PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE MUSEUM

MANILA - DECEMBER 2018

A thrilling video covering a visit to the 'Philippine Air Force Museum' in Pasay City (Manila, Philippines).
While now somewhat run down, it is still very much worth a visit should you have an interest in the topic. My interests are more Philippine history related than air force, but the kids really enjoyed it and, I must admit, so did I.

AMPOL BRANCHLINE
PAGEWOOD 

PART 1

 This article was originally written for the former 'The Smutter' ezine, but only ever saw the first part published. I have always felt that this branch had huge modelling potential at a rather cheap cost, it is also one for those who prefer collecting more model locomotives than rollingstock.
  Despite the large readership we enjoyed, there are great limitations that come with getting pdf publications out there, so we decided to return to publishing stuff on a blog type platform and leave epublications for research items.
  This is the first of three (maybe four parts if I can be bollocked doing that much) parts covering this branchline, its diesel era operations and line-side structures, all of which have changed greatly since the line closed.

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 When we are young, or even significantly advanced in years, and start thinking of building our first model railway empire, so many of us tend to think of boards flooded with as many tracks as can be fitted in the board space available.

 Sometimes this leaves little room for trees, let alone structures, the result being a lot of trains running round and round with seemingly little purpose for doing so.

 Of course this is all fun for a short while, maybe not even that long, but the lack of purpose, indeed the complete lack of anything similar in real life, will soon have you turning away from it and annoying people on internet forums again.

 A reasonably wise, and significantly grumpy, modeller from the rural backwater that is Wagga Wagga, once told me that “more is not necessarily better”.

 Now, while he probably didn’t put it that politely (there are limits to words we can publish), he was correct and, although it is painful to say, these words have guided me through many changes to my home based Tinlow layout.

 However, long before this pearl of wisdom was brought forth from the lips of this modelling legend, I have felt that the now closed/removed AMPOL branchline, which ran from the Gelco yard at Botany through to the equally deceased AMPOL fuel terminal, would be a cheap and ideal layout.
  It would also cater for those who like to have lots of locos with few items of rollingstock for them to move around.

  Lets start this epic adventure with some photos of the line during it's later years of operation. In coming weeks the thrilling AMPOL joyride will continue.

To the best of my knowledge, which really is not that great, the terminal has never used a rail based shunt. This beast would  be seen shunting the empties/loaded tankers around the small yard there.

4910 44211 shunt the AMPOL terminal. Baker Street level crossing in the foreground.
Photo: David Xuereb

Not much effort needed for 4827 to push NTAF4037 fron Gelco to the terminal.
Ocean Street - Photo: David Xuereb

48100 pushing tankers over Ocean Street. Photo: David Xuereb

4851 about to pull out a rake of loaded tankers. Photo: David Xuereb

4910 44211 at the AMPOL Terminal.  Both Photos: David Xuereb

44212 shunting the loading bays while the road based shunter can be seen in the sidings to the left. There were two sidings curving behind that green wall (see part 3)
Photo: David Xuereb

Waiting to cross Ocean Street.  Photo: David Xuereb

Shunter Steve protects Baker Street as 44212 leads loaded tankers 

out of the terminal.

Changing the points over to allow access to the branch.

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Thanks to former local, and company lineside at Botany for many years, David Xuereb, for use of your photos. Many of which appear in this series.
David lived somewhat closer to the branch than I, so had a lot more opportunity to photograph the daily coming and going.

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In part 2 we take a walk along the branch and photograph the line-side structures.

Another delightful baby ALCo selection.

Part 5

The short Tubemakers branch left the main Illawarra line just south of Kembla Grange station. While unused for many years, it is only in more recent times that the junction was actually removed.

48125 4901 on the track to the disused 5th platform at Rockdale during trackwork.

48124 is the fourth loco in a quad again. Had it been at the front, it would have make a lovely set of consecutive numbers.

Almost a perfect set of Indian Red 48ers at Broadmeadow.
Only ruined by the flagon 4894, a sign of some local patriotism in 

the bicentennial year.

48126 shunts Albury yard in happier times.

Now awaiting her fate in far less happy times.

48127 and 8015 pass the former Banksia Street crossing in a view 

that is much changed today.
A huge footbridge now connects both sides, the units in the background are now finished and that well known Flame Tree is no more.

Until our next riveting 48 installment. _____________________________________________________________________

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG

Covering the tramways of the Moreton Mill, Mapleton and Buderim districts.

MASCOT CROSSING CLOSURE

The coming week is the last for the level crossing in Mascot (Sydney, Australia). It will be replaced by a westward extension to Wentworth Avenue, that passes under the line where the historic 'Meadow Lea' bridge was located (see last photo).
While there is no doubt that the closure will be welcomed by both road users and train drivers, it has been a popular photographic location for decades, I personally having spent a large amount of my life there.

The June 29th closure came as a bit of a surprise as it does not seem likely that the bridge will also open on that date. Guess we shall soon find out.

Today I went down to the crossing to get some photos. A few workers were noted doing some work around the crossing itself, presumably preliminary work for the upcoming closure. Trains did not seem to be operating today and it is thought that Friday (June 28th) night will see the last trains to use the crossing.

Botany Railway Line SIG

While the photos taken here number in the hundreds, I have chosen just a few from over the years. Afterall, Blogger only has so much space :-)
Probably the most exciting, in recent times, was the visit of restored Garratt locomotive 6029 on a private charter. Despite attempts to keep it secret, the news got out and many locals turned out to witness it.

As can be seen from the following map, while the crossing has been there for decades, the streets around the areas have changed greatly.
The former Ascot Racecourse at upon what is now the corporate aviation and helipad areas.
As can be seen, trams used to once cross the line to serve the racecourse, though I cannot recall ever seeing any photos of this.
As mentioned earlier, there was a nearby bridge that was often referred too locally as the 'Meadow Lea' bridge, this due to advertising that it carried for a long time.
The last photo shows this bridge back in the 90s when the 82 class were still new. In fact, this was one of the first times we were to get there type out here.
This bridge was built for double track, but was never to see it. The new Wentworth Avenue bridge has also been built for double track and it is now looking like the single line gap will finally be duplicated.
The bridge was historic in that it was probably the last racecourse relevant item left in the area, it being used to get racehorses across to the track.

Interested in the Botany Railway line?
We cover rail operations, of all types, that existed between Gardeners Road and Botany Bay, be they heavy rail, industrial or tram in nature.
From time to time we cover industries that were served by rail, and even local buses.
If that thrills, come visit us. Botany Railway Line SIG.

PRESERVATION UPDATE - BROKEN HILL

  Leading preservationist, Brian Leedham, once again attracts media coverage to one of his important projects. This time it is to save the 1919 Broken Hill railway station that sits abandoned in, well, hardly surprisingly really, Broken Hill (NSW, Australia).

Barrier Daily Truth - Free Portion Of Article.

Brian's 1919 Broken Hill Station Facebook Page.Contains article.

Thanks Brian.

My good friend Kevin 'K-Med' Medley has generously shared his 90s videos with us to share on the Semi Retired Foamer YouTube channel..
In coming months we will have a huge selection of videos covering prototype, and model, railways of the era. We already have a big backlog of video, while he has promised more footage in the near future.

Here are a couple of recent episodes.


3801 and 3830 on tour trains at Picton, Seymour and Dynon Locomotive Depot.
Freighters, passenger trains and a lookm around the diesels at Dynon.

Freighters, Passenger and Tour Trains.
Maitland, Junee, Menangle and the Illawarra Escarpment.
Great sound for the kettle fan.

A look at Maitland one night in the 90s.
Coal trains, wheat and old DMUs.

Feel free to subscribe to our channel should you wish to be 

notified of every new video.
We cover transport from the 80s until now, Australia and the Philippines.

Please enjoy.

PLARIDEL - PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

December 5th 2019

  Earlier this year I was privileged to gain permission to access all railway locations on the south line of the Philippines to photograph them for historical purposes.  The future of the main south is unclear, with massive changes coming through the President's 'Build Build Build' program. Part of this includes a new electrified railway to Bicol, totally grade separated from roads and with far less curvature.  It has been said that the narrow gauge system will be retained for freight usage. However, only time will tell if this will be the case. The country does badly need it's rail freight back, while it would make sense to have it separated from the new, higher speed, standard gauge system.
  I, for one, look forward to seeing all this unfold.

PLARIDEL - Photographic Survey

Preservation Update - Merriwa

An occasional look at the developments taking place around my favourite museums.

I have long felt that promotion of museum efforts/successes is key to the further growth of each project. Failure to reveal progress deters people's interest, thus reducing possible volunteer help and funds.

Merriwa Railway Society Inc
There has been some massive progress at this museum in recent times.
Their most recent working bee, on June 15th, saw their busy volunteers spraying weeds and doing some painting around the yard crane and goods shed.

  In another exciting development, the museum has commenced enquiries with the national rail safety regulator, with a view to gaining accreditation to operate section cars around the yard, both for weed spraying duties and to give the yard more of an operational look.

Photo: Courtesy of the Merriwa Railway Society Inc Facebook Page.

Location: Corner of Roach and Brisbane Streets in Merriwa.

Society Website - Facebook Page

Merriwa Railway Line - Wikipedia
Merriwa Railway Line - nswrail.net
Merriwa - Historic NSW Railway Stations Website
Merriwa - railtrails.org.au