Aussie Donks - Australian Locomotive News.

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Aussie-Donks welcomes contributions of interest (photographic/news/reports) covering locomotives of any sort from around the country. Contributions from New Zealand and Fiji are also welcome.

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Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt3

SPENCER STREET

Yeah I know it has some new fancy name and a new design that looks, at best, like a tragic accident between a B-Double and a Mini Cooper, however we are reminiscing back in 1987.
Yeah, its hard to imagine that once this lovely station actually looked like a railway station. Back in the days before the current sort of trash was considered acceptable and used to litter the landscape where once nice structures stood.
Grrrrrrrrr

Anyway, we are here to talk about trains.
Oh and what a great place Spencer Street was for trains. As a young foamer I used to always salivate in anticipation of the Overland consists. Any combinations of S and X class could be found, however more importantly, those awesome 930s also put in a regular appearance.
Having not got to South Australia by this time, something I still regret, I was only able to witness the 930 class in use around Melbourne. Their use normally limited to the Overland or interstate freights, think they often called them 'Jets', between here and Adelaide.
Back issues of Newsrail are littered with more interesting workings they were involved in while camped out in Victoria. One that, for some reason, always aroused was a trip to Bendigo Racecourse. I think a shot of this movement even made the front cover.

Anyway, a boredom type decision on the 3rd of March 1987 saw me walk from the Victoria Hotel to Spencer Street station to see what was around. It was the middle of the day and at best I was likely to see a N class or a DRC (as opposed to DFC, plenty of which still hang around this station).
So it was that I slowly bollocked my way across to one of the platforms to photograph N456 preparing to depart for Ballarat with a less than exciting rake of passenger cars. The driver hung out the loco and yelled out something that was less than audible over the noise created by Y113 shunting nearby.




The reason for the yelling was soon revealed as 939 chundered up a huge plume of classic ALCo smoke and made her way through the track maze to join the N for her journey westward.
Never did ask the reason why the 930 was there, I was to busy satisfying my carnal railfan desires photographing and checking the loco out.
Obviously I was so excited I never considered a run to the opposite platform for a more sunny side shot.
Still it is one of my favourite 'EARLY' shots in a hobby that still continues to this day, more or less.

What of the locos today!

N456: Well she is still busy hauling passenger trains out of Spencer Street. Hard to believe they are well over 20 years old now. Never really had an appreciation for them back then, though I suppose I have in more recent years.
939: Probably now a Hyundai in Brisbane, having been scrapped back in Adelaide many years ago.
Y113: This unit, along with sisters Y102, 104, 108, 121, 125, 138 and 143, is now owned by the 'Victorian Department of Infrastructure'. They have been in storage around Dynon for as long as I can remember and no word has been mentioned about the future plans for them.

Anyway, can't prattle on here all day, have a party to get to and free Tanduay is on the cards, along with suitably drunken women.

Night
Brad

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco! Pt2

Now I feel I must risk causing readers a major foam excreting moment by admitting something very worrisome . While it is not usually publically advertised, the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' does get a throsby over those tram things, not to mention a very slight tingling when it comes to older buses.
I do hope you will tolerate any wanderings in these direction on the odd occasion and I would appreciate no offers of marriage from DFCs of the bus variety.


Trams, or if you must, Light Rail, have long been an icon of Melbourne. They are as much a part of everyday life in that city as the harbour bridge is in Sydney, or railfan fights in Brisbane.
The cities foresight in keeping them, while all other Aussie cities went down the bus path, has proved in more recent times to have been the wiser ones. While Sydney, the Gold Coast and other cities constantly bollock on with light rail ideas that will never actually happen, Melbourne regularly expands its terrific system.
Indeed Melbournites have cracked extreme wobblies at any suggestion that they should be removed and replaced by, eeekkkk, buses.


In our next installment we shall take a look at the choo choos around Melbourne, including some on trackage no longer served by heavy rail.

Victoria: Trains, Trams and the Odd Taco!

G'day,
Thanks for joining me for an early journey down to Victoria, more specifically Melbourne.
Contrary to what many believe, Melbourne is not actually in Mexico, however regular shuttle flights depart regularly for those stupid enough to make the mistake. There is also some Mexican food and beverage outlets should you have an extended wait for the next plane.



1987 saw my second trip to Melbourne, one that would lead to yearly adventures down there and even, for a short period, a desire to become a resident. To think that I would have actually moved there thinking that trains were a good enough excuse. What a Foamer!!!!!!
This was also in my earlier photographic days so the selection to choose from is not the best. It didn't help that I was in my prime gunzel days and as such needed to capture as much as possible, be damned with the quality.



We departed a very wet and miserable Sydney early on March 2nd on the now deceased 'Intercapital Daylight Express'. Not sure why I chose the train, afterall I was driving by this time, perhaps it was a desire to see what trains would be past enroute.
It was quite likely that I was less than impressed, with the only notes here showing 86??+8603 at Sydney Terminal having arrived from Brisbane, 4808 shunting at Cootumundra and a couple of rubber tyred railmotors at the same location. I do seem to remember 4842 at Harden as well, perhaps my lack of notes was due to not photographing the subjects seen.



Anyway, arrival in Melbourne was after dark so a hasty retreat, past some local derelicts, to the Victoria Hotel in Little Collins Street (does it still exist?) was in order.

PHOTOS: All on 2-3-1987!

Grab The Sombrero, We Are Off To Mexico!

Make sure you all get a good siesta over the weekend, cause next week the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' is going to move away from NSW (well the site content is anyway) into Victoria for a change of pace.
Starting with some of my earliest, and most bodgy, photos. All were uncovered recently during the endless cataloguing operation that is going on.

Am told the weather is cold, so best pack a poncho.

See ya all next week.

Adiós
Brad

SMR Tickets

G'day,
The collection of tickets shown here are sadly not from my collection (although I am will to accept give aways :-) ) but have been shared by others who thought you may be interested.

All are from the 'South Maitland Railway', which, by now, you would be coming to realise I have a fetish for.

No idea about what dates they were issued, but perhaps some knowledgeable ticket gunzel will be able to enlighten us.

Semi-Retired Foamer Changes!

Howdee,
We are exhausted (see photo) after a hard night on the computer.
Unless your suffering sight damage caused by years of personal habits, you will no doubt have noticed that the blog site has changed.
I have long been unhappy with the narrow layout originally used, especially when you have a number of extended articles which seem to go on downwards forever.
While most of you were likely in bed cuddled up and enjoying some sleep, the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' was hard at it redesigning the site, just for the benefit of my readers when they awoke this morning.
It was a long process, but presents are not necessary, however financial gifts will not be declined.
Hopefully we now have a more readable site.
These changes have also been made to my Philippine Railways and Aussie Donks blogsites.

Cheers
Brad

Coal, Lotto and A Very Mysterious Moose! Part 3.

Woken at 7am by a Colonel heading for the throne, I slowly became aware of my location and reason for being there. A greatly relieved, and significantly lighter, Colonel soon returned, along with the custom grunt, and notifies me that the second Pelton (Austar) rake had passed by around 3.30am bound for the mine.

Still half asleep one slowly carried out ones morning duties in slow motion fashion, I mean five hours sleep just don't cut it, and we packed everything back in the car before heading up to the local servo in search of breakfast material.
As always, the little Indian servos hot food section was not open and we decided that it may be best to transplant our bott botts down to Neath station, guessing that the train could not be to far from returning.

In a stroke of luck, far removed from usual gunzel way, our arrival at the station was greeted with a PL class headlight ablaze in the distance. The great length of straight back in the Caledonia direction, coupled with the slow speeds, mean't we still had a good five minutes to run around like dogs on heat looking for the perfect location.

PL3 48120 134 143 up coal Neath 07.54

As always, the passing of the train resulted in a mad rush back to the care in order to set chase.
After briefly sussing out a new location at Abermain for later in the day, we got ahead of our quarry as it aproached Kurri North. Quick shot and it was off to East Greta station (as opposed to junction) where I hightailed it across the ruins of the former mine and reached an elevated location I have long wished to use.
Again the slow speeds were of great benefit, allowing us to negotiate some road work and still be there with five minutes to spare. This all proved even more handy given the huge amount of speed traps deposited by recently resident bovine.

Again it was time for a location change with The Colonel desiring some North Coast action, and me a bit of the long awaited breakfast. Headed to a small shopping centre in Telarah and negotiated a sea of western type hornbags in order to obtain breakie. Hmmm bacon and egg sandwiches, only marred by the drowning in, what had to have been, a whole bottle of BBQ sauce.

A brief check of the board at Paterson revealed nothing so we moved on the Martins Creek so the Colonel could partake in some sunny shots of the station (hands up those who thoughts I was going to say alcohol!!!!) which had eluded him in the past.
On arrival we were greated by a green on the up, again it was panic mode as a crane was blocking the usual location and we really had no idea of where it was.

NR18 NR21 up conts Martins Creek 09.09


Huntercar dn pass Martins Creek

A quick pie stop at Paterson for the Colonel before more green signals were noted on the down.

2015 2014 dn XPT Paterson 10.23

Finally the SMS start rolling in. Alec and friend going to check out relics of the SMR, while MrNathan is up for meeting us at East Maitland, an overused hack spot, but with a nice bend and lots of trains.

8211 8140 8249 8216 up coal 11.44
** My 8216 has again hunted me down and well away from the usual south coal stamping ground.

8205 8183 8251 dn mt coal 11.57


NR22 NR121 up conts 12.23
5011 5007 up coal 12.31
8224 8227 8137 up coal 12.38
** 8137 having replaced the 48 class from the mega combo the day before.
NR77 NR34 dn conts 12.44
9025 9018 9005 dn mt coal 13.02

Then it was RED ALERT time again!!
PL3 48120 48134 48143 dn mt coal to Austar 13.12

Another run back to the cars for a chase to the East Greta bridge hack spot, followed by a dash to Abermain to try out the location found earlier in the day. A last shot was got on a S bend in the area approaching Austar.
My theory that the second set would be at the loader was checked and proved correct. So it was we decided to head back for Bellbird and do the long walk along the deep cutting to reach the former Kalingo line bridge.

PHOTO: MrNathan on the former Kalingo line bridge at Bellbird.

It would be our only chance for a shot of this train, but as we were needing to return to Sydney (impatient wife) we thought it to be worth it. Indeed it has been many years since I last used it, back when car access was possible.

Despite the long walk we still had about ten minutes to wait. Time well spent photographing both the bridge and the former railway formations in the area.

Eventually the train was seen passing the relics of Bellbird Colliery before entering the deep and narrow cutting. Today, as one watches the ALCos and coal hoppers sway to and fro, its hard to imagine that once upon a time two tracks passed through here.
Gradually PL2 PL5 48129 PL7 passed underneath and disappeared off into the distance, rounding a curve that would aim them in the direction of the former Bellbird Junction.


The day was ended with another visit to the 'Grumpy Chinese Woman Takeaway' for some lunch. He we said farewell to MrNathan before driving back to Sydney, me taking the wheel as the Colonel was suffering heavily the effects of 'NO' alcohol all morning.
Another great Hunter trip was complete.
Thanks to Colonel for making his car available for the trip, as well as the great company along the way. Thanks also to MrNathan, Alec/Friend, Timmaayy and the SinCity couple for ensuring it was one of the best trips yet.

Looking forward to the next time we all converge at the Neath Hotel.

Coal, Lotto and A Very Mysterious Moose! Part 2.

YEP!!!! We have arrived at the second part of this important, well marginally important, report.
Failed to mention in 'Part 1' that our little stopover for a photo at East Greta led us to meet Victoria's 'Peter Sweeten" and local identity, Brian Atkin.
It was pure coincidence they were there and a pleasant surprise. Sadly neither were able to make it to the Neath night, but, quite possibly, it was fortunate for Pete's wife :-)

Anyway on with the report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahhhhh road repairs, the nightmare of many a motorcading foamer. Alas this was what we found for the first few kilometres out of Cessnock on the road to Branxton. What should have been a reasonably quick trip turned into a bit of a slow nightmare, resulting in the missing of one train while approaching our destination station.
Hardly a spirit busting disappointment though, just another 'Pacific National' coalie with a selection of 82/90 class up front. Not as if they are a huge rarity in these parts afterall.

The 'Foamer Convoy' all soon arrived at a previously quiet Branxton station and set about picking a location in order to get the approaching empty coalie with 9026 9033 9004 at the 'point' (a irritating term initiated, it seems, by mags in the USA and grabbed by at least one railway publication out here). The afternoon sun making this quite a nice location at this time of year, even if the heat prevented us from a stroll on down to a location on the Ayrefield branch that was preferred.

The Colonel, who had previously sunk three VB tallies, filled the subsequent train movement void with educational material he had prepared earlier. His 'Burwood Bullfrog' impersonation has to be heard to be believed, while the following mating call of the 'Kearsley Moose' almost had us believe that a pack of randy wilderbeast would soon be at our doorstep.

Alas it all soon became to much and the Colonel decided to retire to the platform surface for some well earned rest.
The arrival of Timmaayy Gray (Portlink refugee and Railway Digest extraordinaire) broke a quiet moment where we all started pondering the meaning of railfan life and why we bother with it.

9026 33 04 dn mt coal 16.29
9030 06 8225 dn mt coal 16.35


9014 15 02 up coal 16.46
** 9015 was coated in a thick layer of oil that would rival any former LVRF 44 class!
8243 42 8138 8210* dn mt coal 16.56




With all attendees hankering for a good drink or ten, it was now that we decided to retire to the Neath Hotel for one of our customary railfan nights there. Right on queue with our arrival was the passing of 48134 120 137 PL3 on their return from the mine.

Now the Neath Hotel is a very historic and friendly location, more info on which can be found HERE! The owners are always happy to welcome fellow dribbly foamers and their accommodation rates are great.
The occasional railfan nights are arranged here, further information on upcoming events can be gained by emailing the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' at the address on our front page.

Food and booze, alongside a historic and operational coal line. What could possibly be better? Well perhaps the latest rail news chat, railfan gossip and endless jokes. Even Mrs Sincity seemed accustomed to the, shall we say spicy, conversation topics.
It went on for hours, broken only for 30 minutes when, along with MrNathan, we headed south along the track from Neath station in search of an abandoned junction.The approaching darkness saw us dump the search for now and hed back to, ahhhmmmmm, some even more unsavoury gossip as to what we went off to actually do. PERVERRRRRRRTS!

Alas all to soon it was time for the young Timmaayy to head on home, followed soon after by the Sincity party. Eventually it was left to just Alec, the Colonel and myself to witness the 00.30 passing of PL2 PL5 48129 PL7 with another rake of empty hoppers headed back to Austar.
With the second set still hours away we to decided to call it a night and head off to bed. SEPERATELY OF COURSE! Deviants :-)

Day two and thus the end of our report to be done in coming days!

Brad

Coal, Lotto And A Very Mysterious Moose! Part 1.

Its not often that I do trip reports in the royal halls of the 'Semi-Retired Foamer', indeed its not all that often I get out lineside for a good dribble in order to bring such reports to my beloved readers.

This week we had a terrific two days around the Hunter. As always, we based ourselves at the fantastic Neath Hotel and worked our way out in many directions from there. This hotel is now a regular haunt for us and is greatly recommended to any gunzel looking for a place to get sloshed and head to sleep after a big day photographing.

While on the subject of 'haunt', while there you may be lucky enough to meet their resident ghost. I believe I had the pleasure one night, though he could have picked a better location than the toilet which, at least for this railfan, is normally a private location. :-)

Anyway:

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

9-1-2008

3109 3104 2203 up conts Mascot 06.53

Twas a very disturbingly sober Colonal that greated me outside the 'Lotto Headquarters' prior to a couple of days train chasing in the Maitland area.

It was a miracle that proved to be a first indication of the amazing photos we would get during the next 36 hours or so.

After initial problems actually trying to get to our trusty Nissan, we eventually set forth to northern locations. Apart for passing a Tangara (that should excite the foamers) around Berowra and triple EL combo at Cowan ( later seen by Alec at Thornleigh), little else to set the parts a tingle was noted until Maitland.

Following a visit to the Austar loader and fast stop at a bodgy pie shop in Abermain, we headed on towards the now famous railfan bridge just east of Maitland. This bridge, while not only providing a great hack spot for gunzel activity, it also carries the latest updates on railfan sexuality and magazine interests.

One can read all the latest news from the rusty sides of this very old structure which, most likely, soon be replaced like the Georgetown version.

Our arrival coincided with 8243 8183 8111 8210 passing on an up coalie bound for port.

8162 up wheat 11.06

9014 15 02 dn empty coal 11.06

Following this less than riviting crossing of trains we were joined by 'SinCity' (can't remember your real name, actually was amazed that Railpage members actually had them) and my good mate Alec and his friend, both from down the Illawarra.

Later in the session MrNathan showed, while Scott Abberfield (aka: 'The_Shopping_Trolley') was caught watching railcars during a brief cameo appearance.

8139 8143 up coal 11.51

8119 up cement/sugar 11.56

8211 8140 24 8209 up coal 12.02

9024 19 8217 dn mt coal 12.08

5003 5001 up coal 12.41

Excessive heat, absence of the Railpage crowd and a urgent need for some liquid refreshment saw us drag our energy depleted butts to Maitland station while the others headed for K Mart (memory cards) and one of the local Maitland pubs.

On arrival we noted a coalie to the west awaiting departure of the Exploder for Tamworth and Armidale. As it was being viewed head on we were unaware that it had 8227 48143 8224 up front. Twas not until it passed under road bridge that the ALCo content became noticed and a chorus of wording launched that would make discussions at Neath Hotel seem tame in comparison.

One could only guess at the reasoning behind the 48 between these two EMD products, but it feels good to think that, just perhaps, EMDs still can't cope without their ALCo partners. I am sure Bernie would wholeheartedly agree! :-)

8227 48143 8224 up coal 13.02

NR14 DL40 NR80 dn conts 13.04

PL2 5 48129 PL7 dn coal (to Austar) 13.22

This last train is pretty standard fare for the old 'South Maitland Railway', however the interesting fact they were all nose ahead had us making a quick decision what to do. With still no sign of the Railpage crowd we decided to notify the others of our decision to set sail south towards Cessnock.

Road works on the Mt Dee Road ruled out trying for a shot with the semaphores (remember them?) at East Greta Junction, so it was to be that the first shot would be at the station of the same name thats located behind Gilliston Heights. This was followed by locations around Neath and at Bellbird cutting.

A desire to obtain shots in formerly unused locations, I mean how many PLs do you want at Neath and Weston stations, lead us to a very picturesque location atop the Swamp Creek bridge in Abermain for the train that was to follow the first as soon as it cleared at Pelton.

Due to SMR track speeds we had bulk time to partake in some very greasy seafood while roasting ourselves in what had become a very hot sun.

Just prior to the arrival of this second train we were joined by a cavalcade of foamer friends in the form of those who were with us at Maitland. All clambered up the embankment for a shot of the approaching coalie.

As it rounded the corner, only the most hardened of kettle fans could not have felt a throsby stirring with the sight of 48134 120 137 leading lone PL7. Bulk shots were taken before the four car convoy headed of towards moose territory at Kearsley. Some remained on the crossing, while I dragged the Colonel down to the former location of 'Aberdare Central Junction'.

All were greatly satisfied in a way no man should feel outside of marriage and it was here we decided to head to Branxton for an afternoon full of photography, swapping views on Rothbury and taking a rare glimpse at the Burwood Bullfrog.

See PART 2 for the Branxton/Neath part of the trip.

Brad

Coal, Lotto And A Very Mysterious Moose!

## COMING SOON ##

Two days of dribbly foamer action based around a Railpage trip to the Hunter Valley and one of our regular 'Wheels On Steel' nights at the Neath Hotel.

TRAINS - FUN - ALCOHOL - AND ONE WOMAN!

48 Class 2008 - 4881-48165

Howdee,

To finish off the '48 Class Weekothon' we list below the status of the remaining 48 class. Things get an awful lot easier here.

4881 Pacific National, service as PL5.

4882 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek

4883 Pacific National, stored Delec.

4884 Pacific National, stored Port Augusta

4885 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek

4886-94 Pacific National, service

4895 Scrapped

4896-105 Pacific National, service

48106 Pacific National, stored Lithgow

48107 Pacific National, stored Chullora

48108 Pacific National, service

48109 Pacific National, stored Lithgow

48110 Pacific National, service

48111 Pacific National, service

48112 Pacific National, stored Chullora

48113-125 Pacific National, service

48126 Scrapped

48127-130 Pacific Naional, service

48131 Scrapped, underframe and bogies used as match wagon to breakdown crane.

48132 Pacific National, service

48133 Scrapped

48134-140 Pacific National, service

48141 Scrapped

48142-146 Pacific National, service

48147 Pacific National, stored Cardiff.

48148-154 Pacific National, service

48155 Pacific National, stored Lithgow

48156-165 Pacific National

PHOTO: 48 class usage on coal trains nowdays is limited only to operations on the old 'South Maitland Railway' to Austar (south of Cessnock). Indeed for some time, following a fire in the mine, 48 class usage on coalies had become a thing of the past.

Thus it was a huge surprise during a Hunter trip this week to find 8227 48143 8224 leading a coalie from Werris Creek through Maitland on the 9th of January.

COMING: In coming days a full report on the 'Railpage-Hunter Heavies' trip will appear on this website, including the sordid night at Neath.

The Changing Face Of 4896!

Continuing the '48 Class Weekathon' we take a look at 4896 during the very early 90s.
Nowdays 4896 is in the old blue Freightcorp livery and owned by Pacific National. However back in the good ol government owned days she wore two other liveries, the original Indian red livery and the shortlived 'Red Terror'.
Both shots here were taken at Port Botany, at the site of the former Beauchamp Road level crossing. The original livery shot was taken in 1990, with the red one being December 1991.

Brad

48 Class 2008 - Pt2

4841 ALLCO, stored Broken Hill
4842 ALLCO, stored Parkes
4843 ALLCO, 48s35
4844 Scrapped
4845 Scrapped
4846 Pacific National, stored Parkes
4847 CFCLA, stored Islington (SA)
4848 Pacific National PL1
4849 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4850 Pacific National, in service
4851 Pacific National, in service
4852 Pacific National, stored Lithgow
4853 Pacific National, in service
4854 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4855 Pacific National, stored Delec
4856 Pacific National PL7
4857 CFCLA, stored Islington (SA)
4858 Scrapped
4859 Pacific National, stored Port Augusta
4860 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4861 Pacific National, stored Delec
4862 Pacific National, stored Delec
4863 Scrapped
4864 Pacific National, stored Port Augusta
4865 Pacific National, in service
4866 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4867 Pacific National PL6
4868 Pacific National PL4
4869 Pacific National, in service
4870 Pacific National PL3
4871 Pacific National PL2
4872 Pacific National, stored Port Augusta
4873 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4874 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4875 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4876 Pacific National, in service
4877 Pacific National, stored Werris Creek
4878 Pacific National, stored Port Augusta
4879 Pacific National, stored Delec
4880 Pacific National, stored Delec

Photos:
Again not much in the way of dates as none of these have been catalogued. All from during the 90s.

4877 4876 4871 48?? on an empty coal train passing Millerbung Creek headed for Pelton on the 'South Maitland Railway. 90s.

4843 4907 4912 4911 passes through Gelco with a load of oil wagons from Botany. Nov 91.

4849 4804 pass Wongawilli Junction (Brownsville) with an up gravel. 1991

4848 4852 48140 3505 negotiate Maldon Curve with a down empty wheat. The 3505 was enroute to Junee where she rots to this day.

48 Class Weekathon!

Hope you like your 48 class! Following on from Stuart's 'Model Trains and Things' blogsite weekend 48othon, we will be having a 48 weekathon showcasing these great little locomotives that have served NSW so well, for so long!
For even more shots, check out Stuarts site. It will be permanently linked to this blogsite for easy future access by our readers.

Photo: 4846 is seen departing ANL at Port Botany on the 15th of May 1992. Anyone able to pick something wrong with the livery?

Brad

Random Tickets!

No real theme, just a few items from the the collection that have been dredged up in recent days.
Used to get a Dayrover every weekend. There was many differing designs over the years, however, as yet, I have been unable to locate a strange wide cardboard variety I once got in Newcastle.

Lineside!

Despite semi-retirement from foaming, one still heads out for a day of lineside dribbling with fellow gunzel sufferers.
One of the more common locations that I can be found is Belfield on the goods lines. While it dosen't get an incredible amount of use nowdays, the overhead still exists here. However one can get around this bollocks to achieve a half decent shot.

Photos: 17-10-2007
1427 (Push/Pull) containers from Port Botany to Minto pass through Belfield with 4703 coming up the rear. Hmmmmm sounds a little unsavoury. These fugly locos imported second hand from Denmark are making their presence felt around Sydney nowdays.

K206 (English Electric) passes through earlier in the day with the Mannway trains from Leightonfield to Port Botany. This service is run by 'South Spur Rail', you can click HERE for an earlier rant about this company.

Where Is It?

Anyone wish to guess the location of 4904?

48 Class 2008 - Pt1

Whats this amazing class of ALCo branchliners up to as we enter 2008?
4801-4840 Compiled: January 4th 2008 Brad Peadon

4801 Stored for preservation, Redfern.
4802 Scrapped
4803 Operational, Rail Transport Museum
4804 Scrapped
4805 Stored for preservation, Redfern.
4806 PN, stored at Delec.
4807 Operations, ARHS ACT (from Junee Roundhouse)
4808 Scrapped
4809 ALLCO, Stored and decrepit at Chullora
4810 Scrapped
4811 ALLCO 48s36 (stored Parkes?)
4812 Recently sold as CAR1 to Junee Railway Wksp from Graincorp.
4813 Operational, Genessee & Wyoming Austraia as 906.
4814 Operational, Junee Railway Workshops
4815 ALLCO 48s34
4816 Operational, Junee Railway Workshops
4817 Scrapped
4818 Stored, Pacific National, Werris Creek.
4819 Operational, Railcorp
4820 Junee Railway Workshop, half rebuilt.
4821 Operational, Goulburn Roundhouse
4822 Preserved, Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum.
4823 Scrapped
4824 Scrapped
4825 ALLCO 48s32
4826 Scrapped
4827 Operational, Railcorp
4828 ALLCO, stored Broken Hill
4829 ALLCO 48s33
4830 Scrapped
4831 Scrapped
4832 CFCLA, stored Islington (SA)
4833 Operational, Privately owned, Goodwin ALCo Pty Ltd
4834 CFCLA, stored Islington (SA)
4835 Scrapped
4836 Operational, Junee Railway Workshop
4837 ALLCO, stored Broken Hill
4838 ALLCO 48s37
4839 Scrapped
4840 Scrapped

Photos:
4806 4825 sit at Cootamundra on the 3rd of January, 1988.
4806 'BRUCE' at Delec.
4807 leaves Botany for the former AMPOL branch. In the foreground is the old Chinese market gardens which have long since been replaced with three extra tracks.
4836 4811 arrive at Cooks River on the 25th of January 1992. 4836 is seen in a special livery to mark the 125th anniversary of NSW railways.


Sources: LocoPage, The_NSWGR_48_class_fans Yahoogroup and personal records. Brad Coulter