Yesterday saw the first pile for 2022 installed.

Given this pile is relatively short and doesn’t extend greatly below ground level, we did install termite treatment prior to placing it in the ground.

A nice easy lift in for the little digger, since we’ve changed to using grabs, the days of trying to crane in the piles with chains and guide ropes are gone, taking what was a three or four person job into a one digger and one spotter job.

In and positioned. And no the clamp isn’t actually holding the pile there, it’s just so we could align the angle iron to make sure the holes lined up… which they did thankfully.

And after several hours of shovelling, it was backfilled! The digger did help a little.

As we actually installed this pile in the correct location (the last one was a bit off set), new holes were required and with a nice new sharp drill bit, this was an absolute breeze.

And job done! We did also replace the rear crosshead at the same time, as it was beyond Salvage. Thankfully besides being an insurance policy, the outer crosshesd really doesn’t do very much.

On Tuesday we’ll begin replacing the pile on the other side of the pier. Meeting at Maldon at 8am or at the Bridge from 8.30am.

A few more pics from earlier in the week…

Marking up the pile with the smallest level we could find!

Towards the end of last year, our Yard at Muckleford was used as storage for 2nd hand timber sleepers released out of the Echuca Line Upgrade. The sleepers were destined for other tourist and heritage groups around Victoria and this week saw them loaded up and trucked off to their new homes.

Although we didn’t actually keep or need any of the sleepers ourselves, we are glad we could help the other railways reduce their costs by providing our Excavator for loading and making Muckleford available as a storage area. Hopefully we can help the T&H sector with more material acquisitions like this.

Well it’s Feb and we’re into bridge work. The first job being the replacement of the two down abutment piles.

The peace and tranquillity of Muckleford Valley was broken once we arrived with the gear to tackle the job.

The first job, was the preparation of the replacement pile, marking it out square and cutting the shoulders.

While all that marking out excitement was going on, excavation around the existing pile was undertaken. We’re now past the point of replacing failed piles and we’re replacing undersized, but otherwise still functioning piles, they’re now getting on for 30 years these and still in good condition, which given their rather narrow diameter is pretty good.

Thankfully once excavated, the sill was found to be in good condition, which reduces the works a little.

Lots of adzing, cutting, planning and drilling and the new pile is ready for installation tomorrow.

They look very pretty all freshly cut, it does seem a shame to go and stick them in the ground.

We’ll also be replacing one of the crossheads while we’re at it tomorrow, as it’s certainly a little worse for wear and best done as part of these works while we’ve got easy access.

Meeting on site at Muckleford Creek Bridge from 8.30am tomorrow.

Today was a day spent preparing bridge piles.

We’ve had a few piles that have been lying around, still in the form they came out of a bridge somewhere in victoria a few years ago.

So we set about removing all the old bolts and dismantling the bracing. You wouldn’t think it, but this little job took our small gang of three most of the day.

However, in the afternoon, given the weather, we ran a special track patrol to ensure there was no damage, which there wasn’t. However the weather turned it on again for us, with a very impressive deluge lasting the whole patrol.

Next week’s plan is bridge work at Muckleford Creek, nothing formally planned for Monday, however at the very least well be on site from 8.30am Tuesday preparing for the upcoming works.

We’ll we’ve had quite a successful week, with an excellent start on the track now having been made in the loco shed.

Tuesday saw a significant amount of work done, with lots of rail cutting and drilling to square odd lengths of rail. The track hae been constructed from the rear of the shed outwards.

Last night’s storm saw us working in a lake today. We did manage to get this largely drained with a little digger and shovel work.

Well before morning tea, we’d completed clipping up what we hadn’t got to Tuesday.

It’s not dead straight yet, but that’s pretty good from a string line, translated into a paint mark on the ground then roughly placed out by the digger.

To go any further we needed to unload the material from the works train, which required a bit of shunting.

Once that was done thought, we continued on out the door.

The last rails for today’s efforts being lifted in, we’ve used 80lb rail here, as we still have a good stock of that in moderate lengths.

We even cheated a little and used the gauger to help clip up the curved section, as it takes a big heave with a bar to curve the rail or an easy pump with the device.

It certainly all seems to be point in the right spots, which is always a bonus.

As we’re now taking a break from Castlemaine to go Bridge repairing, we’ve left a section out just inside the shed doors to help with access, as stepping over the unballasted track is not fun for anyone.

Depending on how our Bridge repair program goes, we might not be back here until Mid march, or depending on when our timbers do finally arrive we might be back here in a few weeks. Either way hopefully by Easter, all three roads in the shed will be usable.

Tomorrow, we’ll be preparing for bridgework, so meeting Maldon from 8am, where we’ll transport to Muckleford the materials we do have on hand to get started next week.