~~ DRIBBLY FOAMERS AFTER DARK ~~

It is a question many of you have probably wondered over the years, "what exactly do railfans get up to after dark".
It is indeed a good question, and while there is a number of things, most of them cannot be listed here for moral and keeping your last meal down reasons.
Now far be it from me to judge what railfans do behind their own doors, I mean if they wish to risk paper cuts from prints on their most sesitive of parts, or don't mind an unwelcome visit or two from the RSPCA, then that is their choice and, quite frankly, none of our business. Unless it's our poodle.

On the odd occasion, some of the more, ahhmmm, well I wouldn't say mentally balanced, perhaps interesting, railfans get together (for a party you filthmongers).
Hmmmmm well some of us with an appreciation for alcohol and excessive consumption of same, occasionally get together for a BBQ, drinkies, chat and, some of us, to vomit on each other before falling on the floor.

Its times like this that allow you to unwind, to forget about that 92 year old guy that tried to fondle you lineside at Tahmoor last month and to finally get passed the last two years of utter devestation over missing 3112 as emergency engine on the Indian Pacific.

So put down your 'Bovine Weekly' stick book and grab your softest rag, lets have a look back into the anals of railfan history for a party had way back in 2006, a time when trains were much the same as they were today and gerbil injuries were on the increase.

The woman and children went into hiding!

A former editor of Railway Digest paws through some railfan porn while Tezza looks on!

Scotty knows how to handle the meat.

Another Digest editor looks after his contributers!

Yes well, it was time to take a number!

Dr Seuss drops in to represent CFCLA, while the psycologist is still looking for nuts!

Things begin to heat up in the railfan room and inhibitions are

thrown out the window.

~~ FORUMS WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR ~~

I know for some it is hard to believe, but the railfan hobby is there for fun and isn't actually a life and death situation.
NOW COME ON GUYS, get up off the floor, surely it can't have been that great a shock for you. I mean you don't get paid for it, you do it in your spare time, you get enjoyment from it - so it isn't something you have to begrudgingly do to make some money to feed your sorry mouthes.

I long ago all but gave up on dry, serious and somewhat stale railfan forums because of this and just thought I would promote what I have found around the net in recent times.
All the groups would certainly welcome new members and I would love the chance to talk to other people.
Perhaps you to may have a sense of humour (they are very easy going groups) and like to join them.

I should point out that they aren't my groups, I just enjoy them as a member and don't need more stresses of moderation and group running :-)

WHEELS ON STEEL

Sort of like RailPage but with a sense of humour.
Great train discussions, a tram section and most importantly, a hornbag photography section.

THE FOAMER FILES

Apparently a railfan forum about railfans - they claim it to be a world first - possibly is.
Quite funny so far and, following bulk whinging, also a hornbag section.

RETROBUS

If buses, especially older types and ones now extinct, are what floats your boat, then you will certainly enjoy this forum.
Covering mostly Australia, it does have sections on other countries and also a latest bus news department.

RAILBASTARD

I am not entirely sure of the content there, but it's supposed to be good and coimes with a money back guarantee! NOT!

Hope some of these may be of interest.

~~ A NIGHT OF SPARK PHOTOGRAPHY ~~

Has ol Spadge finally lost the plot?

Well what does one do on a boring Friday night at home?
Much has changed in my life during recent months and the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' is slowly finding his old interest in railways dribbling its way back into him. Indeed it is dribbling back so much that, excepting my accidently running in to too many weirdos, I may again be regularly seen lineside after so many years.

So it was that the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' headed out to Heathcote to meet up with his old mate Terry for a spot of evening gunzelling.
The night gunzel was once a fortnightly event for me, I would head off to Menangle, usually with David Henderson (man whatever happened to him) to watch the passing parade of trains. This was back in the days of 44s, 45s, Gs, 422s, 80s etc etc, not to mention the milk siding shunt which occasionally added some interest.

Often enough, for a change, we would head to Cowan to watch spark locos grinding their way through. Hmmm yeah, to think we used to groan at the sight of 86s on a freight. They were considered almost as boring as a S set.
Oh how priorities change, the 86 class are gone, along with the 46s and 85s, while now the final months of the old S and R sets have put them in a completely new light.
Brought me back to thinking of the days when the single decks were on their last legs. The time spent chasing them around the system, getting as many photos and videos as possible, where once again I previously would never have looked at them.
Yes gunzels - one day we will be going mental over Millenium shots. Well probably not me, I will be pushing up daisies by then I would imagine.

Well firstly lets peruse the dribbly foamer report on passing freight trains before heading into the all important wanki, ahhmmm, photography part.

8218 8209 8239 8211 - up mt coal - 19.20
8234 8208 8129 8256 - up mt coal 20.15
8206 8244 8231 - dn coal - 20.33
8131 8109 48159 - dn ore - 20.58
8245 8258 8216 - dn coal - 22.01
8203 DL42 DL40 DL38 - up mt coal - 22.08

We were lucky to see this last one, having already walked to the cars, we ended up talking for a few minutes and saw the headlight approaching from Waterfall.

OK now, hope you have plenty of burn cream on hand,
here comes the photos!

Tangara departs Heathcote for Bondi Junction.
WOW, things that dreams are made of.

Same Tangara awaiting passengers to get off their sad backsides and on to the train.

Finally, oneof the sets I came here for turns up with a service to Waterfall.

Hmmmmmm Set S - this vehicle is unique to all the others due to, ahhhmmmm, hmmmm, well I suppose it's number. Apart from that its pretty much the same as any other one, well, except for graffiti pattern.

A bridge!
Yes it had got a little quiet.

The platforms view of an S set.

Hornbags love S Sets and so this one was very disappointed to get a Tangara!

Terry tells me it is somewhat unusual for L sets to carry
passengers stopping at Heathcote.
I suppose thusly that I should be aroused by this chance.

SWWWWWWIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ahhh yes punters, the set you have been waiting for,
Sydney's outstanding pride of the fleet.
S34

Heathcote at night with a spark entering the platform.

Ahhhhhhh how could one resist taking a break from all the horizontal toaster excitment for one minute to photograph a local hornbag.

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

Seriously though, I had a great night and enjoyed the opportunity to photograph sparks after dark. It is something I haven't done for many years, well perhaps even a couple of decades.
I will no doubt be endeavouring to get more before they leave our rails forever.

~~ HUNTER HOLIDAY HIJINKS ~~

and NEATH WEEKEND #11

** NOTE: As always, high-res copies of all photos are available for any
magazine who may wish to use such **

PART 3 OF 3

Ohhh yes, it is the moment you have all been waiting for, the conclusion of one of the greatest foamer stories of all time.
What better a way to achieve this than with a look at out 11th Neath Railfan Night, followed by a last dribbly look around Newcastle.
For those who don't know, the 'Neath Railfan Nights' have become quite the institution. Usually attended by societies more normal gunzel types, we gather around for dinner/drinks and endless babble about railways (regualr operations and preservation), all the while, remaining safe in the comforting thought that our bottom virginity will remain intact.
If your, shall we say, regular, feel free to email us for details of upcoming events. It is always great to welcome new people.

The Neath Bus!

MrNathan suffering from excessive Snickers consumption!

Live band every Saturday night!

Twas time to get a room for some :-)


A first time Neath night attendee was Mr Stuart Ellis.
It was great to see you there mate and hope to see you at future ones.
His car gave the Holden fans a throsby :-)

Oh dear!

Two more new attendes were Matt (in red) and a rather concerned looking Ted Rose sitting between Stuart and a, ahhmmm, busy looking Mr Nathan :-)
It transpires that Ted also has a big interest in things Philippines.

Another random hornbag shot - this time at Warabrook!

BL27 and PL5+PL2 bludge around Morandoo Yard during the Easter weekend.

Dang - when did we loose the ability to make interesting locomotive designs.
YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
ARG's AC4301 at Goninan's, or whatever they are called this week.

Same again, but with 5010.

M/O 1409 on route 104 passes through a rather quiet Wickham!

BONUS BUS

Just for all the Bunzels in your family, here be a surprise showing a week after Newcastle in King Street Mascot.

I sincerely hope part three was everything you had hoped for.
If not - Then remember how much you actually paid to get it.

Tally ho

POWERHOUSE MUSEUM LIGHT RAILWAY

It has been years since we went to the Powerhouse Museum, but the Start Wars exhibition currently showing ensured the kids would not allow me to get away with it for much longer.

Not sure how long this has been there, but it certainly encouraged many kids to play trains.

~~ HUNTER HOLIDAY HIJINKS ~~

and NEATH WEEKEND #11

** NOTE: As always, high-res copies of all photos are available for any
magazine who may wish to use such **

PART 2 OF 3

Welcome back to Part 2 of what is 'now' a three part series.

The reason for the sudden increase in size is due to an awesome Neath night and an extra morning lineside that was not expected. Now, you tell me of any railfan who dosen't have an increase in size when lineside!!!

In part one of story, our heros had just finished at Pitnacree Bridge and were off to meet the world famous John Hourigan at Victoria Street.

But first, a quick last look at the Pitnacree Bridge location.

9024 8217 8254 8241 down empty coal at Pitnacree Bridge 12.34

Could this be the bridge to replace 'Gunzel Bridge' at Maitland?
It already seems to be marked for its most famous regular attendee.

Before to long we were being greated by the man himself, local identity and long-term friend Johnno Hourigan.

BL26 BL33 4836 603 on a down ore goes flying through Victoria Street as a sea of foam coats the locomotives in question!

Oh my god - that was bloody awesome!
What a sight - Wheres the Kleenex?
My god - what could be better than that?

Hmmmm yeah your right - this is marginally better!
The seat I mean, shame that rather developed woman got in the way.

Yes - well anyway, soon enough and there was more train action to be had as 9207 G529 G519 8205 come through with another loaded coalie at 14.46.

2753 2703 - down pass - 15.32

9005 9020 9010 - up coal - 15.51

9018 9004 9025 down empty coal at Victoria Street.

Rear shot of these interesting seats.

8243 9031 G543 9214 pass an up Exploder just to the east of Victoria Street.

8111 hauled the strangest movement of the day, if you don't count MrNathans rather odourous death cloud after three Snickers Bars (apparently had to give em up for Lent).
It was seen here hauling a short rake of coal hoppers of many different varieties, the reason for such is still unknown. All hoppers were empty.

Victoria Street station has not been to diffaced by moderisation!

Victoria Street - Down train arrives.

Two ladies who have possibly caught a train sometime in the life, but don't really have much to do with this post other than their being good to look at.

Stay tuned for PART 3

* Neath Night *

* Morning Around Newie *