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, April 7, 2019

The 'ALCo' Motorcade Of
A Lifetime.
1998
I had planned to sit down over a couple of beverages and write up an extended report on this fantastic long weekend motorcade up to Brisbane and Murwillumbah.
However another recent email attack on myself, followed by similar aimed at others by insignificant railfans, on irrelevant railway hate forums, has again left me feeling largely unmotivated. Of course, everyone knows that this is their aim, however, it is good that everyone does now what is happening.
This tour was probably one of the biggest ALCo events run by the 'Rail Transport Museum' since the museum restored 4490 and 4520 to active service.
  The tour was to operate from Sydney to Brisbane, via Fishermans Island (this diversion cancelled due to a massive storm taking out the local signalling.





In Brisbane, there was a local dinner trip to Gatton run, utilizing the restored 1009 (sse photo below).
We chased this dinner tour, then did a quick return run to Toowoomba (Willowburn Depot), before heading back to Gatton for a night time motorcade back to Brissie.




The tour would then resume from Greenbank the day after, heading back south to Casino, before being joined by 'Northern Rivers Railroad' locomotive 42109 for a run out along the now mostly closed line to Murwillumbah.
This beautiful line was probably the highlight of the trip, more so now that it is closed and likely to be turned into one of them vile rail train things.







Along for the trip were David Xuereb (above) and Motive Power supremo Stuart Ellis (seen below). We decided to wear out  a rented Pulsar, rather than any of our cars.
















Sadly, the final day came along far too fast and we found ourselves on the final stretch back from Casino to the Hunter again. The further south we got, the more fans joined in the chase.
It was still a good time to be in the hobby and it was a long weekend that still rates as probably the best I have ever had.





Thanks to David and Stuart for being part of a great weekend away, thanks also to the many fans we also met along the way.
The railway hobby has certainly degenerated into something disgusting and full of hate, but at least we have memories of the better days that we leave behind.
Best of all, we still have ALCo locomotives.



Come Join The Fun Of This Event!


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