RICHMOND VALE RAILWAY

1987

Part 1

The Semi-Retired Foamer visits the historic 'Richmond Vale Railway' in the final months of it's existence.
This railway carried the distinction of being Australia's last commercial steam operated railway and would be gone before the year was out.

Blue SMR22 was the locomotive in use on the day. We see her shunting at Hexham, before following her out to Stockrington Colliery and back. In between, we see a few views of passing coal and passenger traffic on the mainline.

WARNING FOR THE WHINGERS

This is a low-quality video, taken way back in 1987 on VHS and has deteriorated greatly. As a railfan, I do understand it is your duty to point out these flaws.
As I already know of the bad quality, it is probably pointless to do so, however, if it makes you happy, whinge on.

BRUCE COOK

This two-part series is dedicated to the late Bruce Cook (who makes brief appearances). Bruce was instrumental in growing the hobby for me and will long be remembered for the phenomenal tours he operated.
Bruce was an icon of my railfan era, an era without the internet and it's associated hate, an era when you gathered lineside, chatted and had fun.

Part 2 Available Soon

RIP - MULGI

Built 1926

While looking up information on this historic ferry, I was surprised she sunk on 

Middle Harbour two years after this shot.

She was raised and moved over to the shoreline. However wash from passing vessels lead

to her breaking up.

Some sad photos of be found on this FB group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sydneyferryappreciationgroup/

TRAIN SIGHTINGS FROM THE 1980s

21-7-84

7310       Sydney Terminal
7340       Sydney Yard (shunting)
48125     Strathfield
48129     Blacktown (shunt trip)
4623       Valley Heights (Depot)
623 723  Lithgow Yard
DP102    Lithgow
4480, 4902, 4902   Lithgow Loco 12.30
1072       Zig Zag Railway
4630 4623  Valley Heights (Depot)


15-8-1984

8615      Sydney Terminal
4608      Sydney Terminal (18.25 to Bathurst and Mudgee)
8614      Sydney Terminal (Platform 6)
733/633   Sydney Terminal (arrived 18.11 from Illawarra)
T3740 and C3740  Blue and white single decks noted at Central station.

.

SYDNEY BUSES - 1986

The Leftovers

The short remaining bit of bus footage from Circular Quay back in 1986.
Leylands and Mercedes buses make up the bulk of buses

in this new video.

To fill out the video viewers are treated to some good old 80s street entertainment with 'Bollocks The Clown'. Bollocks was a regular at Circular Quay during this period.

     

Semi-Retired Foamer Video

Low Quality 80s Video For Viewing Pleasure.

No Tripods Used - Little Thought Given - Deteriorated Tape

I Was Talking Over Video Decades Before Floggers
Started Multiplying.

SYDNEY BUSES - LATE 80s

Leyland Leopards - Mercedes - Australian Pacific

Pier One - AAT Kings - More

EL56 (DORIEMUS) was not far from entering service when captured here (courtesy of the Sunnyside Tavern's garbage bin) near the entrance (exit in her case) to the Goninan factory in Broadmeadow.

At the time, none of us could have imagined the interesting life they would go on to have. They have done just about all type of duty possible.

Built for passenger trains and fast freight, the idea that one day they would be hauling coal trains on the South Maitland Railways, well, would have seems quite ludicrous. Interestingly, these runs bringing them back very close too where they were built.

 VH-ZXG

Taken during some promotional photography for a business I was managing at the time.

1992 - Delivered to British Airways
2000 - to QANTAS
2013 - withdrawn and stored (Kansas City)
2014 - sold to KMW Leasing
2014 - lease to Paraguay Airlines was not taken up.
2014 - leased to Dynamic Airways (USA). They still have a fleet of six 767s.