BOTANY LINE 80 CLASS

A Special Treat For My Mate Frank Kirk

  Back in the good old days, you know, those days when ALCo locomotives still covered the majority of New South Wales, the Comeng built 80 class were a regular feature on our local goods line to Port Botany.
  In recent times, I have been glad to make contact with my ol Victorian mate of many decades, Mr Frank Kirk. He recently mentioned his love of these ALCo beasts.
This one is for you.

Having just crossed the Illawarra line at Sydenham, 8002 39 41 are entering Marrickville loop, prior to joining the goods road.
8039 still exists, the other two have gone to God.

                                Yes, we did have permission to be standing here.
                    We were actually standing with the guy from the nearby staff hut.
                              8013 scrapped, others still existing, including 4803.

Shame about the one EMD that had to ruin a really good shot.
Botany New Yard was still very......well, new, when this was taken.
Both 80 class still exist.

Above train again, having just past under the Page Street overbridge at East Botany (or Pagewood if that is your preference) and about to enter the single line section to Mascot.
We recently got a letter from ARTC outlining plans to double track this line shortly. A plan that has been planned more times that I have have planned hot dinners at home for the family.

On the off chance that you even care, that is the Kelloggs breakfast cereal plant in the background. They were once a major supplier of traffic to the line, but alas, like so many other businesses, they have gone to road transport in an effort to add to the already ridiculous traffic levels in the local area. Yeah, thanks Kelloggs.

OK, now the EMD is getting a little out of hand.
However, give they are wearing the best livery to ever grace a NSW locomotive, I thought it OK to include this one as well.

Two minutes later and this would have almost been a time-exposure.
8048 and 21 have gone to God. 8012 may still be stored.

Same location details as the top shot. Can't be bothered typing it again.
RIP great ALCos.

Must be some heavy wagons behind those locos :-)
In order to free up paths on the single line section, it was common to see crazy combinations like this show up.
The 80 class were destined for a run op the north coast of NSW, while the two Jumbos behind were allocated to local Sydney trip working and would not be headed anywhere half as scenic.
8022 and 8021 now joining many of their sisters in being scrapped.

There you go Mr Kirk - Early Xmas gift :-)

NSW 80 Class - Wikipedia

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.

~~ HUNTER HOLIDAY HIJINKS ~~

and NEATH WEEKEND #11

** NOTE: As always, high-res copies of all photos are available for any
magazine who may wish to use such **

PART 1 OF 2

" We are going to spend the holidays with my family"

My god, it's the statement from one's wife that causes deep sighing amongst men universally. Oh god, sitting around talking crap, not being able to sprawl semi-naked across the lounge to watch television and trying to rein in the SMUTTY comments and regular bad language that invests our vocabularies now days.
But one second, her family is in Newcastle, location of NSWs busiest section of railway line (freight wise anyway), the new 92 class, many railfan friends and only a short skip away to the beloved Neath Hotel (the states premier gunzel hangout).

Hmmmmmm yes, but how am I to turn "your not going out for trains" into "oh OK, you can have a day out".
Again I refer to the universal man behaviour code book and start mopping around very bored and depressed :-)
Wala - instant day out. Plus a night at the Neath Hotel to boot.

Last weekends brief flirt with trains in the region did not go according to plan. As can be seen from my earlier panty raising post I spent most of my available time along the SMR again, instead of the planned coal road assault on things 92 and G class.
While new loco designs hold all the interest of a stinky decayed sausage found underneath the BBQ from two birthdays ago, I thought it may be beneficial to get them before they are repainted Pacific National coal and exhaust black.

It was a fast Spadge that woke up on Good Friday and made for the front door, foregoing the usual trip to the 'Little Bus Drivers Room' for fear of waking anyone up and being allocated duties to do before I leave!

FREEDOM

Where to go to first, out on the mainline in search of the elusive 92 and G class, or around the yards.
Decided on doing the usual rounds around Gonads (bound to see a 92 class with their reputation for reliability being up there with the Datto 120Y), Carrington and Morandoo.

Goninan 08.45
5010, AC4301 (Undercoat), 9208 (test area)
4833 was out the front entrance to Goninan.

08.59 - 8242 8207 - Up Coal - Georgetown

With no other action appearing to be on the cars save for a Hunter set one decided to head to Carrington and Morandoo forthwith.
Two seconds further down Clyde Street and one is confronted by the sight of a bus that would certainly sizzle the sausage of the most hardened of bunzel.
Bus was in the Clyde Street Spare Parts place - looked more of a garbage dump.

Rapid rise in blood temperature as one approaches this sexy set of locomotives.
PL5 48137 PL2 48134 stabled on a Pelton rake!

Morandoo Yard 09.16
8011, 8033, 8013, BL27, 8106, 4836, 603
8120 OneSteel shunt
PL5 48137 PL2 48134 on stabled coalie as above.

One pain in the arse Chubb Security automaton.
BHP32 preserved and doing buggar all.

Slightly more pleasant than the security guard was this LARGE local walked into while photographing 4836.

A last minute decision to drive under Industrial Highway and up to the, rather saucily named, Hump, resulted in a desperate last minute snatch and grab of my first 92 on an actual train.
Spadge moved with a level of excitement unmatched since 8219 was found in a rather undignified position at Beresfield (My condolences to CM over that tragic event - which I am told he has never quite recovered from).

09.37 - 9209 9202 9023 - Coal arriving at Port Waratah.

Enough security guard bollocks for one day, it was time to set forth west in an effort to meet up with my ol mate Johnno Hourigan at Victoria Street at 13.00.
A headlight seen while passing over the line at Tarro had me heading into the suburb proper for a short session of watering the weeds with quality foam.

TARRO

2703 2753 - up pass - 10.07
9001 9013 9029 - dn mt coal -10.14


2754 2704 - dn pass - 10.22

Then it was time to set the tone for a day full of bloody awesome coal line combinations and interesting movements.
For the first time ever (for me anyway and I am told it is significantly rare), my colon was set a tremble to the passing of quad 90 class on an up coal.

9035 9011 9016 9021 - up coal - 10.41

8252 8237 - up coal - 11.04
2704 2754 - up pass - 11.09 (Taken through the flowers)

8251 G538 9204 9210 - down empty coal - 11.11

In classic gunzel style it was all things packed and a mad sprint down to the car to give chase to, off all bloody things, an 82 class on the front of a coal train.
I can't remember the last time I chased a mainline coalie, but it would be way back when the 81s were having CCO and the 442 and 45 class were showing up on the coal roads again. Ahhhhhhhh memories!
BRB

LUCKILY the train stopped at Maitland and I was able to do the rather roundabout trip to get up to Elizabeth Street at Telarah for another shot.

UNLUCKILY a flamin train with 9205 9211 9022 passed under the same bridge at the exact same flamin time.
AAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The botty end of the train is seen passing a worksite.

A phone call from Brad 'Cooties' Coulter (or is it Coultar) saw me heading back east to the king of all hack spots, Pitnacree Bridge at East Maitland.
By now the day was really hotting up and the small amount of shadow in this spot was very welcome.

Actually I may use this time to express my sadness at the report that the gunzel bridge at Maitland is to be replaced as part of the project to rebuild the recently demolished section over the New England Highway.
This footbridge has become quite the railfan icon during the last two decades where one, while bored waiting for a train, could read all the in depth news on the sex lives, or lack of such, of many a prominent railfan.
Also shared are views on various railway publications, strange religious ideals and who sticks what strange object in orifices best not having things inserted in the first place.
It does seem however that the Pitnacree Bridge is beginning to become the replacement for the famous bridge.
If anyone has photos of said jottings I would be interested in hearing from them.

PITNACREE BRIDGE

8213 8220 8248 - up coal - 12.05
9215 G526 8232 9015 - dn mt coal - 12.10
Huge thanks to John Hourigan for later getting me the G class number.
Grrrrr put bloody side numbers on it PN!!!!!

Foamers - head to this shop - they may be able to help you on lonely gunzel
nights while railfanning around Bombay.

5002 5011 - up coal - 12.21

Cooties turns up in his 'Love Bus'!

9024 8217 8254 8241 - dn mt coal - 12.34
2502 etc 2523 - dn Exploder - 12.40

Time was running out for our plan to meet with Johnno at Victoria Street around 13.00,so offeast again, via the servo and on to the personal location of one of railfandoms most known members.

Many more interesting sightings were had during the afternoon here and these will be covered in PART 2!
Have a spare couple of tissues ready.

NAUGHTY NEATH WEEKEND #10

Howdee fellow foamers, it be time for another sharing of knowledge and excitment with your Uncle Spadge.
So put down the Horlicks, put away the porn mag and tell mummy your off to bed. Now its time to pull up the computer and prepare for some groin straining excitment perusing the tasty tit-bits (ohhhh tit is a rude word - don't tell mum) taken around a very rainy Newcastle last weekend.

NORMALITY WARNING: This posting was done while under the influence. If alcohol offends, or gets you sent to your bedroom with Teddy for a week, then perhaps you better go check out Railpage.

As you are well aware, the 'Semi-Retired Foamers' dribbly sessions are more often than not spent around the Hunter region, more normally with Ground Zero being the Neath Hotel. One can often found him downing a coupleof drinkies, eatinga hearty meal, photographing trains, or having a personal moment in this fine establishment.
More normal members of the railfan community, yes I do realise how limited this descritiption is within the community, are always welcome to join in for a good chat.

So what did the SRF see? Well not bloody much with rain and family commitments causing strains on ones dribbly time. Still all railfans have developed bollocks to tell the other half in an effort to get out in hunt of that which causes blood to race to the privates.
My main aim of this weekend, well at least until I discoved the SMR was running again, was to get some shots of the 92 class. The 92 class, our latest boring flat cab design, have recently entered the coal system and can often be found up front of a rake when now shiting themselves around Whittingham of Hexham.
Yes, apparently, from all reports, not the most reliable loco in existence. But thats OK, that are not the most prettiest either.

Perhaps it the dribbly retard within, but what about lovely locos with noses? When did we loose the ability to design something attractive in a locomotive. Come on guys, colllective kick in the bott bott for everyone, design an attractive loco.

Anyway, to heck with that, lets move on to the piccies.

TISSUES AT THE READY!

Hmmmm our first foamer shot is a bus. Am sure this will get old Hamish's juices a flowing. If your also into old buses why not take your tissues and ask the parents permission to head to RETROBUS, Australia's home of real bus chit chat and bollocks.

This is a locomotive, a very fugly converson of a once lovely 1502 class. It is seen here at Varley Engineering in Port Waratah, the reason for which is really not known, so best not ask as you really are wasting time. It was also noted that a rather big selection of wheat hoppers were seen upside down on the former Bramble site behind, the same place that the carcuses of 8219,46 and 47 spent time after their little Beresfield event.

Hmmmmm goes without saying. Strangely enough there is a creek of the same time and no brothel in sight.



An old FORD bus around Cowan on the return home!
Caused a bit of an upset with other road users while getting the shots for my ol mate up in Brissie, but thankfully my years of gunzek training ensured I didn'y give much consideration to other road user feelings.

Heres one of the buggars now.
Notice Gonads has fenced it in to ensure no accidental escaping leading to another spectacularly amazing failure on the mainline.
It did look as though it wanted to jump the fence and rack off forthwith.

9202, strangely enough sitting within the compond at EDI on Kooragang, is laughed at by its, reportedly, more popular mate 8204.

Preserved, by Dorrigo, 8601 and 4521 also sit around Kooragang doing, well, doing bloody all really.

4521 has no guts.
First time I have ever said that about anything other than an EMD!

THROSBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dosen't 8011 look absolutely stunning in her new paintjob?
Shame about the 81 behind.

Pelton loader!
Howdee to my good friends at SNP!

PL5 48134 48137 PL2 up coal departs the Pelton mine with another load of coal destined for the port.
Things have been very quiet of late on Spadge's fave line.

Same train rounding the hill of which name I am unable to remember
at the current time.

PL5 48134 48137 PL2 pass the spectacular Neath station with the same coal train headed for port.

Well I hope you enjoyed this look at my short weekend up at the Hunter.
If not, well YOU DIDN'T BLOODY WELL PAY FOR IT, so you really have no right to whing do you.

More gunzel bollocks will be purveyed shortly, staty tuned.