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, December 16, 2021

BUNNERONG CREEK - 15-12-2021


Yeah, I know I said yesterdays blog post was the last for 2021. But this was a little too important to leave until then.
In recent times I have been rabbiting on about upcoming changes to various bridges around Mascot as part of the duplication project.
However, while all this work continues, in recent days some major heritage vandalism has been occurring to another historic bridge, this one in Matraville. The bridge being one of the last surviving reminders of the former railway that served the former Bunnerong Powerhouse
While the sudden need to cut it in to pieces, and carted off, is not yet known (scrap metal prices?), the loss of this link to our local past is terribly sad.
If anyone has any further information on this, I invite you to please email me (address appears in my photos and on this site), as I am eager to find out the reasoning for the removal.

Bunnerong Creek Bridge - Lower Centre.
Photo: Google Earth Image


Parts of the historic bridge had already been chopped and placed in skips.
Port Botany bus depot at rear.


Looking east from Bumborah Point Road, where the line junctioned for the powerhouse and Boral lines.


Last surviving part of the old fencing along the creek. Just visible in the background is the old track leading to the upper level of the powerhouse and Boral.



The bridge supports following removal of the decking.


Slices of a once intact part of our history.


Some lifted rail can be seen behind the earthmoving thingie (not it's technical name).


A Google of the phone number shows it belonging to the 'Northern Beaches Health Services Redevelopment Team'.




Pieces of history awaiting their own skip bin.


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Thanks to: Aaron Hobson

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Another item of Bunnerong Power House history that seemed to suddenly disappear some years ago.
No idea why it could not have been included as part of the work done around there.



While down there covering the bridge removal, I spent some time around Port Botany depot getting some State Transit action prior to their demise next year.
But that's a posting for another time and I am off for a Christmas break.
Merry Christmas everyone.


A new event coming in 2022.





 

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

RANDOM BUS GUFF - PART 10

 



Alas, we have again reached the last blog post for the year.
I am determined to have a few weeks break from the online hobby, a plan that never seemed to be greatly successful in years past :-)
This year we shall end with 'yet another' bunch of random bus stuff that has recently made it's way into the glorious ranks of the catalogued collection.
For something a wee tad different, we have included some images taken by the legendary Bruce Cook.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who has had to go through the pain of enduring all my internet offerings in 2021, and I apologise in advance for the next 12 months worth of same.
Merry Christmas etc etc


State Transit 2021 - Kingsford Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Doncaster 200 - Doncaster Depot, Melbourne
Late 80s.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Transit Systems 1554 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Dee Cee's CQ-891 - North of Nadi, Fiji
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2906 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2886 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


A rubber tyred railmotor stops in the town of Stockinbingal (Riverina, NSW)
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2610 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 2284 - Kingsford Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 4870 - Kingsford Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 1821 - Kingsford Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 3944 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 3897 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2419 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 2276 - Circular Quay, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon






State Transit 2229 - Circular Quay, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2219 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 2040 - Eddy Ave, Central Station
Photo: Brad Peadon


BUSwest 7YO-466 - Western Australia
Photo: late Bruce Cook


7OR-358 - Western Australia
Photo: late Bruce Cook


Arnotts 7YY-795 - Western Australia
Originally Urban Transit 1082.
Photo: late Bruce Cook


TransPerth 329 - Around Perth presumably.
Photo: late Bruce Cook


Arnotts TC-728 - Western Australia
Originally Urban Transit 1080.
Photo: late Bruce Cook


Transit Systems 2837 - Banksia Station, Sydney
Just before the station had renovations commence.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2810 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 2797 - Eddy Ave, Central Station
Photo: Brad Peadon


2785 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2597 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2497 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 2420 - Campsie Shops, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


State Transit 1694 4889 - Circular Quay, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 1583 - Rockdale, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 7072 - Rockdale, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon


Transit Systems 8131 - Rockdale, Sydney
Photo: Brad Peadon




Below are some extracts from the June 1987 timetable of 'Peninsula Buslines' in Umina.