Random Bollocks From A Semi-Retired Foamer!: CRINGILA VIA WINGELLO

Christmas in July… and Other Mild Disappointments

Howdy train fans.

So, back on the 12th, we made our grand pilgrimage down to Wingello for the tragically mediocre annual "Christmas in July" party — one of those SRF/SMUT traditions we inexplicably keep showing up for every year. Think of it as festive disappointment with tinsel.

In a textbook example of why planning ahead is for winners, we rolled in to discover the south rail line was closed for maintenance. Yes, the one day we actually wanted trains, and the network said, “lol nope.” The only thing moving all day was road traffic — thrilling stuff.

Faced with the prospect of watching literal paint dry (probably on rail sleepers), we made a snap decision to abandon ship and head to the steelworks instead. But first, we made a pit stop at Berrima Junction to squint at whatever rusting relics might be lying around.

Turns out, this chaos worked in our favor. A completely unplanned detour to Albion Park led us to the light railway museum, which — shockingly — was fascinating as always. That delightful little surprise will get its own post soon, because, yes, it deserves more attention than Wingello station's ghost town vibes.

Anyway, below is a look at the not-so-riveting highlights (using the term loosely) from a day that went off the rails — quite literally.

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

Travel and Aviation Blog.

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

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Date	Locos	Train	Location	Time	Notes
12-7-2025	See Notes:	Station	Wingello		Got there to find no trains running.	42
	See Notes:	Sidings	Berrima Junct		RHJF-43001 43088	42
					8132 NHFF-42538 42544 42528	42
					NPIH-35603 35681	42
					NPHH-82104	42
	See Notes:	Station	The Robertson	-	Recently rebuilt	42
	MAN008 MAN003 MAN006	Light Engine	Cringila	12:21	Up to Inner harbour	42
	8231 8175 8101	Light Engine	Cringila	12:53	Up to Inner Harbour	42
	See Notes:	Yard	Port North	14:40	QL011 QL020 QLxxx 44202 8030	42
	See Notes:	Depot	Port Kembla		8179 8216 8160 8172 8211 8159 8167	42
					Deros: 48103 8005 48164 48160	42
	Seen by Dr Cooties				8046 8166 8201 8118 8224	-
	QL010 QL012	Steel	Port North		Steel Shunt	42

The Robertson Hotel station in Robertson.

The platform has recently been rebuilt. Photos of it before can be found HERE.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8211 is one of the last six of the class still in the old Freightrail livery.

Port Kembla Loco Depot

Photo: Brad Peadon

Former bicentennial livery locomotive 8172.

Port Kembla Loco Depot

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

Oscar set H48 waits for departure at Port Kembla station.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Port Kembla station carpark.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

Rail sidings with the former 'Australian Fertilizer Limited' building looking to be getting demolished.

The company was formed in 1920 as a joint venture between the nearby 'Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Company (ER&S)' and 'Mt Morgan Mining'.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below'

Kenworth XN-15HF near the old fertilizer place above.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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Date	Locos	Train	Location	Time	Notes
12-7-2025	QL010 QL012	Coils	Cringila	11:48	Shunt, transfer to Port North	42
	8202	Coal	Cringila	12:29	ex Dendrobium	42
	PB6	Light Engine	Cringila	12:48	From 18 Area, through yard, to works.	42
	PB3	Light Engine	Cringila	12:57	From 18 Area, through yard, to works.	42
	PB3	Coils	Cringila	13:32	from works to yard, then limestone to works.	42
	PB6	Light Engine	Cringila	13:43	to yard	42

Panoramic shot of Cringila yard,

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and three below.

QL012 and QL010 shunt a rake of steel coils in Cringila yard before transferring them to Port North.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8202 enters the steelworks with a load of coal from Dendrobium (Kemira Valley).

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and two below

PB6 on a light engine transfer from 18 Area to the works.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below

Changing the points for PB6.

Cringila yard

Photo: Brad Peadon

RCBF-20216C steel wagon in Cringila Exchange Sidings.

Photo: Brad Peadon

PCAF-20399F steel wagon in Cringila Exchange Sidings.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

PB3 partaking in a coil steel shunt of Cringila Yard.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Our last Cringila sighting of the day was PB3 hauling this heavy rake of limestone hoppers into the works. It was the hardest I've seen a PB work.

Have a video of the day that will appear on the

Semi-Retired Foamer Youtube Channel.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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