VH-RME
B767-200

Sydney Airport
2001

1983-Built for Ansett
2001-Final service on September 10th (Syd-Melb)
2001- Offered for sale in October following Ansett collapse.
2003- Stripped and scrapped at Tullamarine

VICTORIAN A CLASS Fleet Update


The Victorian A class locomotive were rebuilt from B class units by  Clyde Engineering at Rosewater.

LOCO	BUILD #	DATE	OWNER	STATUS
A60	84-1184	1984	V/LINE	STORED, Expected to be preserved.
A62	84-1183	1984	V/LINE	STORED, Expected to be preserved.
A66	84-1186	1985	V/LINE	STORED - Emergency Locomotive.
				Expected to be preserved.
A70	84-1187	1985	V/LINE	STORED.
A71	83-1180	1984	PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, June 2019
A73	83-1179	1984	PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, January 2019
A77	83-1181	1984	PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, January 2019
A78	84-1185	1985	PACIFIC NATIONAL	STORED - BENDIGO
A79	84-1188	1985	PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, May 2019
A81	85-1189		PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, January 2019
A85	84-1182		PACIFIC NATIONAL	SCRAPPED, January 2019

A60 Spencer Street  17-2-1999  Bradly Coulter

A60 Spencer Street  3-6-2000  Bradly Coulter

A62 Spencer Street  17-2-1999  Bradly Coulter

A66 Spencer Street    Weston Langford

A66 Spencer Street  1988  John Hourigan

A66 - West Footscray.       Photo: Rob Alekna

B77 - Dynon Loco 1972 Mick McGinty.

A77 North Melbourne  3-3-2000  Bradly Coulter

B78 (A78) - Wodonga  6-4-1981.       Brad Coulter Senior

A78 - Geelong  18-2-1999       Bradly Coulter

A85 - Being rebuilt at Rosewater (South Australia) 25-5-1984

Brad Coulter Senior

A85 - Dynon 10-7-2004 Bradly Coulter.

This fleetlisting was a joint venture of the 'Semi Retired Foamer' 

and 'Brad Coulter Media & Vision Inc'.

BLI BLI model of Ed Millington.  Photo: Brad Peadon

BLI BLI (MORETON MILL)

It is no secret that I am more than a little obsessed with the railways that served the former Moreton Sugarmill that was located in Nambour. So bad is the obsession that I still often return to the area, to research the system, fifteen years after it was closed and ripped up.
The obsession has seen me set up the Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG website and Facebook group, both dedicated to sharing the history of the system and the latest news.
  I also like to keep up with new modelling items that would be of use in modelling the system as it was. While quite a few things are available, they do range over many different scales. These can be found on the website mentioned above.

  At this years Rosehhill Racecourse exhibition, I finally had a chance to inspect the new HOn30 BLI BLI model kit, a joint venture between Badger Bits and Lyndon's Trains. It is made to fit the chassis of a N scale British 03 class locomotive.
I have not had chance to put one together as of yet, but have seen the finished result and it looks great.
  Can only hope that sales will be good enough to warrant further Moreton locomotives, the bogie Baldwin COOLUM or, even better, the Comengs. Both types would have much use for cane (or just industrial layouts in general) modellers, not just those obsessed with Moreton Mill. :-)

Moreton Mill cane bins.

The year after the system closed, I returned to the area to get some final shots of surviving infrastructure and the track removal train.
The removal train was normally stabled at Philbrooks siding (a little north of Bli Bli cutting) when not in use. So it was on the 2nd September 2004 when I stopped by.
I took a number of detail shots of BLI BLI on the day. These shots, along with some others, are seen below.

Don't mention it.

Today, BLI BLI is know known as Lautoka #16 in Fiji.
Seen here at Navo on the 29th September 2018
Photo: Chris Stratton

Related Items Of Interest.

Other BLI BLI Related Content.
Badger Bits
Lyndon's Trains

Maroochy Shire Tramways website.

Maroochy Shire Tramways group.
BLI BLI and pals at Bli Bli (Video)

FIJI MAQERE RANGES

An Adventure

  Way, WAY, back in 2006, I spent a week in Fiji sampling much of the 2ft action that the country has to offer.
  Mid way through the trip, we decided to head across to the small little out-depot of Tavua, a fascinating location with one of the most model-able little loco shed I think I have ever seen.
  In an incredible example of great timing, they were preparing to transfer the local track car back to the Rarawai sugar mill in Ba.
  We waited a little way outside the town for the track car to come past. Thanks to John Browning, one of my companions on the trip, I was privileged to have a ride across this spectacular mountain range.

Our vehicle for the adventure.

Not impressed that we violated his territory.

Their was much evidence of regular derailments.

Tell me that this is not just begging to be a tourist railway.
Some beautiful views of the farms and coastline along this section.

To finish up, more evidence of cane lost in derailments as I neared the end of the trip.

Earlier Fiji posting on the blog HERE. Including the above mentioned Tavua shed.
More to come as it is found.

 

BLI BLI (Now Lautoka #16)
The Prototype and The Model.

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Come along and help us to help the kids most in need.

Built (Steam Loco): Phoenix Foundry of Ballarat (Victoria) 1889
Later renumbered Y109
1950s - Sold to the 'Brunswick Plaster Mill' company.
1956 - Rebuilt to the beast shown above.

Nicknamed 'The Thing'

Operated on gypsum trains from Raak Plain to Nowingi.

To Steamrail upon retirement. Taken to Ballarat East.

Later preserved at 'Millewa Pioneer Park' and cosmetically restored.

Come join us for a wonderful day out on a heritage train.

The day sees us travel in our private TFKWC carriage down the scenic south coast to Wollongong, before climbing the amazing Illawarra Escarpment 

to Robertson and Moss Vale. 

An hour in Moss Vale is available for anyone wishing to grab some lunch for the return home.

More details, including the booking form, are available on our website, or
message us for more details.

More details and the booking form can be found on our

website.

Trains For Kids With Cancer.