The Semi-Retired Foamer has been a railfan since he was around 5 years old, oh yes a very young age, an age when one really should avoid being involved with the gunzel community to any great extent. A few rather unsavoury people bringing that fact home.
After a few decades of train chasing, one decided to break with protocol and get married, thus leading to a severe cut in railfan activity.
Subsequent dealings with hate breeders, lunatics, mental defectives and self-appointed preservation overlords lead to an even greater decrease in my hobby participation.
However things have changed thanks to our small group of trusted mates, interest has returned, and now I have become a bit more involved yet again..
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 Over the years I have tried my best to further both the hobby, as well as the friendships that it brings. I have done this by setting up proactive groups both here in Australia, as well as the Philippines. It is with huge honour that I am often considered the founding father of the railfan hobby in the Philippines (my second home).
_
I don't take the hobby too seriously and I am a friend to anyone who is good and genuine. But never forgive those who have used their hate to destroy my hobby or hurt the friends within it.

Let's Make The Hobby Great Again!
I aim to share the era that I considered mine, the 80s and 90s. I also like to help promote, and even raise funds for, the various heritage societies that keep the era alive
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**** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS ****
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We occasionally publish information on the locomotives, and rollingstock, from railways in Australia and the Philippines.
All are available for FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Thursday, July 3, 2025

ALBUMS: PORT KEMBLA STEELWORKS - PART 1





Howdy folks!

Beware, you are approaching another selection of photography showcasing the steelworks at Port Kembla (NSW, Australia).
It has been a particular favourite location of mine over the decades, and I've aimed to try to get many photos of not only the locomotives, but the rollingstock and infrastructure as well.

Prepare for the approaching tsunami of photographs from the 80s till today.

If you have an interest in aviation and other guff, check out my
Travel and Aviation Blog.

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


D44 transferring internal steel wagons through the Cringila exchange sidings.
Unit now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 shunting the Cringila exchange sidings.
Also now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 and D44 passing each other at Cringila as they potter around the steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
D40 had just been painted in the new yellow Bluescope Steel livery.
Today she is the last of here type to exist, and has been sitting out of use (awaiting repairs) for some time now. With new (well second hand) locomotives about to be introduced, it is doubtful those repairs will now happen and we are hoping it will see preservation.
Photos: Brad Peadon



The big guy D34 shunting limestone hoppers at Cringila.
Locomotive is now preserved at the 'State Mine Railway' in Lithgow.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Now scrapped D38 also in the then new Bluescope yellow livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D7 D20 - 4901 on a special tour up to the Kemira coal loader is seen passing through Mount Kembla.
D7 is privately preserved in Canberra, D20 with the State Mine Railway, while 4901 has been scrapped.
Photo: Carl Millington 
Brad Peadon Collection


D44 was one of the last two units, the other D43, to wear the former red livery. By now it had been modified to carry the new Bluescope Steel logos.
Both D43 and D44 would go on to be scrapped in the red livery, never seeing the attractive BHP blue.
Cringila yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D49 (formerly Goldsworthy A8) and D47 (formerly Goldsworthy A5) wait at Wongawilli Junction with a load of coal from the Elouera Colliery branch.
Both are now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D47 again, now on an empty coal rake headed up the Kemira line.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D43 shunting the Welded Products siding at Unanderra.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D49 D47 up Elouera coal at West Dapto.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D36 at Cringila again, as it likely was a million times before scrapping.
Photo: Brad Peadon


D38 Light engine passing through Cringila.
Photo: Brad Peadon


8115 waits at Brownsville Junction with a coalie from Elouera. The second and third hoppers were a couple of the special livery hoppers that existed.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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The National Railway Equipment PB class (genset) now represent the main type of locomotives at the steelworks, having seen the demise of all remaining English Electrics other than D27 and D40.
They will soon be assisted by four second hand Victorian H class which are in the process of being transferred there.
Above and below is PB3.
Photos: Brad Peadon



An extract from the logbook of now scrapped D43.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
The round sided (143-180) BXLA coal hoppers.
Today the entire fleet is believed scrapped (as are the older square sided (1-142) variation.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Above and below
Torpedos during transfers through Cringila, a sight that does not seem anywhere near as common as it once seemed to be. Maybe I'm just picking bad days to visit.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Internal wagon LR-119.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Internal wagons CR-34 and CR67 with a load of steel coils at Spring Hill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Bushells Hill tunnel on the Kemira Valley line.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Former line to Nebo Colliery, today being a bike/walking track.
Mount Kembla Rail Trail - Part 1

Mount Kembla Rail Trail - Part 2
Photo: Brad Peadon


The same section today.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Battery locomotive #78 at Nebo Colliery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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All who have partaken in my steelworks adventures with me.
 

BHP Steel Rail History

Muster Point - BHP Newcastle, 1913-1999

Wongawilli Revisited - 4-1-2022

BHP Kemira Valley Line

Australian Locomotive Rosters: K Class

LRRSA: BHP Fleet Update (Brad Peadon)

Australian Locomotive Rosters

Lithgow State Mine Railway

Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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I never thought orthopedic shoes would really work for me, but I stand corrected. 👞👞

Click HERE for the travel and aviation blog.





#semiretiredfoamer


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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

INDUSTRIAL EXISTENCE: BOTANY GOODS LINE PT2

 

 Hello fellow trainspotters, lurkers, and internet wanderers who clicked here by accident while looking for cat videos.

Today you endure the second installment in our Botany railway line series in which we dive head-first into the rich, rattly, and occasionally rusty history of a certain railway line that has chugged its way through our lives for decades—whether it wanted to or not.

Now, when I say "our," I’m talking about myself and my longtime partner in railfanning crime, David "MrX" Xuereb—yes, that's his actual nickname, and no, he's not a Bond villain (we checked). We met many moons ago on the Page Street bridge, where train enthusiasts gathered like moths to a diesel-scented flame. Back then, we both lived just a few rail ties away from the action, which explains how we ended up spending more time waving at locomotives than at actual people.

This humble railway has seen a lot. We’re talking transformations, upheavals, questionable shunting movements, and the occasional surprise. Along the way, we made lifelong friends, hitched a few thrilling cab rides (legally, we promise), and even launched an ambitious exhibition layout project that would have ate far more time and money than we were eventually willing to invest.

And now, history buffs, train nerds, and bored browsers alike, prepare yourselves: this rail line turns 100 years old this year. Yep, she opened in October 1925, and unlike your laptop charger, she’s still going strong. Will there be a celebration? Fireworks? Cake shaped like a 48-class loco? No one knows. But you can bet your last track pin we’ll be watching—and possibly yelling enthusiastically from the bridge.

Stay tuned. More nostalgic. and reasonably pointless, guff to come.






Are you interested in the Botany railway line?
History - Today - Future
You are invited to join the chat with likeminded people.
Botany Railway Line SIG.

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For some time Sunday nights saw a train arrive at Botany from Brisbane. 
On occasion the locomotives would haul it straight through to port, however at other times it would be handled by some random unit that must have taken charge in Sydney.
4403 was the loco in question this night and was caught at the Cooks River staff hut before continuing the rest of way to port.
4403 is now with Transport Heritage and preserved operational at Thirlmere.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Same night as above, but 4403 has just shunted the Patricks terminal and waits near the crossing.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Where so many of her sisters also ended up over the years.
4422 waits to be cut up at the former Sims Metal siding in  Mascot. The whole Sims site has since been redeveloped.
4422 has obviously now gone to god.
Photo: Brad Peadon


4717 has departed Botany with an Lachlan Valley Rail Freight (LVRF) container rake.
She was one of only two locomotives to wear the attractive 'R&H Transport' livery, but today has been scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon




Back when the Jumbos ruled the local trip train operations.
44211 44212 head towards part as they pass through the picturesque section next to the local golf course.
Today 44211 is preserved operational at Thirlmere, while 44212 has been rebuilt as GL112.
Photo: Brad Peadon


8047 shunting the former Kellogg's siding at Botany. These once busy siding have now all ceased to be used, with road transport taking over as always.
8047 is believed to have been scrapped at Werris Creek in 2015.
Photo: Brad Peadon


8017 passes over the former Banksia Street pedestrian crossing. This crossing was later replaced by a rather large pedestrian footbridge and this section has now been duplicated.
Locomotive believed scrapped at Chullora in 2019.
Photo: Brad Peadon



For a couple of years in the 90s, Cooks River was our regular Saturday morning haunt. It usually saw a group of us there to get 7SP5 (Sydney to Perth) and it's usually impressive multi unit ALCo lashups.
On this day it was 8003 8041 4496 44233 instead of the usual all 80 class lineup.
The first three have since been scrapped, while 44233 was rebuilt as GL109 following a few years as BHP102 operating coal trains for the Port Kembla steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon



8025 4854 on a Freightcorp container train, with 4486 4701 alongside with a Lachlan Valley Railfreight service.
8025 is nopw with Pacific National, 4854 scrapped, 4486 preserved with Transport Heritage, and 4701 preserved by Lachlan Valley.
Photo: Brad Peadon


For a time the 45 class ALCo hood units were a common feature on local trip train working. Late one afternoon we found 4518 arriving, seen here passing the old Chinese market garden.
This area is now a four track section.
4518 would later become 3518, but subsequently scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48104 during shunting around Cooks River.
Now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48103 in Botany Goods Yard late one Sunday evening. 
It was usual for the upcoming weeks Botany shunter to arrive on the Sunday evening, then work all the local sidings until the following Saturday. It would then usually combine with the final trip train departure on the Saturday afternoon and return to Delec.
48103 is with Pacific National.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48109 in the Cooks River shunting neck.
Locomotive now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48108 8015 leading a rake of containers through Banksia Street in beautiful summer afternoon sunshine.
The flame tree behind was a well known feature of photos for many years until one day being officially vandalised down to a stump.
Both units have now been scrapped. Eagle eyed readers may be able to spot the lights on 8015 from her time at the Port Kembla steelworks.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Now scrapped 48122 busily shunting the sidings at Port Botany long before the extra tracks of today were put in.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
48122 again, this back in her pre-blue days, wearing the attractive State Rail Candy livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon




48121 and brake van between shunts in Cooks River yard.
Also now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48127 8015 with more containers passing through Banksia Street. In the background was an old warehouse site that was in the process of being developed into my dream units.
48127 is with Pacific National, while 8015 is scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


48137 departs Cooks River yard with a humongous load.
Like so many others, it too has gone to god.
Photo: Brad Peadon


7307 7321 shunting the CTAL Terminal at Port Botany in their attractive (probably due to it being similar to candy) Patricks livery.
The 'Oberon-Tarana Heritage Railway' have preserved both of these units.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Mascot crossing today, closed and duplicated.
8130 is passing through on it's way to St Marys during the SMUT/SRF combined annual Christmas Party.
Photo: Brad Peadon





Train Consist Form - March 2005.
Silverton

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Photos during Botany line duplication work.


Above and below.
Worksite at Gelco for duplication work back towards the Mill Pond bridge.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Repeater CR758G near Coleman Street Mascot just prior to duplication work in this location.
Photo: Brad Peadon


CR757G also at Coleman Street in Mascot.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Video of Fletcher train at the same location today.



Duplication work from the Banksia Street footbridge, looking back towards Mascot.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Above and three below.
A selection of photos showing duplication work in progress.
Photos: Jamie Fisher






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Bradly Coulter, Jamie Fisher, Jerry Gromiski and David Xuereb.
All the staff at Botany and Cooks River, along with the many train crews, who helped us over the years.


Neville Pollard for writing what has become the Botany Line bible. Well worth purchasing if you are able to find it.
I still dream of an updated version.
 

Botany Railway Line SIG - History & News  
 
Botany Line - nswrail.net

Mascot Crossing Christmas Party






Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport (and other) entertainment.

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More to life than choo choos?
Philippines / Australia - Locations / Planes / Transport
Check out our 'Travel & Aviation' blog.

Take time to help the families suffering.

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#semiretiredfoamer


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