HUNTER - G CLASS ERA -10-4-2009

 

Please join us as we go baaaaaack in time and take a look at a day hunting G class up in the Hunter coalfields.

Not knowing how long they would last there, as it turned out it was a couple of years, we headed north to get some of the colourful combos they brought.

Actually, to be quite honest, it was more likely the prospect of a weekend in the Neath Hotel that was the driving force in our decision to go. The G class were probably just an added bonus.

You're welcome!

AC4301 is in the final stages of construction at Goninans Broadmeadow.

Photo: Brad Peadon

QR National 5010 at Goninans Broadmeadow.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8242 8201 pass Islington Junction with a loaded coal train.

Photo: Brad Peadon

9209 9202 9023 approaching Port Waratah with another load of coal to be dumped onto a ship.

Photo: Brad Peadon

BL27 has a bludge around Morandoo.

Photo: Brad Peadon

9035 9011 9016 9021 approach Tarro station with a load of coal destined for port.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Just in case such things interest, railcar 2704/2754 approach Tarro with a Newcastle (not that Newcastle Interchange guff) bound service.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8251 G538 9204 9210 with a rake of empty hoppers passing Tarro.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8251 G538 9204 9210 with a rake of empty hoppers now passing through Maitland following a bit of a motorcade.

Photo: Brad Peadon

9215 G526 8232 9015 are a rather colourful combo seen passing East Maitland station, on the approach to John Hourigan bridge..

Photo: Brad Peadon

2502 leads a northbound Exploder through East Maitland.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Back when 'QR National' was still a thing, their 5002 and 5011 are seen with a loaded coal train approaching 'John Hourigan' bridge at Pitacree.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Definitely the highlight of the day.

BL26 BL33 4836 and 603 trundle past Victoria Street (East Maitland) with an empty ore train.

Photo: Brad Peadon

2007/2000 on a northbound XPT service at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

2753/2703 stops at Victoria Street (East Maitland) for the one passenger offering.

Photo: Brad Peadon

9207 G529 G519 8205 on an up loaded coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

8243 9031 G543 9214 (very new) on an empty coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

8111 on a hopper transfer Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

9005 9020 9010 snaking past Victoria Street station (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

2754/2704 pauses briefly at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

5005 5006 on an up coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

2703/2753 at Victoria Street (East Maitland).

Photo: Brad Peadon

One last G class to end off the day as 8251 G538 9204 and 9210 turn up at Victoria Street (East Maitland) with an up coal just before the light disappeared.

Photo: Brad Peadon

-----------------------------------------------------------------

A huge thank you to Bradly 'Dr Cooties' Coulter.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

Visit: Trains For Kids With Cancer.

NOWRA 2000s - inc Berry

 

As is often the case when a have a good collection of location shots, they are borne from an interest in modelling a location. There have been many examples of this over the years, including Yass Town, Koorawatha, Redhead, Wallangarra, Central Kembla, Kemira Valley, and Sandown, to name a few (actually, quite a few).

One location I have long thought would make an awesome layout is Bomaderry (Nowra if you wish) at the far south end of the Illawarra line.

A decent-sized yard, a busy branch off to local industry, and a fascinating extension beyond Bomaderry that passed over a road, and creek, on an old timber trestle.

As with the other mentioned ideas, the Nowra layout has never progressed beyond the thought, and photo, stage.

However, I scanned them a few months back and thought I might as well dump them upon the world.

I had not been able to work out the date these were taken at the time of preparing the images. However, thanks to one of the crew on CLP12 (below), it has been identified to have been the 20th of September 2005.

Bombo Station

Open: 1893

Still in daily use.

Bomaderry (Nowra) Station

Open: 1893

Still in daily use.

CLP12 GM44 CLP10 depart Bomaderry with a Manildra freight.

Today, Manildra is the only freight operation left and would almost certainly be the only reason the line still exists beyond Kiama.

The former factory where milk was once loaded into tankers for railing to Sydney.

Turntable just south of the station.
Don't imagine it sees much use nowadays.

2857/2807 arriving, then later departing, Bomaderry station.

Junction for the short branch to the Manildra plant.

Views around Bomaderry station.

Bomaderry track diagram as of 2002.

The line once extended beyond Bomaderry yard, over Bolong Road and Bomaderry Creek, to a siding on the north side of the Shoalhaven River.

At the time of our visit, the road part had been removed, while the section across the creek was in a very bad way. 

Not surprisingly, it has since been all removed, this apparently happening during June 2013.

Thanks:

Bradly Coulter

Danny Webb

Brian Leedham's Rail Media

Links of interest

Nowra Train Timetable

Nowra - Wikipedia

Bomaderry Goods Shed - Photographic Archival Recording

The Nowra Bridge - Did You Know? 

Removal Of Bomaderry Creek Bridge

Above: Our ezine, published by 

'Semi-Retired Foamer Media' and

free to download from the 

'Trains For Kids With Cancer' website.

Semi-Retired Foamer Video

Transport video from the 80s until today.