Not quite as hot but still very hot!
We decided that install of tackling the 60 odd sleepers to get to marker post 125kms, we would tackle only 20 more timber sleepers on the Melbourne side of the road bridge, which ended up being a little too easy so we extended that by another 12, making today’s total 32 concrete sleepers installed. Certainly not as impressive as when we’re out in the bush, but given the heat, conditions and rather awkward nature of the work, it was pretty good going.
Infact we did achieve quite a bit more today too, with V/Line safeworking attending this morning to allow us to refit and test the point lever we removed to replace point timbers yesterday.
V/Line took the opportunity to get their turnout lubricated and serviced while they were there – a bit of a win for everyone, thanks V/line for making the time to attend it certainly saved us a lot of guess work.
The 32 new sleepers don’t actually stretch very far around the curve, however it’s 32 less that we need to replace next time.
This afternoon, after the crew had packed up and went to have a well-deserved break from the heat, all of the recent replacements received a tamp, there’s a few small top issues we’ll correct in the morning however on the whole it’s looking pretty good.
We’ve even managed to get stuck into that foliage that was ridiculous close and flicked it out of the way – we’ll get a good dose of weedspray onto that tomorrow, which should hopefully arrest its return.
One feature of this week’s work which hasn’t featured too heavily is the use of the civil train, parked up in the platform as a portable store, it’s saved us many many miles of running back and forth for items.
Tomorrow’s crew will be starting at Castlemaine Depot tomorrow from 7.30am, out on site shortly after.
VGR Civil Blog 