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 ****
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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 !



Saturday, December 13, 2014





NARADHAN INTERMISSION

  Lets face it, the railfan hobby is full of some really horrid people. Over the years I have had the displeasure of of death threats, threats of violence, racist attacks etc etc etc.
  Like myself for quite some years, I have seen many good contributors throw up their hands and walk off, never to contribute again. We are not talking just one or two, we are talking MANY.
  Indeed, it was the growing resentment of the hobby that saw this website born years ago. Mostly just to treat it all like the joke it had become.

  But during these decades of this railfan business, a few people have stood out, people I have admired for almost as long as I have been a fan. People who give to the hobby and who it is an honour to know.
  I was privileged to have two of these people on the Naradhan tour.

  John Currey and Neville Pollard

  It would be few in the hobby who have never come across these two names somewhere.
  John's (owner of 4465) name is synonymous with Australia's Alco locomotives, most especially the 44 class.

  Neville's historical articles, especially those covering NSW branchlines, have been enjoyed and referred back to more times than I dare to try and remember.
  His Naradhan article instantly came to mind when we decided to do a special issue of the Lubricated Flange for the tour. He was generous enough to allow us to reprint it.

  John I have known for many years, Neville I only just met, but both are among 
those who greatly inspire me to carry on in this hobby.

Thank you.






Credit Both Photos: David Phillips

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