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 !



Wednesday, July 24, 2024

INDUSTRIAL EXISTENCE: BOTANY GOODS LINE

 

  Greetings, regular viewers, casual passers-by, and other assorted vagrants. Today marks the beginning of a new series chronicling our decades of shared experiences alongside this bustling railway line.

  When I say "our," I'm referring to my railfan companion David 'MrX' Xuereb and myself. I first met MrX on the bridge at Page Street, a spot where we'd often gather, both living just a stone's throw from the tracks at the time.

  Over the years, this railway has played a pivotal role in our lives. We've witnessed numerous changes, some really not for the better, made some lasting friendships, embarked on cab rides, and even ventured into businesses for an ambitious exhibition layout project. 

Our former model railway club, housed in the historic Rockdale signalbox, even had the name 'Botany Line MRC.'

  Originally opened in October 1925, next year will mark its centennial anniversary. One can't help but wonder if there are plans to commemorate this milestone.






Are you interested in the Botany railway line?
History - Today - Future
You are invited to join the chat with likeminded people.

Botany Railway Line SIG.

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NR29 'Kwinana' - Cooks River.
Today she is operational with Pacific National and currently wears a special 'Indian Pacific' livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon

42216 and 42203 climb the grade away from the Cooks River Staff Hut.
42216 now 2204 with Southern Shorthaul (Stored Cootamunda)
42203 now HL203 with Watco Australia.
Photo: Brad Peadon

8123 8152 at Cooks River with containers from Port Botany.
Both now with Pacific National.
Photo: Brad Peadon

8134 8121 at Cooks River with containers from Port Botany.
Both now with Pacific National.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4436 nearing the end of it's existence.
Sim's Metal Mascot.
Both the loco and Sim's are now gone. The Sim's site now being factory units, and 4436 a Kia in South Australia.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4436 also nearing the end of it's existence.
Sim's Metal Mascot.
Photo: Brad Peadon

D11 was the last of a number of shunters used at the Sim's Mascot site. An English Electric locomotive, originally owned by the steelworks at Port Kembla.
Today it is preserved by the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum.
Sim's extreme dislike of camera usage made this shot a rather big challenge.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4820 and 4907 snake through Mascot with a fuel train from Botany.
4820 (now 8420) stored half rebuilt in Junee Roundhouse. Talk has it that occasional work has recommenced on this rebuild.
4907 now with Manildra Group as MM01.
The QANTAS jet base buildings at very far right have recently been removed for new roadwork
Photo: Brad Peadon

 80s2 848 442s1 passing through the once popular golf course location at East Botany.
442s1 is with Southern Shorthaul and now numbered back to it's original 44220. 
848 is now scrapped.
80s2 now with Qube Logistics as it's former number 8044.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Wagon card AFQX-2183 carrying steel product from BHP Whyalla to the Murraymore factory in Mascot (#5 in maps above).
The Murraymore factory has been wiped from the face of the earth.
Photo: Brad Peadon

1445 14xx approaching the Page Street bridge at Gelco (East Botany). Duplication, and the Banksia Street footbridge have totally change this view.
Believed to be in service with Qube.
Photo: Brad Peadon

8249 with containers from Port Botany to St Marys.
Photo: Brad Peadon

8128 with containers from Port Botany to St Marys.
Photo: Brad Peadon

8249 with containers from St Marys to Port Botany.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4458 arriving at Gelco with containers destined for Port Botany. Again, duplication has made for a very different view.
Unit now with Qube Logistics and stored at Junee. Not giving much hope for a positive future.

Photo: Brad Peadon

4807 passes the old Chinese Gardens at Banksmeadow with a rake of fuel tankers.
Now preserved with Transport Heritage.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Back before the new yard was built, the single line entrance into Botany yard had this gate.
There is now 4 lines, the semaphore signal is gone, as has that part of the old fuel siding at right.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Fuel tankers in the old Botany Goods Yard.
One of Dave and my many Sunday nights visiting there.
Photo: Brad Peadon

1431 pulling containers out of port at Banksmeadow.
Those track panels in the background are sitting on the former Caltex yard.
Operational with Qube.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Rebuilding Port Botany yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon

48136 4898 4903 pulling out of Patricks.
48136 and 4898 now scrapped.
In service with SRS Heritage, currently being used on the Sadliers shunt.
Photo: Brad Peadon

EL62 at Patricks.
Note the missing yellow side panel and number.
Now with Railfirst Asset Management.
Photo: Brad Peadon

GL112 GL109 pulls a rake of flats out of Patricks.
Rebuilt from 44212 and 44229.
It is interesting to note that 44212 was a Botany trip train regular for some time, while 44229 in use at the Port Kembla steelworks for some time. 
Today GL112 is working at Weipa in Far-North Queensland.
Photo: Brad Peadon

GM34 and GM37 with another rake of emties from Patricks.
GM34 has been scrapped while GM37 is believed to be with Aurizon.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4903 heading light into the CTAL Terminal (now DP World).
In service with SRS Heritage, currently being used on the Sadliers shunt.

Photo: Brad Peadon



Wagon card for a train from the former Sydney Haulage siding at Port Botany to Goobang Junction.
Photo: Brad Peadon


4483 shunting Patricks, taken from the Botany Road overbridge.
Today she is stored at Minto with accident damage.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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Bradly Coulter and David Xuereb.
All the staff at Botany and Cooks River, along with the many train crews, who helped us over the years.


Neville Pollard for writing what has become the Botany Line bible. Well worth purchasing if you are able to find it.
I still dream of an updated version.
 

Botany Railway Line SIG - History & News  
 



Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport (and other) entertainment.

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 The police nicked me and I got done for poaching🤣

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