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).
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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 !



Sunday, June 19, 2011

An email recieved today :-(

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Bloody Vandalism: Much of this is irreplaceable.
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Subject: End Platform Cars for Scrap

If you think losing Ropes Creek station is bad enough, consider what a heritage railway on the Mid North Coast has just done.

Thirteen End Platform cars and 3 Dog Box cars were scrapped at Lowanna between the 7th & 11th June by Glenreagh Mountain Railway. This is after scrapping two Dog Box cars at Megan last November. A settlement had only been reached between the Dorrigo group and GMR to transfer ownership of the cars at Lowanna on 30th May.

Yes the cars were wrecks but there were hundreds of spare parts including bogies with brand new wheels, buffers, hook drawgear, screw couplings, hand rails, brake shoes, brake rigging, bogie bolsters and pins, brass bearings, lubricating pads, seat frames, you name it. Only two bogies and a token number of parts were saved. The rest went to scrap. GMR also now holds the distinction of scrapping the last Dog Box car in NSW with Dean Bogies.

Five-car BAB Set 8, built in 1897, was unique in that it had teak under frames. The frames were tested on a visit to the site in November last year and were found to be as solid as when built. Where would you get 12" x 12" x 40ft long teak beams these days?

GMR says parts were offered to the Office of Rail Heritage, who supposedly advised that no group would be interested. As far as I know no group was ever contacted. I know of at least one group that was in need of End Platform car parts for their cars.

Next in line for scrapping will be a B Truck (only two or three remain), 11 S trucks and the only bogie Acid Tank Wagon left in existence. Most of the S trucks have brand new wheels, and their condition, although needing work, are better than some of those saved from recent ORH disposals.

So if you want some S trucks or brand new wheel sets say something now before it is too late. If they are not moved by the Dorrigo group within 4 months of 30th May (that is 30th September) the remaining stock will be scrapped.
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