RIP: John Hourigan - Railfan Legend.
Brad Peadon.
As we get older, it seems to happen more and more often that we find ourselves grieving the passing of good friends we have made over the decades of railfanning.
It never gets any easier. In fact, I have to admit I am particularly bad when it comes to dealing with the loss of people who have been part of my life for so many years. These are people who have shared a small, but incredibly important, part of our lives — people who were there through the good times, the bad times, the long days beside the railway and the countless conversations, laughs, arguments and, of course, the obligatory sarcastic comments (heck there were heaps of these).
And so, as I sit here typing this, I am trying to fight back the pain of learning that my friend of more than four decades, and Hunter railfan icon, John Hourigan — Houro — has passed away.
Most of us knew the day was coming. We knew John was seriously ill, and we knew there wasn't a great deal of time left. But somehow, you still convince yourself there is a little more time. A few more weeks. Perhaps one more chance to sit down, have a yarn, throw a few sarcastic comments backwards and forwards, and simply enjoy the company of an old mate.
I was just three days away from driving up to see him one last time.
Then, at 06:55 this morning, the message came through from his brother Andy.
"John passed away at 02:15."
I just sat there stunned.
There are some messages you read where you immediately know that life has just changed, and this was one of them.
I first met Houro sometime in the mid-1980s, when I travelled up the Short North with the late Bruce Cook to get a few photographs at a location I can no longer remember. My memory of the exact location has apparently decided to retire before I did.
I do still have one of those photographs, though — an old 86 leading a passenger train — and I'll include it here. It seems fitting that one of the earliest photographs I have from those days should now form part of a tribute to one of the people who helped make those days so memorable.
Sadly, we lost Bruce a long time ago. Steve Henry tells me it was 19 years ago, from memory, which is another sobering reminder of just how many of the people from those early railfanning days are no longer with us.
But Houro remained.
For decades, he was one of those links back to my early days in the hobby. Someone who had been there when the railway was different, when the trains were different, and when a day spent chasing trains seemed like the most important thing in the world.
Our catch-ups became less frequent as the years went by, but whenever we did manage to cross paths, it was as though no time had passed. The sarcastic comments would start flying backwards and forwards, usually with neither of us willing to concede defeat. It was a sort of sarcastic tennis match, and Houro was always more than capable of returning serve.
I can't remember exactly when we last caught up in person. It was a few years ago, and I think it was either at Lochinvar or Greta. Those particular catch-ups happened reasonably close together, and unfortunately my old-age memory can be pathetic at best these days.
We did, however, speak on the phone a few times more recently while Bradly Coulter was scanning many of John's surviving photographs for safe keeping. I believe I have some of those images here, and I hope to include some of them as part of this tribute.
In fact, I had been looking forward to one more visit.
I was hoping that this coming Saturday would provide the opportunity for another catch-up — one final session of sarcastic comment tennis, a few stories from the old days, and probably a bit of discussion about trains that nobody else would have had the slightest interest in.
Sadly, that conversation will never happen.
Those final plans have now become memories.
But what remains are the memories of all the other times. And there were many, many fun times.
As will be seen in the 'Thank You' section, Houro was known far and wide and had an enormous number of friends. That, perhaps more than anything, says something about the sort of person he was and the impact he had on those around him.
I feel truly blessed that, amongst all those people, I was fortunate enough to call him my friend.
Four decades is a long time.
People come and go through our lives, but there are some who become part of the story. Houro was one of those people for me. His name, his voice, his humour, his sarcasm and the memories of standing around beside railway lines talking absolute guff about trains will remain long after the trains themselves have disappeared into history.
The railway hobby has lost one of its biggest fans, and the Hunter has lost one of its great characters.
More importantly, I've lost an old mate.
Love you, mate.
Thank you for more than four decades of friendship, laughs, railway memories and some bloody good sarcastic battles along the way.
You will be missed more than you probably ever realised.
RIP Houro.
John Hourigan
A true Hunter railfan, a great mate, and one hell of a character.
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Brad Coulter Snr & Brad Jnr
John you were a long time good and loyal friend.
I remember the first time we met at Kotara train station in 1980, your vast collection of great train photos inspired me to buy a good quality SLR camera and I have many fond memories of times spent together taking photos or running our model trains.
You were also a life long friend to Brad junior who also has many fond memories of sharing the love of trains.
RIP
Glenn Ryan
I first met the late John Hourigan in the 1980s. Being introduced to him by the late well known railfan Bruce Cook.
John lived in a house adjacent to the railway line at Kotara, in the southern suburbs of Newcastle.
As such, John had a great knowledge of the railway activity in the Newcastle region.
A man who was always willing to pass on information of upcoming workings to eager railfans.
John's second home was the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot.
In a period of more relaxed formalities, John would walk around the depot with his camera and exercise book in hand. Writing down what units were on hand at loco.
He would carry a BIC 4 colour retractable ballpoint pen, using the different colours to indicate the different liveries being displayed.
This was a time when the government locomotives carried varied colours.
When not at Broadmeadow, John liked to witness the passing parade of trains around the Thornton area.
I recall that John's nickname was Mushie, a nod to the former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Mohammad.
Farewell John, and thanks for the spare photos that you used to pass my way.
Your red coloured pen will now have a rest, just as those "terrorised" red terror 44's you noted down are resting in out memories. Vale John.
Glenn Ryan 24/10/2026
To everyone who has taken time out to remember the Hunter legend that was John Hourigan (Houro).
Seeing the outpouring of love has sure helped with the grief being felt right now, and see the good side of an often toxic hobby.
Ben Koperberg
That's sad news Brad but at least there is no more suffering.
Bob Bell
John Hourigan was a legend especially around his former home at Kotara and mostly from Thornton to Maitland area! A good mate gone way too soon at 72 years of age!
Lindsay Lucas
Sorry to hear this. Vale John “Hooligan”. A legend of the NSW rail scene.
Stephen John
RIP John.
Shane N Kylie Foreman
Such sad New to hear,,,I/we were only talking to him last night via txt, After John Rang me but missed him But retried to ring him back several times he would answer the he txed..,,,sent him pic of C502,602 on Ballast from yesterday arvo, he liked it and said NICE,,,,etc,,Told him my wifie n i be up Friday or Saturday and he said see you then with with thumbs Up Nice pic mate,, RIP ole Johnny Boy from the little fella you always called me mate,,, Condolences to Andy Hourigan & all the family from kylie & I & my family and my Mum
Dale Bridges
RIP John, can put a name to face, I’d seen a lot over the yrs now.
Kim Andronicus
May you Rest in Peace John with condolences to his family.
Bill Williams
So sad R.I.P. John. 🙏😔🚂
Michael McGinty
Rest in peace John. I have known him for about 21 years and he always seemed to have his finger on the pulse for what’s going on in the rail scene. He was always up for a bit of banter and always seemed a pretty happy chap.
Thinking of John’s family and friends during this awful time.
Andy Warren
Oh no! That’s such bad news, I feel so sad that I had tried to visit him a week or so ago and just couldn’t find a park at the Maitland hospital. I had planned on going to the Mater in the next day or so.
RIP John.
Garry Holt
We are devastated about John's R.I.P mate
Bob Bell
Pitnacree Road overbridge, High Street station, George Street East Maitland all favourite haunts of my old mate, John 'Hooligan' Hourigan! Known by railfans near and far, even our dear friend in Goulburn Leon Oberg
Arthur Anderson
Very sad news to hear. I knew John almost 26 years. A great person and a great friend. You will be missed. Rest in Peace John.
Andy Warren
Brad Coulter is gonna miss him big time, seen together more often than not!
Jordy Lancaster
R.I.P John
Darren Ferguson
My condolences .
Richard Hay
Condolences to his family. You will certainly be missed trackside John, RIP now champ.
Leon Oberg
So sad to be reading this. John was the quintessential rail fan. Loved getting amongst the train action. The last time we met was late last decade, just before Covid, when i met his party trackside and we all cemented the day's results over a beer at the pub beside Maitland station (in which i was staying). Great times. RIP mate.
Robert Carter
Oh no I haven’t seen him in years since I moved south almost 18 years ago condolences to his family
Robyn Spies
I knew this was coming, but still a shock that he has gone already. Goodbye old friend. We will always remember your help for a young girl with her beloved trains. Hope you can still be out there somewhere watching those trains.
R.I.P.
John. Condolences to all his family and friends.
Stephen Allan Frogley
One of the best rail fans I knew
I’ll miss seeing this legend out on the trains
This hurts 😢
Rest easy John I’ll miss you mate
Bob Bell
I was there early yesterday afternoon and he was in a coma!
Dave Smith
RIP John
Phil Harrison
Rest in Peace John
Andrew Clark
RIP John😞
Robert Parnell
Sad news. I had lots of encounters with John years ago. RIP John 🙁
Joe Guilfoyle
R.I.P. Sir. Condolences to the family and friends. 🙏💙
Michael Sims
RIP John and thanks for sharing your knowledge with many.
Raymond T Geraghty
RIP
Mat Maynard
Very sad to hear of this. Starting off gunzelling in my High School years on my push bike to get whatever was around on the day; no doubt you’d run in to John. Nowadays it’d be a pop on the horn and a friendly wave to him as you’d go past him lineside with his camera around his neck and green Woolies bag over his shoulder..
RIP John. Condolences to Andy and the family!
Roger Gillard
Sad news indeed. Its quite some time since I've been up north but it was always a pleasure to see John's cheery face by the lineside.
Barry Trudgett
Sad news, R.I.P John.
Matthew Pearson
R.I.P John
Luke Spongberg
Condolances to his mates, I met him once at Central, he seemed like a nice guy 🙁
Shane Green
Rest in peace Legend
Joe Guilfoyle
Not at all go for it.
Danny Webb
RIP John
Kevin Lawrence
R.l.p john
Glen Schackier
Such sad news to wake up to.
I know everyone has a memory of John, he will be missed by all.
Stephen van der Straaten
Condolences to family and friends
Matthew Stewart
RIP mate
Tony Deppeler
Met John few times up around Maitland always helpful giving tips on what was going on coming up from melbourne. Going to miss seeing him around.RIP.
Truck Spotter Inverell
Rip John never got to meet u but saw plenty of your train posts mate.
Peter Sweetten
Very saddened to hear this news. Used to often see him trackside on my many trips up from Melbourne over the last 50 years. He was also a good source of train info. R.I.P. "Hooligan"😢
John Oldenmenger
That is very sad news, I have never met John, however I enjoyed is rail photography. Condolences to the family and friends, may he rest in peace.
Lily Marie Dobson
Rest in peace john mate u will be very missed from our train group condolences to his family
Terence Cassidy
Sad to hear the loss of a fellow gunzel,RIP
Michael Thornes
Condolences
David Henderson
Sorry hear ya loss brad
Steven Neil
Sorely missed
Wayne Eade
Well. That’s awful news.
A true platform (well, pedestrian bridge) soul and genuinely friendly bloke the few times I encountered him.
Lindsay Lucas
Sorry to hear this. Vale John “Hooligan”. A legend of the NSW rail scene.
Stephen John
RIP John.
Brian Cassel
Condolences to all the family. I worked with Andy Hourigan for years and met John through him. Nice fellows
Michael Grantham
Sorry to hear it mate, that’s sad news.
Jeffrey Bounds
First Met him at Beresfield in June 2012.
Chris Miller
Sad to hear this Brad.
Adam Green
Thanks for the good times John, you will be missed by us all R.I.P 😢
Andrew Proctor
The one the only rip john
It's All About The Trains.
Come Join Us.
Come Join Us.
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Thankfully, both Bradly Coulter and Glenn Ryan for giving a large selection of photos John has taken over the years and allowed to be scanned.
We will ensure the memory of my dear friend lives on.
Farewell Houro.
We will ensure the memory of my dear friend lives on.
Farewell Houro.
