Howdy folks!
Beware, you are approaching another selection of photography showcasing the Aussie product of the greatest locomotive manufacturer to ever exist*. Yes, it’s time once again to bask in the oily glory of Australian-built ALCo locomotives — the rumbling, smoke-belching beasts that are probably the only things, besides the good ol EE, that made railways worth photographing in the first place. Forget your whisper-quiet modern guff on wheels; this is the era when locomotives sounded like locomotives and smelt faintly of heaven (with a hint of unburnt diesel).
Ohhhh that magical smell of a 44 braking heavily on a summers morning.....yummmmmm. Possibly marginally deranged as well.
Over the years, I’ve managed to chase, snap, and generally obsess (some would say unnaturally so) over these magnificent units across the country — from country branch lines to mainline freights, from the glory days to the “stored” era (which, let’s face it, mostly meant bollock all with their going on to get the chop chop). My camera has seen more ALCo exhaust plumes than sunsets, and I’ve probably spent more time loitering near level crossings than any balanced adult should admit to.
This collection represents years of persistence, missed shots, and the occasional angry magpie encounter — all in pursuit of that perfect photo of an 44, 45, or 48 class doing what they do best: looking heroic and deafening everything within a 5 km radius. Some might call it obsession; actually over the years most have, however I call it dedication. Or maybe denial. Either way, the results are here for your enjoyment (and my continued justification for owning far too many boxes of photos that are slowly being processed for an archive when I become a fetid corpse).
So, grab a drinkie, settle in, and enjoy another unapologetically noisy, smoke-filled stroll down the ALCo memory lane. Because while other manufacturers may have built locomotives, only ALCo (oh and English Electric) built legends.
If you have an interest in aviation and other guff, check out my
* In my humble opinion.
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Above and below.
4834 shunts a grain hopper at Port Kembla (Inner Harbour).
Now scrapped.
Photos: Brad Peadon
A weekend visit to the Delec locomotive depot would guarantee you a colourful line up of 48 class amongst other ALCos and lesser units.
Of the above four, only 48153 still exists. Oh, and 42220 in the background, which is now FL220 with Watco in Western Australia.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4448 having a snooze at Port Kembla loco, down in the New South Wales Illawarra Region.
She was scrapped at Dunheved in 1995.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4822 and 4811 on a spoil train on the Illawarra line in Sydney.
Both have luckily survived, 4822 preserved at Dorrigo, with 4811 operational with Southern Shorthaul.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4816 sitting out the weekend at Delec locomotive depot in Sydney.
She would later go on to be part of the Austrac fleet, and now 'Junee Railway Workshops'.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
JL402 (ex 44206) had just been painted into the Freight Australia livery when we found her at Braemar.
26-3-2002
Photos: Brad Peadon
4878 4871 4870 4876 pass through the former station at Weston on the South Maitland Railway.
Alas coal trains have ceased on this historic line, the water tank remains, however the bridge I am on was demolished.
4878 became Graincorp GPU2 and is currently stored at Junee.
4871 was rebuilt as PL2, but has since been scrapped. As have the other two 48ers.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4898 sitting out the weekend at Delec Depot in Sydney.
She would later be repainted in Freightcorp Blue, but today is scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4861 4874 4862 4881 up coal at Maitland (High Street).
15-12-1990
All units now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4839 4859 shunting the silos at Ariah Park.
4859 interestingly survives in a Junee paddock, privately owned by local stuntman Lawrence Legend who also has some buses.
4839 is another scrapped one.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4471 and 42220 on a limestone train approaching Moss Vale station.
4471 went on to be with a number of owners before Qube decided to scrap her.
42220 is with Watco in Western Australia as FL220.
Photo: Brad Peadon
JL401 (ex 44204) and JL402 (ex 44206) lead a Lachlan Valley Railfreight train through Jindalee (north of Cootamundra).
Both have reverted to their original numbers and are in service with Southern Shorthaul.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4520 midway through a repaint at the museum in Thirlmere.
Loco obviously preserved.
Photo: Brad Peadon
45s1 sits in the Chullora Workshops back in her day of wearing the attractive (not so much in this shot) Silverton livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Now scrapped PL5 and PL2 sitting in the yard at Morandoo.
The box still exists.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
4830 and 4804, both heavily stripped and both gone to the big roundhouse in the sky.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4841 shunting around the Outer Harbour loop in Port Kembla.
Also scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4893 in Port Waratah.
Loco would see the Freightrail Blue livery, but has since been scrapped like most others.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4827 passes through Enfield with the AK Cars.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4866 4875 4860 shunting the silos at Maimuru on the now closed line from Demondrille to Cowra.
All now scrapped. At this point it's probably just easier to say which survive.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4821 sitting in Cootamundra yard.
She would be withdrawn in this livery, and then go on to be preserved at the Goulburn Roundhouse, still in this original livery. Along with 4822, the only two 48s to have worn the one livery all their lives and into preservation.
Photo: Brad Peadon
JL404 (ex 44209), in it's former R&H livery, leading now scrapped 1872 through Gelco in East Botany.
JL404 has reverted to it's original number and is now owned by the Manildra Group.
Photo: Brad Peadon
FL220 48145 4514 pass through East Botany with a rake of containers from Port Botany.
48145 has become Graincorp's 48213, while 4514, which at one stage was preserved, fell into the clutches of Pacific Nation who obviously scrapped it.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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Bradly Coulter
The multitude of people with me on these trips.
New South Wales Premier Railway History Group
Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport and other entertainment.
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