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 !



Saturday, December 21, 2024

AMPOL - PAGEWOOD BRANCH - PART 1 - REVISED/ENLARGED




Article: Brad Peadon

 This article was originally written for the former 'The Smutter' ezine, but only ever saw the first part published. I have always felt that this branch had huge modelling potential at a rather cheap cost, it is also one for those who prefer collecting more model locomotives than rollingstock.
  I first put this three-part article together back in July 2019, coinciding with a plan to finally start a layout based on the line.
 I have decided to sit down, fix the horrid design, and add more content.
  As always, I would very much welcome any further information and photos related to the branch.
You can also find much more Botany line content on our Facebook forum.


  



Yellow: Former ICI branch which, while closing decades earlier, is still easier to make out when on location.

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When we first dream of building our own model railway empire - whether we’re young or well-advanced in years - many of us imagine cramming as much track as humanly possible onto the available board space.

This often leaves little room for trees, structures, or even the vaguest hint of reality. The result? Trains endlessly looping around, seemingly without rhyme or reason. While this might be entertaining for a while, the novelty tends to wear off quickly. Before long, you'll find yourself drifting back to internet forums, ready to stir up trouble again.

A wise - though delightfully cantankerous - modeller from the far-flung reaches of Wagga Wagga once shared a gem of advice with me: “More is not necessarily better.”

Now, I’ll admit, his actual words were probably far less polite (and unprintable), but the sentiment stuck with me. Painful as it is to acknowledge, this truth has shaped many of the changes I’ve made to my former Tinlow layout over the years.

  Long before this nugget of wisdom graced my ears, though, I had my sights set on a layout inspired by the now-defunct AMPOL branch line. This short stretch of track ran from the Gelco yard at Botany (Sydney) to the now obliterated AMPOL fuel terminal. With its minimal infrastructure and operational quirks, it struck me as the perfect layout for those who enjoy a surplus of locomotives with just a smattering of rollingstock to shuffle about.

Let’s kick off this epic journey with some photos of the line during its twilight years. Stay tuned, because in the coming days, the thrilling AMPOL saga continues!



AMPOL Terminal at the commencement of the refurbishment.
Photo: Brad Peadon


AMPOL Terminal during refurbishment with the sidings having been relaid.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Following refurbishment of the sidings in the 90s.
To the best of my knowledge, which really is not that great, the terminal has never used a rail-based shunter. This beast would be seen shunting the empties/loaded tankers around the small yard there, thus alleviating the need for a permanent shunting loco.
Photo: Brad Peadon


4910 44211 shunt the AMPOL terminal. Baker Street level crossing in the foreground.
Photo: David Xuereb


Not much effort needed for 4827 to push NTAF4037 fron Gelco to the terminal.
Ocean Street - Photo: David Xuereb


48100 pushing tankers over Ocean Street. 
Photo: David Xuereb


4851 about to pull out a rake of loaded tankers. 
Photo: David Xuereb



4910 44211 at the AMPOL Terminal.  
Both Photos: David Xuereb


44212 shunting the loading bays while the road-based shunter can be seen in the sidings to the left. There were two sidings curving behind that green wall (see part 3)
Photo: David Xuereb


Waiting to cross Ocean Street.  
Photo: David Xuereb


Shunter Steve protects Baker Street as 44212 leads loaded tankers 
out of the terminal.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Changing the points to allow 44211 access to the branch.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Thanks to former local, and lineside companion at Botany for many years, David Xuereb, for use of your photos. Many of which appear in this series.
David lived somewhat closer to the branch than I, so had a lot more opportunity to photograph the daily coming and going.
Hundreds more photos are gradually appearing on our Botany Line research forum.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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In part 2 we take a walk along the branch and photograph the line-side structures.


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Thanks to Bradly Coulter, David Xuereb, and the Botany Historical Trust (Eastgardens Library).
Smithston Design & Graphics
Wikipedia
The Story Of The Sydnenham To Botany Railway by Neville Pollard.
 







Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2024

SUGAR RAILS ALBUM - PART 1



Howdy folks!

One major drawback of years of neglecting to catalogue over 300,000 photos is that I'm now playing catch-up. While I've managed to organize thousands of images on this blog across various themes, there are still countless others sitting around waiting for their moment.

To tackle this backlog, I'm embarking on a mission to sort through and categorize a substantial number of these photos in the coming months. Expect to see posts dedicated to locomotives, carriages, infrastructure, trams, and buses, catering to those with even a passing interest in these subjects.

This series will cover the various Aussie Sugarmill rail systems and equipment that I have photographed over the years.
These will all be primarily around Queensland, however, preserved items will appear in other states.
If you're interested in sugarcane railway items in the Philippines feel free to check out my other website and forum.

Prepare for the approaching tsunami of photographs from the 80s till today.
Corrections are welcome.

You're welcome.

If you have an interest in aviation and other guff, check out my

Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment. 


ISIS No11 - EMB 10130.1 6.82 of 1982
Isis Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


FELIN-HEN - Baldwin 46828 of 1917.
Seen stored at the Qunaba Mill site.
Has since been sold to a preservation group in France and has been restored to operation.
Photo: Brad Peadon


5804 - Walkers 589 of 1969 
(ex Mt Isa Mines 5804, ex DH-7)
Isis Mill
It is believed to still be sitting there today.
Photo: Brad Peadon


ISIS No5 - Walkers 617 of 1969 (ex DH-35)
Isis Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


Ruston - 4wDM b/n. 371959/1953
Formerly from the CSR Condong Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


ALEXANDRA - Clyde 61-235  of 1961
Macknade Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon



MKD14 - EMB 6/2490.1 7.68  of 1968
Macknade Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and two below
DOUGLAS - Com-Eng AL2562  of 1963
IVY - Com-Eng AL4181 of 1965
FAUGH-A-BALAUGH - Com-Eng AL4190 of 1965
It was recently reported on the 'Light Railways of Australia' group that most of the Mossman fleet has been sold to MSF Sugar and transferred to the former Mourilyan Mill yard.
All three seen here are believed to have made the move.
Photo: Brad Peadon




GARGETT - Marian Mill
Eimco - L255 of 1990
Photo: Brad Peadon


MKD19 - EMB 6/1446.1 9.65  of 1965
Macknade Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


CROMARTY - Com-Eng CA1040 of 1960
STRATHALBYN - Westfalia  13863.1 8.91 of 1991
Invicta Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


TEGEGE - Former Bingera Mill
Com-Eng - FD4799 of 1966
Believed to now be at Millaquin Mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Brake Wagon 18 - Mulgrave Mill System
Photo: Brad Peadon


TULLY 3 - Tully Mill System
EMB - 6-1082-1-2-65 of 1965
Photo: Brad Peadon


Mourilyan 14 - Clyde 63-288 of 1963.
Seen inside the former Mourilyan Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


NYLETA - Prof Engineering for EIMCO. 
P.S.L.25.01 of 1990
South Johnstone Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


Mourilyan 12 - Clyde 55-60 of 1955.
Mourilyan 18 - Clyde 56-83 of 1956.
Seen inside the former Mourilyan Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


CROMARTY - Com-Eng CA1040 of 1960
Invicta Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon




ex Kalamia Mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


ex Invicta Mill, ex Mulgrave Mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Mourilyan 15 - Clyde 66-491 of 1966.
Mourilyan 8 - Com-Eng AA1543 of 1960.
Mourilyan 11 - Clyde 55-64 of 1955.
Seen inside the former Mourilyan Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


Proserpine 2 - Clyde 56-91 of 1956.
Outside Proserpine Mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


ISIS No1 - Walkers 602 of 1969 (ex DH-20)
Isis Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


ISIS No4 - Walkers 656 of 1970 (ex DH-69)
Isis Mill
Photo: Brad Peadon


Goondi #1 stored at the former Goondi Mill site.
Has since been preserved by the Illawarra Light Railway Museum.
Photo: Brad Peadon


LIVERPOOL - EMB 10385.1 8.82 of 1982.
Liverpool Creek on the South Johnstone system.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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All who joined me on my 2ft adventures.

Brian Bouchardt, William Thomson

Light Railways of Australia Group
Australian Sugar Cane Trains/Navvy Pics 2ft group.

 





Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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Dad: Look at that flock of cows!
Kid: Herd of cows.
Dad: Of course I heard of cows! There's a flock of them over there! 


Interested in the narrow gauge sugarcane railways of Negros and Panay (Philippines), along with the industry they served?