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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All are available for
FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Thursday, October 13, 2022

BANKSIA ST - BOTANY LINE DUPLICATION - 13-10-2022

 


As has been quite the custom for decades, interest turns towards the Botany railway line around this time of year.

With the looooong planned duplication works finally becoming a reality, that is pretty much the main focus for this year.

 This work, coupled with a huge amount of work around QANTAS Drive and jet base, has made access a lot harder than in past years, so we are limited in how we can cover it.

Yesterday we went down to Banksia Street to check out how things were progressing there.

We noticed rail has been dumped lineside further back towards  Mascot, so it is hoped track laying may soon start to take place.


Former Danish locomotives 1428 (above) and 1437 (below) pass the Banksia Street bridge with their respective container trains from Port Botany.
Photos: Brad Peadon




A rather shiny 8207 was the third train from the port during our morning slumming around the bridge. 
Photos: Brad Peadon


The rather extravagant bridge that replaced the humble little pedestrian foot crossing that once existed here.
Photos: Brad Peadon


 A 'Dry Vac Suction Excavator' apparently.
Photos: Brad Peadon



 Banksia Street looking back towards Cooks River and the junction at Marrickville.
The second line will obviously be in the cleared area to the left of the current one. Though I am told that it changes sides somewhere along the golf course area.
Can someone help with photos from Botany Road to the golf course? Happy to keep the credit anonymous. 
Photos: Brad Peadon






 GL107 and G516 arrive from Enfield with a Lynx shuttle.
Photos: Brad Peadon

GL108 leads Spud and Carrot towards the port with a Crawford's train from Sandgate (Newcastle).
Photos: Brad Peadon



 Sprinkler truck to reduce dust on the worksite.
Photos: Brad Peadon



 John Holland vehicles aplenty.
Photos: Brad Peadon


How it used to look.
In the foreground is the former pedestrian crossing which was replaced by the bridge seen above. All that survives is some of the concrete footpath on the left-hand side.
All the factories on the right-hand side are now units. Not that you could see them from this angle nowadays, as the bridge ramps would block the view.
Photos: Brad Peadon



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Thanks to:

Tezza
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Links that may be of some interest.

Dry Vac Suction Excavator - Wikipedia

Mascot Level Crossing - Last night

AMPOL Pagewood - Branch Line Pt1

Botany Line - 80 Class Album

Port Botany Yard Work - 2010

Port Botany Duplication

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Botany Railway Line SIG

News - History - Photos - Memorabilia



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