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 !



Saturday, March 31, 2012





Campsie


Bondi Junction

Carlingford



Vale Karabee - In her final years as a floating resteraunt.




Narrabeen






And in closing we have a delicious Philippine treat, the last MC known to be in existence.



~~ FORESTVILLE 2012 ~~


G'day one and all.

Am trying to get through some older shots so I can clear them from the computer.

Amongst these are those of this years SMUT Modelling Group visit to Forestville, the first major exhibition of the 2012 year.

Years ago Forestville was the traditional start of our model foaming year and it is a tradition that may have recommenced with this years visit with fellow SMUTters MrX and Tezza.

Not much to say about this lot as time is limited today, however please enjoy all the shots from the day, starting from lovely downtown Narwee station.






Forestville Exhibition








The Mungo layout above was one of those impressive ones that you recognise the second you view it. Construction is progressing.









How does the truck turn around at the bottom?






Tuesday, March 27, 2012

~~ NORTH STRATHFIELD - 24-0-2012 ~~

A One Day Adventure With The Trumpet

Howdee, as always, it has been a long time between osts as I find my work life interfering with the more important duties of being a railfan.
I do understand how important my rambling on is to the fabric of the very hobby, I know that you must sit there, day in and day out, checking each hour in the futile hope that maybe, just maybe, I have again shared a bit of my extremely limited knowledge.
But sometimes I am unable to do so and, I must say, it causes me deep pain to know that, not only have I let you down, but also that you must have a very boring life to do as such.

Which in no way really leads us to the topic of North Strathfield, situated in the less than amazing northern area above Strathfield.
With the rude female station assistant of yesteryear now seemingly a distant memory, North Strathfield again seems to be a popular location for the average dribbler, indeed one recent ex-pat New South Welshmen, now living in Victoria, recently described it as Sydney's Middle/West Footscray.
It does seem to be without our own local version of Mr Edwards though.



The station obviously.



The first two hours was pretty dull wth more railfans than freighters pssing through.


A spark :-(



A Local :-)



Trumpet watchs a spark leave while pondering the wisdom of coming to Sydney when coalies ain't running.





An XPT approaches.



And approaches even more!



Heck - they are still whinging!




NR24, 40 and 83 finally, FINALLY, roll past.




Heck women complain a lot.


Works a tad better on less windy days.

Eventually said 'Marry Me Jen', but the Marry was gone long before Jen was finished.


NR56 holds some memories for me. I remember attending her naming ceremony at Port Botany on the day my eldest son was born. Just enough time to talk to Vincey, grab some snacks and beverages, before racing to the hospital.


Probably the closest thing to a highlight for the day.


Coming soon - the new GME Moreton can bins!!!

Don't wait up.