This was on the back of the truck to greet us this morning.

So we set out to just past Pipeline Crossing and continued on with the fishplate changes.

We got quite proficient at the task, and we’re now about a third of the way to Donkey Farm Track (we’re probably not quite that far but it makes us feel better to think we’re that far through!).

We’ve decided that a pallet a day is quite enough, so just after morning tea we picked up the removed plates and headed up to Maldon.

Once back at Maldon, we set about doing further work on the headshunt. First job was to remove our temporary buffer stop.

This was all to aid us in getting in additional fill to complete the levelling of the ground beside the shed – getting in by road wasn’t an option given all the other stuff we had in the way.

After a bit of additional dismantling, so we could level the bit we didn’t quite get to last time, we set the laser up and worked the fill back until we had a nice even surface.

Some important measurements to locate the turnout and plain track were made. Followed by the marking up of the sleeper spacings.

The disassemble bit was quickly reassembled, to help in bringing in the sleepers.

As the only real opportunity to drive a digger along the roadbed is now (as once the turnout is built we’ll loose all access) we set about dropping them out.

It was a good few trips back and forth to drop out the sleepers, however much quicker than carrying them in by hand.

A trolley load of sleepers got us to this point, needing only 4 more to complete the plain track. From this point, the turnout begins.

As part of this process, we needed to move a pile of gravel we had stored exactly in the way of everything in the compound, whatever we did it was in the way. So we set about spreading it, Will managed to make a total hash of it with the digger, thankfully John’s effort of the Telehander improved the situation greatly.

By the end of the day, it was a massive improvement, much less lumpy and a lot smoother to walk over.

Tomorrow’s crew will be continuing with the turnout building works, we’ll be organising the timbers, rails etc.. ready to get it all built next week. Meeting at Maldon from 8am

A very exciting day was had today, changing 6 hole fishplates for 4 holers, all in readiness for concrete sleepers to go in in March.

We’ve decided that doing a pallet’s worth a day is quite enough, as it does involve a lot of bending and lifting. A pallet’s worth got us from Pipeline Crossing to a few rail lengths into the curve, certainly a lot more to go. However, each one we do is one less later on.

The afternoon was spent doing a range of tidying up and odd type jobs at Maldon.

Thursday’s gang will head out to do another pallet’s worth of fishplates, before heading up to Maldon to get back into the turnout building. Meeting at Maldon 8am

We had quite a successful day today. Various off jobs around Maldon Yard were completed.

The stock rails for the turnout were soon to install for 3 Roads, didn’t have point chairs fitted. However, these were on hand and before too long both stock rails had chairs fitted and bolted up.

As part of the point chair fitting we needed a few chair bolts, of which a supply was in one of the disused trucks, upon having a proper clean out of the truck we found all sorts of goodies, a whole bucket full in fact!

We’ve been on the hunt for a while for suitable undercover storage option for our bolts and bits that aren’t necessary precious, but are definitely not suited to the outdoor life. As such, we’ve grabbed thia louvre van at Maldon that wasn’t doing much, we’ve got a plan to knock up some cheap racking and it’ll probably house just about everything we need it to. Today saw us get the doors running and locked shut. Our plan has made sure the wagon will still be movable if it is ever needed in traffic. We’ll be working on that between other jobs over the next few weeks.

A works train, with the dual purpose of removing more items from Maldon Yard and a load test of T333 following recent works also occurred today. Both seemed to be quite successful.

There will be no workday tomorrow, due to illness. All being well, things will be back to normal on Tuesday.

2024 has been a big year for the Civil Gangs. Around 4760 concrete sleepers installed, 2 level crossings renewed and the last of the 60lb rail removed from the running line, just to name a few of the big highlights.

Below is a very brief photo collection from the year.

We’re very proud of our efforts and hope the photos show off what a massive amount of work 2024 has seen.

January – it was very much a month dedicated to getting sleepers out of stockpiles and onto the ground.

February – A month of Turnout building and Bridge Works.

March & April – The big sleeper effort began – taking only 7 week to re-sleeper from Curve 20 to Pipeline Crossing.

May – re-railing Winters Flat Bridge – leaving only Sawmill Road Crossing in 60lb between Maldon and Castlemaine. A good few sleepers were installed back near Maldon too.

June – Lots of action, with concrete sleepers installed near Maldon along the straights and major turnout maintenance around Maldon Yard.

July & August – saw plenty of maintenance work around Castlemaine Yard

August / September – 2 level crossings were rebuilt, Woodlocks Lane and Sawmill Road.

October – Major Turnout renewal works in Maldon Yard

November / December – The last big push, to removal all the timber sleepers between Maldon and Pipeline Crossing, giving as 4.2kms of continuous concrete sleepered track.

There was an enormous amount more, just check back through the archives of the blogs to see all the enormous amount of work that was achieved in 2024.

2025 is shaping up to be no less impressive, with more turnout at work at Maldon to occur early in the year, some bridge works and thousands more concrete sleepers to install! It’s only 3.2kms to get to Muckleford from Pipeline Crossing so we’re going to give it a red hot crack! As always, we could always use an extra pair of hands. We’re also desperately needing funds to help purchase the required biscuits and clips needed to complete the planned work for this year – check out the donate page for all the details – anything would be greatly appreciated.

Work is now back on as usual – Tuesday 31st of December will be a regular work day at Maldon Yard, Thursday the 2nd and Friday the 3rd will also be at Maldon – continuing on with the turnout building works.

The following pics are from the 20th Anniversary Celebration Train a few weeks back – showing off our recently completed track, the loco and train in all its glory and part of the group we had with us helping to celebrate the event!