It has been a while since our last delicious random selection of random train shots.
This group are probably not quite so random, all being for a selection of Jumbo shots to place on Farcebook (my former location of choice for my shots).
Join us as we have a look at a few of these great ALCo beasties, the numbers of which have declined over the years since.

While rail traffic still passes this location, it is more likely to be a light rail vehicle.
The entire goods line from here to Ultimo has been gradually converted into a popular modern new light rail system.

The above shots are of NR1's first trial and the two Jumbos that accompanied her.
This was quite possibly the biggest weekend of my former railfan career. The night prior I had finished work at 10am and driven up to Newcastle. About four hours sleep was had before we were up to get NR1 leaving the Goninan plant (where she was built) and out on the mainline.
That evening we had to be in Goulburn, then Junee the next day.
Heck - I whinge about driving to Newcastle after a sleep in now days. :-)

Botany line Jumbos.
Having lived most of my life along this line, these become quite boring after a while.
44211 has been a lucky survivor, preserved at Thirlmere.
44212, however, was built into the ghastly GL112.

A ride out to Rozelle was a rare and much appreciated event. I can recall at least four times that I have had the privilege. Three were cab rides, while at least one was a single deck intercity set on one of Bruce Cook's ET Tours.
These tours themselves were something else. Probably the last of the great old style type tours, where the train would stop everywhere and people would pile out for photos. None of the rules, or even worse, the self appointed gunzel police, of today.
Yes, they were truly fun days.

Stay tuned for another thrilling roller coaster ride of photos shortly.

~~ PORT BOTANY YARD WORK ~~

For a brief change of pace from all the old shots, here we see some from last weekends journey down to Port Botany to show my American mate Ted around.
Work continues in an effort to upgarde the yard before the third port is opened, with the focus on this day being the entry into the P&O Terminal.
With any luck, along with some enthusiasm (a rare commodity nowdays), I hope to show the results of this work later.

New points being installed at P&O.

Ted enjoying the minimal amount of rail action, while awaiting the 48 class.

48136 4898 4903 shunt Patricks.

4903 4898 48136 arrive at Botany from Sandown with a very excited
Colonel (Davo Phillips) up front.

1445 and 1446 pass through Gelco enroute to Botany.

1431 shunts past the trackwork at Port Botany, pushing back into Patricks.

Same again, just a tad earlier.

A third 1431 helping for those with a weird liking for these beasts.

~~ DIESEL AND DUST ~~

A brief afternoon around Gelco!

With apologies to Midnight Oil!

With my good friend Chris heading to town, an immense blanket of dust covering the city and the pending removal of the level crossing at East Botany (a regular foamer favourite), it was deemed a good time to extract the digit and head on down to our local goods line.

Having spent most of the morning around the airport a fair portion of the dust had racked off by the time I got lineside. Still there was a cloud thicker than that which regularly hangs around the table on a Neath night.

1446 passes over the doomed crossing at East Botany.

Starting as a level crossing, the cars were removed many years

ago when it was converted for pedestrians only.

Still this was not to stop the most desperate, with a stolen sports car hitting the dirt ramp and landing onto the rails a few years ago.

Visitors from the South Coast and the United Kingdom!


The doomed crossing!

Should you wish to join all the whinging bastard residents complaining about

port developments and extra train movements.

4898 and 44208 approach Port Botany!

Underneath a cloud as dusty as the 442, 4498 waits to depart for Minto while 442s2 and RL306 pass by!

World Series ALCos - Locomotive Hornbag

A 'China Southern' jet is seen in the dust after a last minute aborted landing.