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.
.
_
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).
_
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
_
**** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS ****
-
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 !



Saturday, March 4, 2023

VICTORIA ADVENTURES - PART 1



The next in the adventure series.
Back in 1984 I partook in my first interstate railfan adventure, this being to our southern neighbour of Victoria.
Until this time, my limited railfan experiences had mostly been around New South Wales, and none to far from Sydney.
I well remember the excitement, the trains, the trams, and to a lesser extent the buses.
It was more than a teenage fan could reasonably expect not to get over excited about.
For some years I would regularly gravitate back to the state. Any opportunity would see me down there, and many wonderfully memorable visits were had.


While I later discovered the infinitely more interesting Queensland.
Ooooohhhh I said it. Sorry, I do love narrow gauge :-)
Those days down in Victoria were certainly some of my most memorable.
The famous 'Sunshine Nights' with the likes of the late Ray Kilby, Ian Kyd, Mc Ardle Brothers, Rodney Nugent, Kevin Medley, John Auer, Steven Thomas, my long time mate Frolicking Frank Kirk, Peter Carwardine, Lindsay Porter and many others, are events I shall never forget.
The tours.
The depot visits.
The huge statewide tours with the late Rob Fry.
My 1987 trip was even with my late nan.


While some recent events have somewhat tarnished these memories of the state, I am in the process of planning a return.
My main desire is to return to the places I once hung out, to see the changes, and to catch up with some old tram friends.

During the course of 2023 I shall be sharing the sightings I have so far typed up, along with a mix of the many photos I took.
Feel free to enjoy, or hate, every single installment. A choice that I shall, as always, leave to you.

Frolicking Frank Kirk at Spencer Street.




1987     6
2-3-198742218 -PassengerAlbury Intercapital Daylight Express from Sydney to Melbourne.6
 X41 Y108YardWodonga--6
 8180 P12 6RT N461YardSeymour-6RT in yellow livery.6
 T381-Heathcote Junct South of Heathcote Junction6
 N461PassengerHeathcote Junct Train had been following/parallelling us for some distance.6
 Y123 S309 Y143YardTottenham-Y123 in VR Blue.6
 See notes:?? 6 wheel brake vans: ZL384 544ZL 437ZL 547ZL 505ZL6
 G516PassengerBunbury Street Sydney Express6
 See notes:-- Noted from Footscray to Spencer Street: 56RM Y102 X526
     T398 A62 A71 A70 Y115 A85 T411 T370 P11 Y103 N461 S301 Y121 B64 Y113 X476
3-3-1987880 -Tram SW6Melbourne Corner of Bourke and Swason Streets.6
 1 -Tram Z1Melbourne Bourke Street Mall6
 274 -Tram A2Melbourne Flinders Street6
 DAT-352Bus GrendasOakleigh Station6
 BFQ-499Bus GrendasOakleigh Station6
 ComengPassengerOakleigh11:23Caught to Flinders Street6
 X40-Spencer Street11:56Near parcel vans.6
 P23-Spencer Street Platform 66
 N456 -Spencer Street Arrive Platform 76
 939 N456PassengerSpencer Street To Ballarat6
 Y113ShuntingSpencer Street  6
 MK-1985CoachSpencer Street V/Line Coach6
 1275 -Tram SW2Swanson Street13:05 6
4-3-1987510 -Tram W2Swanson Street08:30 6
 605 -Tram W2Swanson Street08:30 6
5-3-1987816 -Tram SW5Swanson Street09:20To Carnegie. Transporting Arts Livery - Michael Leunig6
 471 -Tram W2Swanson Street09:43Route 666
 441 -Tram W2Swanson Street Route 3, '150th Anniversary Of Victoria' livery. (White and multi coloured)6
 827 -Tram W5Swanson Street09:51 6
 Geographical ToursBusSwanson Street09:53Double deck bus.6
 760 -Tram SW5Swanson Street10:01Painted up6
 426 -Tram SW2Swanson Street10:02 6
 BYF-558BusSwanson Street10:04 6
 431 -Tram W2   6
 436 -Tram SW2   6
 1024 -Tram W7  Capita Tram6
 431 -Tram W2Collins Street  6
 436 -Tram SW2Collins Street  6
 8174 -FreightM Viaduct Maribyrnong Viaduct6
 8168 -FreightM Viaduct14:24Maribyrnong Viaduct, Down6
 S311 T368ApexM Viaduct15:06Maribyrnong Viaduct, Up6
 T354FreightM Viaduct15:17Maribyrnong Viaduct, Down6
 RM63PassengerFootscray18:08Down Bacchus Marsh6
 G518FreightBunbury Street18:15Down Bacchus Marsh6
 N467PassengerFootscray18:18Down Geelong6
 P18PassengerFootscray18:21Down Geelong6
 X35PassengerFootscray18:28Up Geelong6
 DRC41PassengerFootscray18:44Down Sunbury6
6-3-1987E1109-Jolimont  6
 4 X L ClassFreightGraham Port Melbourne to Traralgon goods (see photo)6
7-3-1987T412FreightFlinders Street  6
 HarrisPassengerFlinders Street Rebuilt set, from Port Melbourne6
 ComengPassengerFlinders Street10:12Flemington Racecourse special6
 932 X51PassengerSpencer Street Down Overland to Adelaide6
 42208 -PassengerSpencer Street Up Intercapital Daylight6
 Y101ShuntingSpencer Street Shunting in Sydney Express cars6
8-3-1987854TPassengerSpencer Street10:03Harris set caught to Belgrave6
 RM22PreservedNewport Walkers Railcar6
 220 -Tram Z3Melbourne19:28Turning from Gertrude into Nicholson St, Route 876
 X47 939PassengerSpencer Street Overland to Adelaide6
 N455PassengerSpencer Street20:40Up Albury6
9-3-1987P16PassengerSpencer Street12:10Down Kyneton extra6
 A78PassengerSpencer Street12:30Down Albury6
10-3-1987Brunswick DepotTram  Visit6
  Essendon DepotTram  Visit6
 L1156 L1150FreightPort Melbourne18:05For Traralgon6
11-3-1987DRC41PassengerFrankston11:46Mornington train.6
 Notes:   Photos: Leawarra, Baxter, Somerville, Tyabb, Hastings, Bittern, Stopping Place 15, 6
 Notes:   Crib Point, Stony Point. Diagrams in book 6.6
 Notes:   Photos: Inner Circle line, North Carlton station, Holton St, Bowen Cres, Overpass,6
 Notes:   Stanchion, former junction with Upfield line.6
     Reported: St Kilda has a defective train.6
 S307 T349Freight?-Down freight to Westall6
 940 -PassengerSpencer Street-Up empty Overland cars6
 X39PassengerSpencer Street-Up Sunrayser from Mildure6
 X48 S303PassengerSpencer Street-Down Overland 6
12-3-1987X51 S308PassengerSpencer Street  6
 432 -Tram W2Melbourne Swanson and Latrobe Streets6
 234 -Tram A1Melbourne Swanson and Latrobe Streets6
 Wheel Grinder-Kew Depot  6
 469 -Tram YKew Depot Preserved6
 281 -Tram A1Kew Depot Second newest A class tram.6
 164 -Tram SMalvern Depot Preserved6
 180 -Tram TMalvern Depot Preserved6
 217-Tram BirneyMalvern Depot Preserved6
 1275 -Tram W2Malvern Depot  6
 1275 -Tram W2Malvern Depot Inside the drivers cab.6
 3 -TramMalvern Depot Noted as Hawthorn 36
 X51 X52PassengerSpencer Street Overland6
 Y101-Spencer Street Between Platforms 1 and 26
 Overland ConsistPassengerSpencer Street VMBP, 3PCO, NOMULDI, TANTINI, Ckub Car #3, WERONI, PURPAWI, 1AJ, 5BJ6
 42213 -PassengerSpencer Street20:162RBJ, 7BJ, 2CO6
 42213 -PassengerSpencer Street20:16Up Intercapital Daylight Express6
 P15 P21 P14Light EngineSpencer Street-Platform 16
13-3-198742213 -PassengerSpencer Street-Down Intercapital Daylight Express6
 P17PassengerSpencer Street08:30Arrive6
 P12Light EngineSpencer Street08:38Depart6
 P14 P21 P15Light EngineSpencer Street Depart6
 N460PassengerSpencer Street08:41Depart6
 N452PassengerSpencer Street08:41Arrive6
 N457PassengerSpencer Street08:42Arrive6
 X48 S303PassengerSpencer Street Arrive from Adelaide6
 T373FreightSpencer Street  6
 EM100Track MachineSpencer Street Track Recording Car 6-56-0016
 N467PassengerNewport10:00Our train to Geelong6
 Notes:DepotGeelong H2 H3 Y127 W241 Y131 Y135 X31 T356 T381 T372 W244 Y133 6
     H1 Under repair6
 738 -Tram SW5Melbourne Collins St, Newest 'Transporting Art' tram. Painted: Jeffrey Makin6
 -PassengerMelbourne Caught train to St Kilda6
 836 -Tram SW5Melbourne Noted around St Kilda and Albert Road junction. 5 Malvern6
 882 -Tram SW6Melbourne " 64 City6
 644 -Tram SW2Melbourne " 64 Brighton6
 810 -Tram SW5Melbourne " 3 City6
 831 -Tram W5Melbourne " 5 City6
 887 -Tram SW6Melbourne " 5 Uni6
 1040 -Tram W7Melbourne " Last W type tram built.6
 783 -Tram SW5Melbourne  6
 817 -Tram W5Queens Bridge  6
 767MPassengerMelbourne Spencer St - Flinders St Viaduct. Harris Train6
 T364BallastMelbourne Spencer St - Flinders St Viaduct. Up6
 S302 Y159BriquettesMelbourne Spencer St - Flinders St Viaduct. Up6
 B61FreightMelbourne Spencer St - Flinders St Viaduct. Up6
14-3-198756RM 63RM 03MTHPassengerSpencer Street Yarrawonga Tour6
 221 -Tram Z3Bourke Street Caught tram to Spencer Street6
 SparkPassengerSpencer Street08:24Caught Dandenong train from platform 7, via city loop.6
 A78 B76PassengerSpencer Street08:28 6
 P12PassengerMurrumbeena08:54 6
 384MPassengerDandenong Head of our train back to the city.6
 Harris CarsWithdrawnDandenong Withdrawn and waiting to be buried.6
 Harris setPassengerPakenham  6
 ComengPassengerPakenham Our Comeng set back to the city6
 DRC42PassengerSpencer Street11:42Depart6
 902 -Tram SW6East Brighton12:49 6
 S315 G524 N470Light EngineSpencer Street14:02Depart6
 Notes:PassengerSpencer Street Various SS spark arrival and departure notes.6
 A81 X36PassengerSpencer Street14:31Arrive6
 A81 X36Light EngineSpencer Street14:35Detach from train6
 A81 X36PassengerSpencer Street14:44Run around train then attach to another set.6
 X36Light EngineSpencer Street14:49 6
 X36Light EngineSpencer Street14:51 6
 Y141ShuntSpencer Street14:57 6
 A81PassengerSpencer Street15:00Depart6
 X36 N470 G524 S315Light EngineSpencer Street15:02To Dynon6
 Y117 Y137Light EngineSpencer Street15:02From Yard to platform 56
 Y141ShuntSpencer Street15:03Pushing passenger set into station. 1xLouver + Z526
 Y137 Y117Light EngineSpencer Street15:06To yards6
 Y141Light EngineSpencer Street15:07Platform 6 to yard6
 T372 T347 T361FreightSpencer Street15:09 6
 Y137 Y117Light EngineSpencer Street15:10Yards towards Dynon6
 Y141ShuntSpencer Street15:11Yard 6
 1006 874 816 684Tram DepotSouth Melbourne 816 Painted, 684 Outside6
 11W 10WTram DepotSouth Melbourne Scrubber trams, formerly Sydney trams6
 442 -Tram DepotSouth Melbourne Resteraunt Tram6
 SparksStabledSandringham Left to Right 63M (Hitachi), 1547M (Harris), 40M6
 S309PassengerSpencer Street17:55To Dimboola6
 N456 N460 N453-Spencer Street  6
 P21-Spencer Street18:03 6
 P11ShuntSpencer Street Pushes in 3 car set _+ DRC426
 N460PassengerSpencer Street18:10Departed Platform 36
 N453PassengerSpencer Street-Departed platforn 46
 N456 N460 N453PassengerSpencer Street-Departed platform 26
 P11PassengerSpencer Street-18:30 to Seymour from platform 66
 MXL197BusSwanson Street-National6
 184 -Tram Z3Bourke Street Caught to Spencer Street6
 8168 -PassengerSpencer Street Sydney Express6
 42213 -PassengerSpencer Street Up Intercapital Daylight Express6
 T408 N471PassengerSpencer Street From Bainsdale6
 X52 X51PassengerSpencer Street Overland to Adelaide6
15-3-1987810 -Tram SW5Swanson Street  6
 868 -Tram SW6Arts Centre  6
 947 -Tram SW6Shrine Headed towards city.6
 MXL198BusShrine  6
 SparkPassengerFlinders Street11:17Caught to St Albans6
 -TramElizabeth Street-Restored tram headed for zoo6
 204 - Tram Z3Royal Park15:09Inbound6
 N467PassengerSpencer Street-Platform 2 Z56 N36
 63RM-Spencer Street-Yard6
 N467PassengerSpencer Street18:05Combined Albury/Cobram6
 8176 -ShuntSpencer Street18:20Empty Sydney Express cars6
 N453PassengerSpencer Street18:26Arrive 1 x Louver + N186
 N465 A77PassengerSpencer Street18:27Platform 86
 8176 -Light EngineSpencer Street18:29Runs around Sydney Express cars6
 N463PassengerSpencer Street18:30Arrive Platform 4, 1 x Louver + Z526
 Y101ShuntSpencer Street18:32Shunts Sydney Express carriages6
 A66ShuntSpencer Street18:33Arrive Empty Overland carriages6
 Y101Light EngineSpencer Street18:33Departs6
 N465Light EngineSpencer Street18:38Departs to yard6
 8176 -ShuntSpencer Street18:39Onto Sydney Express6
 A66ShuntSpencer Street18:40Runs around Overland cars6
 Y117ShuntSpencer Street18:43SVinelander carriages6
 A66Light EngineSpencer Street18:45Departs6
 N461PassengerSpencer Street18:45Up Albury to Platform 36
 Y117ShuntSpencer Street18:50Push Vinelander carriages into platform 46
 N465PassengerSpencer Street18:55Departing6
 P21PassengerSpencer Street19:05Up Leongatha6
 N469PassengerSpencer Street19:11Up Bendigo6
 N460 N454 N456-Spencer Street20:29Around yard6
16-3-1987N458 X44PassengerSpencer Street08:45Up Albury to Platform 36
 A70 N452 S306-Spencer Street- 6
 B76 A78PassengerSpencer Street09:20Up Swan Hill6
 T399 T358-Spencer Street09:35From Bairnsdale, T358 in VR Blue6
 42213 - PassengerSpencer Street Our Intercapital Daylight Express to Sydney6
 Seen While Leaving Melb Spencer Street Yards: P11 N461 Y1146
     Y1166
     H5 T4136
   Dynon Depot T349 Y101 8175 8178 G520 Y103 A79 X54 Y168 Y146 L1150 L1160 A626
   Dynon Depot S311 S315 Y102 64RM6
 8173 -PassengerKeilor East Maribyrnong Viaduct, Melbourne Express6
 Y148Fuel? From Tottenham6
 X41Shunt?Somerton  6
 RT40 RT28 T387 T386-Seymour10:05RT28 Yellow6
 Y166 Y167-Wodonga  6
 N456PassengerAlbury Broad gauge platform6


- -

 




A71 - Dimboola - Now Scrapped
Photo: Brad Peadon


S310 - Dynon Loco
 Now with 'Seymour Rail Heritage Centre'
Photo: Brad Peadon


T395 - Dynon Loco
 Now with 'Steamrail Victoria'
Photo: Brad Peadon



BL32 G542 8167 G537 H1 - Dynon Loco
 Now all with 'Pacific National', except for H1 which is believed to be stored at Seymour with 'VicTrack Heritage'.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Y172 Y170 Y175 Y174 - Ballarat East Loco
 Only survivor is Y174, now owned by Ettamogah Rail Rub.
Photo: Brad Peadon


A60 - Passenger - Bacchus Marsh
 Now with 'VicTrack Heritage', allocated to Seymour.
Photo: Brad Peadon


S304 C504 - Dynon Loco
S304 now scrapped, C504 survives with Southern Shorthaul.
Photo: Brad Peadon


S302 - Somewhere in Victoria
 Now with 'Southern Shorthaul'
Photo: Brad Peadon


T400 N455 - Dynon Loco
 T400 has been scrapped, while N455 remains with V/Line.
Photo: Brad Peadon


T402 T410 P14 - Dynon Loco
 T402 with 'Seymour Rail Heritage Centre'.
T410 now scrapped.
P14 with 'Southern Shorthaul'.
Photo: Brad Peadon


C504 C510 T381 J103 - Middle Footscray
 Now with 'Southern Shorthaul', except J103 which is which is with SCT Logistics.
Photo: Brad Peadon



BL27 C503 - Middle Footscray.
BL27 with 'Pacific National', C503 with 'Rail First Asset Management'. 
Photo: Brad Peadon



8A at Puffing Billy - Belgrave.
Photo: Brad Peadon



8176 on the 'Sydney Express' while Y101 potters around nearby.
8176 with 'Pacific National', Y101 has gone to locomotive heaven.
Photo: Brad Peadon



A steam traction engine of some sort, in some location, at some special event, around Melbourne.
Photo: Brad Peadon



May be at Stony Point.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Abel Tasman at Station Pier in Port Melbourne.
The ferry operated from to to Tasmania for many years, having her first run on the 27th of November 1993.
She was sold and went on to a interesting career overseas, including one serious mishap where she failed to stop at a dock.
Last report said that she was beached at a Turkish scrapyard during May 2022.
Photo: Brad Peadon



1172 at Graham station in Melbourne.
The locomotive is now scrapped, and the line converted to light rail.
Photo: Brad Peadon



1158 at Graham station in Melbourne.
The locomotive is now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon



X48 S303 preparing to depart Spencer Street on the Adelaide bound 'Overland'.
S303 with VicTrack, preserved at Seymour.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Classic old overhead inspection train.
Photo: Brad Peadon



X47 - Spencer Street, Melbourne
Now with 'SCT Logistics'.
Photo: Brad Peadon




Items preserved at the 'Newport Railway Museum'.
Photo: Brad Peadon






Parcel vans stored at Spencer Street.
12 and 13 were apparently taken off the register in 1986 and subsequently went to the 'Mornington Railway Preservation Society'.
Their current situation is unknown.
Photo: Brad Peadon




Charlton railway station which I am told has since been eradicated from the face of the earth.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Deniliquin is actually in New South Wales, but always operated by the railways of Victoria.
This was taken during a weekend rail tour to Moulamein and Deniliquin.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Y121 shunting around North Melbourne.
Locomotive now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Y151 shunting around North Melbourne.
Locomotive now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Baxter station on the Stony Point line.
Former junction for Mornington.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Deer Park station.
Photo: Brad Peadon


N451 heading up the North Melbourne flyover.
Locomotive still with V/Line.
Photo: Brad Peadon



X31 passes through North Melbourne.
Now with VicTrack and allocated to Seymour.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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Thank you:
To all those wonderful locals who not only made me feel welcome over the years, but who toured me around, updated me on what was happening, or just made hanging out lineside that much more fun.
  Huge shout out to my friend of many decades 'Frolicking Frank Kirk' who has recently been generous enough to allow me to share many of these memories on my YouTube Channel.
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