Random Bollocks From A Semi-Retired Foamer!

2012-01-23T21:11:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I posted anything of any real use here, so I felt it was my duty to all my devoted fans, or fan, to put something up here and look like I have a really serious interest in sharing my existence with others.
Since my last posting I have done another research (thats what I call it) trip to the Philippines and got started on some model scratchbuilding of same. Not an easy task with no real plans and being so far away.
In between modelling sessions I have found myself gravitating towards the airport at Mascot.
For want of anything else to show, below is a selection of photos from my most recent visit.

2011-12-11T23:55:00.001-08:00

~~ MEMORIES OF BELMONT ~~

Last week I returned to the old Belmont line to look at how the bike track was progressing and how it was approached in the Redhead to Belmont section was handled.

The result is this small item I did showcasing areas two decades apart.

Redhead - Belmont (Then and Now)

2011-08-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

2011-08-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

~~ RAILMOTORS AND RAILCARS ~~

Mindaribba

Richmond

Riverstone

Maitland and Chullora

Richmond

Richmond line.

Bombo

Port Kembla with some old 70 class behind.

Waratah

Dry Creek South

2011-07-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

~~ RAILMOTORS AND RAILCARS ~~

Self Propelled Bundles Of Fun!

Fugly at Spencer Street.

Down DEB set passes Picton.

And Menangle

And Nowra

The famous Silver City Comet in Parkes.

Same again.

Once so common - now sadly missed. A wiesel at Waratah station.

And Richmond.

Mayne i beautifl Brisbane.

DERM at Ballarat Workshops.

These short captions were brought to you by being in a hurry.

2011-07-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

4619 - A rare visitor to Port Botany.

Seen on the remains of the Bunnerong Powerhouse branch.

2011-06-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

~~ SANDGATE CEMETERY - THE LAST DAY ~~

A return ticket, a bag of snacks, a lousy Kodak Instamatic and I was ready to head noirth and ride the last train to Sandgate Cemetery.

Not sure if the 13th of October 1985 was the most wet and miserable of Newcastle's history - but it sure came close.

Featuring in this months Murrumbidgee Mail E-zine.

2011-06-26T01:20:00.000-07:00

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Come join in discussions on Sydney's best little goods railway.

Historical discussion, Current news, Photos, Sightings, Questions

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2011-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Another random selection of photos taken over the years.

Display at Maroubra Junction by the 'Eastern Suburbs Light Rail Association'.

This former group were pushing for a light rail system serving Randwick, Coogee and Maroubra, something that people still dream of to this day.

Oops, what happened there. Daven 'Woodrow' Walters aims to get a better shot.

Tanker at Port Augusta.

Classic Qantas jumbo departing Sydney Airport.

All of these have since been retired.

Rodney Nugent

Botany Yard

A lesser known plane fact is their occasional getting of worms.

Not unlike dogs, one of the easiest ways to tell is when they scrape their butts along the tarmac. A weeks treatment usually solves the problem - see your vet.

GY at Ballarat.

Gunning Station 1993

Coal hopper whoosie near Glenlee!

Glenalta station back in broad gauge days.

Bitumen wagon at Sandown.

British Airways

Ariah Park station on the Cootamundra to Griffith branch.

VALE ANSETT

Albury signalbox back in the days before the yard was raped and pillaged.

Air New Zealand at Sydney Airport.

Ballarat

Join us again soon, for another delectable helping of random piccies from the last few decades.

2011-06-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

An email recieved today :-(

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloody Vandalism: Much of this is irreplaceable.
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Subject: End Platform Cars for Scrap

If you think losing Ropes Creek station is bad enough, consider what a heritage railway on the Mid North Coast has just done.

Thirteen End Platform cars and 3 Dog Box cars were scrapped at Lowanna between the 7th & 11th June by Glenreagh Mountain Railway. This is after scrapping two Dog Box cars at Megan last November. A settlement had only been reached between the Dorrigo group and GMR to transfer ownership of the cars at Lowanna on 30th May.

Yes the cars were wrecks but there were hundreds of spare parts including bogies with brand new wheels, buffers, hook drawgear, screw couplings, hand rails, brake shoes, brake rigging, bogie bolsters and pins, brass bearings, lubricating pads, seat frames, you name it. Only two bogies and a token number of parts were saved. The rest went to scrap. GMR also now holds the distinction of scrapping the last Dog Box car in NSW with Dean Bogies.

Five-car BAB Set 8, built in 1897, was unique in that it had teak under frames. The frames were tested on a visit to the site in November last year and were found to be as solid as when built. Where would you get 12" x 12" x 40ft long teak beams these days?

GMR says parts were offered to the Office of Rail Heritage, who supposedly advised that no group would be interested. As far as I know no group was ever contacted. I know of at least one group that was in need of End Platform car parts for their cars.

Next in line for scrapping will be a B Truck (only two or three remain), 11 S trucks and the only bogie Acid Tank Wagon left in existence. Most of the S trucks have brand new wheels, and their condition, although needing work, are better than some of those saved from recent ORH disposals.

So if you want some S trucks or brand new wheel sets say something now before it is too late. If they are not moved by the Dorrigo group within 4 months of 30th May (that is 30th September) the remaining stock will be scrapped.

2011-06-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

~~ 44 CLASS CELEBRATION FINALE ~~

An overused and boring saying goes that "all good things must come to an end", and so it is the 44 class month, spread to two months, has come to an end.

Seems hard to believe, but there are a few who have whinged about the amount of 44 class appearing (GASP). Some feel that they have recieved more recognition that they are due!

PFFFFTTTT

Of course, being a good 'Semi-Retired Foamer' and responsive to these anti-44 class complaints from our beloved readers, I made an executive decision to double to time covering these wonderful locomotives. Anything to appease those EMD fans :-)

But alas I have other things I wish to cover here and, while the collection of 44 class remains plenty, the special celebration of them ends here - at least for now.

So please enjoy the 44 class finale - however they will continue to figure heavily in the future.

The final member class, globally important as the last 'World Series' to be built, 44100 leads 4474 into Stockinbingal. Alas, despite great effort, 100 was sent for scrap while the first built is thankfully preserved in Spain.

4468 and 4465 sit around Broadmeadow loco depot.

44100 and 4474 on the same train at Stockinbingal as that above.

44100 on a south line passenger awaiting departure from Sydney Terminal.

And in closing, a Jumbo leads candy 4499 out of Taree, enroute to Brisbane.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed their positive thoughts on the 44 class celebration, thanks especially to Glenn Ryan for his contributions to it.

2011-06-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

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All for FREE.

2011-05-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

Oh looksie, we have reached the end of May in our April celebration to the 44 class.

Despite bypassing heaps of photos, it seems they are still showing up.

While becoming more random, they will continue until the death threats from EMD fans start to roll in.

Thank you to all those who have been visiting, the numbers of which have been impressive, I appreciate your interest in my strange little website - or is it just the 44s that currently grace it?

Saturday mornings at Cooks River, it become a ritual for all those who loved ALCo.

7SP5 was the star attraction, with its guarantee of at least three or four 80 class, at best some 44s and 45s shoved in for good measure.

Here 4496 lends assistance to a pair of her more modern 80 class counterparts.

4492, 4497 and 4872 sit around Broadmeadow awaiting their next duty.

You would be mistaken for thinking this is an old LVRF livery :-)
4495 is said to have been in for repaint but only just started when a motive power shortage saw her pulled back into traffic. Regardless of the truth, she was certainly the pride of the fleet when seen here at Goulburn.

4495 looking a bit better at Taree.

4494 in her reverse livery, carrying the blue L7 logo when seen at Delec, and without when caught at a much more accessable CTAL siding at Port Botany.

44?? 4492 heading north to Brisbane, sitting at Taree.

4491 at Delec.

4488 also at Delec.

Broadmeadow was to ALCo fans what Darlinghurst was to perverts and this day in 1991 was no exception. 3507, 44220, 4717 and 4471 sit around awaiting some sort of work.

4487 at the Chullora.

Stay tunes - more delightful 44 class just around the corner.

2011-05-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

~~ 44 CLASS OPERATIONAL HISTORY ~~

Hi all, as the 44 class celebration reaches the end of the second month of it, original, one month celebration, we present to you these wonderful historic tid-bits brought forth by Glenn Ryan (many thanks mate) from the innermost reaches of his 44 class shrine of rememberance.
4403s last run in regular service, Canberra oil trains and Flemington Market sidings.
Oh yes, treats to cause uncontrollable excitment in even the hardest of spark gunzel.

2011-05-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

~~ CANBERRA MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION ~~

2011

Getting out of the rat race that is Sydney for a day in the bush is an all to infrequent pleasure nowdays. If I am not looking after the shop, then chances are babysitting and doing the regular dirty nappy pitstop.

The trip down to Canberra for the annual model railway exhibition was an on again, off again, plan up until a few days before we departed. Even how we would go about getting there was not really decided on the day we were departing, although we did know it would be by car and that at least one shop of the RTM Bundanoon tour was to be undertaken.

Departure from Moorebank was a rather late 9am one, about 15 minutes after hearing 3642 pass through Holsworthy station on her southbound trip.

This should actually be the last shot, but I forgot to add it to the site first and, quite frankly, am to bloody lazy to get it to the bottom of the rest.

This was the trip home, we had got some 30 minutes out of Canberra before I suggested to MrX that he was on the wrong road, the Yas 16km sign helping to prove the point.

Much to my enjoyment, the final hour of daylight was spent on back roads, headed in the direction of Bungendore and in search of the long lost Feral Highway back to Goulburn.

Mittagong signalbox.

Remember signalboxes? Where once real people actually worked, where trains would be controlled and one could approach for train running information at all hours of the night.

3642 on tour to Bundanoon is seen passing through Mittagong.

NR21 AN1 NR13 on the up at Exeter.

4520 and 44211 hauling the empty Bundanoon set back to Moss Vale.

Exeter.

Alas it was time to get the ol rears in gear and head on down to Canberra, via the Big Merino for a customary bacon and egg roll, to have enough time to actually take a look around the exhibition.

Yummy ALCos.

Falling asleep at the controls :-)

The above layout was perfectly situated alongside some stairs for some terrific elevated shots.

Interesting layout, but the teapot and cups seemed a tad out of scale.

2011-05-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

~~ 44 CLASS DEDICATION ~~

OK, while we all (well most of us do) know, the 44 class has quite a huge following, not only in Australia, but also around the world thanks to its cousins overseas.
Its no secret that the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' is obsessed by them (and their overseas cousins), but there are others suffering from the same problem.

This photo was sent in by Glenn Ryan in dedication to our mutual 44 class worshipping mate David 'Gonzo' Kirkland who is alleged to have stated that he hopes to be reincarnated as 4445. ALLEGED!!!!
It shows 4445 in her final days, awaiting scrapping at Junee. While most of her is now gone, her cab was saved and exists in northern NSW.

Heres to our good friend Gonzo.

2011-05-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

~~ A RANDOM HELPING ~~

from the archive.

2011-05-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Yes I realise it is May now, but I have still many more 44 class shots that I have scanned. Thankfully I stopped scanning them a week ago, otherwise the amount here could keep us going for the rest of the year.

Still, contrary to popular opinion, you can't have to much of a good thing.

Oh the wonderful pre-Endeavour days on the south.

4486 pauses briefly at Menangle before roaring off in another cloud of thick black smoke.

A still clean 4486 at Delec.

4499 and 4485 are none to concerned about Mindaribba loop as they hurry their way north towards Brisbane.

4484 on a ballast train somewhere around Sydney.

Anyone able to identify the location?

4484 4511 climb south out of Taree.

4482 shunts 8502 at Lansdown Engineering (Goninan) near Taree.

4483 and 4447 amongst a sea of red at Delec.

4482 stabled at Moss Vale between runs to the city.

She certainly gets around, now she is shunting the Manning River branch in Taree.

4481 on a down Goulburn passenger at Strathfield.

4481 leads a train north out of Taree.

4480 shunting Taree yard.

4480 in Delec.

Changing of guard as 4482 arrives in Taree to replace 4480 on local shunting duties.

4480 has just been painted into the blue livery and awaits release from Chullora.

2011-04-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome back. We be running out of month, but far from running out of 44 class.

It is quite possible the series will now run into May.

In the meantime, here be another juicy selection from the final years.

The end is nigh with the last loco hauled Goulburn train having arrived in Sydney Terminal and run around. It will shortly leave for the very last time.

This event was even covered by the media, with one Sydney major featuring a photo of the train, as well ad David Xuereb, the late Bruce Cook and the Semi-Retired Foamer himself.

Both 44s live on.

4484 and 4497 stop briefly at Taree with a north bound freighter for Brisbane.

Taree, at this time, was a hotspot for ALCo action, with no lesser makes to be seen.

Late one Saturday night we found 4403 sitting at Cooks River staff hut for a while. Twas awaiting its chance to buggar off towards Port Botany.

Obviously in those days I had not real life which, while quite sad, is worth it now.

The big Cardiff auction in 1994 where the fate of many a NSW ALCo was sealed.

4472 become one of the lucky ones and has survived till today.

Many an hour was spent at High Street station during the first half of the 90s, with the Coachstop Caravan park being the gnzel residence of choice prior to the Neath Hotel.

4470 is seen heading through the station on the down.

4486 4446 at Delec.

Preserved 4306 and 4401 depart Delec and pass Hope Street.

Inside the cab of 4401 just prior to withdrawal.

4442 still in service - now long since gone to the big depot in the sky.

4451 4804 4855 down freight between Douglas Park and Maldon.

Siggggh - days much missed.

2011-04-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Twas a sad, yet happy day really, the day of the Cardiff auction. So many good old ALCos went to scrap, but many more than though managed to survive. Neither 4469 or 4482 were among the lucky ones though and are now just consigned to history.

4401's regular service days were finished, but she would go on to preservation.

4463 leads two sisters through High Street (Maitland) enroute to Brisbane.

4468 is seen here mid-way through painting into the short lived heritage scheme.

The application of the yellow lining would see her return to traffic and also be a part of the historic last loco hauled passenger service from Goulburn.

4475 withdrawn at Delec.

4493 also withdrawn at Delec.

4484 awaits decision on her future at the Cardiff auction.

4486 and 4857 sit at Port Botany, awaiting permissione to head off towards Enfield.

Possibly one of the 44s that haunted me most, good ol 4467 is seen sitting at Hope Street with the ex-fiancee Julie hanging off the side.

4490 and 4401.

4401 getting an Indian Red repaint.

One of the lucky two 44 class, the other 4406, to achieve the important ranks of my favourite.

4460 is seen arrivingat Sydney Terminal on another Goulburn passenger.

4458 4427 4474 at Ariah Park on an up 3270 Griffith Speedfreight.

4458 at Barellan (Griffith line)

4457 stored at Parkes.

4456 at Sydney Terminal with the Sydney Express (ex-Melbourne) behind.

4456 in her lovely original livery passes through Campsie in the 80s.

2011-04-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Goulburn trains at Sydney Terminal are a reoccuring theme during our 44 class celebration. This reflects both their regularity on these services, as well as my frequent visiting the station for them.

This time it is the turn of 4442.

Not quite as happy look as the above photo, 4442 is seen stored outside Junee roundhouse.

4439 also joins the ranks of the stored and soon to be scrapped.

Broadmeadow locomotive depot plays host to ALCos 44225, 44240 and 4442.

4438 shut down at Sydney Terminal between passenger runs.

4438, now in Red Terror livery, at Broadmeadow.

The days are numbered for 4435. Heavily stripped, she sits outside Chullora workshops awaiting scrapping.

A similar story to 4435 above, but this one being played out at Sims Metal Mascot.

What is believed to be the last run of 4433, seen here at Bulli while returning from a passenger run from Sydney to Moss Vale via the Wollongong route.

A few days later she was noted at Delec withdrawn, subsequently taken to Cardiff where she was scrapped.

4433 At Broadmeadow.

4432 in Candy livery at Delec.

4432 in her original livery sits at Sydney Terminal.

4438 at Sydney Terminal

With the closure and wiping out of Delec locomotive depot, scenes like this could never be repeated, even with locomotives of modern classes. It is hard to blieve that this busy depot, which once saw my attendence nearly every weekend, is currently just a dirt plot awaiting redevelopment. Back when it was a busy locomotive servicing location, 4427 is seen shunting around.

2011-04-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Streeewth, am running out of month, but far from running out of 44 class.

4403 42220 8168 are passing Hope Street on their way to Rozelle yard to work the Griffith Speedfreight. The final weeks of the 44 class saw us here on many an evening in an effort to grab our last glimpses of these magnificent beasts in action.

4403 has since been preserved and just recently painted back into indian red (because there isn't already enough in that livery), 42220 is now CFCLA's FL220 and I suspect 8168 is running around the start in either Freightrail blue or the more attractive PN one.

4480 at Broadmeadow.

Distinguished from her similarly painted sister, 4480, by the lack of number on the nose door.

4403 at Port Botany

4471 and 42220 on a down limestone approaching Moss Vale station.

4474 idles at Taree on a southbound container service.

4489 has just arrived at the former Beachamp Road level crossing in Matraville and proceeds to run around before pushing back into the port.

44221 44211 4451 on a container rake up in the Hunter Valley.

4438s days are number as she awaits to be purchased in the Cardiff auction.

4483 on works train passing Concord West.

4492 at Delec

Steven Karas inspecting the awesome power that is a 44 class.

That beautiful ALCo nose. 4431 awaits scrapping at Junee, while 4486 had just been restored at Cowra.

This time it is the nose of 4446.

The final Goulburn passenger has arrived at Sydney Terminal and the locomotives will soon run around.

2011-04-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

~~ HEXHAM BALLOON LOOP 44s ~~

2011-04-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

4427 partaking in works train duties around Bargo on a very overcast Sunday back in the 90s.

About the only shots we got all day between the intermittent cats and dogs.

Up pass passing over the oldest railway bridge in New South Wales at Menangle.

4486 and 48112 shunting around the now closed Flemington Market yards.

Very early on a Moss Vale morning, 4484 is found preparing to depart towards Sydney.

Having just stopped in Taree, 4470 4495 and a 45 continue their journey south.

4490 and 4520 were only quite recently restored when they lead 4201 out to Manildra and back.

4498 at Eveleigh.

4423 and 27 sit around the Delec turntable. Neither survived into preservation or private use.

4498 at Broadmeadow loco.

4486 is turned at Cowra prior to her first run in preservation.

4497 4483 44222 on 7SP5 passing through Bargo. 4480 and one other ALCo would be added at Goulburn before continuing on towards Cootamundra and then points west.

New South Wales grand lady of the rails.

2011-04-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

Howdee all, While I realise that the massive helping of 44 class photos this month has quite possibly already lead to a personal accident of epic (one of those modern day wank words) proportions, I am going to push the enveliope even further with an extra large helping of old 44 class shots from within the archive.

The quality of some may be as questionable as the mental health of many a young modern day railfan, however this will be due to eith bodgy old cameras that I could aford, or the fact I have been to lazy to use a proper scanner. Please enjoy none the less.

SIGH!!!!! Sydney Terminal was once such a great place to visit.

While I acknowledge that there is a place for people who get their jollies over Tangaras, Oscars and, god forbid, Millenium sets, the old days of loco hauled Nowra and Goulburn line trains was really where it was at.

4428 is seen here soon after arrival from Goulburn.

Can't for the life of me remember where this is, but think it be Broadmeadow, Seems 4426 has had a bit of cheap repair work done.

Once a regular in my viewfinder, the long extinct 4427 is seen here chugging her life away at Central.

4424 at Cootumundra in the days prior to this location becoming somewhat of a second home.

We were on our way home from Melbourne when we stopped for a few photos of Culcairn station. Twas with much surprise that a headlight lead to 4423 and 4465 screaming by on their northbound train.

The days were numbered for 4421 as she sat at Chullora. She was never to see the open road again.

4424 again, this time in Sydney Terminal.

4422 sits at Sims Metal on a siding that had previously seen many of her sisters, and even more of the steamers which her and the sisters replaced.

This was the end of the road for many a 44. Twas also a good place for souveniers.

4423 at Hope Street.

This was not a good road at Delec. Locomotives sitting here were not usually long for this world.

Twas no different for 4419 who went to god not much later.

4409, seen here at Hope Street (Enfield) had one last journey to make, that being the short one to Sims Metal at Mascot.

I had two favourite 44 class, these being 4406 and 4460. Both have now gone to god, and the above photo was the only time I ever saw them together. The location being the ever popular Delec turntable.

4405 leads a freight past CPH 1 and 7 at Broadmeadow. The CPH railmotors were running the last even passenger trips (railfan, not regular) to operate the former Belmont line. These only able to go to Jewels platform.

4405 at Delec depot.

4403, now preserved in Canberra (again in the original indian red due to a lack of imagination), is seen here arriving at Sydney Terminal from Goulburn.

2011-04-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

4456 on a very wet night at Delec (Departure Roads)

4456 trails another 44 at Campsie in the late 80s.

4454 now in Red Terror at Delec locomotive depot.

4452 spending her final days at Sims Metal Mascot.

4453 did not have many more years left beforean accident took her life.

The original Indian Red livery, seen here at Delec, would be her only colour.

4450 was the last to retain the indian red livery along with the red lining and is seen here at Delec.

4451 at Broadmeadow locomotive depot.

4450 at Broadmeadow locomotive depot. She was to be scrapped as the last in the indian red livery to retain the red lining.

4450 stored at Lithgow.

4448 in her pre-Red Terror days at Central.

4446 at Delec.

44233 and 4446 on an east bound freight arriving at Bathurst.

4446 leads a train from Griffith during a brief stop at Barellan.

4445 awaits attention at Delec.

4445 and 4424 stored at Junee roundhouse and awaiting their ultimate, and sad, fate.

2011-04-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

4453 was very, very close to the end of its career when it ran this train to Bombo with 42211.

Not long after it was seen in Chullora workshops, stripped of parts and never came out again.

4403 and and unidentified 80 class approach Moss Vale station with a limestone rake from the Berrima branch. 4403 wears a blue version of the short liver heritage scheme earlier seen on 4446.

4448 42220 are in very unfamiliar territory as they approach the Wongawilli terminus of BHP's private Illawarra coal line.

4482 shunting the long closed Manning River milk branchline at Taree.

Freight from Brisbane near Taree.

The deceptively rural scene here is actually at East Botany in Sydney. The train had just departed the port and was bound for Griffith.

4427, the train and that Kelloggs loading have all ceased to exist.

4493 4514 4482 in Taree on a Brisbane to Sydney freighter. Crews would change and soon another the typical erupting ALCo smoke and noise would see it roar our of town.

Taree was always blessed with a 44 class shunter for the yard, and the short runs to the Manning River branch (above) and the sleeper siding to the south end of town.

While theoretically this shot could be repeated, the possibility of walking into the port with 4486 is virtually non-existent. In the pre-paranoia days around Botany, these sorts of shots were taken for granted.

4473 at Cowra awaiting restoration. The work has since been completed and she now operates out of Sydney.

The noise was pure magic. 44100 and 4474 gain speed at the roar north out of Cootamundra, having stopped at the Coota West signalbox for safeworking duties.

44100 yet again, this time further north at Broadmeadow loco depot with 4480.

Only 4480 and 4483 ever wore this blue Freightrail livery.

MORE 44s COMING RIGHT UP.

2011-04-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

~~ WHERE IS IT #378 ~~

Howdee all and welcome to the next 'Where Is It'.

For a change, I have picked a location away from the Hunter Valley region of NSW.

So I suppose you can consider that your first clue.

Now, where is it?

GUESSES:

Crookwell Line ( No- Further south)

Galong-Boorowa Line (No-Further South)

Tumbarumba line (No - Further south)

CORRECT GUESS:

2011-04-10T00:13:00.000-07:00

~~ Hexham Balloon Loop 44s ~~

2011-04-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to a month of 44s with the Semi-Retired Foamer!

44100 was a historic locomotive, not only in Australia (then the last of the largest mainline loco class in Australia), but worldwide as the last of the 'World Series' built anywhere.

Unlike the first World, which is now preserved in Spain, 100 sadly went on to be scrapped after the 1994 auction - despite efforts top save her.

4486 had just been restored and was out for her first run from Cowra (top shot) to Woodstock (above shot). The locomotive has sinced moved to Sydney, the line long since closed.

A very rare location for 4448 and 42220, seen arriving at Wongawilli on the private, then BHP owned, coal branch. Was part of a tour around the Illawarra.

Whittingham.

4401 at Hope Street (Sydney)

Heck I was a lot younger back when I took this shot of myself with 4401.

Much More 44 Action To Come.

2011-04-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO APRIL 2011

This is a month that will go down in the anals of railfan history as the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' attempts to share over 200 photos of the New South Wales 'World Series' 44 class over four weeks.

The SRF has had quite the thing for these beasts since very early in his gunzel career. As a result, several hundreds of photos have been taken, all of varying quality as I've moved from instamatics, to SLRs and now those flamin digital contraptions we have to endure today.

So join me through April as we roll through some of the collection. Many will be low in quality due to lack of experience and lack of money for anything better, but most show a part of history no longer repeatable.

Sydney Terminal used to be a great place to visit in search of loco hauled services from all directions. One of the favourites was those to and from Goulburn and Canberra.

Here we have a rather worn looking 4446 arriving with a passenger service from the former location.

For some time in the early 90s it become the custom to head down to a 'then' friendly Botany yard in search of ALCos. The Sunday evening BS3 would always have some up front, either running through from Brissie, or having exchanged to something else around Enfield.

This late night found 4486 and 4857 doing the Patrick shunt.

4446 again.

Hmmmmm, yes well 4446 was a popular loco. Here she is at Delec near the end of her working life. By now she had been painted into a heritage scheme rather similar to her original look above.

To prove I did shoot other 44s, here is class leader 4401 in the reverse livery at Central station.

Before withdrawal she would be painted in the ghastly red and white (Red Terror) before preservation saw her revert to her original livery.

Sunset over Taree.

4482 does the sleeper siding shunt at Taree on the NSW North Coast. The loco has now gone, but that nose door with the 4482 went on to be privately preserved.

4403 and 4855 rest around the long since obliterated Delec locomotive depot in Sydney.

4855 has left us, while 4403 remains in this livery and preserved.

MANY MORE 44s SHORTLY.

2011-03-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

2011-03-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

BEWARE: Coming in April.

Over 200 photos of 44 class during 4 weeks.

Its 44 Class month on the Semi-Retired Foamer.

2011-03-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

~~ RAILFANNING RAILFANS ~~

With nearly four decades of railfanning nunder the belt, it goes without saying that you meet many a fellow railfan during the course of your hobby. Some go on to be long term friends, some more short term, some you wouldn't wanna fall asleep around while alone.
The following selection of shots show a wide variety of these friends, from an equally wide variety to adventures we went on together. Some have sadly left us, but their memory lives on whenever these adventures are relived through photos.

A very young MrX who I still manage to go railfanning with today. Seen here in Brissie during the 90s.

MrX again, this time with Kevin Medley, Michael Stiles and John Auer at Brighton.

Michael passed away at Moss Vale some years ago, John has married and mostly disappeared, while Kevin is occasionally seen at the odd model exhibition or two.

John Solah at Kunkala and not just a little board stiff.

Frank Kirk's old layout in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Spent a few nights on this - actually had a few spectacular prangs on there as well.

Kevin Medley at Victor Harbor in South Australia.

Paskeville RSL - the throbbing heart of South Australia

The Gonzo (David Kirkland) hard at work at Sandown.

Steven Thomas and Scott (Scottgie) Harrison gunzelling the NSW Hunter Valley.

Frank Kirk at Spencer Street.

The sign don't lie.

Steven (KAK) Karas at the Mooney Mooney bridge lookout. I obviously collected stickers back then :-)

Stephen Miller!

God we were young. Think this was the late 80s at Cowra.David Henderson in the 42, me to the left and Peter Bubb to the right. Only just recently remade contact with Hendo, but no idea what has become of Peter Bubb.

The last train to leave Warwick Farm Racecourse.

T LtoR- ?, Glenn Ryan, Andrew Haviland, late Bruce Cook

B LtoR- Peter Bubb, David Kirkland, Roy Howarth, ?

One of the saddest losts to my part of the hobby was that of Bob Potts (yelling from the door) in a motor vehicle accident. A funny bloke, whos company was enjoyed many times either on trains or chasing the things around the countryside. He is seen here leaving Wongawilli in the Illawarra region of NSW.

2011-03-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

~~~ MORE RANDOM SELECTIONS ~~~

The forthcoming need to extract ones buttocks from its home of around 15 years has lead to an even greater need to sort through the endless rubbish (term normally used by ones spouse) that forms ones monumentally sized archive.

While going through the seemingly endless supply of photos, books, articles, magazines and girlie publications, one is always faced with the ever present need to downsize before the big move. Of course this is a painful task for the Semi-Retired Foamer who, if forced to dump all he has collected, will actually be promoted to a fully retired foamer.

So it is, with heavy heart and a bottle of Bundy, one finds the need more urgent to share his memories with a world of railfans who, well quite frankly, don't give much of a dropping.

With this in mind - I present the following random selection.

No idea where we were headed when we found this mess under the south freeway overpass at Glenlee. I seem to think it was a work related trip, but can't think why, unless it was for that god awful Moreton Hire company who does the exhibitions.

Agggghhhhh Moreton Hire. what a awful chapter in ones life that was. Can't believe people still willingly work for that company. Seems more and more arent though.

From Glenlee we head numerous kilometres south to Glenalta in the beautiful Adelaide Hills..

Spent a lot of time around here in the 90s, photographing the last years of the broad gauge interstate freights, boring the hell out of the ex-fiancee and dealing with the endless spiders the Hills region has to offer.

Still, the local railfans had an entertaining soilution for said spiders that involved spraying them with a flammable liquid and igniting with a ciarette lighter.

Bituman wagons that sat isolated for many years on disused track at Sandown.

No idea what become of them, however they are not there any longer.

With no regular traffic over the Sandown line, od knows what the whole lines future is.

A British Airways 747 arriving in Sydney during the mid 90s.

The future of these beautiful craft seems a bit shakey, with the onslaught of many new types, including the ghastly looking Airbus A380.

Boeing has come forth with a 747-800 in answer to it, but delays and orders have, sadly, been less than inspiring.

Ariah Park, a lovely looking station on the Cootamundra to Griffith line.

Twas once a regular haunt for me back in the days of 44s, 421s, 48s and the Griffith Speedfreight to Botany.

No idea what it looks like today, but this was the mid 90s.

Remember Ansett and their sponsorship of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney?

RIP Ansett

Albury signalbox before the yard was violently raped and violated by progress.

Air New Zealand at Smogney Airport

600ZD in Victoria

18BV 32AV 40ABV at Ballarat in Victoria

2011-02-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

~~ MORE RANDOM HELPINGS ~~

From The Murky Depths Of The Archive

Not the countries biggest loco, this wonderful little unit (MSB #2) now resides at the Menangle Machinery Museum. This museum is open a few times a year and well worth a look for railfans who like smaller industrial items.

JL404 1872 at Gelco (near Port Botany).

The JL has lost its logos nowdays, while the 18 has racked off to South Australia and doing goodness knows what.

Rowie (aka Sugarbush) very busy at work with his railfan duties.

Shakey (aka Matt English) enjoys a brief respite from attacks by MrX while Matty Green looks at something else.

A very sexy looking 4497 between duties at Leightonfield.

Twas a strange livery, but alas it is now one.

4488 at Leightonfield with one of them EL things

And for the heck of it another 44, this time in the shape of 4458 arriving at Gelco with containers for Port Botany. She two has lost her unique livery seen here.

3930 on a catle train somewhere along the Ipswich line.

To some it is so very boring, to others it brings on strange desires best not talked about, the famous 3801 is seen here crossing the very old Menangle bridge.

101 in the process of becoming a GL.

101 waiting to be vandalised and turned into a GL.

D17 on a torpedo ladle run.

Port Kembla steelworks.

Menangle Machinery Museum again, this time an operational kettle.

2011-01-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

Colliery Location Needed

If I remember correctly this was taken during an 80s look around the South Maitland region and quite possibly is one of the collieries served by the line through Kalingo Junction.

Anyone recognise? Thanks.

Neath Colliery - Thanks to Brian Andrews

2011-01-11T21:31:00.000-08:00

~~ ANOTHER RANDOM SELECTION ~~

A collection of shots from within the archive.

Stawell (Victoria) station in 1991.

Patrick (Port Botany) strike protest blocking the level crossing into the port area.

Meredith (Victoria)

Menangle Park at night.

2 shots above.

Lucasville on the former Lapstone Zig Zag railway.

Jerilderie in the Riverina region of NSW.

2010-12-19T19:51:00.001-08:00

~~ BILL SULLIVAN - 1949-2010 ~~
Farewell To A Dear Friend.

Every now and then life deals us a real, to be frank, shitty blow. So it was that recently I recieved a phone call about the death of one of my dearest friends, Bill Sullivan.
Apart from a brief mention on my websites at the time, I have thus far been unable to get the strength to do a full tribute.
The below is a eulogy I wrote for Bill the day after the funeral. Not being a public speaker, I have sent this out to his friends after the event.
I would like to truly thank the following people, who were either part of our 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' or our extended family, who attended Bill's funeral on the day.
Pare Bernie Biz, Pare Nathan Chapple, Brock Peadon, Pare David Phillips, Milan Stenek and his dear long time friend Anne.
Thanks also to his other friends and work collegues there on the day.

Also thank you to Nick Buenafe (Phils), Alan Hicks (Phils), Graham Holt (UK), Paul Hornby (Phils), Harvey Smoller (Phils), David Williams (NZ) and David Xuereb (NSW) for passing on their messages.

Our party left Sydney early, stopped at Beresfield station for two hours to watch trains before the service, then after a wake at Beresfield Bowling club went proceeded to the historical Neath Hotel (a regular location for me and one I had promised to take Bill to in 2011)

--------------------------------------

EULOGY - BILL SULLIVAN

By: Brad Peadon (Part of his Sydney Family)

It is with much regret that I have only known Bill since around the start of this century, coming together through the mutual love we had for the railways of the Philippines, and that of the country itself.

My involvement in the country came through my marriage to Ana, a Filipina who I met in Australia. Having been interested in railways all my life, it was not surprising that my first trip to the Philippines in 1999 would lead to a long held interest in their, then, slowly decaying operations.
I returned to Australia, set up a small internet webpage and forum based on the subject and it was not all that long after that I received a membership application from Bill, telling me of his great interest and that he was from nearby Newtown.
Not really unusual, over the years there have been many members come and go, some I have met, many who I have not. However Bill soon suggested we could meet and have a chat, as always I invited him to dinner at our house.

While it is far to long ago to remember the night that he came, it was to be the instant start of a friendship that went on to make an incredibly huge mark on the life of, not only me, but also my entire family.
Bill would, over the following years, become an almost weekly visitor to our house. His visits were always looked forward to greatly; after all, you never quite knew where discussions would lead. Of course they started with the railways of the Philippines, but they would then stray off to such obscure topics as paint colours, Workcover (of which is was fiercely proud) and even his amazing escapades around asia.
Bill soon became an extended part of our family, loved by all, and always a huge part of our life.

Bill had an amazing way of getting what he wanted, or getting the very best deal he could.
Nobody who was lucky enough to be considered a friend of Bill would ever need an ALDI catalogue. Bill was almost religiously dedicated to his weekly check of electrical specials and would ring me up to tell me of the great printer/set top box/scanner prices.
“Do you want me to pick any up for you” he would ask. Typical Bill, it was never too much trouble to help those he cared about. He would be waiting at the door of Aldi before it opened, because he knew the to wait would see him miss out.
I am sure ALDI will wonder where he is; certainly their electrical sales will now have plummeted.

Bill would tell me how he made friends at Philippine Airlines, his preferred carrier, and how he managed to get moved up to higher classes than his booked economy seat. His love of PAL, his pride in their service and his mileage status, was constantly mentioned and led my family to start flying them, it even influenced my newest hobby of collecting models of PAL planes.

Collecting

On the subject of collecting, I learnt at Bill’s funeral that he rivalled my attempts at collecting and hording stuff. This, probably, going a long way to explaining his constant desire to help me with my collections.
Tanduay Rhum, the national rum of the Philippines, being a case in point.
I can’t recall who started the tradition, but somehow Bill and I would always come together for a chat over a Tanduay. Hundreds are the times I would open the door and Bill would say “Are you ready to crack open a new one”.
His well-known little white car was famous for having at least two bottles at the ready inside, and perhaps for its virtual invisibility to police breath tests J
This led me on to yet another Philippine related collection, that of Tanduay items. Not just every type of bottle produced, but also posters, banners, signs and other related items, most of which would come from Bill’s endless hunt for such things on his trips.
Pride of place in my collection is a small celebratory wooden barrel marked Tanduay that was full of 18-year-old rum. Although they were hard to get, he tracked one down at Pasay Road after much hunting, and they were incredibly expensive at $75 American.
However Bill was not a friend to give up. He wanted to give me a huge surprise and travelled as much as it would take to find that barrel and then refused any sort of repayment for it.
These barrels always had one weakness, that being in the tap which always developed a leak, mine being no exception. Of course, as always, Bill had a solution for it and was going to fix both of ours – this sadly never reaching fruition, like so many other plans we had.
Indeed Tanduay Rhum, along with Bill and my association with it, even come up during the funeral service.
Ironically Tanduay, while forming a huge part of our time together, also ironically becomes a very sad part of his leaving us. Bill had purchased a brand new product, Tanduay T5, on his recent trip and we were to share this at Christmas. A few of us are now planning to get together in Newcastle to share it in his memory.

His infectious love of the Philippines was my motivator. I began enjoying learning of Philippine history, Philippine traditions/beliefs and, besides the above, would collect virtually anything Filipino. Jeepney destinations, number plates, shop signs, jeepney models and even the few rare bus models.
On his second last trip he just happened to be in a Pagsanjan sari sari store and noticed on a back shelf two bottles. These were very old bottles of rum of lesser manufacture than Tanduay. ‘Anejo Oro’ and ‘San Miguel Bravo Rum’ were the names, both bottles being very old and dusty, one with a very rusty lid.
Bill knew instantly that Brad would love these in his collection and took them to the counter to buy them, only to be surprised when the girl said they were so old she didn’t know the price.
Of course he then went on to offer an amount probably five times what they would be worth, but still the girl said no and that she would have to wait for the owner.
A few days later Bill returned, he wasn’t going to give up on a friend, and the owner told him a price a fraction of the amount he offered. Bill happily grabbed them.

Bill always had some great stories of his 30+ visits to the Philippines, one of the more interesting ones coming to me while driving to Goulburn on Thursday.
He was visiting a museum around Manila and happened to flick a cigarette butt in the gutter when entering. I mean, while littering is frowned upon here, anyone who knows Manila realises it is a way of life there. The amount of garbage lying in the streets is probably what makes this story most amusing.
Anyway, Bill goes into the museum and is busy looking around for a couple of hours, when a lady comes up to him and tells him a policeman has been waiting for him outside for all this time.
Bill, obviously wondering why, went downstairs to see the policeman who informed him that he was being fined for littering. Something Bill found quite amusing.
Of course Bill refused to pay there and then and demanded to be taken to the police station to be officially charged and issued with an infringement notice. This was not just because he didn’t want the guy to pocket the money, but because that $2 infringement notice was “the cheapest souvenir I have ever got”.
We had a huge laugh over this, as well as so many other stories. I believe he framed the notice and I am hoping that one of us can save it for him.

2007

2007 turned out to be the only time that Bill and I ended up in the Philippines at the same time. I am eternally thankful this opportunity was possible and many a memory is retained forever from this trip.
It was this visit that we met up in Tayuman railway yards, along with his dear friend Ceasar and our mutual friends Harvey and Nick. After spending a few weeks around people I didn’t know that well, the sight of Bill’s beaming happy face was a welcome sight from back home.
Together we rode the rear carriage of the train to Alabang for our only time.
On arrival at Alabang I suggested to Bill that we approach the driver for a ride in the cab back to Tutuban station, and we headed up front to find the driver, who was not in the locomotive cab.
Caesar of course followed us soon after, then Harvey and Nick – but still no crew were in the cab.
About 5 minutes later the driver opens the door and is shocked to find all these people, including foreigners, crowding the cab. The look of shock, probably comparable to that during the watching of a horror movie, soon disappeared as we explained our interest and desire to travel up front.
Bill and I stood outside on the footplate, waving to the locals and having many a laugh; it is one of my most treasured memories of time spent with a truly great person.

This visit was also historic in that a visit to Caloocan workshops, again with Harvey, saw us start what was to become the ‘Railways and Industrial Heritage Society’ to preserve items of railway interest. Sadly the society, was not successful in this goal, however they still exist as a group of local railfans who organise outings and the occasional restoration of the few things that are left.

Finally 2007 saw us meet his Philippine family in the famous location of Pagsanjan, his second home when away from Australia.
Here we met those who were his Philippine family for a truly memorable day.
Bill was his typical fun loving self, tricking us with firecrackers he through out our feet and scaring two years off our own existence. It took a few episodes of this prank before we realised Bill was the culprit behind it.
He had also arranged for our own afternoon trip up the rapids to visit the famous Pagsanjan Falls, our boatman for the day being part of his local family and giving us an experience of a lifetime in this most beautiful of places.
Following lunch with the family we started heading back to Manila, having declined, much to my current regret, the offer to stay there a few days.

Sadly we never went back to the Philippines at the same time again, however we would always share stories, obviously over a Tanduay, following each of our trips.
We also continued our endless railway research, Bill had a knack for finding links to unknown sites (many of which I have yet to follow), and continued on with our railway newsletter and forums.

Part Of Our family.

While by now a very important part of our family, it was made more official with his being asked to be a godfather to my beloved new daughter Christine (Tin Tin) Charice Peadon. In Filipino tradition this made Bill my pare, and as good as an official member of the family.
I still remember Bill’s immense happiness and pride in taking on such a roll and we were so honoured to receive his acceptance. I now learn of how he shared this pride with others.
We both wore the traditional Filipino barong for the occasion and laughed about how only the Aussies ever did do, while the Filos went with more normal attire.

Bill kept his 60th birthday a secret from us all, not wanting any fuss, but slipped up and mentioned his approaching 61st birthday, just this year, about a month prior to the actual date.
We set about organising a surprise party to repay him for his endless friendship and generosity over the years, but knew he would not want the fuss. We thus disguised it as a very important meeting of our railway society and begged him to return from Newcastle for it – which he agreed to.
Many of his friends from earlier parties hid in the kitchen when he arrived, of course with the customary Tanduay Dark under his arm, and walked down the hallway.
Not really certain of his reaction, I was worried until he walked around the corner to the awaiting crowd and beamed into his biggest smile ever. While not liking a fuss, he was certainly so happy to see this many friends gathered to share is special day.
What a wonderful day, with so many photos taken to remember it.

Final Weeks

Bill had only been back from the Philippines for a couple of weeks before he started receiving pains in the chest and went to hospital.
Not wanting to worry us, he had not told us of what happened, or the subsequent operation. Sadly a week later a massive heart attack took him away from us forever.

The last I saw him was a visit to our shop the day after his return from Manila, happy to be able to give me another new Tanduay product for the collection and to show me a second that we were to share at Christmas – a Christmas we would never have dreamed would not come.
The last I heard from him was a phone call from a major hobby shop in Newcastle City. In typical Bill style he overheard talk of my eldest son of wanting to build a model of a Spitfire and he went to the shop to get him a surprise for Christmas –again a Christmas we never expected wouldn’t would not be able to spend together.

I was beginning to wonder why I had not heard from him for a week, a very unusual amount of time between word from Bill, and was about to text him when I got a call from his mobile.
Happiness to hear from him was soon replaced by horrific devastation to find his friend Milan on the phone with the terrible duty of having to inform all his friends and acquaintances of Bill’s passing.
Milan, I had heard so very much about from Bill, although I had only met him once or twice. I can’t even imagine how hard it was for him to have to ring and tell everyone the terrible news and I am so appreciative of him doing so. It’s far more than I could ever do.
I think we owe it to Bill to remain in regular contact, along with his dear friend Anne, and look after each other, as he would have done for each of us individually. We should never let him down in this important duty.

The future

The death of a friend often changes life immeasurably, the loss of one of the closer ones even more so.
Bill was always my driving force with the ‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’. When troublemakers brought me down, it was always Bill there to help and push me onwards. This enthusiasm for the Philippines has gone with Bill, although I will keep some sort of limited interest going as he will have always wanted that.
I will be forever tied to the Philippines through some wonderful family and friends who live there – but things will never quite be the same ever again.
Any problems, especially technical/computer related, were fast fixed by Bill (often with help from a computer expert friend in Wollongong), any other hassles in life, or Philippine historical questions, usually found an email a couple of days later with a list of internet links to help solve the problem.
I shall also miss the regular supplies of coconut vinegar, the latest FHM Philippines magazines, the laughs, the hi-fives, the stories, the inspiration boosts, the endless support of my writing projects and, most of all, our afternoons siting around and chatting about, well, just about anything.

Bill did not have a huge circle of friends, he obviously chose them carefully and literally devoted his life to each and every one. Those who were among those chosen should never underestimate how amazingly lucky they were.

Goodbye Bill – I know the last thing you would have ever wanted to do was make us sad – but that’s the side affect of making us so happy.
You will be constantly remembered, everywhere I look in our house is something related to you, and your remaining friends will always try to help those who you valued so much.

Brad Peadon
Proud member of your Sydney family

2010-12-13T23:57:00.000-08:00

¬¬ EL CLASS SMR INVASION ¬¬

Don't hit me if this turns out wrong :-)

OK I believe the plan is:

An 11am departure (tomorrow) from port of two EL class to Pelton.
48 class will be on standby in case of failure. Not sure if that is a failure of locos, or the infrastructure.

Assuming they don't find themselves in Swamp Creek or similar, one would imagine this is the end of PN 48s on the SMR. Probably see the demise of the PLs to.

2010-12-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

It was a day I had been eagerly awaiting for a number of weeks, the gathering of a few railfan mates in my former haunt of Wingello, for a day of railfanning and the usual chat that goes along with these events.
As the big date approached there was some apprehension about the weather forecast which slowly began to look worse and worse as the days drew closer.
My driving partner for the day, the world famous Colonel, was eager to go regardless of weather conditions and, while at first I was hesitant, some last minute disastrous news on the Wednesday helped me push through with a decision.

The disastrous news in question was the death of my very close friend Bill Sullivan, who I have known for nearly a decade and one who has been instrumental in my of the work I do with the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society'. He was only 61 and never showed any signs that this was going to happen.
So it was a choice of sitting home thinking about it, or going out and trying to enjoy myself with some other long-term friends. I, of course, decided on the later.

Departure from Sydney was around 4am, stopping at the 'Church Of Colonel, just after 5. The weather, while far from magnificent, was certainly quite acceptable. There was actually some quite large breaks.

Driving south there were ominous black clouds and lightening fast approaching, with some spitting already starting after Mittagong. Bundernoon was eventually reached in heavy rain, soon after Wingello, in rather cyclonic conditions.

Soon after the trains started rolling through.

NR57 NR68 - Dn conts - Picton and Bundanoon

8123 - Dn Garbage - Wingello - 07.10

After a brief respite from the conditions, we were again treated with an even heavier downpour as NR77 AN4 NR107 top the hill and roll down past the station (see above)

The steelie had not even past when over the carriage racket we could here 8136 8131 climbing the northbound grade with an up wheat, the headlight punching through the rain and fog.

Two small patches of blue sky were noted in another small break from the rain.

Bob turns up just in time to get 8106 8138 on another up wheatie.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet and all the dribbling it has promoted, we were previously advised that MB7 would have a particularly spectacular combination up front.

For once the rain stayed away as the familiar sound of a approaching train was heard. Headinmg to the level crossing in search of a spot, we were soon treated to the second best train of the day (although I am sure the EMD fans would not agree with the best one).

CLF04 6006 LDP005 - MB7 - Wingello - 09.55

Wingello Station

NR101 NR36 - containers - Wingello - 11.17

The weather appears to be getting better! :-)

With weather deteriorating and nothing on the cards - a decision to move to Moss Vale in search of the Cockypoo Run which was to have the recently restored 4464 up front.

Moss Vale station carpark flooded.

8143 X47 up garbage train arrives at Moss Vale - in the pouring rain again.

4464 4486 on the Cockypoo run. This was the trial run for 4464 after an extended period of restoration.

Oh dear, pipe damage following ARTC track work.

S317 FL220 shunts Braemar sidings.

Of course, like any great rail adventure, the weather picks up at the

end of the day.

2010-12-07T19:53:00.001-08:00

VALE: BILL SULLIVAN

It is with immense sadness I advise of the passing away of my dear family friend Bill Sullivan.

Bill was always my driving force in the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society', he was always a very supportive friend and no more generous and kind hearted man has ever graced the planet.

A proper memorial will soon be written - for the moment I am just to upset to even think.

RIP - Bill, our great loss is heavens great gain.

Brad

2010-12-05T23:41:00.000-08:00

~~ PICTON SOJOURN # 572 ~~

With the Colonel back in Australia (much to his regret) following a few months galavanting around different parts of asia in search of trains, booze and women (to photograph), it was time to again head south to the gunzel centre of Picton.

Sadly a lot of the state is in the grip of some pretty bad floods yet again, this of course having a flow on affect to train operations and frequency. So it was that only three trains were captured, one was missed and four Bundy's were downed.

Picton, so close to Sydney, but with the rural lifestyle.Quickly becoming the prefered location for my declining years - which already seem to have begun.

Twas a bit of a walk to the railway line from the Church of Colonel, so other less foamy shots were taken along the way.

Picton Botanical Gardens

8108 passes through Picton yard with a cement train bound for nearby Maldon.

Hardly rating a 1 on the railfan excitment scale, an up Tranny passes through Picton.

NR29 AN2 NR76 on an up steelie

One must always be well prepared for rain in Picton, in can strike at any time.

2010-11-21T20:24:00.000-08:00

~~ 4001 RETURNS TO SERVICE ~~

Well the foamers came out of the woodwork on Novemebr 20th the celebrate a very important event in NSW railway preservation history, the restoration to service of 4001 after more than 30 years sitting idle in a museum.
The 40 class were the first mainline diesel used in the state, so her returning to the rails is one of the more important achievements in preservation, some of us may even say rivalling any (non-SMR related) steam loco event. :-)
You know its important when you find renown GM obsessives out for a day of ALCo chasing. G'day there Mr Fisher :-)
The following two shots show 4001 crossing the Cooks River bridge at Tempe Station.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved at the RTM.

2010-11-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

~~ WELCOME HOME SMR10 AND 18 ~~

A six hour return trip, a pre dawn departure, pouring rain during the whole event and deep thick mud.

AN AWESOME DAY!

Nothing was going to stop myself, along with my usual sidekick MrX, heading north towards Maitland to celebrate the returning home of SMR10 and 18 to their rightful home in East Greta Junction.
The whole day was somewhat heritage themed, with visits to Minmi and Pelaw Main aso partaken in, along with a chase of a Pelton (SMR) coalie with ALCo locomotives up front, something that will soon disappear.

Thanks to everyone at the HVTC and 'Friends of SMR' for a truly great day.

East Greta Junction

Abermain

B1 preserved at Minmi has had its windown smashed on the other side.

Passenger gets sick of waiting for next Cessnock passenger.

2010-10-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

~~ A WANDER DOWN SPARK MEMORY ~~

LANE

Sparks were something I never took much notice off.
Rarely went out of my way, except for some last minute videos of old red rattlers, to get photos of them. Those shot I was lucky enough to obtain were just ones taken between the trains I was really waiting for.
However going through a reasonably sized collection of EMU shots I find many shots that are nowdays very historically interesting, despite being as boring as grannies dental health lectures back in the old days.

Lets take a squiz at a small collection.

W set at Campsie

Comeng and parcel vans at Spencer Street

Campsie again, this time on the goods road.

Elcar

A Sydney parcel van this time - C3780 at Elcar.

Sydney's only candy parcel van at Elcar.

Brown set at Blacktown

Remember when they were all clear and silver before the rail operators started throwing paint over them, graffiti artists did the same, followed by other human vermin and their window scratching garbage.

These refurbs did NOTHING to improve the appearance.

2010-09-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

~~ REMEMBERING MORETON MILL ~~

Yes, I am fully aware that I have an unnatural obsession with the now closed Moreton Mill and its associated railway network. I also acknowledge that the yearly pilgramages that continued after the system was closed may be seen, by some, as a bit much.

However it wasn't until the final two years that I fully realised that this will all be gone and, as the years pass, less and less trace would be still around to remember it by.
Sure there are many who have photos of the mill yard, loaded cane trains coming down Howard Street, empties rattling across the Maroochy lift bridge.
But what of some of the minor bridges, signalling equipment, signage and other related structures that were part of everyday life along these lines.

Sadly I don't have room on the site, or the time either, to include it all. However over the next few weeks we shall take a look back at a selection.

Sandy on a works train on the Coolum line - just north of the historic lift bridge.

Crew crib break at River Depot.

Moreton comes out of Bli Bli cutting and passes the junction for the Punt line.
It is believed this sign, and its copy at the other end of the cutting, managed to be privately preserved.

Moreton crossed the beautiful Maroochy River late one afternoon.

Moreton by the firelight.

Safeworking equipment along the Punt line.

Bridge along the Yandina-Coolum Road.

Bli Bli with a rake of empties at the east end of Howard Street.

Interesting three way point on the truck ramp at Howard Street yard.

2010-09-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

~~ HERBERT FOR SALE ~~

The owner has invited any serious enquiries regarding the locomotive.

I believe 'MOORE' (Malcolm Moore) is also available.

2010-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

~~ RETURNING SOON ~~

Australasia's Favourite E-zine in a brand

new website!

ARTICLES - FORUMS - GALLERIES - AND MUCH MORE!

2010-08-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

~~~ MENANGLE PICCIES ~~~

The result of a day around Menangle recently.

2010-08-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

~~~ MELBOURNE TRAMWAY MEMORIES ~~~

Without a doubt Melbourne's streets will never be the same without

the virtual obliteration of the W type tram.

Below is a selection of ones I saw back in the 80s, a decade

that saw me nearly a resident of the shopping capital.

Enjoy!

2010-08-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

~~~ RANDOM BUS PICCIES ~~~

From The Days Of Old!

An old Mk2 Leopard sits out its final days in a scrap yard at Port Kembla.

ANSETT buses, as extinct as the airline itself.

High Street - Maitland

Blue Ribbon - Maitland

Strange bus used at Port Botany Depot for a while.

Above three show buses used around Sydney to cope with 2000 Olympics.

Ex-Sydney Mk1 Merc at Ayr (Queensland)

2010-08-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

~~ BARGO TO MT COLONEL RAILFAN DAY ~~

A GRUBBY NR ADVENTURE

It has been a hard couple of months, a new business seeing no time for railfan activity, while the board vermin of the RIHSPI society in Manila making me seriously question my future as a railfan (Tiongson, you are not god).

7-8-2010

After many weeks of disappointment, I was finally able to arrange a weekend off that coincided with the Colonel. Having moved between rail operators, ol Colonel does not have the wonderful benefit of weekends off, although he does get to enjoy some strange jobs.

So it was that I set forth just before 8am headed to Menangle, with a subsequent plan of following the line to Picton and the 'Shrine of Colonel'.

Thanks to a warning from Doctor Hibbert as I was on the approach to Menangle Park, I decided to head for the south end of Menangle itself for 6MB4. Having just passed through Bargo, there was still a good half hour to wait, this being passed by ringing the Colonel about the delay.

2803 2853 - up pass - Menangle - 09.23

NR10 NR7 - 6MB4 - Menangle - 09.40

Having got this important photographic duty out to the way, it was onward south toward Picton to see the world famous Colonel, his beautiful wife and little Munchkins.

A cold morning, but sunny, it was all that could be hoped for in a perfect winters day of railfanning.

Arrival at the Colonel's was just after 10am and a quick phone call to Mr Hibbert revealed a bit of rest and chat time before our next pray, the Indian Pacific, would come into out hunting ground.

Just before 11 we took off again, discussing where the Indian would be got and, more importantly, did we have time to get to the well known beverage shop near the Thirlmere railway museum.

Time was on our friend this run, with a beverage shop stop, slow swoop of the 'Rail Transport Museum', bit of a look at Couridgah station, still seeing us at Bargo a couple of minutes before NR12 showed its grotty face in the lead of the well known Indian Pacific.

A quick run back to the car, and we were on our way, via expressway, to Shields Hill between Douglas Park and Maldon.

Here we ran in to well known railfan Rob Shaw, though it took some time and an introduction to remember who the heck it was. Don't you just hate those moments when you realise you know someone, but can't bloody remember their name?

Anyway the time prior to the Indian's arrival, the usual railfan discussion were carried out, including respective plans for the balance of the day.

Soon enough the familiar rumble is heard, followed by the Indian rolling into view - amazingly in between a few breaks in the ever growing cloud cover.

With news that we had a down steelie on the approach, attention turns to where we can get this. Shields Hill was useless, so, at the very least the Picton area would be required.

A quick stop at Maldon for another Endeavour, then up above Picton for the approaching steelie.

NR102 NR45 - NY3 - Maldon - 12.50

The need to record the number saw a quick run to the Thirlmere Road for a shot and taking of number records.

The south is not endlessly busy, so again we head back to the 'Shrine of Colonel' for some pies (lunch), a look throught the huge Colonel collection and to discuss a possible revival of the popular 'Lubricated Flange E-zine', previously suspended due to an idiotic idea that a society in the Philippines would put preservation before their own egos.

Some good ideas were passed about and now time will tell.

Soon enough, and with only two hours to go before needing to head on home to avoid major spousal repercussions, we decided to quickly head off to a new location the Colonel discovered during a recent rail trip through Menangle.

More a larger and steep hill, the effort to get up was worth it, revealing a truly spectacular location. Colonel being so impressed with his achievement, it was instantly named Mount Colonel, the flag planting ceremony to occur at a later date.

NR107 NR71 NR20 NR95 - Up Steel - Mount Colonel (Menangle) - 14.23

NR86 NR116 NR29 - Up Containers - Mt Colonel (Menangle) - 15.00

2010-07-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

~~ FERRIES AND FOILS Part 1~~

Back when we had ones of interest, the Semi-Retired Foamer also

photographed the ferries and hydrofoils around Sydney Harbour.

As always, just a random selection!

Hydrofoil Curl Curl between runs to Manly.

Lady Wakehurst with a very full load departs Circular Quay.

Ferries around Mosman Bay

The historic ferry Karrabee which spent many decades on Sydney Harbour before sinking at Circular Quay wharf following a Ferrython race.

She was later sold and become a floating restaurant at Gosford, where she is seen above.

After a number of years she was regretfully scrapped at this location, despite her heritage importance.

2010-07-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

~~ MORE RANDOM GUFF ~~

4480 at Chullora

4483 at Chullora and Broadmeadow

2010-07-17T02:21:00.000-07:00

~~ BELMONT LINE (HUNTER VALLEY) ~~

Last Day Of Passenger Trains

A few days back we looked at some shots of the now closed Toronto line to the south of Newcastle
On the other side of Lake Macquarie laid a completely different line, this ones life dependant solely on coal by this time.
Though still refered to as the Belmont line, by the time I first visited the section from Jewels to Belmont was well overgrown (we did make the very hard walk on one occasion) and disconnected. The track from Jewels, now taking the former branch into John Darling Colliery, was not to last much longer itself.
The line hung on for a while longer, at least as far as Redhead, to serve the Lambton B Colliery.

Before the line to Jewels was lifted the opportnity was had to use CPH1 and 7 of the Railmotor Society for a number of final shuttle trips from Broadmeadow.
Thankfully, the Semi-Retired Foamer acknowledged his gunzel duty to go up there and cover the event.

Apologies for the quality of photos at the moment. Scanner is on the fritz,

so I am photographing original prints.

The above two shots show the second last train approaching Redhead station from Jewels, the Redhead station building still existing at this time.

History being made with the last train taking the branch at Adamstown and heading towards Fernleigh tunnel, enroute to Jewels

The last train arrives at Jewels station, or the grassy platform

that existed of it by then.

A few minutes to let people unload for their final photos before reboarding and returning to Broadmeadow. We made this last journey back, although to date those photos have been rather elusive to find.

~~ Some Random Lambton Coalie Shots ~~

Grrrr what a stupid place to leave the car :-(

4877 and 4705 loading at Lambton B colliery.

This whole area is a housing estate now, with only one structure preserved to give any clue to the areas former use. Standing on this exact spot now would reveal a lengthy colourbond wall.

The formation on which I am standing recently converted to a bike and walking track as part of the Fernleigh Trail project.

The Belmont line had a few curiosities that dictated its operations and also lead to the continued use of 47 class on the coal roads and use of CPHs on a local system usually dependant on 620/720 and 660/760 sets.

I believe it was the pointwork at the entrance to Lambton B that required the use of either double 47 class, or a 47 class leading a 48. It was often said that double 48 class would tend to derail here on a frequent basis.

The Fernleigh tunnel, near the start of the line, was actually to narrow for usage by the 620/720 type railcars, thus requiring the usage of the narrower CPH railmotors until the end of passenger operations. This did not stop them being a small part of the lines history, with at least one set stabled away from the mainline, on the section between the junction and the tunnel.

Time was fast running out for the line when these shots were taken of 4877 and 4705, seen above passing through Kahibah enroute back to Port Waratah.

For more information on the line and some fascinating pictures of mainliners and even interstate locomotive usage, I really recommend Ed Tonk's book 'Adamstown via Fernleigh' should you be able to locate a copy.

2010-07-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

~~ HARDIES / CAMELIA ~~

This is one of those photos you occasionally come across where very little still exists today.

The station platform to the right of the train, Hardies, has long now been removed. Regular passenger services had ceased even by the time of this photograph.
The large buildings behind are now just a huge vacant lot, while the semaphore signals have gone to god, having long been replaced by those coloured light things.
Of course fences now exist, at least on the left hand side of the track.
The locomotives have fared a bit better, with 4821 preserved in the same livery at Goulburn and 4904 now running around as KL80 for CFCLA.
For what its worth, I think that building to the far right of the shot remains unaltered, but I am open to correction on that.

2010-07-07T23:50:00.000-07:00

~~ TORONTO MEMORIES ~~

Random older shots of the Toronto branch from the

mid 80s until closure!

2010-07-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

~~ WHERE IS IT ~~

Double Shot

These two locations bear no real relationship, even had differing owners, to each other and are miles apart.

Can anyone guess one or both of them?

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 1 Guesses: Thirlmere (Peter Hower)

Photo One Winner:

Photo 2 Guesses: None

Photo 2 Winner: Mutama (Stephen Preston)

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2010-07-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

~ 80s Railfanning ~

Stop - Stop - Stop

Now before one of the Railpage crowd see this and go off their rocker about where I am standing without a 'Track Awareness Certificate', or demanding I show proof of one of those train deflecting safety vests that seems to have become the fashion statement of the average foamer, please let me point out that this is back in the early 80s.

Ahhh yes, the 80s. It is a time I am giving more and more thought to in recent times. Especially now as a small flicker of Australian railway interest is again developing, after a few turbulent years of the railfan dictatorship that is the 'Railways and Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc'.

You know, while this may be hard to believe, but selected railfans in the Philippines are equal to the biggest tools we have here. Go figure, it must be a global thing.

Railfanning in the 80s, perhaps even the early 90s, was a far more fun affair. You could be more a part of the action without being arrested, as well as less (but not totally) likely to be molested by a fan you met in a railfan chat room.

There were far more old lines of interest and one had to make an effort to go somewhere to see different things, the Hunter for the 47s and the west for the 49s. Heck knows, one wold have to actually go to Victoria to see an X and South Australia to see a GM.

I'm sorry, but the current sterile, caged in, system of any loco almost anywhere is just not the same. However that is just a personal view.

Tours were also a far more enjoyable event, with photo shoots in locations that would have rail managers nowdays running to Targets underwear department in fear.

Possibly the most fondly remembered of these is those operated by 'ET Tours', the tour organising company of the now departed Bruce Cook. Bruce had a knack for organising interesting tours and getting into locations that would just not be on now days.

The Rozelle wheat and coal terminals, patrons actually climbing up on the buildings to get shots, the never completed station on the Eastern Suburbs line, hopping of the first red rattler to make it south of Helensburgh, Glenlee colliery, prowling around the Homebush Saleyards (now part of that intensely boring Olympic Park) and even Port Kembla Outer Harbour on a U-Boat.

You were always assured of familiar faces back in those days, David 'Wombat' Henderson and Peter Bubb (whatever happened to those two?), the late Bruce Cook and Bob Potts, good ol John Bartlett, Andrew Haviland and Roy Howarth. Then there were the 80s specials, the guy who always went on tour with a boom box, the guy who always talked to his umbrella, and of course the ever famous C.A Lewis.

As I fondle my way through these old photos, remembering all these times, it sort of makes one terribly sad that the railfan hobby has changed so much and that we perhaps all didn't appreciate it as much back then as we should have.

Photo: Menangle Park station with railfan Peter Bubb looking out for any trains.

2010-07-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome back to the latest mixed selection from the bowels of my photographic archives - celebrating what is now 37 years of foaming around Australia, along with Fiji and the Philippines.

A more recent shot, taken in 2009, shows FCD-8, the caboose used for clearance duties around Manila (Philippines).

Removing squatters, or the more politically correct 'Informal Settlers', can be a hard task, with many really not wishing to leave their illegal abodes. Thus the railway police are always close at hand to utilize their trungeons, or at least accept a bribe.

Bless those beautiful 10 Class, with priority given to SMR22.

Here be two more shots, recently found, of the final weeks

of the Richmond Vale Railway.

Here SMR22 is seen shunting the Hexham washery after

returning from her one mine run of the day.

Not long after this all railway staff were given the royal rogering and sent on their way. Despite tourist railway plans, the railway lays abandoned 20 years later and the one busy Stockrington yard now just a field of grass that

gives little indication of its past.

Today SMR22 rests out of use at the 'Richmond Vale Railway Museum' with Buckleys chance of ever seeing steam again.

Another of those kettle things, 5112 (often refered to as Ben Chifley's loco) is seen behind ALCo 4484 back in the 80s.

The location is Bathust, the loco now being under restoration and either far from, or closed to finish, depending which railfan gossip you choose to believe.

And finally, the last day of operations to Toronto, strangely enough

utilising a less common, for this branch, 660/760 set.

It was still quite early in the day and the ever growing crowds had yet to form in numbers that would have seen the line still open. It was a fun, albeit sad occasion, being part of rail history, but also witnessing the end of

something you had spent so many years around.

We all enjoyed it our own way, one guy climbing on the front to stop it leaving and others continually hitting the emergency stop along

the final trip to Fassifern.

The night ended with a four gun urine salute as the train returned to Broadmeadow to stable.

Ahhhhh those were the days!

2010-06-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

NOTE

One of the things in the railway, and Filipino, communities that I have long hated the most was the ability of people to draw a conclusion solely based on the opinions of another without given the second person a chance to put their forth.

While talking to 'Phil Buckley' last night I indeed realise that I myself was falling into the same trap and, regardless of what happened, this is not somewhere I really wish to be.

So last night I apologised to Phil for this and are hoping to meet up with him in the near future to discuss everything that has happened.

I am hereby removing all related items from this blogsite and all comments I can find on Facebook related to him personally and his time at Merriwa.

Not back to normal 'Semi-Retired Foamer' programming.

2010-05-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

~~ A SAUCY SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SOJOURN ~~

KADINA

2010-05-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

Hello railfans and other feline molestorers, today I bring forth a collection of 'Train Consist Forms' from the steamiest caverns of my collection.
Far from being usless pieces of paper, destined for the loo at Coota south box, these consist forms can provide some very interesting looks into train working, crews, locomotives and carriages used, at a certain moment in time.

Now sit back with your favourite brand of tissue and enjoy these looks at the past with train working you will not now be able to find.

2010-05-15T04:42:00.000-07:00

~~ THE LAST SANDOWN - BOTANY PPL SHUTTLE ~~

14-05-2010

Sandown line has long been a favourite of mine and has been the location of many lasts for me.
Last CPHs run, last spark services terminating at SDandown and Hardies (yep they stop there once to), as well as what will likely be the last steam hauled tour.

Yesterday it was the last PPL shuttle service from here to Port Botany, the start of a full withdrawal of services from the container terminal at the end of the branch.
With fuel services having ceased earlier this year and all the tanks now stored in the Shell terminal, the future of the line now seems bleak.

In coming weeks I plan to find some of my old shots from the line, however, in the meantime, lets look at some views of yesterdays last run.

48136 and 4887 between shunts.

The Shell terminal and stored fuel tankers.

Ali Akbar (Colonel David Phillips) and (Bob Marley) Dennis Hume prepare for departure from Sandown for the last time.

Gunzel!!!!!!

Rest in peace!

Final shunt!

STOP CLOSING RAILWAY LINES!

Site of former Sandown station.

A few decades ago I stood in the exact same spot to photograph the

last Hardies terminator.

Another foamer....

Not sure if they are laying debts or trying to attract Colonel!

A chorus of ALCo noise and exploding detonators signals the final departure from the Sandown branch at Camelia.

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