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 !



Thursday, January 19, 2017



It has been a while since our last delicious random selection of random train shots.
This group are probably not quite so random, all being for a selection of Jumbo shots to place on Farcebook (my former location of choice for my shots).
Join us as we have a look at a few of these great ALCo beasties, the numbers of which have declined over the years since.


While rail traffic still passes this location, it is more likely to be a light rail vehicle.
The entire goods line from here to Ultimo has been gradually converted into a popular modern new light rail system.





The above shots are of NR1's first trial and the two Jumbos that accompanied her.
This was quite possibly the biggest weekend of my former railfan career. The night prior I had finished work at 10am and driven up to Newcastle. About four hours sleep was had before we were up to get NR1 leaving the Goninan plant (where she was built) and out on the mainline.
That evening we had to be in Goulburn, then Junee the next day.
Heck - I whinge about driving to Newcastle after a sleep in now days. :-)




Botany line Jumbos.
Having lived most of my life along this line, these become quite boring after a while.
44211 has been a lucky survivor, preserved at Thirlmere.
44212, however, was built into the ghastly GL112.



A ride out to Rozelle was a rare and much appreciated event. I can recall at least four times that I have had the privilege. Three were cab rides, while at least one was a single deck intercity set on one of Bruce Cook's ET Tours.
These tours themselves were something else. Probably the last of the great old style type tours, where the train would stop everywhere and people would pile out for photos. None of the rules, or even worse, the self appointed gunzel police, of today.
Yes, they were truly fun days.

Stay tuned for another thrilling roller coaster ride of photos shortly.


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