Victorian Goldfields Railway

Victorian Goldfields Railway 2002 Previous Index Next
2002	January	Castlemaine - new turntable road completed. New track ballasted and major portion of work tamped during special effort over weekend of the 20th & 21st in conjunction with Contractor Tamping machine.
2002	February	Castlemaine - Initial Trackwork required at Castlemaine completed. VGR tamper used for some areas not completed in January. Signalling work awaits completion of design work.
2002	2nd March	Castlemaine Turntable - Restoration completed with the fitting of the locking mechanism.
2002	March	Rails-to-Castlemaine - First Work-for-the-Dole Scheme (for work on restoration of track to Castlemaine) commences. Supervisor appointed. Scheme operates two days per week. Commence task of drilling approx. 11,000 sleepers for use in track relaying.
2002	March - April	Track Relaying - laying of track on 'up' side of Farmer's Bridge continues.
2002	5th May	Walmer Road Bridge - Restoration completed. An excellent job by VGR Volunteer Bridge Gang.
2002	17th May	Winter's Flat Bridge- Restoration completed during the week ended 17th May, 2002. Excellent job by VGR Full-Time Bridge Gang.
2002	May	Track Relaying- reaches Gas Pipeline Crossing.
2002	8th, 9th & 10th June	Track Relaying - Queens Birthday Weekend - 600 metres of new track laid from Gas Pipeline Crossing.
2002	June	Track Relaying - Track laid across Walmer Road Bridge on 22nd June and continues toward Farmer's Bridge.
2002	22nd July	Sawmill Road (Prison Farm) Bridge - Restoration completed. Excellent job by VGR Full-Time Bridge Gang.
2002	27th July	First Ballast Train operated on section of relaid track crossing over Walmer Road Bridge. Ballast laid for approximately 600 metres (extent of available track) from Walmer Road. Train consisted of K160 and four ballast wagons.
2002	27th / 28th July	Track Relaying - reaches up side of Farmer's PCR.
2002	13th August	Rifle Range Bridge - Restoration completed. Another excellant fob by the VGR Full-Time Bridge Gang.
2002	30th August	Farmer's Bridge - Restoration completed. Joint effort of by VGR Full-Time and Volunteer Bridge Gangs.
2002	31st August 1st September	Track Relaying - Track laid across Farmer's Bridge.
2002	7th / 8th September	Track Relaying - Track laying reaches just short of 82 mile post
2002	14th September	Track Relaying - Gap between sections of relaid track near Farmer's Bridge eliminated.
2002	September	Rails-to-Castlemaine - First Work-for-the-Dole Scheme ends. Activities of the group included Sleeper Drilling, Track Laying & Maintenance on Running Section.
2002	September	Rails-to-Castlemaine - Second Work-for-the-Dole Scheme commences - this scheme three days per week.
2002		Muckleford Goods Shed Originally the Goodshed at Winchelsea on the Geelong-Warrnambool Line, the building had been removed to the Geelong Campus of the Deakin University. In 2002 the building was offered by the Deakin University to the VGR. The University covered the cost of transport and placement in its present location. A community grant from the Bendigo Bank has seen electricty supply connected, repairs to external cladding, sheet flooring, provision of stairs to front and rear, internal fittings and purchase of tables and chairs. Funding was also sufficient to cover the cost of external painting and provision of a tank and stand. Contractors and Work-for-the-Dole workers have been involved in this project.Plans for use of the shed include functions, parties, an adjunct to train charters, corporate events as well as VGR training and social activities. See photographs
2002	28th & 29th September	Track Relaying - Reaches down side of Sawmill Road (Prison Farm) Bridge.
2002	5th October	Track Relaying - Track laid across Sawmill (Prison Farm) Bridge.
2002	October	Rails-to-Castlemaine - Third Work-for-the-Dole Scheme commences - second WFD supervisor appointed. This scheme three days per week with Scheme (2).
2002	16th October	Track Relaying - Sawmill Road Crossing relaid. Joint effort of Work-for-the-Dole and Volunteer Gangs.
2002	October / November / December	Track Relaying - Track from Sawmill Road to Pyrenees Hwy Bridge lifted and roadbed to up side of Rifle Range Bridge graded. 900 metre section from Sawmill Road to Boundary Track relaid.
2002	18th November	Pyrenees Highway Bridge - After preparation work during the week before, all three spans lifted from the bridge on Monday 18th November. The spans were transported to locations in Castlemaine for the repairs and painting. Work on centre span includes cross bracing repairs and fitting of new flanges to underside of beams.
2002	14th / 15th December	Track Relaying - Boundary Track Crossing relaid. Rail head approx. 150 metres up side Boundary Track.
Back to Top