Today saw the 26 length of 80lb inserted and fastened down in curve 16. Unfortunately today weather wasn’t so kind, getting very hot and sticky by the arvo.

A couple of pics of the job with the rails bolted together, plated and awaiting gauging and spiking.

We’re almost done by this stage, all but a few of the joints spiked down, the spiking machine in the foreground awaiting its next job while Rolf wanders up to start the joint spiking.

And of course a competed view towards Maldon! We’ve still got around 25 more rails to insert in this leg, which will occur in a fornights time.

Today saw 13 rails on the high leg of curve 16 re-layed in 80lb rail, with another 8 bolted up and ready to be fixed in tomorrow.

We aim to complete around 13 80lb rails a day, so by the end of tomorrow we expect to have 26 in, tamped and completed.

We’ve decided it is much easier to remove the old rail completely, and where side access isn’t available we use the excavator to tow it clear.

The big stand out difference today was the first real use of the new Hydraulic Gauge Adjuster, greatly easing the work load and certainly reducing the required man power.

Overall another successful day on the gang, we enjoyed it so much well be back out there tomorrow!! Feel free to come along, leaving Maldon 8am.

Well today we did it! We’ve transferred some rolling stock onto our new track in the carriage shed. And in our usual VGR track gang fashion it all ran like clockwork without a hitch.

First off we slewed the track and joined it up to 4 siding.

Then the all important transfer of rolling stock

After the transfer we even had time to remove the slew and reinstate 4 siding.

All in all it was a very successful day, now having 3 of our less urgently required vehicles under cover and more space in the shed to store and preserve our collection.

Just a quick reminder, we will be holding another workday at Castlemaine tomorrow.

All welcome, 9.00am start, see you there!