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
_
**** 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, September 4, 2009


From: OnTrack! Regional Rail Review

Humphrey: We've got to shut down another railway, Minister

Jim: Oh I say, do we?

Humphrey: So it seems minister

Jim: Which one this time?

Humphrey: Over at Cowra
Jim: Cowra! That's the war cemetery place?

Humphrey: Not quite - Japanese prisoners revolted - there was a prison camp

Bernard: Wasn't the natives then?

Others both stare at Bernard

Bernard: Being revolting

(They return to the subject at hand)

Jim: Ah! - That's the report? (Puts his hand out for Humphrey's file which he peruses)

Jim: I see they've got to stop trains to close it down

Humphrey: A tourism group minister - you know, run trains in the week-ends.

Jim: Can they take them somewhere else? People like them y'know - chuffing about here and there.

Humphrey: Oh yes Minister - there could be arrangements made

Jim: Right - mmmm - right - (reflects) save us money will it?

Humphrey: (nods)

Jim: S'pose we must then - other priorities, eh! - any problems?

Humphrey: The local councils aren't happy

Jim: Local councils are never happy.

Humphrey: They're coming to see you.

Jim: How many?

Humphrey: Five of them

Jim: That many -why?

Humphrey: They've formed a consortium - an alliance - to progress rail - their railways - this one!

Jim: Did we know?

Humphrey: Oh yes indeed.

Jim: How do they want to progress rail then?

Humphrey: They want to take the lines over.

Jim: Do they? - what a good idea!

Humphrey: I'm not so sure.

Jim: Why ever not? - local enthusiasm, business involvement, productivity, trains even?

Humphrey: All of that

Jim: Well where's the problem?

Humphrey: They'd probably make a show of it - contain costs - be efficient .

Jim: I see - show how it can be done, eh!

Humphrey: Probably

Jim: Set a precedent?

Humphrey: Yes minister!

Jim: Difficult!

Humphrey: Yes minister!

'Yes Minister! Australia 'is an adaptation from the original BBC series.

OnTrack! Regional Rail Review is published by Big Tree Country Management Services ABN 26 541 262 898 Wahgunyah 3687 Vic Australia Telephone 61 2 6033 3937. Design, presentation , editorial pictorial material and artwork C 2009 BTCMS.
Posted by at
Labels:

1 comment:

Helen Bushnell said...

Good satire. Thanks.

Even worse is when local governments give rail the SAME subsidies that roads and air travel get.

September 13, 2009 at 7:51 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)