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Howdee thrillseekers,
Oh yes, it was that time of year again — that magical weekend when thousands of people inexplicably descend upon Sydney and willingly subject themselves to crowds, railway enthusiasts, questionable conversations, and the general excitement that is the Transport Heritage Expo.
Held over the October long weekend at Central Station, the Expo once again brought together all manner of old transport machinery, with heritage trains, steam and electric train rides, railmotors, vintage buses, harbour cruises, displays and assorted other reminders that apparently transport used to be considerably more interesting than the shiny new guff we are inflicted with today.
Now normally, I avoid these sorts of events as much as humanly possible, preferring to spend my time doing constructive things rather than dealing with certain psychopathic individuals who have apparently been maintaining decades-long grudges with the dedication of someone preparing for the World War III of railway tragics.
However, some time ago I was given notice of a surprise attendee this year.
One that was obviously not going to keep this little 'World Series Obsessed' duck away.
The reason?
Really, do you need to ask?
4403.
Recently repainted into candy.
Yes, candy.
Quite possibly the greatest livery — unpopular opinion, apparently — ever to grace the railways of New South Wales.
Suddenly this supposedly avoidable event had become a mandatory pilgrimage.
The plan was simple enough. We would get there early, beat the crowds, wander around peacefully, take a few photos and generally attempt to behave like sensible adults.
Naturally, this plan lasted approximately five minutes.
The place was already pretty much full when we arrived.
So much for avoiding the crowds.
In an effort to appreciate the old stuff a little more, I initially took a few shots of the new Mariyung trains, which I suppose will eventually become historic themselves.
Hopefully that day will occur sometime well beyond my pending deceasement.
After all, there is only so much modern railway equipment a person can be expected to photograph before somebody needs to check whether their pulse is still functioning.
The Expo itself certainly had plenty to keep the transport enthusiast tingling. Central Station was once again transformed into something of a giant heritage playground, with steam trains, vintage electric trains, railmotors, displays, heritage buses and various special trips operating throughout the weekend. There were also harbour excursions and other transport experiences scattered around Sydney to cater for all perverted transport tastes.
But naturally, my attention kept returning to the important stuff.
CANDY.
In fact, I was treated to no fewer than three locomotives now preserved in the once-avoided candy livery.
Along with 4403, there was 42103, which was working the Port Botany tours along with sister 42105, and electric locomotive 8649.
I am immensely pleased to see preservation groups acknowledging the 1980s candy livery. I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea back in the day, but I've always had a soft spot for it.
And judging by the amount of photography going on, I'm clearly not the only lunatic who thinks it looks bloody good.
I certainly hope we see more candy appearing in preservation — particularly on rollingstock.
Because if we're going to preserve history, we may as well preserve the bits that I personally approve of. :-)
As with any event like this, it wasn't all about the machinery.
There were also the people.
Over the course of the weekend I bumped into countless friends, many of whom I've known for decades. These are the people who somehow make the morally bankrupt seem considerably more tolerable.
Thanks to everyone who came over to say G'day, particularly those who actually read the various pieces of garbage I regularly throw onto the internet and, for reasons that probably require professional investigation, actually enjoy them.
The T-shirt certainly helped identify me.
Several people even took photographs of it, which I suppose means I have now become a walking railway attraction. :-)
Great to catch up with you all.
It's always good to finally meet some of the actual humanoids behind the names and comments appearing online.
You know who you are.
And yes, you're welcome to come and say hello anytime.
Well, it wasn't all about the candy locomotives.
I mean, it was for me.
But apparently other people had different priorities.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my heritage-bus-loving niece Virls with me this time.
Niece Prudence is considerably more interested in things that actually run on rails, so naturally we didn't go anywhere near the buses.
There are limits.
After a couple of hours wandering around and covering various arrivals and departures, the moment we'd been waiting for finally arrived.
4403 eventually decided to turn up.
And yes, it was worth waiting for.
About 60–70 images later, we decided that perhaps we'd extracted enough photographic evidence from the poor locomotive and called it a day.
Because obviously, nobody needs more than 70 photographs of the same locomotive.
Especially when it's in candy.
Actually, who am I kidding?
In hindsight, perhaps I probably should have taken another 70.
After catching up with David Henderson, and finally meeting Scott Mitchell's lovely other half, we then ran the gauntlet of those Mariyung things once again and made our way back to the train for the trip home.
The rest of the Transport Heritage Expo weekend was then spent doing what any reasonably sane railway enthusiast would do.
Getting Botany line shuttles.
Because obviously one day of chasing heritage transport wasn't enough.
So, all in all, another Transport Heritage Expo has come and gone.
Three days of heritage transport, old friends, new friends, crowds, photography, trains, buses, boats, modern trains that will one day apparently be considered heritage, and enough candy to keep one particular Semi-Retired Foamer emotionally stable for at least another twelve months.
The Expo really is one of those weekends where Sydney's transport history comes together in one place, with Transport Heritage NSW and the various preservation groups giving people the opportunity to see and experience things that have otherwise disappeared from everyday transport.
And despite my usual grumbling, sarcasm, usual avoidence of bollocks, and general reluctance to associate with large numbers of humans, it was actually a bloody good weekend.
Especially once 4403 finally showed up.
Anyway, if you're bored enough, this is the first of a two-part effort to share much of what was around during the weekend.
There will also be a two-part video on the Semi-Retired Foamer YouTube channel in coming months.
So grab yourself a cuppa, prepare for an unhealthy amount of railway photography and settle in for another thrilling instalment of:
“Brad Goes To An Event He Wasn't Supposed To Enjoy And Takes 70 Photos Of One Locomotive.”
Thanks all, and best wishes.
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Semi-Retired Foamer!
Follow our page to be kept updated on news, photography, preservation, and every ghastly
thing we inflict upon the internet.
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The days first Botany line tour departs a wee bit late.
The days first Botany line tour departs a wee bit late.
James and Terry up front.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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Above and three below.
4306
A. Goninan & Co - 2112-16 of 1957
Sole survivor of her class.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
4001
Montreal Locomotive Works - 77732 of 1951
First mainline diesel built for the New South Wales Railways.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
621/721
NSW Government Railways - 1961-1968
First mainline diesel built for the New South Wales Railways.
Photo: Brad Peadon
PHN2363
Photo: Brad Peadon
F1 and 3801 been watched over by a group of people on platform 2/3.
Photo: Brad Peadon
NAM2332
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
CPH Railmotors 7, 3 and 1
NSW Government Railways - 1924, 1923, 1926 respectively.
Note: The later build date for CPH1 is due to there already being railmotors 1 and 2 when the type had commenced being built.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
3265 'HUNTER'.
Beyer Peacock & Co - 4221 of 1901
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
Main concourse of Sydney Terminal (Central if you must)
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
You don't get much more heritage than brand spanking new 9423.
Looked ok I guess, but could have benefited from a splash of candy paint as well.
Come on Pacific National, time for some special heritage liveries yeah??? :-)
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
More candy with the lovely looking 8649 being inspected by the equally lovely Mr Cale 'Mr Coins' Seamer.
Photos: Brad Peadon
C7396 on set F1
Photo: Brad Peadon
Great to see Stefan again after a long time.
Met his mate from Melbourne, the name of whom I've forgotten. I blame the old age :-)
Photo: Brad Peadon
MFS2017 on the rake with 3801 and 4916.
Photo: Brad Peadon
FS2122 also on the rake with 3801 and 4916.
Photo: Brad Peadon
FS2093
Photo: Brad Peadon
MFS2137 also on the rake with 3801 and 4916.
Photo: Brad Peadon
NTAF-7079 now used for water transport.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
The locomotive every grandfather in the world has driven
The 3-8-0-1.
Clyde Engineering - 463 of 1943
Photo: Brad Peadon
Well, congratulations — you've somehow survived the first half of this dreary report without falling asleep, wandering off, or seeking professional help.
Hopefully you've derived some modest pleasure from the experience, although why anyone voluntarily reads my ramblings remains one of life's great mysteries.
But don't relax just yet.
Part Two brings even more railway goodness, photographic overkill and, naturally, plenty more candy.
So prepare yourself for another serving of heritage transport nostalgia, questionable life choices and enough candy to keep any respectable dentist in business.
Just remember to brush your teeth afterwards.
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Prudence, Nhing, and all friends caught up with.
NOTE: The video versions of this day will soon appear on the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' YouTube Channel .
NSW's Premier Rail Heritage Forum.
A Railway Group Dedicated To Friendship.
Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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