WORLD OF WORLDS PT2

Well, bugger me with a rusty coupler!

I don't tend to watch these statistics too closely, mainly because I have better things to do than sit around watching numbers go up and down like a dodgy semaphore. So imagine my surprise this morning when I discovered that this site has become the second, after my Philippine site, to stagger drunkenly across the one-million-viewer milestone.

One million! Apparently, there really is no accounting for taste.

Now, before some professional misery guts emerges from the bushes to point out the bleeding obvious, yes, I have the site set to not count my own visits.  You can put the pitchforks away and cancel the public execution. I have enough trouble keeping track of 300,000-plus photographs without having to employ a forensic accountant to audit my website statistics.

So, how does one celebrate such a momentous achievement in the history of railway photography? Champagne? A lavish banquet? A commemorative plaque? Perhaps a small, tasteful ceremony involving a priest, a bottle of diesel and a sacrificial timetable?

Nah. WORLD OF WORLDS it is, of course, with a look at what I consider to be some of the best-looking, and dare I say sounding, locomotives ever to grace this planet. And if you disagree with my assessment, that's perfectly fine. You're entitled to your opinion, even if it's spectacularly wrong. LOL

As the never-ending archaeological expedition through my 300,000-plus photographs continues, I've temporarily abandoned the shovel and dust mask to dig out another collection of 44 class images. There are 44 of the buggers in this instalment, and, unless my memory is finally surrendering to the ravages of time, Tanduay and general railway-induced brain damage, none of these photographs has appeared on the website before.

Although, given the volume of images involved, I reserve the right to be completely and spectacularly mistaken. It wouldn't be the first time, and I doubt the undertaker will be waiting long for a repeat performance.

So, come along and join us for a little trip down memory lane — or, more appropriately, down the track — as we revisit some magnificent machines from an era when locomotives had character, made a proper racket, and belched enough smoke to give the local environmental officer a nervous breakdown.

Forty-four class locomotives, a million website views, and enough black smoke to make the Industrial Revolution look environmentally responsible.

What more could you possibly want?

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Putting these sites together does take an immense amount of time and effort.

If you even find some moderate amount of enjoyment would you consider giving us even a little bit of 

love and buy us a coffee here?

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Above and six below.
4401 - 1957
Class leader 4401 in three different liveries while in service and later preservation.
Today she is on static display at Junee
Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.
4403 - 1957
Wearing her unique blue livery received near the end of her government service. She is see here after arriving at Sydney Terminal with the last loco hauled passenger service from Goulburn.
Photos: Brad Peadon

4427 - 1958
4427 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4434 - 1958
Unit was stored in Lithgow at this time, but would later be hauled to Sim's Metal at Mascot for scrapping.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4438 - 1959
4438 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4446 - 1960
Poor ol girl was looking a little the worse for wear at Delec Loco Depot in Sydney. 
4446 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.
Photo: Brad Peadon

4448 - 1960
4448 was sure looking in better condition to sister 4446.
4446 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.
4451 - 1960
Arriving with empty cars to form another passenger service.
4451 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

4456 - 1961
Still wearing Indian Red back in the 80s, then the later Red Terror that replaced it.
4456 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.
Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.
4458 - 1961
One of the rare ones that are still around.
However, being stored in Qube ownership hardly gives her the brightest of futures :-(.
Above she waits at Cootamundra West with the up Griffith Speedfreight, while below she is in the Delec Depot at Enfield.

Photos: Brad Peadon

4461 - 1965
Scrapped in Goulburn by owner Qube.
Photos: Brad Peadon

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Above and three below.
4463 - 1965
All images taken around the Botany railway line when still in 'Lachlan Valley Rail Freight' use.

Scrapped in Goulburn by Qube. 
Photos: Brad Peadon

4464 - 1966
Delec locomotive depot Enfield.
Preserved by Transport Heritage. 

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.
4465 - 1966
Above passing through Campsie (Sydney) on a freight, while below is her earlier days in ALCo Park.
Still privately preserved in Werris Creek.

Photos: Brad Peadon

 

Above and below.
4466 - 1966
4466 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.
4468 - 1966
Seen here wearing the special Indian Red livery given to her near the end of her government life.
Her current situation is a bit of a mystery. She is believed to have been road hauled to an undisclosed property around New South Wales, with various rumours surrounding her future. 
Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.
4470 - 1966

Above she is approaching Menangle station in her former Reverse livery, while below she roars through Ilabo with a down Trackfast service.
4470 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.
4471 - 1966
4471 was scrapped in Goulburn by Qube.

Photos: Brad Peadon

4472 - 1966
What a thing of beauty 4472 was during her time with Lachlan Valley Rail Freight. :-)
Seen here passing through the golf course area at East Botany.

Currently stored with SRS Heritage.

Photos: Brad Peadon

4479 - 1967
4466 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photos: Brad Peadon

4480 - 1967

One oif only two 44 class to wear the Freightrail Blue livery.
4480 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photos: Brad Peadon

4482 - 1967

4482 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photo: Brad Peadon

4483 - 1967
4483 was the other 44 in the Freightrail Blue livery.

She would have her life cut short following a shunting accident that saw her stored in Minto for some years prior to being scrapped.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and four below.

4486 - 1967
4486 seen both in government service (Red Terror livery) and later in preservation with the Lachlan ALCo Group.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and three below.

4488 - 1967
4488 is in her reverse livery at Taree yard above, with the following three shots showing her unique 'New Central Railroad' purple guff.

Currently stored in Junee with Qube and facing a bleak future.

Photo: Brad Peadon

4492 - 1967
4492 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photo: Brad Peadon

4492 - 1967
4492 like so many others above, scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photo: Brad Peadon

44100 - 1967

Probably one of the biggest disappointments for me was the scrapping of 44100 which was the last 'World Series' locomotive built in the world.

The first, which went to Spain, has been preserved, but despite efforts on the day of the Cardiff Auction, she was to join so many of her sisters for the one last trip to Dunheved.
4466 was scrapped by Metal Recyclers at Dunheved in 1995.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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Above and below.

A couple of Spanish (RENFE) World Series ALCos from the Semi-Retired Foamer Collection.

Photos: Semi-Retired Foamer Collection or as marked.

A somewhat less attractive version with flat cabs at each end. No doubt they sounded just as good though :-)

Photos: Semi-Retired Foamer Collection

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Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.

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Australian Locomotive Rosters - ALCo Photos & Lists

NSW Railways - Past and Present.

ALCo 44/930 Class Appreciation Group 

The Diesel Shop - 44 Class

NSW 44 Class - Wikipedia

Leedham's Lookout.

A Railway Group Dedicated To Friendship.

Bradly Coulter

A. E. Goodwin (The builder)

Semi-Retired Foamer Media

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#semiretiredfoamer