Well it was a massive effort but we’ve now replaced all the 60lb between Maldon and Muckleford!

Today was probably the most different we’ve had when it comes to re-railing, as we had to keep letting passenger trains through.

As such we set about installing 8 x 80lB rails before 11am, with that completed just in time to allow the first train through without having to hold them up.

Between 11 and 1.45 (the next train) we managed the same again. As such we’ve installed and spiked 1 in 3 16 x 80lb rails todays.

But that wasn’t all.

After the last train was through we quickly pulled out the final 18 lengths of 60lb. As well as moving into position the final 9 lengths of 80lb. An amazing effort considering our smaller gang size and train impositions.

We’ve just cut in the final length of 80lb for this section, with Clive and John prepareing to drill holes for the last joint.

Plates on, bolts in with just tightening to go for all the rails to be in!

It was quite a ceremonious occasion, so having 4 bolts meant we had to have 4 different dooer-uppers. Bruce did the honors first.

Followed by John

Then onto Rolf

With Mal now able to claim he was the last to do up a bolt during the re-rail of this section! A sensational team effort.

A view back up the hill of the day’s hard work.

And a view down the hill, it’s a little hard to tell, but the difference is actually quite noticeable.

We even got Mick out with his fancy thermometer to check out our rail temperatures (about 36-38 degrees C if you were wondering, air temp was around 26). This was more a curiosity than anything.

The re-railing has been massive task for the Railway, taking enormous resources, planning and manpower. But just ask anyone who takes a ride to find out just how amazingly better our railway is for it. And it’s all down to our equally amazing volunteers, who give up their time to keep our railway not only running, but hlpung to make these significant improvements, we can’t thank you enough.

It’s not quite time to hang up the tools in celebration, as we still need to complete all the spiking and install anchors by close of play tomorrow.

Why not join us to help celebrate this enormous milestone in the history of the VGR. Many hands make light work and this will be the last opportunity to experience the re-railing in this style as the other section will be much different with it’s concrete sleepers. Meeting Maldon 8am or site from 8.15am, we’d love to have you there.

Well three long days of back filling, our enormous trench is no longer.

With all but the small hole in front of the digger now filled and smoothed, it will of course all sink and require topping up after some rain.

Unfortunately this doesn’t quite mean the end of the trenching works, as there is about half as much still to go in the south direction, but it’ll be much easier with far fewer obstacles in the way. That will still be a few weeks away.

Tomorrow’s gang will be begging the final re-railing in the Maldon – Muckleford section. Please come along and help us celebrate this enormous milestone. Maldon 8am or site from 8.15am.

This coming Saturday’s gang will be working again on the signalling in Castlemaine yard.

It’ll be lubrication of the vital innards of the signal box itself, a sight not often seen, so if you’ve even wondered how the signal box really works, Saturday’s for you.

Meeting at the Signal box from 8.30, access may be limited from Walker street so parking in the station carpark is recommended.

We’re finally up to the un-trenching phase in Castlemaine.

For convenience and just because we could we’ve started at the south end and we’re working north.

It’s a case of installing sand over the services, dirt over that to 300mm below ground level, rolling out the danger tape for the electricity, followed by the final cover of dirt with a few compaction runs of the digger.

Here project manager Graeme is taking a well earned break after the section behind him has just had it’s tape installed, to be filled first thing tomorrow morning, were about 1/3 of the way there after today’s efforts.

We should have it all backfilled by end of play tomorrow, with final tidy up to occur on Wednesday.