Two recent requests have seen me pulling out the dusty old slide boxes from the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' archive. The slide collection, while quite large, has always been the lesser cousin of the massive print one.
As such, it has probably been some 2-3 decades since I really had a look at them.
With most shots taken in the glory years that formed the 80s, I really just can't remember what is amongst them. So, I can honestly say that what appears in this 'occasional' series, will likely be as much of a surprise to me as it will be for you.
Also of surprise will be the distinct lousy quality of most of what appears. I was only trialling slides for a few years and, well, it was my early years of transport photography.
I am sure you shall find a way to endure it.

I was never only a train fan, I have always had an interest in transport away from railways. It is just that most of my public involvement was in the rail arena. Something that I guess I sort of regret at times.
It did give me some tremendous lifetime friends who do make up for the butt pipes.

  Returning from Melbourne, while on one of many 80s trips, we decided to stop in at Wagga Wagga for a look at the former 'Urban Transit Authority'  Leylands (no rail reason to stop in back then) that Fearnes were using at the time.
  Above are two Mk1 Leopards and just a small part of an Atlantean (see future posts).

Be hard pressed finding one of these on QANTAS Drive nowadays.
While the bus, and livery, are now long gone, Murrays Coaches still exist.

 Obviously we thought long walks were a great idea back in the 80s.On this day we caught a train to Lidcombe, then walked to the former Pippita station, before risking our lives entering the railway corridor to survey the old line to the Abattoirs. Ooooh, todays railfan nazi's would have been impressed.
Despite being caught in an upturned Brickworks signalbox, the day was an educational and fun one. Many shots were taken and will appear in due course.

The livery is now gone.
The 48 class has been decimated in number.
The fuel tankers are likely all scrapped.
The siding is ripped out.
The terminal is gone.
The Sandown line is mothballed.
Safe to say we ain't going to see this ever again.

North Sydney Depot
3991-Last with Revesby Bus and Coach. Now scrapped.
1765-Preserved, Sydney Bus Museum collection.
3822-Scrapped, Last with Crossley Bus Lines

7343 would later go on to be one of only two 73 class in the Red Terror livery.

Sandown was once a busy industrial branch line serving many businesses. Today it is closed, but left intact for now. The fuel sidings here closed with the cessation of all fuel services on the tracks of New South Wales.

Following the events of 1987, the locomotives at Chullora were no longer allowed to hold Xmas parties.

4438 and 4422 are seen stored at Junee. Both have since gone to god.

Delec turntable was always worthy of an inspection on a weekend. All sorts of locos were noted around it over the years.
Of course, those days when it was filled up with quality ALCo products, well they were by far the best. It was not hard to send more than five hours prowling up and down tracks, getting close to locomotives, without the worry of railfan Nazis waiting to pounce faster than a cat on a blind mouse.
Great days of the hobby, days that are now long gone.