Random Bollocks From A Semi-Retired Foamer!: October 2020

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

DELEC LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT PT1

Back in the 80s and 90s, when most my age were chasing women and getting smashed in the old Matraville grog shop carpark, I would spend many a weekend in the old Delec locomotive depot at Enfield.
Yeah, quite sad I know. But looking back on all the notes and photos, I am glad I made the effort to endlessly lurk there.

If only I had a Dollar for every signed indemnity form, I could probably have purchased myself a 44 class at Cardiff.

Delec opened in 1958 and it is believed the name is a portmanteau of the words Diesel Electric. However, some have said it is an anagram for 'Diesel and Electric Locomotive Engineering Centre'.

Changes over the years saw changes to maintenance locations, this gradually rendering Delec more and more irrelevant. It eventually closed in 2008, being demolished the year after.

I would have dearly loved to have visited there in those early days but, alas, it was already a decade old before I was born, and 15 years before I started getting into the worlds most hateful hobby.

This series will cover what was there on some of these visits and a selection of photos.

Please enjoy, hate, or be indifferent, that choice is up to you.

23-4-1984
4466 8050 8109

15-9-1985
42105 42108
42214
4405 4419 4422 4453 4460
4523
4611
4809 4823 4883 48100 48139 48149 48158
8021
8159
8506

29-9-1985
42109
42208 42220
4402 4405 4419c 4445o 4487 44100c
4509 4537
4603 4605 4614 4618 4619 4621 4638 4639 4640
4821 48112 48120 48123 48125 48151
7010
8021
8101 8114 8125 8134 8137 8147 8155 8156 8172 8173
Hope Street: 4205 4409 4410 4452
Enfield Yard West: 4462 44203

19-8-1986
42104r
42201 42202 42203 42204r 42205
4403 4428 4451 4453 4458r 4467 4482 4491
4609 4610
4802 4846 48127c 48152 48161
7308 7309 7310 7321 7344o 7347
44209 44238
8023 8034 8036r
8146 8161 8162 8168
8501o 8502o
8616 8624 8629 8650
G520
X201

8-10-1987
4432 8169 8502 G519

25-3-1988
4606 4607 4614
48132 48137 48152 48162
7303 7306 7320 7325 7346
8627 8643
X203

4205, 4410 and 4452 are all preparing for their final trip. They will soon be on their way to Sims Metal at Mascot.

48127 is a survivor, still being in service with Pacific National as of May this year.

G520 passing through Enfield.
G520 would later go on to be involved in a shunting mishap that saw her in a collision with 8244, 48126 and 8029. She would be repaired and remains in service today.

8036, X201 and 42204 outside the south end of the shed.

8501 Enfield Yard. The 'E' was illuminated and indicates that it was a electric loco, so as to avoid being sent into unwired roads. Only two of the class received this.

The 44 class era was approaching an end when we were treated to this brief lineup at the Delec turntable.

4406, 8152 and 4460 around the Delec turntable.

Wouldn't be long till 4419 would go to god.

4409 at Hope Street awaiting a tow to Sims Metal at Mascot.

World Series 4423 at Hope Street.

Now scrapped 4427.

4432 was only very briefly in candy before having an incident (note all the oil) that lead to her withdrawal.

Ol 4446 was looking pretty worn by the time of this shot.

Accident damaged 8045 sits outside the south end of Delec shed..

4825 48137 passes the former Hope Street station.
This station would disappear well before Delec did.

7343 in Delec shed. She would go on to be one of only two 73 class to wear the red terror livery.
Today she works in the Queensland canefields, rebuilt for use on 2ft gauge.

4878 at Delec in the late 80s.
Now stored at Junee as GPU2.

48132 48141 at Delec in the late 80s.
Both units now scrapped.

A normal Delec scene on the weekend.

48101 48141 sitting out another weekend in Delec.
48101 is still in the ownership of Pacific National.

48105 at Delec. Another one scrapped.

Reverse liveried 48112. Today, 48112 is no longer in existence.

G521 4908 48116 have a rest over the weekend.
G521 in service with Qube Logistics.
4908 is now with Southern Shorthaul.

48116 is now Graincorp 48209.

A newly painted 48121 in her new Freightcorp blue scheme.
Alas, today she is scrapped.

42110 stored at Hope Street.
Another that is now scrapped.

4622 undergoing maintenance in Delec shed.
Like so many others, she now be scrapped.

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Thanks to: Bradly Coulter, Brad Coulter Snr and all the staff at Delec who made us welcome on so many occasions.

Semi-Retired Foamer Page.

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NSW Railways Past and Present

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

3-8-0-1 Pictorial

When we are young, we all do things that, in later life, we realise were a bit embarrassing.

These are the things that we try to keep secret, certainly they are things we would never admit too, for fear of ridicule.

I admit, as a teenager, I was often seen doing something crazy on weekends. Something few who know me will likely even believe.
That's right, I have been known to go chase that overwhelmingly popular 3801.

After all these years, it feels wonderful to get that shame off my chest and be able to share some of those trips here with you.

Gib Tunnel, just to the north of Bowral station.

3801 passing the secluded Mount Murray station on the Unanderra to Moss Vale line..

3801 leaving Picton with an down special and passing a very well used photo location..

The above two shots show 3801, and 3830 for that matter, at Eveleigh on a rather historic evening.

The 38 joined visiting FLYING SCOTSMAN for two return trips to Gosford on SCOTSMAN's last day of operation in Australia. They had just arrived back at Eveleigh following, what was for me, one of the most memorable experiences of her visit.