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, July 3, 2025

ALBUMS: PORT KEMBLA STEELWORKS - PART 1





Howdy folks!

Beware, you are approaching another selection of photography showcasing the steelworks at Port Kembla (NSW, Australia).
It has been a particular favourite location of mine over the decades, and I've aimed to try to get many photos of not only the locomotives, but the rollingstock and infrastructure as well.

Prepare for the approaching tsunami of photographs from the 80s till today.

If you have an interest in aviation and other guff, check out my

BHP News - Photos - History.  Come have a squiz.


D44 transferring internal steel wagons through the Cringila exchange sidings.
Unit now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 shunting the Cringila exchange sidings.
Also now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 and D44 passing each other at Cringila as they potter around the steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
D40 had just been painted in the new yellow Bluescope Steel livery.
Today she is the last of here type to exist, and has been sitting out of use (awaiting repairs) for some time now. With new (well second hand) locomotives about to be introduced, it is doubtful those repairs will now happen and we are hoping it will see preservation.
Photos: Brad Peadon



The big guy D34 shunting limestone hoppers at Cringila.
Locomotive is now preserved at the 'State Mine Railway' in Lithgow.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Now scrapped D38 also in the then new Bluescope yellow livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D7 D20 - 4901 on a special tour up to the Kemira coal loader is seen passing through Mount Kembla.
D7 is privately preserved in Canberra, D20 with the State Mine Railway, while 4901 has been scrapped.
Photo: Carl Millington 
Brad Peadon Collection


D44 was one of the last two units, the other D43, to wear the former red livery. By now it had been modified to carry the new Bluescope Steel logos.
Both D43 and D44 would go on to be scrapped in the red livery, never seeing the attractive BHP blue.
Cringila yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D49 (formerly Goldsworthy A8) and D47 (formerly Goldsworthy A5) wait at Wongawilli Junction with a load of coal from the Elouera Colliery branch.
Both are now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D47 again, now on an empty coal rake headed up the Kemira line.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D43 shunting the Welded Products siding at Unanderra.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D49 D47 up Elouera coal at West Dapto.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 at Cringila again, as it likely was a million times before scrapping.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D38 Light engine passing through Cringila.
Photo: Brad Peadon


8115 waits at Brownsville Junction with a coalie from Elouera. The second and third hoppers were a couple of the special livery hoppers that existed.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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The National Railway Equipment PB class (genset) now represent the main type of locomotives at the steelworks, having seen the demise of all remaining English Electrics other than D27 and D40.
They will soon be assisted by four second hand Victorian H class which are in the process of being transferred there.
Above and below is PB3.
Photos: Brad Peadon



An extract from the logbook of now scrapped D43.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
The round sided (143-180) BXLA coal hoppers.
Today the entire fleet is believed scrapped (as are the older square sided (1-142) variation.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Above and below
Torpedos during transfers through Cringila, a sight that does not seem anywhere near as common as it once seemed to be. Maybe I'm just picking bad days to visit.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Internal wagon LR-119.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Internal wagons CR-34 and CR67 with a load of steel coils at Spring Hill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Bushells Hill tunnel on the Kemira Valley line.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Former line to Nebo Colliery, today being a bike/walking track.

Photo: Brad Peadon


The same section today.

Photo: Brad Peadon



Battery locomotive #78 at Nebo Colliery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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All who have partaken in my steelworks adventures with me.
 






Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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I never thought orthopedic shoes would really work for me, but I stand corrected. 👞👞



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