80s Rail Cars on the Coast

Time to stick a few more up from the lens of Phil Clarke, who passed away about 18 months ago.

This time I thought I would pick a few of his rail car shots around the Illawarra.  To start off, here's a Budd set heading north through Scarborough in December 1981.

Can't have Budds without Tullochs! Here's 4470 heading Set 148 through Bellambi on 19 November 1982.

Nothing says 'passenger comfort' more than a quin set of CPHs jostling along. Here is CPH 13 leading the 8am Port Kembla worker's train at Coniston in November 1982.

Nothing was more prosaic than a 2 car diesel train on a local passenger service, like this one at Bellambi on 19 November 1982.

I will finish up with a few more snaps of diesel hauled trains, composed of end-of-life rail cars - 44100 on two such services in early 1983.  The first photo is at Wollongong, I suspect the other is round Bellambi.

Cheers!

Don

Diversions on a wet afternoon

Just sitting here on the farm, watching the creek rise. Figured it was time to do something productive so I have dug up more photos from Phil Clarke's collection.  These first three date from January 1982 and are taken at Bellambi on the south coast (the station can be seen in the background).  First up, 42204 and a 44 on the down Intercapital Daylight Express to Melbourne - diverted down the Coast.

Wherever the Daylight goes, the Riverina Express follows (or precedes, can't remember which).  So here is a little DEB goodness. Bit of an eclectic mix here, livery wise.

Then finally, at approximately 10:50 am or so (the train was scheduled into Wollongong just before 11), a scheduled service with five Budds and a Tulloch making up the down morning South Coast Express.

Phil was pretty good at giving details on the back of his photos but this one he missed. Anyway its 42212 on an air-conditioned passenger somewhere in NSW or Victoria.

Anyway, back to watching the creek rise.

Cheers

Don

 

Out west with Phil

Here's a few more from the lens of Phil Clarke to ease us all through a wet Friday here in NSW. This time the photographs come from a trip to Broken Hill in October 1978. 

First up, 4905 acting as Broken Hill's yard shunter on 9 October 1978.

Phil then captured 600, 703 and 864, all in South Australia's mustard pot scheme.  Sadly for us he was shooting black and white. Not sure who the young fella is hanging off the locos. Suspect it is Phil's son.  This would have been unheard of in our family. Any child straying in front of a loco was promptly told to get out of the way (in more colourful language than is permissible on this blog).

 

 

And two shots of the Indian Pacific - the first at Broken Hill with GM27 at the front. Noice combo.

No trip out west would be complete without a change-of-loco shot at Lithgow. So here you have 4607 heading another 46 on a down Indian Pacific at Lithgow on 11 October 1978.

Cheers!
Don

Here are a few more from the lens of Phil Clarke's camera, all shot around the Illawarra on two separate days in the early 1980s.

First up, 48132 on the up 3pm passenger through Bellambi on 19 November 1982.

Around the same time a 2 car diesel set strolled through.

4888 on a down passenger at Scarborough in September 1983.

Then 4445 on an up passenger passing Scarborough box

Until next time!
Don

Afternoon viewing

Only time today for a few random photos from the Mighty Phil Clarke Collection. And they are random!

First up, a four car DEB set with a 620 set trailing behind. In dry country on the way to or from Canberra on 11 August 1979.

Just over a month earlier, someone had parked box number 8007 in front of a lovely view of a building in Orange (30 June 1979).

At the end of its run on a hot January day, the 15th of the year of 1980, the Comet rests in Parkes station. Something fiddly is happening to its bum - I suspect a 73 class is removing its van for transfer to the overnight Forbes Mail to Sydney.

Up north now - the crew is getting or giving orders from the cab of 4507 which, with a sister Alco, sits in front of a empty coal at Murrurundi on 16 November 1982.

Back to Picton in September 1983. 42205 pilots an up container train.

And last for now - 42104 heads a 422 on a down passenger at a rather dreary Sutherland in February 1980.

Plenty more to come from Phil's collection so stay tuned!

Don

3203 on the Coast

Just a quick one tonight to dust the blogging cobwebs off me.

3203 came through Wollongong in January 1972 on its way to points south (presumably Kiama).  Phil Clarke was there to capture the event.

Here's a few shots of the P getting out of Wollongong, fast, it would seem.

Cheers,
Don

Grafton, Spring 1976

Earlier this year I acknowledged Phil Clarke's passing. Since then I have been fortunate in receiving some of Phil's photographs, including this neat little set of South Grafton in September 1976. True to the times, he shot in black and white using a trusty instamatic so please do not adjust your screens. Here is a nice location shot of the depot.

Phil then managed these three shots of 4303 being prepared for a working southwards, almost certainly to Broadmeadow.

And he wasn't averse to snapping the newer locos - like the yard shunter, 7318.  44204 is the mainliner in the background.

More from me, and Phil, over the coming months.

Cheers,
Don

Vale Phil Clarke

Earlier this week the sad news arrived that Phil Clarke, long time rail fan from the Illawarra, had passed away.  I wrote a short piece on Ausloco - Phil's favourite online medium - but its also appropriate to acknowledge his great friendship on this blog.  It also gives me a chance to run a few photos and (hopefully) his videos.


Phil (aka PVC) was a habitual rail photographer.  He had his favourite spots and trains, Cowan, Rhodes, Canterbury, Dulwich Hill, Picton and Werai curve. So regular were his visits to some of these locations he would be invited to share a cuppa with the station staff while videoing the passing trains.  He has left a rich tapestry of the changing nature of NSW railways over the past two decades.  Here is the quintessential, steady-from-the-shoulder, Phil the Video-er shot, from 1998.

I have realised I have more photos of Phil's back than his front, and for once I have a shot of him not videoing.

Phil was not just a rail fan - legend has it he served the warmest muffins on the Cockatoo Run when it operated out of Port Kembla. He was also a long time member of the RTM’s Illawarra Group and the Illawarra Model Railway Association. During a period where he sported a dashing mo, Phil (left of picture) rests in the cab of 3801 after another arduous muffin run.

Phil’s railway modelling reflected his taste for the contemporary. No sooner had a piece of new rolling stock entered service than Phil would use his considerable skills and his former employer’s considerable resources to create a HO model. If delays occurred to a loco’s release in real life, Phil would sometimes beat the prototype into existence (such as the Silverton Cs). One of those Cs is lurking in the background of this shot of his now demolished layout.

Outside of railways, Phil was an accomplished football (he called it soccer) referee and administrator. He was an active volunteer, driving elderly people to medical appointments and participating in his local church. He was devoted to his wife Joyce, his extended family and his wide circle of friends. 


Phil loved a yarn, especially when trackside. He was an avid video recorder, who has left a rich legacy of rail videos. These were spread far and wide as he was generous in sending his videos freely to anyone who asked. His videos grew to be really professional affairs, with annotations and printed discs.

So, time for a couple of Phil's video efforts.  This first one of 4468 and GM27 on a trippy at Canterbury c2003-04 comes from one of the first DVDs he made.  I picked this one because Canterbury was pretty much home base for him for many years.  He would be there by 8:00am and not leave until 4168 had rolled through, usually just before 2:30pm.

And now for one of his last efforts - from late November 2018. This one is from Dulwich Hill, where the station staff were magnanimous and friendly, and Phil could avoid using the steps to get across platforms.  I picked this snap of a track inspection vehicle because Phil loved the new stuff as much as the old, and he had a keen appreciation for the technical side of railways (which he would patiently explain to this knucklehead).

If you are lucky enough to have a PVC rail video or one of Phil’s trains (he divested his collection a few years ago), please give them a run in memory of Phil. If you have a Toohey’s Old handy, Phil would reckon you have the making of a good night.

RIP.