~~ A MANLY COLONEL EXPERIENCE ~~

Hello foamers and other various examples of humanity, welcome to another installment of wisdom from your Uncle Spadge.

While your good uncle still spends much time lineside, sometimes the tingling delights of other transport modes becomes to much for me to control and I find myself wandering aimlessly toward something to point the long lens at.

Nowdays things have changed greatly since my early days of transport drooling and, just like the morning after a drunken score at the Oakey pub, you never really know what you will find.

In a rare example of great thinking, our government has introduced a transport 'Family Fun Day' ticket where one can drag ones furry caboose all over State Transit bus/ferry and Cityrail train services for an entire Sunday.

Besides being a cheap way to partake in those fatherly duties you are told you don't do enough of, it also allows much opportunity to obtain photos of, well, things that excite.

Join me in a two part special looking at my day around Manly and the Opera House with Colonel and our respective hornb, ahhhmmm, partners.

I would use the usual 'reflecting on a long career' caption,

but that would be wankie.

Narrabeen heading back to Circular Quay.

The first of Sydney's current Manly ferries, the Freshwater, is seen crossing the heads enroute to Manly.

Lady Wakehurst is one of the two (I think) surviving 'Lady Class' ferries still plying the harbour.

With most of these fine vessels now replaced by those god awful twin hulls, it is a happy moment to catch up with one of these grand old ladies again.

Have you got chips?

We will finish off part one of our Manly coverage with a few of the better looking bits of scenery on the day.

~~ HAWKSBURY FOAMER SESSION ~~

Heck it has been a lot of years since I strutted my foamer bot on up to the beautiful Hawksbury River for a day of gunzel activity.
Things had changed little, 'JJs Seafood' was still across the road, the magnificent scenery remained the same and that usual local feeling of relaxation instantly rolls across you, enveloping you in one of those rare happy feelings.

I'm gradually reaquainting myself with the pleasures of a day lineside, aving virtually given it up two years ago in a futile attempt at greater happiness being involved in the Filipino community here in Sydney.
Growing discontent over the backstabbing, rumours, lies and gossip has had me looking back more and more, to the days of old. The simpler days spent by the countries railway lines, waiting for trains and talking whatever bollocks tat comes to mind with whatever railfan mate is with you.

Now as most would know, I am not one for the railfan tool, te wanker who judges his existence by the size of his, well, lens. You know, the ego-maniac railfan who feels there is nothing better than being the countries leading gunzel, well, perhaps a box of tissues while looking at S set photos in the privacy of ones bedroom.

Anyway, so it was that everyones beloved Colonel asked me to come along on a trip to Hawksbury River with his good self and our other great mate Trent, or Raichase to those whos entire existence revolves around that conveyor of occasional truth, RailPage.

As was expected, a day of great fun, many laughs, calamari and the occasional out of gauge movement was had. Numeorus trains were recorded on the old camera devices and even the occasional hornbag strutted her stuff for all to see.
Good ol Aussie humour came to the fore and on more than one occasion we nearly had one of those personal type accidents no railfans, outside of Melbourne, wishes to have while on the hunt.

Thanks to Colonel and Raichase for an awesome day - hope we can repeat it again soon.

Spadge

V Set approaches Hawksbury River.

V25 at Hawksbury River - hmmmm love that brake smell.

T28 at Strathfield prior to our trip north.

S73 at Burwood!

Not long for this world, S67 is seen approaching Strathfield.

A Gunzel Pelican!

Passenger purchases ticket from one of those ticket machine contraptions!

Passengers arrive for a day of Hawksbury Entertainment.

Southern Spirit liveried NR84 leads sister NR68 on a down container service.

Pretty in pink!

Awaiting the next service from Strathfield!

Mop and bucket to platform 1 :-)
Trent and The Colonel discuss whether T set bogies are better than S class doors.

3801 has a lot to answer for!

Uhhmmm OK, I will take two 9kg cylinders worth thanks!

Beautiful Hawksbury River!

Same!!!!

8236 39 58 56 on a down empty coal train.

8153 48 71 48127 up grain train.

Transvestite at Strathfield and headed for Sydney Terminal!

IRA 1428 and 1445 on down containers at Hawksbury River!

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Join us in coming days when the Colonel and myself are joined by the wives for a day of ferry foaming, trains and significant hornzaling activity.

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