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.

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

Rosehill Racecourse Exhibition

June Long Weekend 2019

Three part video special covering the model railway exhibition at Rosehill Racecourse during their recent annual event.
The layouts, people and presentations

If it were any more fun, it would likely be illegal.

Don't Mention It!

Part 1

Part 2 - Including the SRF Layout Award.

Part 3 - Including 2019 Presentations.

Thank you for viewing.

SANDGATE SURPRISE

A huge amount of variety passes through Sandgate station every week.

  But this icon Star Wars ship was a bit of a surprise :-)

Mount Morgan Railway Museum

Queensland - October 1996

While staying in Rockhampton back in the far more exciting year of 1996, we decided to go and check out the Mount Morgan Railway Museum.
Mount Morgan is situated 38 kilometres from Rockhampton and is situated on a line that once climbed the Razorback Range by way of a rack railway.
A bit of a Google suggests that the rail operations may not still be occuring. It does, however, receive mostly positive reviews on TripAdvisor.
I guess we were lucky to have been able to visit back when it was operational, as it was a very enjoyable ride along the old line.

Can anyone confirm the current situation regarding operations?

Believed to now be under restoration by Downs Steam (Toowoomba)

Mount Morgan Railway Museum - TripAdvisor

Mount Morgan Line History.

Mount Morgan Locomotive Fleet

  Saturday night (June 15th) saw the first annual meeting of the 'Australian Association of Hated Railfans' at Thornton station.
The association was set up to cater for those railfans that, through huge efforts to promote the hobby, have become hated by those that benefit from these efforts.
  Many topics were covered at the inaugural event and it hoped that this will proceed into problem solving activities in the future.

Do you contribute positively to the railfan hobby?
Do lots of people despise you for doing so?

AAHR is here for you.

  Thanks to all who attended our first meeting.

Rosehill Racecourse 2019

  The 'Epping Model Railway Club' put on their excellent annual model railway exhibition over the June long weekend. It was the second year at their new venue and 'Rosehill Racecourse' (Sydney) and is regularly regarded as the best on the Sydney, even New South Wales, exhibition circuit.
  The Epping club has been very good to our 'Trains For Kids With Cancer' fundraising project over the two years that David Xuereb and I have been doing it and we are greatly indebted to them for their continued support.
  Part of this involved allowing us to set up a stand at the exhibition, this seeing us raise around $1500 towards this years donation to the 'Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia'. This certainly helps us with our goal to exceed last years $5040 donation.

  This was my first exhibition, well, as an exhibitor anyway.
  Been to many as a paying attendee, but never truly appreciated the huge amount of work people put in to these things, just so we can have a few hours enjoyment. 
  Despite only doing the install on Friday night, and two full days Sunday and Monday, I was a wreck by the time it came to pull it all out on the Monday arvo.
Great respect for those who bring their stuff over long distances, stray the entire time and then have to take it all home again.

The set up team: Brad, David, Dennis and Another David.

  While the train guff is what mostly motivates us drag our sorry parts to these events, for me it is the catching up with many, many friends from all over the country. Some of them I only ever get to see on these occasions.
Being there for so much time, meant that I would do an awful lot of said catching up, even with one fan I used to hang out with around two to three decades ago.

Model railway icon, Mr Phil Badger (Gopher Models)

  But, as I say, it is the train guff that encourages us to attend and this show certainly had some fantastic layouts to drool over, some risking the electrical from doing so.
  Like so many others, it felt great to see the classic layout 'Stockinbingal' back on the exhibition circuit. The new owners down Wagga have really done an impressive job fixing it up and giving it a great refresh.
  There were the impressive Maryborough and Goulburn layouts, as well my personal favourites, Mungo Scott, along with the one based on Boorowa (the name of which escapes me right now). On top of this, there was my first viewing of 'Blue Mountains' and 'Bricklandia', both exhibiting incredible talent from their respective builders.

Semi Retired Foamer Trophy

  However, the 2019 non-existent 'Semi Retired Foamer' trophy for first place goes to the new layout Wingello.
  It captures my favourite Southern Highlands town so very well and the owners have saved me the effort of doing it after years of consideration.

  Congratulations guys, feel free to right click and save your trophy.
  

  At 3.30 on the Monday afternoon, we held our 'Trains For Kids With Cancer' raffle, with nine model railway prizes won by people attending over the weekend.
We were overwhelmed by the support from so many in the model train industry, without whom, we could not possibly have had so many wonderful prizes on offer.
We thank each and every one of you, together you have shown how great this hobby can be.

Big thanks to Andrew Tailby for your support.

  A huge thank you to everyone who may the weekend such a huge success, the manufacturers/retailers, the attendees who dropped by our stand and the Epping MRC for the mammoth effort you guys must put in to make it all a success.

The Semi Retired Foamer Youtube channel will soon have video coverage of the whole event.

Brad Peadon

Trains For Kids With Cancer.

Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia.

Semi Retired Foamer (Facebook)