After today’s efforts the track at the north end of the job is largely complete, with some minor levelling of rock required to finish off.

The track from yesterday now fastened down with crush rock applied, ready to be lifted to the required hight.

The same piece lifted and tamped to the required hight. The rail lying across the track in the foreground was our datum to start the incline up to the shed, which now has a floor much higher than in the Victorian Railway days. From here to the next small shed will be level with the surrounds for vehicle access.

We even dug out our temporary crossing and have the timbers laid out for the rail. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow we will have this section done, with the concreters due to place a cap over this whole section later in the week.

There’s still plenty to do, so please feel free to come and help for a day. Contact Will via email at ganger@vgr.com.au

Back at Bendigo today, we’ve made good progress, with most of the sleepers now laid out and rails starting to go on at the north end of the job.

In the foreground of the pic shows the obstacles you come across in old railway yards! A pipe of some description. Thankfully it isn’t at all in the way, it fits perfectly between the sleepers.

This section was very fiddly and time consuming, working around several storm water pipes.

We’ve still got a small section to excavate here, at the moment it’s our only access down the yard so that’ll happen once we can fill some of the track nearby.

At the end of play today we have the rail positioned basically in place and to gauge, with the drilling and spiking to occur tomorrow.

As promised more pics of our latest contract job in Bendigo. Today was very successful, with the job now ready to put together next week.

The excavation for the new track and turnout.

New sleepers to support the remaining track layed through the concrete.

A shot of the works at close of play today, sleepers are in place for the south end of the new road, and rails are positioned alongside ready to be moved over next week.

In the north section of the job the trench through the existing concrete slab has been dug and rubble removed, we’re expecting crushed rock for the road bed to be delivered Monday and that portion will be tackled next.

We’re at Bendigo all next week and we can always use a hand, please contact Will at ganger@vgr.com.au if you’re interested.

Well we’ve started a new contract job, this time in Bendigo at the old Railway Workshops.

The job requires a new turnout and some plain track to reconnect a road in the shed.

The view above shows the early stages of excavating the fill for the new turnout, with lots more pics to follow tomorrow.

Mean while on the VGR, bolt tightening and checking was back on the cards.

Clive showing off his strength, here tightening a bolt in one of the 80lb sections, these have now settled in and were in need of a tighten.

The trusty Jack spanner in use here.

This pic shows the end product that we’re after, firm nuts that just compress the spring washers, this allowing contraction and expansion of the rail.

This washer, although still probably doing a fine job was broken and therefore replaced. Any little jobs like this were attended to by the gang.

Malcolm and Clive getting ready to grab spanners and tighten.

Malcolm doing the hardest job of the day, driving the truck!

The gang will be out again tomorrow, this time adjusting rail anchors near boundary track crossing and clearing blockages from the drains. Feel free to come along and help out. Meeting 9am at Boundary Track Crossing.

A last pic to show the stunning sunrise as captured in Maldon’s main street this morning, every morning this time of year is quite magic.