Thursday was an ideal time to do some tree trimming near Castlemaine, while our gang truck and track tools were still on their way home from Newport. With three chainsaws in action, our first job was to clear as much of the heavy growth inside the curve as we could reach from the track.

Once we cleared what we could from the trackside, we started near the crossing to clear as much as we could to improve the view of Rowe Street for train drivers heading toward Maldon.

We cleared between the street and the railway for about 50m so car and train drivers get a much better look at each other. What we cleared was both self-seeded poplars and blackberries and we’ve cleared it so that machinery can do it next time. Further clearing will need the use of a pole-saw because the bank was getting too steep for our sprightly gang of young retirees.

Friday saw more of the same but in a different place. Sorry there are no photos but we forgot to take any!

We started at Maldon Junction where we cleared some scrubby trees on the inside of the curve to allow people on the Gainsborough Street and Sheehan Street pedestrian crossings to see oncoming trains (and our train drivers to see them).

Then it was back towards Maclise Street where we cut down some peppercorn branches on the high side which were hanging over the track almost enough to scratch our carriages – and passengers with their heads out.

We finished off the day by trimming some oak and poplar trees on the inside of the curve between Rowe and Maclise Streets where visibility was poor. We now get a better view of the damaged whistle board for trains going towards Castlemaine. Time to fix it too!

Another successful few days down at Newport, has seen the job basically completed. Only a couple of small little tidying up type things to go, before we start the convey of trucks and digger off on their way home.

Everything replaced and few other dips all received a tamp and tidy up.

It’ll take a few days and a few rains for everything to settle right back down, but it should look nice and presentable for Steamrails upcoming open weekend – which is certainly worth a visit!

Given it’s inevitable that a bit of dirt gets between the blade and stockrail, all those have been blown clean and tested to ensure everything is working as expected.

We even spent all afternoon tightening bolts, lots and lots of bolts, it’s a job that could go on for years, but we’ve tackled the worst of the worst in the areas that get the most use.

Given that we’re more or less done now, there won’t be a workday tomorrow, as we’ll use tomorrow to get things back home. Check back next week for workday details, however there won’t be anything next Tuesday.

Last week’s crew knocked over the bulk of the bridges, leaving only Rifle Range and Winters Flat Bridge.

Most of the piles at Rifle Range requires drilling, which was a good test for our brand new cordless drill. Which were very impressed with, certainly easy to control and much quieter than a petrol job.

Once drilled the holes are filled and capped to help preserve the piles.

Once at Winters Flat we developed a system of giving a little spray to indicate that it had been completed, as we only had to remove old plugs and renew, rather than drill new holes.

We’re almost exactly half way through Winters Flat, with another day required to knock it over. Thankfully, during all our works so far, we’ve found no evidence of termites at all, indicating the treatment is working.

There won’t be a workday tomorrow, instead we’ll be running trucks and equipment to Newport in readiness for next week. We’ll be working everyday next week at Newport Workshops, starting around 8am.

Well anti-termites really. Today was about installing and renewing the chemical stick termite treatment into Muckleford Creek Bridge.

It’s quite a simple process, whereby a few small holes are drilled into each pile, as many sticks as can be shoved down the hole are and a plastic plug is installed to keep them dry and in place.

The chemical rods, are just a formulated mix of boron and fluoride, which as moisture is absorbed by the pile, causes the rods to slowly dissolve and permeate into the wood, making it very undesirable to termites and fungal growths.

They only need renewing about every 10-15 years. It’s a very cheap insurance policy to keep the bridges in good condition, as termite damage can quickly destroy enough of a bridge to make it unusable.

Tomorrow will be a bit more of the same, as there’s 5 other bridges that are due the same treatment! Meeting at Maldon at 8am.