After more than a decade, it has been decided that it was time to renew the logo.

GUNDAGAI HERITAGE RAILWAY

The following rant, from a 'professional' in the railway heritage field, was recently received.

"After I left in late 2014, I heard all the SMUT team were so "keen" to get involved and help GHR.....but intriguingly I never saw that happen. So there is an example of pro rail heritage people not carrying through their promises of their love of the Gundagai station. So I guess it is hard when people promise the world and don't do anything. Everyone knows why I gave up volunteering there at the project because of seeing sloppy woeful caretaking...net result was my time being wasted. We had a great opportunity with John King as caretaker but due to bad handling of issues by specific GHR people, he left and now we have rail trail winning over GHR. Sad to see GHR being the first pro rail heritage project in NSW taken over by rail trailers.

  I do not normally get involved in the stupidity that goes on in the Australian railfan hobby anymore. However, when one is confronted with a barrage of ill-informed, and significantly ignorant, lies, well you do need to make comment.

  To my knowledge, as the person who started the regularly attacked SMUT Fundraising group, the only thing offered to the 'Gundagai Heritage Railway' was a Refreshment Room sign. This being offered by a FORMER SMUT member.
  SMUT is aligned with other, far more deserved, railway heritage groups. Their work continues to help these museums whenever possible.

  Thusly, the comments above are little more than an offensive lie.
  They are also a good example why I have spent more time devoting myself to railway preservation projects outside NSW and Australia.
  There is no point having your life destroyed simply because you choose to help NSW railway preservation. It is not a competition, we are all in it for the same goal.

  The NSW preservation scene WILL be destroyed by the actions of very few.
  After all these decades of trying to contribute to the hobby here, it is a painful realization.

Narcissistic personality disorder

AVAILABLE NOW

From the Strange Modelers website.

  Status of all locomotives to have been owned by both operators and listing of all known surviving rollingstock.
  Compiled through the worldwide resources of the S*M*U*T research team.

View It On the WEBSITE free today.

ARE YOU AWARE?

S*M*U*T and 'The Semi-Retired Foamer'' run a number of specialist Facebook research groups based on Australian (and overseas) railway topics.

Maroochy Shire Tramways SIG

BHP Rail History SIG

Philippine Railway Historical Society

Botany Line SIG

South Maitland & Richmond Vale Railways SIG

  All contain a wealth of information about their respective topics.

  Come join us and join in.

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INSTAMATIC SHOTS

Old, and a little pathetic, but historical none the less.

Corner of Spring an Bourke Streets in Melbourne.
Z1-57 has since been scrapped.

W2 607 was one of the art trams.

Following withdrawal, it was sold to a private buyer in Brooklyn (Victoria). The electric were later sent to the USA, with the body going later.

It's current situation is unconfirmed.
_________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Gareth Lumsden

  Once such a common sight on Sydney Harbour, the well known Lady class ferries have been in decline for many years.

  Recently the LADY NORTHCOTT joined the retiree ranks, her future now being uncertain. Hopefully she fins a good owner.

  The following photos were taken during Australia Day this year. The afternoon was spent riding both her, and sister LADY HERRON, on the Taronga Zoo run.

Lady Class on Wikipedia

RICHMOND VALE RAILWAY MUSEUM

COALFIELDS STEAM WEEKEND

Unveiling of newly restored (static) ROD 23.

South Maitland & Richmond Vale Railways SIG

BHP SERIES

Part 1

Over coming weeks the Semi-Retired Foamer will share a large selection of photos taken at the various BHP steelworks around NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

Interested the railways of BHP in Australia and overseas?
BHP Railway History SIG - Facebook

BHP 103 

The artist formerly known as 4537

A selection of images showing BHP103 during her period working around the steelworks in Port Kembla.
103 was rebuilt from 4537 by Austrac in Junee. It would later go on to be sold to Patrick Rail, later falling into the clutches of that Pacific National mob.
Somehow she beat the odds and went to Balco. An unusual fate for any historic locomotive that has had the misfortune of becoming part of the Pacific National fleet.
Today, 103 is preserved in Tailem Bend.

BHP Rail History SIG

BHP Railway Information (Australia and Overseas)