Hello fellow trainspotters, lurkers, and internet wanderers who clicked here by accident while looking for cat videos.
Today you endure the second installment in our Botany railway line series in which we dive head-first into the rich, rattly, and occasionally rusty history of a certain railway line that has chugged its way through our lives for decades—whether it wanted to or not.
Now, when I say "our," I’m talking about myself and my longtime partner in railfanning crime, David "MrX" Xuereb—yes, that's his actual nickname, and no, he's not a Bond villain (we checked). We met many moons ago on the Page Street bridge, where train enthusiasts gathered like moths to a diesel-scented flame. Back then, we both lived just a few rail ties away from the action, which explains how we ended up spending more time waving at locomotives than at actual people.
This humble railway has seen a lot. We’re talking transformations, upheavals, questionable shunting movements, and the occasional surprise. Along the way, we made lifelong friends, hitched a few thrilling cab rides (legally, we promise), and even launched an ambitious exhibition layout project that would have ate far more time and money than we were eventually willing to invest.
And now, history buffs, train nerds, and bored browsers alike, prepare yourselves: this rail line turns 100 years old this year. Yep, she opened in October 1925, and unlike your laptop charger, she’s still going strong. Will there be a celebration? Fireworks? Cake shaped like a 48-class loco? No one knows. But you can bet your last track pin we’ll be watching—and possibly yelling enthusiastically from the bridge.
Stay tuned. More nostalgic. and reasonably pointless, guff to come.
Are you interested in the Botany railway line?
History - Today - Future
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Botany Railway Line SIG.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For some time Sunday nights saw a train arrive at Botany from Brisbane.
On occasion the locomotives would haul it straight through to port, however at other times it would be handled by some random unit that must have taken charge in Sydney.
4403 was the loco in question this night and was caught at the Cooks River staff hut before continuing the rest of way to port.
4403 is now with Transport Heritage and preserved operational at Thirlmere.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Same night as above, but 4403 has just shunted the Patricks terminal and waits near the crossing.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Where so many of her sisters also ended up over the years.
4422 waits to be cut up at the former Sims Metal siding in Mascot. The whole Sims site has since been redeveloped.
4422 has obviously now gone to god.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4717 has departed Botany with an Lachlan Valley Rail Freight (LVRF) container rake.
She was one of only two locomotives to wear the attractive 'R&H Transport' livery, but today has been scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Back when the Jumbos ruled the local trip train operations.
44211 44212 head towards part as they pass through the picturesque section next to the local golf course.
Today 44211 is preserved operational at Thirlmere, while 44212 has been rebuilt as GL112.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8047 shunting the former Kellogg's siding at Botany. These once busy siding have now all ceased to be used, with road transport taking over as always.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8017 passes over the former Banksia Street pedestrian crossing. This crossing was later replaced by a rather large pedestrian footbridge and this section has now been duplicated.
Photo: Brad Peadon
For a couple of years in the 90s, Cooks River was our regular Saturday morning haunt. It usually saw a group of us there to get 7SP5 (Sydney to Perth) and it's usually impressive multi unit ALCo lashups.
On this day it was 8003 8041 4496 44233 instead of the usual all 80 class lineup.
The first three have since been scrapped, while 44233 was rebuilt as GL109 following a few years as BHP102 operating coal trains for the Port Kembla steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8025 4854 on a Freightcorp container train, with 4486 4701 alongside with a Lachlan Valley Railfreight service.
8025 is nopw with Pacific National, 4854 scrapped, 4486 preserved with Transport Heritage, and 4701 preserved by Lachlan Valley.
Photo: Brad Peadon
For a time the 45 class ALCo hood units were a common feature on local trip train working. Late one afternoon we found 4518 arriving, seen here passing the old Chinese market garden.
This area is now a four track section.
4518 would later become 3518, but subsequently scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48104 during shunting around Cooks River.
Now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48103 in Botany Goods Yard late one Sunday evening.
It was usual for the upcoming weeks Botany shunter to arrive on the Sunday evening, then work all the local sidings until the following Saturday. It would then usually combine with the final trip train departure on the Saturday afternoon and return to Delec.
48103 is with Pacific National.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48109 in the Cooks River shunting neck.
Locomotive now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48108 8015 leading a rake of containers through Banksia Street in beautiful summer afternoon sunshine.
The flame tree behind was a well known feature of photos for many years until one day being officially vandalised down to a stump.
Both units have now been scrapped. Eagle eyed readers may be able to spot the lights on 8015 from her time at the Port Kembla steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped 48122 busily shunting the sidings at Port Botany long before the extra tracks of today were put in.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
48122 again, this back in her pre-blue days, wearing the attractive State Rail Candy livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48121 and brake van between shunts in Cooks River yard.
Also now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48127 8015 with more containers passing through Banksia Street. In the background was an old warehouse site that was in the process of being developed into my dream units.
48127 is with Pacific National, while 8015 is scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
48137 departs Cooks River yard with a humongous load.
Like so many others, it too has gone to god.
Photo: Brad Peadon
7307 7321 shunting the CTAL Terminal at Port Botany in their attractive (probably due to it being similar to candy) Patricks livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Train Consist Form - March 2005.
Silverton
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Photos during Botany line duplication work.
Above and below.
Worksite at Gelco for duplication work back towards the Mill Pond bridge.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Repeater CR758G near Coleman Street Mascot just prior to duplication work in this location.
Photo: Brad Peadon
CR757G also at Coleman Street in Mascot.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and three below.
A selection of photos showing duplication work in progress.
Photos: Jamie Fisher
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Bradly Coulter, Jamie Fisher, Jerry Gromiski 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.
Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport (and other) entertainment.
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More to life than choo choos?
Take time to help the families suffering. 
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