ALBUMS: PORT KEMBLA STEELWORKS - PART 1

Howdy folks!

Beware, you are approaching another selection of photography showcasing the steelworks at Port Kembla (NSW, Australia).

It has been a particular favourite location of mine over the decades, and I've aimed to try to get many photos of not only the locomotives, but the rollingstock and infrastructure as well.

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

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D44 transferring internal steel wagons through the Cringila exchange sidings.

Unit now scrapped.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D36 shunting the Cringila exchange sidings.

Also now scrapped.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D36 and D44 passing each other at Cringila as they potter around the steelworks.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

D40 had just been painted in the new yellow Bluescope Steel livery.

Today she is the last of here type to exist, and has been sitting out of use (awaiting repairs) for some time now. With new (well second hand) locomotives about to be introduced, it is doubtful those repairs will now happen and we are hoping it will see preservation.

Photos: Brad Peadon

The big guy D34 shunting limestone hoppers at Cringila.

Locomotive is now preserved at the 'State Mine Railway' in Lithgow.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Now scrapped D38 also in the then new Bluescope yellow livery.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D7 D20 - 4901 on a special tour up to the Kemira coal loader is seen passing through Mount Kembla.

D7 is privately preserved in Canberra, D20 with the State Mine Railway, while 4901 has been scrapped.

Photo: Carl Millington 

Brad Peadon Collection

D44 was one of the last two units, the other D43, to wear the former red livery. By now it had been modified to carry the new Bluescope Steel logos.

Both D43 and D44 would go on to be scrapped in the red livery, never seeing the attractive BHP blue.

Cringila yard.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D49 (formerly Goldsworthy A8) and D47 (formerly Goldsworthy A5) wait at Wongawilli Junction with a load of coal from the Elouera Colliery branch.

Both are now scrapped.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D47 again, now on an empty coal rake headed up the Kemira line.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D43 shunting the Welded Products siding at Unanderra.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D49 D47 up Elouera coal at West Dapto.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D36 at Cringila again, as it likely was a million times before scrapping.

Photo: Brad Peadon

D38 Light engine passing through Cringila.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8115 waits at Brownsville Junction with a coalie from Elouera. The second and third hoppers were a couple of the special livery hoppers that existed.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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The National Railway Equipment PB class (genset) now represent the main type of locomotives at the steelworks, having seen the demise of all remaining English Electrics other than D27 and D40.

They will soon be assisted by four second hand Victorian H class which are in the process of being transferred there.

Above and below is PB3.

Photos: Brad Peadon

An extract from the logbook of now scrapped D43.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

The round sided (143-180) BXLA coal hoppers.

Today the entire fleet is believed scrapped (as are the older square sided (1-142) variation.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below

Torpedos during transfers through Cringila, a sight that does not seem anywhere near as common as it once seemed to be. Maybe I'm just picking bad days to visit.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Internal wagon LR-119.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Internal wagons CR-34 and CR67 with a load of steel coils at Spring Hill.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Bushells Hill tunnel on the Kemira Valley line.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Former line to Nebo Colliery, today being a bike/walking track.

Mount Kembla Rail Trail - Part 1

Mount Kembla Rail Trail - Part 2

Photo: Brad Peadon

The same section today.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Battery locomotive #78 at Nebo Colliery.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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All who have partaken in my steelworks adventures with me.

 

BHP Steel Rail History

Muster Point - BHP Newcastle, 1913-1999

Wongawilli Revisited - 4-1-2022

BHP Kemira Valley Line

Australian Locomotive Rosters: K Class

LRRSA: BHP Fleet Update (Brad Peadon)

Australian Locomotive Rosters

Lithgow State Mine Railway

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

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#semiretiredfoamer

MOUNT KEMBLA RAIL TRAIL - WEST

 

A short rail trail along the old BHP coal line to Nebo in Mount Kembla.

We parked in the small car park on Stones Road and first headed east down to where the line meets Cordeaux Road.

Part 1: Eastern half of the track.

In this second part we head west to the location of the former Nebo loader, looking at a few surviving items along the way.

At the start of our hike westward from the carpark, we see YouTube sensation Kevin 'K-Med' Medley.
Looking back towards Stones Road.

Photo: Brad Peadon

As above, but Mr Terence Cassidy, and looking towards the end of the line.

Photo: Brad Peadon

A wee bit of surviving infrastructure near the end of the former line.

Terry is looking very impressed.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Where the coal loader once stood. 

Very little to indicate it's existence still survives.

Photo: Brad Peadon

From the site of the loader, looking towards the very end of the line.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Very interesting interpretive signage has been placed on display near the old coal loader site.

It gives a very good overview if the history of the location.

The following shows parts of this display.

Photos: Brad Peadon

That exciting moment when you find some historic relics while bush bashing.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Another random view of the path along the former line.

The curve in the distance is thought to be the same location as in the old photo below.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Mr Steven 'KAK' Karas is seemingly excited to be exploring the remains of the Nebo line some time after closure.

The location is thought to be on the distant curve shown in the above shot, with the footpath actually being on the location of the platform KAK is standing on.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Another lesser accessible culvert.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Heading back to the Stones Road carpark..

Photos: Brad Peadon

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Further Reading:

Kemira Valley Railway Line

Mt Kembla Memorial Pathway

Nebo Colliery Illawarra Heritage Trail.

American Creek.

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Thanks To:

Terry Cassidy, Stephen Karas & Kevin (K-Med) Medley

BHP Rail History SIG

NSW Railways - Past & Present

A.I.S Australian Iron & Steel - Port Kembla Rail Dept

Semi-Retired Foamer Publishing

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