Spotlight on the NSW 80 Class.

A collection of images taken back in the 90s.

For a very long time, 7SP5 was the train of choice for Saturday morning foaming.
It would regularly rate a lashup of four ALCo lovelies.

Yes I realise it is May now, but I have still many more 44 class shots that I have scanned. Thankfully I stopped scanning them a week ago, otherwise the amount here could keep us going for the rest of the year.

Still, contrary to popular opinion, you can't have to much of a good thing.

Oh the wonderful pre-Endeavour days on the south.

4486 pauses briefly at Menangle before roaring off in another cloud of thick black smoke.

A still clean 4486 at Delec.

4499 and 4485 are none to concerned about Mindaribba loop as they hurry their way north towards Brisbane.

4484 on a ballast train somewhere around Sydney.

Anyone able to identify the location?

4484 4511 climb south out of Taree.

4482 shunts 8502 at Lansdown Engineering (Goninan) near Taree.

4483 and 4447 amongst a sea of red at Delec.

4482 stabled at Moss Vale between runs to the city.

She certainly gets around, now she is shunting the Manning River branch in Taree.

4481 on a down Goulburn passenger at Strathfield.

4481 leads a train north out of Taree.

4480 shunting Taree yard.

4480 in Delec.

Changing of guard as 4482 arrives in Taree to replace 4480 on local shunting duties.

4480 has just been painted into the blue livery and awaits release from Chullora.

Welcome back. We be running out of month, but far from running out of 44 class.

It is quite possible the series will now run into May.

In the meantime, here be another juicy selection from the final years.

The end is nigh with the last loco hauled Goulburn train having arrived in Sydney Terminal and run around. It will shortly leave for the very last time.

This event was even covered by the media, with one Sydney major featuring a photo of the train, as well ad David Xuereb, the late Bruce Cook and the Semi-Retired Foamer himself.

Both 44s live on.

4484 and 4497 stop briefly at Taree with a north bound freighter for Brisbane.

Taree, at this time, was a hotspot for ALCo action, with no lesser makes to be seen.

Late one Saturday night we found 4403 sitting at Cooks River staff hut for a while. Twas awaiting its chance to buggar off towards Port Botany.

Obviously in those days I had not real life which, while quite sad, is worth it now.

The big Cardiff auction in 1994 where the fate of many a NSW ALCo was sealed.

4472 become one of the lucky ones and has survived till today.

Many an hour was spent at High Street station during the first half of the 90s, with the Coachstop Caravan park being the gnzel residence of choice prior to the Neath Hotel.

4470 is seen heading through the station on the down.

4486 4446 at Delec.

Preserved 4306 and 4401 depart Delec and pass Hope Street.

Inside the cab of 4401 just prior to withdrawal.

4442 still in service - now long since gone to the big depot in the sky.

4451 4804 4855 down freight between Douglas Park and Maldon.

Siggggh - days much missed.

Twas a sad, yet happy day really, the day of the Cardiff auction. So many good old ALCos went to scrap, but many more than though managed to survive. Neither 4469 or 4482 were among the lucky ones though and are now just consigned to history.

4401's regular service days were finished, but she would go on to preservation.

4463 leads two sisters through High Street (Maitland) enroute to Brisbane.

4468 is seen here mid-way through painting into the short lived heritage scheme.

The application of the yellow lining would see her return to traffic and also be a part of the historic last loco hauled passenger service from Goulburn.

4475 withdrawn at Delec.

4493 also withdrawn at Delec.

4484 awaits decision on her future at the Cardiff auction.

4486 and 4857 sit at Port Botany, awaiting permissione to head off towards Enfield.

Possibly one of the 44s that haunted me most, good ol 4467 is seen sitting at Hope Street with the ex-fiancee Julie hanging off the side.

4490 and 4401.

4401 getting an Indian Red repaint.

One of the lucky two 44 class, the other 4406, to achieve the important ranks of my favourite.

4460 is seen arrivingat Sydney Terminal on another Goulburn passenger.

4458 4427 4474 at Ariah Park on an up 3270 Griffith Speedfreight.

4458 at Barellan (Griffith line)

4457 stored at Parkes.

4456 at Sydney Terminal with the Sydney Express (ex-Melbourne) behind.

4456 in her lovely original livery passes through Campsie in the 80s.