Today’s main focus was the dismantling of this old double compound, which was perfectly in the way for the future access road into the new workshop.
It’s very unlikely this turnout has seen any real attention since the late 70’s and was probably last used properly in the mid 80s.. Needless to say every bolt was a hassle. And in a double compound there are a lot of bolts!
We’ve loaded all the components onto a well wagon, for stacking as a unit out at Muckleford. However it’s a real mess, full of broken rail, decayed foot and web and generally quite worn. It’s also a bit of a rare beast…. It’s a Weighted 75lb turnout, the important sections of the turnout have a thicker web, taking the rail weight up to 86lb. It was a very old idea, that really didn’t work for various reasons, mainly due to the chair design and need for an enormous number of junction fishplates to join the various types of rail.
The old timber remnants still needs collecting up for disposal, but the area does look a little tidier. The well wagons are now quite literally sitting at the end of the track.. Almost like it was planned.
The remaining track will not be lifted, rather it will be slewed towards the fence to align with the shed and once we know the exact location of the new workshop track, we’ll extend it as far as practical to maintain some storage space.
Now that storage for trucks, equipment etc… is no longer needed in the carriage shed (we’ve got other sheds for that now!), 5 siding has been extended another 2 rail lengths to improve the available storage space by about a passenger carriage length.
This afternoon saw us move into the loco shed, to make a start on installing the pit timbers, this will be one of tomorrow’s main tasks.
While we were busily clearing stuff in the way, Rolf was busily surveying the track layout for the workshop track, he’s not quite finished yet, however it’s all looking like it’ll work.
Tomorrow we’ll be meeting at Castlemaine from 8.30am, hopefully the weather is as good as is was today.
VGR Civil Blog 