A Return To Programming!

Hi all,
So you were probably thinking this site is dead, well certainly is has been as useful a a K-Set sightings book at a bus meet in recent times, but as things slow down on the approach to Christmas I do hope to be able to include some more reading for your tingling pleasure.

So whats been happening?

Well firstly the scanner met with an unfortunate end via a rather pissed off wife who could not entirely get the ants nest out that had appeared within. These were persistent little buggars, stuck to the inside like foamers to a 38, although perhaps marginally less irritating than that.
A lack of scanner, which is still the case, has made things a tad hard in the, well, scanning department. Given the bulk of what appears here is scanned, then I am up bowel movement creek without a paddle.
So for now one will have to make do with updates of a more current nature, through the wonders of that digital crap that passes for a camera nowdays.

Of course those who know me realize the main reason for my lengthy disappearance.

HORNBAGS!

I shouldn't have to explain myself here.
I mean every bloke has a choice he can make - some just don't make it wisely.
Just in case you have trouble understanding the choice and why anyone would need to make it, I have outlined the essential differences below as a rough guide for all my fellow foamers.

Now lets take a look shall we.


This is a train!
Sure, being an ALCo, its a little sexy, certainly more so than one of those EMD things.
But in the end, what are you getting?
Its metal with an engine inside. True it can't nag you, never tells you to be home at a certain time, is incapable of telling you that you have drunk to much, won't tell you not to sleep with other woman (or men if you so desire) and
almost certainly never gets a headache.
I am lead to believe some railfans even manage to gratify themselves with photos of such things as ALCo videos and blow up EE toys, while surely there must be a market for a vibrating XPT on weekend train tours to Moree.


now hands out of your durps for a moment while we explore the alternative!

This is a hornbag

~~~ YOU DO THE MATHS FRIENDS ~~~

I'll be back next week with more enthralling gunzel tales!
Stay Tuned!

Wingello September 18th - A Virtual Railfanning Experience

Wingello, in the beautiful Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, was once a prime locale of attendance by the 'Semi-Retired Foamer'.
Our almost monthly pilgrimage to Cootamundra would not be complete without a stopover at Wingello to photograph (or watch if in the middle of night) trains, speak bollocks to the friendly station master that once resided there, or generally rabbit on with those endless amounts of useless trivial bits of information that us railfans tend to spurt forth.

Last week I found myself spending significant amounts of time in throbbing metropolis of Canberra, the capital of fun, excitement and the pornography industry in Australia.
While it is almost impossible to detect any grundy (Aussie slang for ones under garments, specifically underpants. See also Underdurps and Bogcatchers) type stirrings at the thought of spending time in our Nations capital, it is at least out of Sydney and the trip is usually much enjoyed.

It was on my second run during the week I found myself able to have a sleep in and still have a very easy schedule for getting down there.
So it was to be that I decided to dump the highway for a leisurely drive through the nipple hardening rural towns of Exeter, Penrose and Bundanoon (home of yet another model railway club of some name) as I made my way to a much changed Wingello.
Gone was the lovely semaphore signals, as was the friendly station master, replaced by an unmanned station, a selection of those less than inspiring coloured light signals and a selection of track workers with dirty glances to offer every few moments or so.

After brief consideration as to location, I decided to park under a tree where I used to sit so many times before. Not a good view to the north, the sun was the dogs poop in that direction anyway, but a nice shot to be had for trains approaching from the south.




First thing one noticed was the disappearance of the old signal which would have been to the right of the above photo, come to think of it, the siding it once protected also looks to have buggared off with it.
The wait commences with the occasional noise making me look up in anticipation.







Track work was occuring just south of Wingello so trains in both directions were using the up line. The appearance of flagmen before each train certainly making it easier to be well prepared for any southbound movements.
Finally, after just over 20 minutes, there is movement, with a Melbourne bound XPT passing by slowly with XP2001 and 2003 in charge.







With that excitement over, one grabs ones issue of Model Rail, sits back in the seat and awaits the next installment of train action.








40 minutes later a loud noise to the south causes me to stir. Magazine down and I prick the old ears listening for further noise to help identify what gem of rail action may be coming.
I didn't have to wait long, the noise growing louder as it slowly climbs up over the hill into Wingello, a road based grader returning from some of the work.

BUGGAR

The day was warming up and I had been sitting near the crossing for well over an hour since the XPT.
Finally the flagmen walk across the platform and over to the level crossing again.
Frothing excitement builds as one groans (or swear words regarding the wait) in pleasure as these two less than happy gents walk down the ramp and on to the level crossing, before moving onwards to the store across the road for some lunch.

BUGGAR

Another 30 minutes pass with the heat, lack of activity and a now severe bum cramp (sitting in Commodore seats for too long is a pain) becoming to much to take.
As I go to start the car, an unmistakeable NR horn is hear in the distance and soon we find our old mates walking quickly back to the the crossing with their full bellies, flags and suspicious stares.
It takes a while with the up steel train moving slowly through the worksite, but soon enough the engine noise is clearly heard and NR55 BL28 NR1 make a very colourful site as round the corner and slowly approach my location.









As the train passes I start to consider whether or not to stay here for the extra hour I still had remaining before departure was needed.

OH BUGGAR IT!

Headed off to Goulburn soon after to check what loco delights would be slumming it up around the yard. I mean Goulburn always had something to look at hey.
Hmmm apart from some of those things locos pull around the state, there was little else to look at besides a platform devoid of passengers and something dead on the tracks which may have been a cat, or some other feral creature that had wandered into town from the bush on its hapless last journey.

Hope you all enjoyed you 'Virtual Railfanning of Wingello' adventure.

Cheers

Wingelo September 18th - A Virtual Railfanning Experience

## COMING SOON ##

A typical three hours railfanning at Wingelo.

Experience the excitment!

Experience the thrills!

Immerse yourself in the experience!

Virtual railfanning with the Semi-Retired Foamer

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WARNING: Actual content may not actually contain any excitment, thrills, you may feel somewhat let down by the immersion of ones self in the experience.

East Botany - September 12th

Spent an all to rare day lineside with Chris Miller last week.
The trains, while irregular, were certainly worth the wait.

4463 was first cab off the rank with 4717 pushing up the rear with containers from the port.

Pride of the fleet - a very respectable looking 4463 powers away from the Page Street overbridge making a beautiful ALCo sound as it heads towards Mascot.

BULLDOGS - BULLDOGS - BULLDOGS

Yep the rest of the time spent there was a Bulldogfest-but please don't let that deter you from looking at the rest of the shots.

GM22 and GM27 with yet another rake of containers slowly make their way out of the yard and up towards Page Street.
Kelloggs is the large building in the background.

Last but not least was the passing of S300 and B76 on, yep, more containers. The train came up shortly before my due departure to pick up
'she who must be obeyed'.

Thanks be to Chris for filling in the gaps between trains with some good conversation.

Will ferret through my stuff for some more historical stuff to post shortly.

WHERE YA FLAMIN BEEN SPADGE??????

Yeah Yeah Yeah! I know I have been bleedin quiet for a while.

It isn't because of a lack of interest, just a lack of time doing many other things, most notably my work setting up an Australian division of the 'Railways and Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc' and also building a new website called Philippine-Fleetlist, devoted to, hardly surprisingly, the rollingstock used in the Philippines.

Yes the bulk of my interest is aimed at the Philippines nowdays, but that is not to say I can't get a dribble up lineside over Aussie trains, or a full on foam when rooting through the archives in search of some railway tidbit or another.
The ol 'Semi-Retired Foamer' still likes nothing more than a day out bush and lineside with the mates, swapping smutty stories, telling stupid jokes and, well, I suppose watch some trains scream by with their endless array boring flat cabbed locos up front.
Indeed just the other day I was out around the Botany line with my good mate Chris Miller and that report forms my next post.
" Surely but Spadge - Philippine trains can't have kept you THAT busy for so many weeks!"

Yes you are right, they didn't.

SPADGE TURNED 40

Oh heck, it was that milestone very few of us wishes to achieve. It marks the exact moment we go from being alive, to just awaiting death.

Old mate Grim Reaper appears to be lurking around all corners, just waiting for us to make that wrong turn. You see mates who have made that wrong turn leave forever and now start to consider when will it be my time.
I have heard time and time and time again that "Life begins at 40".

BOLLOCKS

It it the pinnacle of a mountain and now it is time to come back down.
I look back on my life as a foamer and see so many times that have changed, railway things that were once daily and now spoken about like ancient history.
Once I used to admire people who had seen so many diesels that have long gone, been able to share photos of stuff I would have been able to get myself had I been a bit older. But now I am bleeding one of them myself.
So what has one got to show for all those years of time, effort and money collecting such a monumental collection?
Well the wife feels its the worlds largest collection of garbage, while many of the young railfans of today really don't give a hamsters butt hairs about it all.
Still while I am on this downward slope I shall continue to convey bollocks here within, for any of you who do care less about what the railways were like over the last couple of decades.
Welcome aboard - enjoy the ride.

If there is one positive side to your 40th birthday you get to spend it
with all your friends in the one place.
These three lovely ladies are dearest best friends whom most of the
'Semi-Retired Foamers' life is spent with nowdays.
L-R: My sister Maria, second wife Anabelle and third wife Gina.

Part of the railfan contingent at the party was my good mate James Chuang.
Seen here devouring some of the many Filipino dishes.

Steve Miller came fully prepared for any eventuality dressed
in his OH&S approved outfit.
The safety clothes were considered appropriate in case of any accidents that may see him accidentally crash into any drunken hornbags.

Also attending were gunzels Nathan Chapple, Alec, David Xuereb and the late David 'The Colonel' Phillips.
Sadly the vast majority of my foamer mates never showed, many didn't
even reply to the invitation.

More birthday bollocks at MANILA DOWNUNDER!

Fiji's Newest & Most Different Forum!

*** DO YOU LOVE THE FIJI ***
AND ITS RAILWAYS?

Does the sight of the flag make you swell with pride?


Does the taste of Kava make you drool uncontrollably?

Then join us at the newest web-based, Fiji specific, forum, meet friends and
discuss all things Fiji both there and in Australia.
For anyone who seriously loves the Fiji - but likes to have some fun as well!

ADOBO DOWNUNDER
its far more than just trains.

We look forward to chatting with you!

Kava-2fts-Hornbags: Lets Bollock Around Fiji A While! (Pt3)

Man can't dribble over trains alone!
Fiji has much to offer the foamer photographer, apart from just that which is just rail based.
For the Bunzel the country is a mecca of old vehicles of types long since retired or turned into brothel tour buses within Australia. The good ol Leyland still rules the road and will likely do so for many years to come.
That they still operate after so many years, on many rural roads that are more rock than dirt, is testimony to their 'can't kill them with a stick' builder.
But it ain't only buses, there is the local populous, the ever friendly hornbags, buildings and ancient machinery rotting away in various locations.
Lets take a look at some random shots from 2006.

For the closet Bunzel!

CW430 accelerates after picking up more passengers on a Lautoka to Nadi run.
The 'Sleeping Giant' forms the background.

Some of the rural roads these buses endure are appalling, however this one on the approach to Ba was in very good condition.
The bus is approaching a long wooden road/rail bridge and is about 15 minutes from Ba Township.

Some farmers bring the loaded trucks to the nearest pick up point by tractor.
They use rail mounted trailers that can fit only one at a time.
It is also common practice to use a tractor to rip a rake of cane trucks off the line and drag them down the road for loading. Strangely enough, despite doing this, there is still bulk complaining about the constant derailment and condition of the rollingstock. Go figure.

This shot was taken near Nadi airport.

Near the end of the long wait at Rarawai Mill. These two cane truck drivers have moved up the queue gradually and are next in line at the gates.
It is not unknown for these guys to wait over 20 hours when the mill experiences problems.

OK back to the trains!

This is the lovely Tavua loco depot, which is situated in a yard near the
town of the same name.
Tavua is an out depot of Rarawai Mill (in Ba) and is situated on the other side of a spectacular run across the Macqere Ranges, a ride
over which is greatly recommended.

Lautoka fuel bay, just outside the south end of the mill.
#10 is about to have a drink.

More Fiji fun coming shortly. Meanwhile check out the related forums below.

Kava-2fts-Hornbags: Lets Bollock Around Fiji A While! (Pt2)

G'day,
Again we take a look at Fiji.
There is not an incredible amount around the internet for the fan of Fiji trains and buses, however a few forums do exist for those with an interest.
I list some of these below.

Adobo Downunder

A brand new web based forum consisting of mostly of Philippine and Fiji topics, including special sections for the gunzel that burns within.

Fiji Sugar Corporation Yahoogroup

All the latest news on the FSC and the railways that it operates. Includes much industry news.

LRRSA Yahoogroup and magazine

LocoShed Yahoogroup
Both have occasional reports and information on Fiji railways.

Pacific Island Buses

A wealth of information and chat covering buses on all the Pacific Island nations.
A large amount of content is based on Fiji.

Wheels On Steel
A web based forum with a difference. While primarily Australian in content, Fijian railways do appear from time to time, especially after members have done a trip.

Lubricated Flange E-Zine

A free ezine with occasional content on Fiji railways.

Hopefully some of these will be of interest to you, I am regularly on all these groups and hope to see you there soon.

Kava-2fts-Hornbags: Lets Bollock Around Fiji A While! (Pt1)

** Kava-2fts-Hornbags **
Lets Bollock Around Fiji A While!

G'day,
Or if we wish to all appear like a wanky tourists, then 'Bulla' be the word.
Lets dump the Aussie coverage for a while and head to a more pleasurable place, a location where life be far more civilized and enjoyable (unless you were part of a deposed former government) or someone trying to make a quid out of growing sugarcane.
Fiji, a small island nation some distance of our eastern coast has long been a destination for tourists into swimming, diving and just lazying around in general. I can say without hesitation that I have never met a nation of more friendly people.
The friendliness never ends, indeed for someone who has spent most of their life in this shallow and empty existence that we call a modern society, it can cause great suspicion. It often takes some to learn that people can actually be nice and not want something out of it (well except for that lovely Indian lady at Nadi who was offering a private tour of her house with bonus services).
Thankfully I drew on all my years experience of being a dribbly foamer and managed to hide the obvious excitement at being given such an offer, something that comes so easy to so many others, or so it would seem.
Sadly, being the dedicated railfan that I am, my main reason for heading to this country was rail based, along with more than a passing interest in the wealth of old Leyland buses that cover the island like old aged western men cover the newest employee of a Pattaya girliebar.
On the eve of another possible trip to Fiji, I thought we would take a wander back and check out some of what I saw back in 2007, while train hunting the main island with John Browning, Neville Condor and the world famous Colonel (very occasionally known as David Phillips).
I hope the delights shared in coming weeks will entice you to want to travel there yourself one day. The trains are very interesting, the buses equally so, and despite what the average dribbly will have you believe, the hornbags wont give you "Icky Girl Germs'.

Shunters in Fiji.
These 0-4L-0 units are widely utilized in the fields around Fiji for shunting purposes. Although single ended, thus requiring turning between uses, they are far more economical than diesel powered types, getting
an average of 1 kilometre to a handful of hay.

Lautoka #20 is seen heading south through the town of Korovuto with a rake of empties bound for locations around Sigatoka. While the distance itself is not huge, the condition of the system means a long journey lays
ahead with a good prospect of a few derailments.