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 !



Thursday, March 15, 2018




Two recent requests have seen me pulling out the dusty old slide boxes from the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' archive. The slide collection, while quite large, has always been the lesser cousin of the massive print one.
As such, it has probably been some 2-3 decades since I really had a look at them.
With most shots taken in the glory years that formed the 80s, I really just can't remember what is amongst them. So, I can honestly say that what appears in this 'occasional' series, will likely be as much of a surprise to me as it will be for you.
Also of surprise will be the distinct lousy quality of most of what appears. I was only trialling slides for a few years and, well, it was my early years of transport photography.
I am sure you shall find a way to endure it.


I was never only a train fan, I have always had an interest in transport away from railways. It is just that most of my public involvement was in the rail arena. Something that I guess I sort of regret at times.
It did give me some tremendous lifetime friends who do make up for the butt pipes.

  Returning from Melbourne, while on one of many 80s trips, we decided to stop in at Wagga Wagga for a look at the former 'Urban Transit Authority'  Leylands (no rail reason to stop in back then) that Fearnes were using at the time.
  Above are two Mk1 Leopards and just a small part of an Atlantean (see future posts).


Be hard pressed finding one of these on QANTAS Drive nowadays.
While the bus, and livery, are now long gone, Murrays Coaches still exist.







 Obviously we thought long walks were a great idea back in the 80s.On this day we caught a train to Lidcombe, then walked to the former Pippita station, before risking our lives entering the railway corridor to survey the old line to the Abattoirs. Ooooh, todays railfan nazi's would have been impressed.
Despite being caught in an upturned Brickworks signalbox, the day was an educational and fun one. Many shots were taken and will appear in due course.





The livery is now gone.
The 48 class has been decimated in number.
The fuel tankers are likely all scrapped.
The siding is ripped out.
The terminal is gone.
The Sandown line is mothballed.
Safe to say we ain't going to see this ever again.









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