Howdy folks!
So, funny story — if you ignore a photo archive for long enough, it doesn’t magically sort itself. Who knew? After years of neglect (and by “neglect,” I mean blissfully pretending 300,000 photos weren’t piling up like a photographic game of Jenga), I’m now deep in the thrilling world of catch-up.
Sure, I’ve managed to wrangle thousands of images onto this blog, neatly filed under themes like locomotives, trams, infrastructure, and other things that make trainspotters’ hearts flutter. But the reality? There’s still a mountain of unsorted photos sitting around like that one mate who always says he’ll help move house but never turns up.
So, in a stunning act of ambition (or possibly madness), I’m officially launching Operation: Sort My Life Out — a mission to finally tackle the backlog. Expect an avalanche of posts featuring everything from locomotives to buses — basically, if it has wheels and once moved, it’s fair game.
This post kicks things off with a look at the much-maligned but secretly loveable English Electric locomotives of Australia. Yes, I know — fans and drivers have given them grief over the years, often with good reason. But what can I say? I have a soft spot for the misunderstood ones. It’s easy to love something when you don’t have to drive it I guess.
So buckle up (or at least pretend to be mildly interested), because a tsunami of train pics — from the glorious mullets of the 1980s to whatever decade we’re in now — is coming your way. You’ve been warned.
If you have an interest in aviation and other guff, check out my
D27, the last survivor of her type at the Port Kembla steelworks is seen shunting the Cringila Exchange Sidings.
With H5 just arriving at the steelworks, chances are her days are now numbered.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Preserved 507 between Goolwa and Victor Harbor in South Australia.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Bogie of now scrapped K206 at Leightonfield.
Photos: Brad Peadon
K206's nose at Leightonfield.
Photos: Brad Peadon
519 shunting the Keswick passenger terminal in Adelaide, South Australia.
She would be scrapped in 1997.
Photos: Brad Peadon
The somewhat uncommon sight of double headed English Electrics at the Kemira Valley coal loader (BHP Port Kembla).
D51 and D49 are also now scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D36 sitting in a siding within the Port Kembla steelworks.
Taken during an official visit.
Like most in this post, she is also scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
K206 and D49 at Leightonfield with containers to Port Botany.
Yep scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Wow, we have a survivor.
D40 on the CRM shunt at Port Kembla back in the days that steelworks still shunted the place.
The last known remains of D39 from Port Kembla.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D31 D6 lined up in the Brickyard at Port Kembla.
Again, both scrapped. Getting depressing I know.
Again, both scrapped. Getting depressing I know.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped D28 passing the Cringila Exchange Sidings light engine.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Surviving D27 on another shunt of the Cringila Exchange Sidings.
Photos: Brad Peadon
In a scene that can no longer been replicated.
Now scrapped D44 in Port North (South) yard while shunting CRM.
Mainline locos now shunt the sidings via the other end, and NR97 no longer wears the original National Rail livery.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped D38 passes the Cringila Exchange Sidings (Port Kembla) with an internal transfer.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D49 and K206 shunting container wagons at Leightonfield yard before racking off forth to Botany.
Both also scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped D44 shunting the Welded Products siding at Unanderra.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D47 D44 D41 amongst others.
18 Area, Port Kembla.
All three are now scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Former Western Australia K201 stored in Melbourne.
Believed to now be privately owned and destined for preservation in Tailem, Bend (South Australia).
Photos: Brad Peadon
Logbook page from D43 - 24-10-2014.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D31 D6 D32 D16 lined up in the Brickyard at Port Kembla. All have since been scrapped, including preserved D6 (Orange)'
Photos: Brad Peadon
D27, the last survivor of her type at the Port Kembla steelworks is seen shunting the Cringila Exchange Sidings.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D27 and D40 are currently the last two surviving English Electrics in the Port Kembla steelworks.
Their future is in constant danger, and the exact situation at this time is unknown.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Preserved D6 in use shunting the Steelhaven (Port Kembla).
D17 is just visible in the shed, while newly arrived ALCos 103 and 102 can be seen to the right.
Photos: Brad Peadon
At the time restored D6 was earmarked to be preserved, however, in a disgraceful move, she would be scrapped with other units in the lineup.
Sich\kening given how many hours was spent of preserving her at the works.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below:
D17 on torpedo ladle transfers around the works.
The locomotive is now scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped D43 ' Hawks Steelers Wolves' livery on a transfer from CRM to Lysaghts.
Photos: Brad Peadon
D49 D51 on an empty Elouera coal train passing through West Dapto on the now closed Elouera (Wongawilli) branch.
Both are now scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
The BHP Steel K type locos were sold to South Spur following their retirement from the Port Kembla steelworks.
Here two of them, D47 and D51, are seen pulling out of the CTAL Terminal at Port Botany in suburban Sydney.
Photos: Brad Peadon
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Bradly Coulter.
Australia's Leading Rail History Group.
Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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