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 !



Tuesday, December 8, 2020


While many railway preservation projects, both here and in the Philippines, hold great interest for me, the recent moves to save Stockinbingal have really caught my eye.
It would not come of much surprise to those that regularly visit this beautiful little town, that the station is in a very bad way. Vandals make their occasional visits, while I am told that it has seen significant damage through the ravenous jaws of Termites.




I became very attached to the town, and most especially the railways station, back in the late 1980s, when we would be frequently there on our 'very' regular visits to Cootamundra.
Many a late night was spent in the signalbox, chatting to the signalmen (or is the signalpersons in 2020) on duty and watching trains passing through enroute to their various destinations.
It is these memories that live with you forever and really make you become emotionally attached to a place.


For Stockinbingal, there will be much change in the short term, mostly due the forthcoming new inland railway, that is to cut through the area immediately west of Stockinbingal yard.
It is hoped that, during this change, thought will also be given to people's desire to see their history saved.




2021 is looking like being a make or break year for the heritage Stockinbingal station. If you can lend your support, in any way whatsoever, please take a moment to make contact with them.
We will definitely be following progress either here on the blog, on our Semi-Retired Foamer page, or, assuming you are really lucky, perhaps even on both.

Stockinbingal Station Preservation Group

There is a website and email address, but I could not find it at time of posting.

 






Southern Railway Preservation.

A selection of other recommended southern 'New South Wales' preserved stations/locations of interest.

Cooma Monaro Railway

Bombala Railway Station

Wagga Wagga Railway Museum

Ladysmith Railway Station

Temora Railway Station

Crookwell Railway Station

Yass Town Railway Museum

Goulburn Roundhouse

Junee Roundhouse Museum

Lockhart Station (ex Uranquinty)

Michelago Railway Station


A big thanks to Blue Artocillo, Rod Avery, Brian Leedham and Harold Winthrop for their assistance in this posting.







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