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 !



Thursday, August 27, 2020

Spotlight On Candy Livery




Candy, the livery everyone loves, and who can blame them. Afterall, it pulled us out of that dreary Indian Red (and reverse) era, and into the awesome decade that was the 80s.

Our most recent project covers the candy livery 
and can be found at the
It gives a little history, covers all locomotives and railcars that were so painted, and has 107 photos of locomotives, railcars and other sundry assorted guff to wear it during that era.

Our pleasure.

4701 arriving at Picton Station. If i recall correctly, it was headed to Thirlmere.
Brad Peadon

Super Shunter at Elcar (Chullora) - Brad Peadon

4472 at Cardiff for the big auction - Brad Peadon

4405 at Delec loco depot (Enfield) - Brad Peadon

4403 at Sydney Terminal - Brad Peadon

4405 and 44xx pass a CPH tour from Jewels (Belmont branch)
Broadmeadow - Brad Peadon

4419 withdrawn at Delec - Brad Peadon

4428 at Sydney Terminal - Brad Peadon

4432 had not long been painted in candy when she decided to have a fit and get herself withdrawn. Here she sits at the former Delec Locomotive Depot.

CPH7 and CPH1 at Telarah









Wednesday, August 19, 2020




On August 12th, a smallgroup of fans descended upon the unsuspecting town of Lochinvar, to celebrate the 40th birthday of Hunter legend Bradly J Coulter.
A highly successful day, if successful is gauged by the amount of trains. I am assured by experts that, with the right help, the town of Lochinvar will one day be able to move past the trauma of the experience.

Lochinvar 12/08/2020Cooties Birthday Extravaganza
8.47UPXRN003/XRN025/XRN026LoadedAurizon
8.54Down2755/2705PassengerTrainlink
9.20UP9014/9005/9022LoadedPac Nat
9.30UPGWU002/GWU005/GWU001LoadedOne RailMN206
9.38Down9314/9205/9305EmptyPac Nat
9.40UP9312/9317/9310LoadedPac NatBE90
9.43UP6026/6022/6002LoadedAurizonWC938
943Down9006/9013/9015EmptyPac Nat
10.35UPXRN008/XRN020/XRN015LoadedOne Rail
10.56UP5028+5044LoadedAurizon
11.11UP2705/2755PassengerTrainlink
11.27UP9031/9025/9034LoadedPac Nat
11.38UP9028/9032/9030LoadedPac Nat
11.46DownTT131L/EPac Nat
11.52UPXRN006/XRN023/XRN027LoadedOne Rail
12.00UP6001/ACB4403/CF4409LoadedAurizon
12.09UP6043/6004LoadedAurizon
12.18DownNP23 5car XplorerPassengerTrainlink
12.19UPTT116/TT117+TT112LoadedPac Nat
12.26DownXRN014/XRN018/XRN030EmptyOne Rail
12.49UP9215/9201/9202LoadedPac Nat
12.58DownCF4401/6027/6041EmptyAurizon
12.59UPXRN024/XRN029/XRN016LoadedOne Rail
13.18UP5035+5004LoadedAurizon
13.19DownTT08/TT07+TT127EmptyPac Nat
13.30UP5040/ACB4405+5009LoadedAurizon
13.41UP9008/9007/9004LoadedPac Nat
13.51UPNP27 5car XplorerPassengerTrainlink
14.05UP9301/9208/9306LoadedPac Nat
14.17Down6026/6022/6002EmptyAurizon
14.23UP5033/ACB4401+5030LoadedAurizon
14.35Down9312/9317/9310EmptyPac Nat
14.45UPTT06/TT04/TT130LoadedPac Nat
14.49DownTT113/TT124+TT128EmptyPac Nat
14.59UPTT132/TT02/TT03LoadedPac Nat
15.06Down2755/2705PassengerTrainlink
15.13Down9014/9005/9022EmptyPac Nat
15.15UP9035/9029/9024LoadedPac Nat
15.20DownXRN003/XRN025/XRN026EmptyOne Rail
15.25UPTT05/TT121/TT111LoadedPac Nat
15.28DownXRN008/XRN020/XRN015EmptyOne Rail
15.36UP5041/5023EmptyAurizonT452
15.41DownGWU002/GWU005/GWU001EmptyOne Rail

6026 6022 6002 on an up Aurizon coal train headed to Kooragang Island.

An early departure from Sydney saw me 
first on the scene.
Overcast sky and cold breeze not boding well for the rest of the day.
However, as is usually the case, the coal trains instantly started showing up.

9014 9005 9022 on an up Pacific National coal train, also headed to Kooragang Island.

CV-29-ZP at CMC Limousines depot in Farley.

Had to take time out to pick the YouTube famous K-Med from Telarah station. Gave chance to get a northbound XPT, and buses outside the 'CMC Limousines' depot at Farley.

CV-30-ZP at CMC Limousines depot in Farley.


Unidentified buses newly arrived at the CMC Limousines depot in Farley.

Railfanning in the age of the Chinavirus. :-(
Nathan, Cooties and Kevin eagerly await the next coal train.
Well, maybe not eagerly.

5028 leads a coalie to Kooragang Island, while sister 5044 pushes up the rear..

9031 9025 9034 on another up Pacific National coal at Lochinvar.
Once ruling the Hunter Valley, these ol girls are now 26 years old. Excepting 9034, which was part of a four unit batch delivered in 2005.

Aurizon coal lead by 6001 ACB4403 CF4409.
Yes, I fully realise that the cation on the photo has an error. I hope you can get past such a horrid, and unforgivable, error.

Kevin checks out distances with his trusty tape measure.
Does not wish to fill out any 'please explain' forms for the railfan police.

TT116 and TT117, with TT112 giving a good shove up the rear, pass the north-west Exploder service headed to Armidale and Moree.



Oh, and there's that TT112 slogging away behind.

Two pushing locos in the one shot was a first for me.
Aurizon 5004 crossing Pacific National TT127.


5033 ACB4401 and 5030 up the rear.
Coal train headed for port.


The rare sight of actual humans using the, ridiculously oversized, Lochinvar station.


3547-MO on a school run, with a rather concerned looking driver.

At long last, that sun thing pokes through the clouds, just in time for TT132 TT02 and TT03 to pass by on another loaded coal train.

A Huntercar set breaks the monotony of endless coal trains.

9014 9005 9022 had been through early in the day (see above). They have since dumped their load and are seen heading out for another.

A livery that, when actually clean, looks awesome in the sunlight.
XRN003 XRN025 XRN026 pass through Lochinvar station.


3619-MO works another school bus service, with an equally concerned looking driver.


And that was that.
We set off to inspect Neath (see future post) and then partook in the long journey back to Sydney.
Hope that was as good for you as it was for us.
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Thanks be to the two Brad's, Kevin, Nathan and Houro.


Previous Posts For Your Viewing Pleasure.






I've had it with Amazon.

Every time I order some chicken pellets I get an email a few days later asking for their feed back.



Monday, August 10, 2020

 Random Buses Pt2

Rowes Plumpton Bus Depot.

M/O 7376 outside the Rowes Depot.

She would later go to 'Brisbane Bus Lines', then in 2015 to 'Shellharbour City Tour Coaches'.

A more modern day shot.
2623-ST on South Parade at Campsie.
A couple of shots of the former 'Joe's Airport Parking' shuttle bus, taken while I was doing some promotional work for them.
Taken down where today's Shep's Mound is located.

As for the planes:


QANTAS VH-ZXG - 767-336(ER)
1992: Built by Boeing for British Airways
2000: To QANTAS until 2013
2014: KMW Leasing
2014: Dynamic Airways
2018: Eastern Airlines
Still in service.

Japan Airlines JA8186 747-300

Scrapped 2015

Preserved bus, ex-Hong Kong, seen at St James during Australia Day celebrations a few years ago.
3203, alongside, was sold to an R. Lewis of Coogee.

Nadi General Transport - NGTX80
Passing a derailed Lautoka Sugar Mill locomotive #16.
Near Nadi in Fiji.

North and Western Buslines M/O 654 seen at 
Valentia Street wharf.
22-9-1986
M/O 1895
Route 367 at Sydenham station in the 1980s
Sold to Rutty's of Figtree where it was stripped and scrapped.
Bicentenial Bus - 3048
Willoughby Bus Depot
Bus is now scrapped.
Sugar Valley Coachlines Worldmaster #6
Originally Sydney 3296
North Rothbury
Airport Express M/O-3393 at Sydney Airport.
Current situation unknown.
A herd of Leyland Leopard at Ryde Bus Depot.
Left to right.
1651 - Likely Scrapped (Stradbroke Isle Coaches)
1666 - Scrapped (Helensburgh Bus Service)
1687 - Scrapped (Gold Coast Citybus)
1671 - Scrapped (Canterbury Bus Lines)
3068 at the Chullora Railway Workshops open day.
Believed preserved by the Parker Family.
More Leyland Leopards, this time at Enfield Depot.
Leopards with Mansours advertising, was so common 
at the time.
3763 - Went to Broken Hill, likely scrapped.
3952 - Situation unknown.
Mansours Curtains, however, still exist.
M/O 8165 - Toronto rubber-tyred railmotor.
Fassifern.
Would go on to be operated by Busways and Kingsgrove Bus Service, before being sold in 2019 for use as a motor home. 
Went on to be owned by Deane's Coaches, Crossley and Southtrans before, like so many others, being scrapped.





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Thanks to: 
Bob Gioia, Graeme Knappick, Lester Pasley, Hayden Ramsdale and Greg Travers
BusAustralia.com