The Semi-Retired Foamer has been a railfan since he was around 5 years old, oh yes a very young age, an age when one really should avoid being involved with the gunzel community to any great extent. A few rather unsavoury people bringing that fact home. After a few decades of train chasing, one decided to break with protocol and get married, thus leading to a severe cut in railfan activity. Subsequent dealings with hate breeders, lunatics, mental defectives and self-appointed preservation overlords lead to an even greater decrease in my hobby participation. However things have changed thanks to our small group of trusted mates, interest has returned, and now I have become a bit more involved yet again.. _ Over the years I have tried my best to further both the hobby, as well as the friendships that it brings. I have done this by setting up proactive groups both here in Australia, as well as the Philippines. It is with huge honour that I am often considered the founding father of the railfan hobby in the Philippines (my second home). _
I don't take the hobby too seriously and I am a friend to anyone who is good and genuine. But never forgive those who have used their hate to destroy my hobby or hurt the friends within it.
Let's Make The Hobby Great Again!
I aim to share the era that I considered mine, the 80s and 90s. I also like to help promote, and even raise funds for, the various heritage societies that keep the era alive _ **** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS **** - We occasionally publish information on the locomotives, and rollingstock, from railways in Australia and the Philippines. All are available forFREEat our ALR WEBSITE.
Please join us as we go baaaaaack in time and take a look at a day hunting G class up in the Hunter coalfields.
Not knowing how long they would last there, as it turned out it was a couple of years, we headed north to get some of the colourful combos they brought.
Actually, to be quite honest, it was more likely the prospect of a weekend in the Neath Hotel that was the driving force in our decision to go. The G class were probably just an added bonus.
You're welcome!
AC4301 is in the final stages of construction at Goninans Broadmeadow.
Photo: Brad Peadon
QR National 5010 at Goninans Broadmeadow.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8242 8201 pass Islington Junction with a loaded coal train.
Photo: Brad Peadon
9209 9202 9023 approaching Port Waratah with another load of coal to be dumped onto a ship.
Photo: Brad Peadon
BL27 has a bludge around Morandoo.
Photo: Brad Peadon
9035 9011 9016 9021 approach Tarro station with a load of coal destined for port.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Just in case such things interest, railcar 2704/2754 approach Tarro with a Newcastle (not that Newcastle Interchange guff) bound service.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8251 G538 9204 9210 with a rake of empty hoppers passing Tarro.
Photo: Brad Peadon
8251 G538 9204 9210 with a rake of empty hoppers now passing through Maitland following a bit of a motorcade.
Photo: Brad Peadon
9215 G526 8232 9015 are a rather colourful combo seen passing East Maitland station, on the approach to John Hourigan bridge..
Photo: Brad Peadon
2502 leads a northbound Exploder through East Maitland.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Back when 'QR National' was still a thing, their 5002 and 5011 are seen with a loaded coal train approaching 'John Hourigan' bridge at Pitacree.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Definitely the highlight of the day.
BL26 BL33 4836 and 603 trundle past Victoria Street (East Maitland) with an empty ore train.
Photo: Brad Peadon
2007/2000 on a northbound XPT service at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
2753/2703 stops at Victoria Street (East Maitland) for the one passenger offering.
Photo: Brad Peadon
9207 G529 G519 8205 on an up loaded coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
8243 9031 G543 9214 (very new) on an empty coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
8111 on a hopper transfer Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
9005 9020 9010 snaking past Victoria Street station (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
2754/2704 pauses briefly at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
5005 5006 on an up coal at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
2703/2753 at Victoria Street (East Maitland).
Photo: Brad Peadon
One last G class to end off the day as 8251 G538 9204 and 9210 turn up at Victoria Street (East Maitland) with an up coal just before the light disappeared.
Some fifteen years ago I worked for Railway Digest, compiling the 'LocoShed Express' column.
The publication was, at the time, run by my friend Scott Martin.
It was a fun time, and quite a privilege to be able to work for a magazine that had been part of my life from the early days of my hobby.
One of the benefits of doing this, was the ability to attend a few very interesting rail related events. The most enjoyable was probably the handing over ceremony for the 'QR National' 5000 class.
Not only did I have a bias for all things Queensland (still do), it was one of the few times, if not the only time, the railfan media were given free run to check out the place.
In hindsight, I wish I took a lot more photos on the day. However, I didn't, but below are some of those I did.
Enjoy..........or not. That's purely up to you.
5007 was the newest member of the class completed and was used for the event. 5008 and 5009 can be seen below in various stages of completion.
Can't recall who any of the official people were now.
Though, in the above photo, I seem to remember the guy in the middle being from QR National and the guy to 'his' left being the boss at United Goninan.
Corrections, and additions, welcome.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Railway Digest, read by all the most important people. Goninan boss at right, Andrew Constance lookalike competition winner at left.
Photo: Brad Peadon
The second of the new Huntercar DMU sets 2702/2752 under construction.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Shunter at the Goninan plant.
Photo: Brad Peadon
One of the cars for the first Hunter set 2701/2751 under construction.
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Welcome to the Semi_Retired Foamers Blog!
Into trains, buses, planes, trams, light rail, jeepneys and other guff that normal people only use to get from A to B?
Sadly, I have been most of my existence.
Over the years I have built up an extensive library of train related photos, timetables, documents and other stuff which basically does buggar all other than gather dust in the archive supercentre that is my railway room.
I had long wondered what to do both this assorted guff, and all the more current shots, locomotive news and other bollocks I come across while conducting my foamer business. It lead me to setting up this blog some years ago, a blog that I have only just recently started to devote more attention too again.
Through this blog I hope to share a lot of this stuff and bore you senseless in the process. Along the way one hopes you will put up with my somewhat unusual sense of humour. Most get my strange humour, many less intelligent get quite confused. Years of putting up with many in the hobby who, well, hmmmmm I suppose you could say lunatic fringe members and control freaks, has given me more of a view of the hobby as something that is quite a joke. Certainly not the serious thing it once was. Hope you enjoy the bollocks conveyed herein.
If you feel like contacting me, please go for it.
551,262 Visitors as of 05-04-2025
Over 550,000 views. Thank you everyone.
alcogoodwin @ gmail . com (remove spaces) Brad
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