Way & Works Drawings

From the Heritage Railway Resources page.

Enjoy

- *** In Memory Of Robert Fry (Pt 4) *** Rob Fry joins Kevin Medley, and others, for a day around the Birchip to Ararat area. Video finishes with an evening at the Pyrenees Loop signalbox, where the age old ritual of staff exchanging is witnessed. Video taken by Kevin Medley and features the late Robert Fry. See 1997 rail action in the area. G, C, BL, CLP, X classes on container, wheat and passenger service. Semi Retired Foamer

See the Ararat area the way it used to be. Coming Soon: Ballarat Loco Depot and Tottenham Yard.

SOLIS SIGNALBOX

The railway signalbox is an endangered species in Manila, with only two still standing (Solis and Abad Santos). Another two (Yuseco and Caloocan) have existed since my first visit in 1999, but both have since been destroyed.

Solis is located on the north fork of the main junction for the south and the former north lines.

With Abad Santos (a RIHSPI) in a very bad state of repair, it is hoped that work can shortly start on saving it from further decay.

In recent years there have been proposals to preserve this very historic structure, primarily from the 'Manila Railroad Club', an offshoot of the former RIHSPI group.

Stay tuned and please consider subscribing if you like what you see here.

Shortly we shall look at Abad Santos box today, before heading south to Quezon and Laguna Provinces for more railway adventure.

Two recent requests have seen me pulling out the dusty old slide boxes from the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' archive. The slide collection, while quite large, has always been the lesser cousin of the massive print one.
As such, it has probably been some 2-3 decades since I really had a look at them.
With most shots taken in the glory years that formed the 80s, I really just can't remember what is amongst them. So, I can honestly say that what appears in this 'occasional' series, will likely be as much of a surprise to me as it will be for you.
Also of surprise will be the distinct lousy quality of most of what appears. I was only trialling slides for a few years and, well, it was my early years of transport photography.
I am sure you shall find a way to endure it.

I was never only a train fan, I have always had an interest in transport away from railways. It is just that most of my public involvement was in the rail arena. Something that I guess I sort of regret at times.
It did give me some tremendous lifetime friends who do make up for the butt pipes.

  Returning from Melbourne, while on one of many 80s trips, we decided to stop in at Wagga Wagga for a look at the former 'Urban Transit Authority'  Leylands (no rail reason to stop in back then) that Fearnes were using at the time.
  Above are two Mk1 Leopards and just a small part of an Atlantean (see future posts).

Be hard pressed finding one of these on QANTAS Drive nowadays.
While the bus, and livery, are now long gone, Murrays Coaches still exist.

 Obviously we thought long walks were a great idea back in the 80s.On this day we caught a train to Lidcombe, then walked to the former Pippita station, before risking our lives entering the railway corridor to survey the old line to the Abattoirs. Ooooh, todays railfan nazi's would have been impressed.
Despite being caught in an upturned Brickworks signalbox, the day was an educational and fun one. Many shots were taken and will appear in due course.

The livery is now gone.
The 48 class has been decimated in number.
The fuel tankers are likely all scrapped.
The siding is ripped out.
The terminal is gone.
The Sandown line is mothballed.
Safe to say we ain't going to see this ever again.