Back on May 28th I headed forth to the Bluescope Steelworks in an effort to see the last two English Electric locomotives and sole T class before the new fleet of four H class arrive and likely replace them.
Of these, D40 has been out of use awaiting parts for some time and unlikely to run again, D27 is still available when needed (which she wasn't on the day) and seen outside the shed at Steelhaven, and T387 was in use doing the Lysaghts shunt.
Below are some of the photos taken at the steelworks exchange sidings next to Cringila station, followed by a few taken around the nearby Port Kembla station.
The red X above and below show where the popular Cringila footbridge can be found. While not as busy as it once was, it is still a great location to get steelworks related traffic.
| 28-5-2025 | See Notes: | Depot | Port Kembla | - | 8179 8152 8160 8201 8111 8105 8143 (8120 shed) (8218 shed) | 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | Dero: 8005 48164 48160 48103 | 40 | |
| 1107 8030 | Shunt | Port North | - | - | 40 | |
| QL020 | Yard | Port North | 08:49 | - | 40 | |
| 8030 1107 | Yard | Cringila | 09:35 | - | 40 | |
| 8164 | Light Engine | Cringila | 09:46 | Down on the main | 40 | |
| 8133 | Cement | Cringila | 14:32 | Down to Port Kembla | 40 |
| 28-5-2025 | See Notes: | See Notes: | Steelhaven | - | Old Brickyard line: PLR-20 Torpedo 19 Torpedo 31 JL-104 SPC-19 | 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | JL-84 JL-91 | 40 | |
| D27 out front, D40 unseen but said to be at rear. | 40 | |||||
| See Notes: | Steelhaven | Out back: PLR-20 1201 1202 Torpedo in factory opposite. | 40 | |||
| 8030 1107 | Yard | Cringila | 09:35 | Sitting in yard. | 40 | |
| Torpedo 35 | Drews Sdg | Cringila | - | Noted by Dr Cooties | 40 | |
| PB3 | Shunt | Cringila | 10:10 | Shunt yard | 40 | |
| 8030 1107 | Coils | Cringila | - | Coils to Port Kembla North (South Yard) | 40 | |
| T387 | Shunt | Cringila | - | From Lysaghts, shunt yard | 40 | |
| PB3 | Shunt | Cringila | - | Coils to yard then up the hill. | 40 | |
| PB5 | Light Engine | Cringila | - | Through yard, then up the hill. | 40 | |
| 1107 8030 | Light Engine | Cringila | - | Up main, then into exchange sidings | 40 | |
| PB5 | Light Engine | Cringila | - | Down hill, then into yard | 40 | |
| PB3 | Light Engine | Cringila | - | Down hill, then into yard | 40 |
Above and below.
Torpedo #19 next to the loco shed at Steelhaven.
It is thought that both it and #31 are destined to go to a nearby workshop that appear to overhauling these beasts.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Above and five below.
Torpedo #31 sitting with #19.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
CR52 JL104 SPC19 JL84 JL91 have all been long term residents on this old siding.
The SPC hopper is the last of her type existing, while keen eyes will see the good load of grass growing on the far two JLs.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
8030 1107 sit in Cringila yard b\prior to hauling a very long rake of steel coils (seen in the background) to Port Kembla North (South yard).
Photo: Brad Peadon.
PB3 pushing some carriages into the sidings before racking off back into the works light engine.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
PB5 heading to 18 Area from the exchange sidings.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
Above and two below.
PB3 now seen shunting coil wagons in preparation for 8030 and 1107 to haul them across to Port North.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Now it is PB3 venturing over to the 18 Area sidings.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
Coil wagon RCKF-84U awaiting transfer to Port North.
Cringila yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
RCKF-37H also eagerly awaiting aforementioned transfer.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
We had the pleasure of Mr Koperberg dropping by on the day..
Photo: Brad Peadon.
A quite period was broken with the less than riveting passing of H4.
Of marginally more interest was the passing of a brand new Mariyung set, presumably on a test run.
Photo & Video: Brad Peadon.
Above and four below.
Again ALCo 8030 and 1107 shunt steel coils beofre partaking in the short run over to Port North.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
8164 passes the exchange sidings as a light engine movement headed to the Port Kembla loco depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
Above and below.
A couple of general shots of the exchange sidings.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
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Looking disused, 48103 sits of the dero road at Port Kembla loco depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon.
Above and below.
8201 looks like it just rolled out of the showroom in her wonderfully clean Pacific National livery.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
A decided less clean 8152 also in the depot at Port Kembla.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Progress Rail workshop at the Port Kembla depot.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Hard photo to try and get given the lighting, but former bicentennial liveried 8120 is getting attention inside the workshop.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
8105 basks in the winter morning sunlight, while 8111 is not nearly so lucky.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
A painfully decrepit looking old 8005 that has sat here unwanted for many years now.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
1107 8030 shunting steel wagons at Port North (South Yard).
Photos: Brad Peadon.
H13 arrives at Port Kembla station with a local service.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Rubber tyred railmotor awaits the arrival of the train at Port Kembla station.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
Seems there is now a booth at Port Kembla North to guard against railfans wanting to get to close for photos. Not that there is much there to photograph nowadays.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
One thing that was there was QL020 probably awaiting a steel train to occupy itself hauling.
Photos: Brad Peadon.
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Bradly 'Dr Cooties' Coulter, Ben Koperberg, and Chris Stratton.
Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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