The Early 1980s. Part 2. By Peter Andrews, © July 4, 2001.

For much of the period between 1978 to 1989, I was a signaller for StateRail in NSW, working at various locations. It was also around this time that I heavily got into photography. Back then, it was of no doubt a period of change; especially in the area of rail transport. Steam had just become totally redundant, remaining only for release onto the main lines for special events.

The TF Class 5461 on its second last run before it was decommissioned. This shot was taken on Sunday November 17, 1985 in the southern New South Wales city of Goulburn.

And for what remained of the diesel fleet, it was to become a victim of another huge shift that was to follow, coming from two directions.

Another shot of 5461 on the same day in Goulburn, preparing for departure for Sydney. This engine belongs to the NSW Rail Transport Museum, currently located at the museum's Valley Heights' facility in the Blue Mountains.

The first was the completion of the electrification of the outer Sydney metropolitan area. This arrived with the first interurban electric train to Port Kembla towards the end of 1985. The other direction came in the form of a need expand the capacity of freight operations

The final shot of 5461, taken later on the same day at Moss Vale. The first leg of the second last run had commenced in Sydney, crossing the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and Cowra. From Cowra, the train completed the round trip back to Sydney via Young, Harden, Yass and the Southern Tablelands. For its final trip, it completed a local return run from Thirlmere to the Southern Highlands.

This commenced with the removal of brake vans from the end of freight trains, longer trains and finally, the arrival of a new fleet of larger and more powerful locomotives. The first of these new engines in NSW were those of the 81 Class. Because of the changes happening at the time, it was of no doubt that I was in the right place at the right time to capture these major historical shifts on film. The shots shown here make up only a fraction of what exists in the archive.

Port Kembla based Rail Motor 37 arriving at Moss Vale after a climb up from Wollongong, Sunday November 17, 1985. The same unit completed its last run to Moss Vale for State Rail a month later on December 15. All Rail Motors from that point were now just history.

The Lachlan Valley Railway Society's 'T'' Class, 3026 at Bombo on Saturday August 17, 1985.

It would be great to put together a print publication that examines these crucial historical shifts with other shots from the archive. For now however (unless a publisher shows interest), this project has too many other priorities ahead of it.

Another shot of 3026 at Kiama on the same day, approaching Kiama's turntable. This engine and its mixed set of passenger cars made three other trips down from Sydney to Kiama during 1985: March 3; April 21; July and September 21.

In a final note, I wish to thank an work colleague from my early SRA days, Andrew Roberts. Andrew has provided much help in clarification of information about events that occurred as well as enabling some of best shots of events back then to be taken. Having left the SRA not long after myself in 1989, Andrew is now an engine driver for the sugar industry in Mackay North Queensland, and has successfully self-published two books.

3026 ready to hook up at Kiama after being turned.

Peter Andrews © 2001. All Rights Reserved.

Go to Part 2.

Back to the Trainspotting Contents Page.

This page was checked and found to be a valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional webpage by the WC3 organisation.