Sorry about the lack of updates since last Thursday, unfortunately by the end of Friday, the little digger and gang truck were out of action and it’s been all systems go just to get them back in action, let alone undertaking a few other items of basic maintenance.

The truck is now back with us, the digger is at least a week away, as it requires the manufacture of a new quick hitch cylinder rod.

We’re very fortunate they broken when they did!

As such (and we’re still chasing our tails just keeping up with basic maintenance currently), there won’t be any workdays this week, we’re going to use the chance to get on top of various things before they’re bigger issues.

The plan, however, is that Monday 29th April through to Friday 3rd May, will be workdays, with a heavy focus on re-railing some of the small amount of remaining 60lb near Winters Flat Bridge.

We finally made it!!!

We set about the project of resleepering the curves between Pipeline Crossing and the UP end of the long straight that runs through Bendigo Road back at the start of March and less than 7 weeks later here we are.

There will be lots of exciting statistics in regards to total sleepers, length re-sleepered etc… once we’ve had the time to finish crunching the numbers.

Yesterday’s machinery day placed us in a good position to hit the ground running today.

One of the challenges with 2nd hand stuff, is the stuff left behind from its past life. It has been quite a common issue to have a broken off clip stuck in a sleeper, however a gentle tap is often all it takes to free the offending item.

The team proudly installing the final clips.

Quite a time was spent getting the ramp down to the crossing correct.

The crossing could still come up another few inches, however until we’ve resleepered the otherside we’ll leave it like this, which is very acceptable and quite a lot better than it was previously.

Lunch was had in such a location as to admire the accomplishment. And what an accomplishment it really is!

Some dip removal and gravel smoothing finished off that part of the job excellently.

The job is certainly not finished, despite still requiring significant quantities of ballast and a full production tamp and line, in the immediate future we still need to scrape back in what little shoulder there is, clean out the drains, move the last of the timber off site and collect any unused concretes.

However, it is now far closer to the end than the beginning! Only around 6kms to go between Maldon and Muckleford that needs the same treatment…

All that have been involved should feel extremely proud of their efforts!

While today was a real milestone, it’s not quite pack up and go home yet, we’ve still got a large pile of sleepers to sort, bundle and transport to Maldon tomorrow. 

Tomorrow’s crew will meet at Maldon at 8am as we’ll be in need of a few drivers to bring the vehicles out.

Another very successful one today, with the 1 in 2 inserted and clipped up down to Pipeline Crossing. A very impressive effort for our small team of 4.

A big machinery day tomorrow and we should have most of the concretes under and all the timber tidied up ready for a big clipping up day on Thursday.

There won’t be a workday tomorrow on account of the volume of machine only work required, however Thursday’s workday will go ahead as planned, meeting at Maldon 8am or on site from 8.15am.

Well, after many weeks of indicating we were well on our way to Pipeline Crossing, we’ve kind of finally made it!

It’s only kind of, as we’ve installed the 1 in 4 pattern, so there’s still a bit to go this week to knock it over.

It was a very regulation Monday, unfastening every fourth, collecting the steelwork and then proceeding to lift and insert every fourth concrete.

However at our steady pace, by afternoon tea, we’d achieved our goal down to the crossing.

The last 10 or so sleepers are low profiles, to taper appropriately back into the crossing and achieve a minimal ramp, that’ll need some fine tuning later in the week, however the bones are in place now.

It’s by no means complete, however it’s certainly a massive point in the project.

Unfortunately, there is also a down side to this, we’re doing so extremely well and we could keep going installing many more sleepers, except we’ve all but exhausted our supply of pads and biscuits. Our main stumbling block in achieving more resleepeeing is having sufficient money to purchase more.

If you’re in a position to donate, even just a few dollars, your assistance would be greatly appreciated as it’ll allow our efforts to continue. Please check out our website and particularly our Buy a Sleeper fund raising campaign to help us continue this valuable work.

(Now we haven’t offered to include any names on the sleepers bought through this campaign, however, if you were to contact us at Civil@vgr.com.au we can probably organise something….! Leave your legacy on the VGR)

Tomorrow’s workday will be a regular Tuesday, meeting at Maldon 8am or on site from 8.15am.