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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All are available for
FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Tuesday, June 4, 2019

BOTANY NIGHTS


90s NOCTURNAL GOODS LINE ACTION

 Way, way, back in the 90s, back when it was not a crime to be a railfan and common sense meant there was no need for self appointed railfan police officers, our Sunday evenings were often spent down Botany railway yard in Sydney.
  Having lived along this goods line for most of my life, we had become well know to the staff (for all the right reasons mind you) who spent many years of their life working there.
  At the time, it was normal practice for the last train of the week to leave Botany late Saturday afternoon, usually with that weeks shunter up front, and the daylight hours of Sunday totally devoid of any movement. Well, other than a local railfan or two clearing up overgrown vegetation in more popular photo locations. 
  Sunday night, however, the yard reopen for business. That weeks shunting unit would show up, as would a freight from Brissie, the later usually hauled by a collection of ALCo powered units.
  Having little that resembled a life at the time, we often found ourselves down there in the yard, hanging out with the guys and taking shots of everything that stood still long enough for us to set up a tripod.
  Here is a small selection from those great times.




4904 has turned up at Botany for a weeks worth of shunting duties.
The 49 class would soon be considered inadequate for the task and be replaced by the 442 class.


44204 44209 on the Patricks branch.






8015 and 8014 have just arrived at the new yard in Botany with the Sunday night container train from Brisbane.



A 90s Botany Highlight
4401 had recently been restored for heritage use and spent a short amount of time around Sydney on trip train working. I was in Bomaderry when I first heard of this and had to race back to Sydney for some shots the same afternoon.
Despite the panic, further chances to get her came forth. One of these being a trip train late on one of those Sunday nights.
If you have been paying any remote sort of attention, you would also notice she was there on another night and seen in a shot up above ^^^. 




Hope this was at least marginally enjoyable.

Don't mention it.



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Botany Line SIG
A Facebook group for those interested in Sydney's
'Premier Goods Line'.





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