Turntable at Canungra, working but not finished. Ready for the "unmeet" Busy scene from the opening of the new section. Canungra Station Passing at Chillagoe pic Darryl Green Ballaarat on the Aroma Street trestle pic D.G. Fairmont section car takes to the triangle at Laura, to allow Red Fred to pas on the mainline pic D.G. Unloaded and ready to go. 70 class in the lead. pic D.G. B 15 on the waterfall bridge approach. pic D.G. Atmospheric scene. B15 resting in the bush pic Paul Carr
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Lots if jobs to finish for the upcoming unmeet. Here is the "coffin car" loaded with mulch to rehabilitate the forest from trackworks. In the background is the new unloader and steaming bay. Now the track matches the floor height of a ute. The points at Laura are now prioritized to the mainline, the wye now acting as a passing place.
A mammoth effort has seen 50 metres a day progress on tracklaying. Here's a screen grab of the long-suffering railmotor carrying the turntable to Canungra Nearly there! A bit of grunting and a couple of band aids, and it's in. Now I don't need to do the slow reverse 400 metres back to Laura ever again!
Tracklaying on the final run now well and truly under way. Four out of the five points are in place. Here the passing loop at Chillagoe takes shape. From here on there is no vehicle access once the rails go down. The turntable has come out well, but it's rather heavy. This will test the logging disconnects again! A long walk for the orange shovel to lift it into place on it's concrete block footing. The ballast wagon project worked well. Too well, as I have had to wait till last to keep one for myself! It too will be sold after the track reaches Canungra.
Roadbase to Canungra is down, levelled and compacted. This is the end of the line, the headshunt at the end of the station. The entry to the station has a special consideration of needing 4 metres between the blades, to allow locos room to get to the turntable without needing to switch levers. Here I have roughed it in with alloy rail. Measurements are then transferred to the shop for construction in steel. And the finished points. Next is the turntable, currently on the build table in the workshop.
Not enough hours in the day, but this is finished bridge and trackbase prep at Canungra. Where the orange shovel is sitting is the site for a new turntable. Closer view, showing the finally working tiptruck. A safety issue arose (I rolled the rider mower, and yes it hurt!) so this is a better option. It also holds more! useful when the roadbase pit is a 20minute drive away. The gift of a turret bearing from an excavator, has made the new turntable a breeze to make. It, too is on hold while I complete ballast wagon No3 of 5
It's been a while since I posted, thanks to some very hot weather, but it's time to take some tentative steps outside (I haven't been slack, the shop is now cluttered with 6 wagon builds and a QR 1500 to sort out) Compare this pic with October 1st blog, The final approach to Canungra has been roughed in and the little bridge is out of the ground (40 posts in 5 days and lots of aching navvy muscles) Looking back to the work site. There's a lot more daylight since new neighbours moved in and dozed a sizable strip of forest along their boundary. Last posts clamped in to temporary formwork and awaiting the mixer to fire up. Not much response for the next unmeet. It will still go ahead, if you are coming and call first or starve!
Nothing happening outside as its way too hot (44 C last week) This is Red Fred nearing the head of steel at Chillagoe. Testing the latest cow car, No 4. The swing beam bogies took a lot of head banging to figure out, but they ride remarkably well. There's a horse box / drovers car on the bench to keep me busy.
"End of the world" is now railmotor stop "Belmont" Not much to report this month as it has been so hot, but here's a pic of track progress through the cutting above Belmont. And rounding the bend heading into Chillagoe. This is the bending process at work. The roller is off to the left of the little bridge. I am still cutting drainage ditches uphill of all trackage, to avoid the chance of saturation in the (unlikely!) event of prolonged rain. Busy little scene as the railcar worktrain approaches Chillagoe. The points for the passing loop will start at the big tree, immediately followed by a "road" crossing, immediately followed by a creek bridge carrying the diverging tracks.
Chillagoe ended up out of ground somewhat, so some careful landscaping required as I don't want to compromise the grasstrees health. A small shelter will be needed here to provide roof water for topping up locos prior to the next pinch to Barakula siding. Bit of a gap since last blog but work continues. This is Canungra, now to be a terminus with turntable. (the triangle has been shelved for a while). A little bridge required here. The station will be up where the blue tractor is parked Tracklaying is proceeding. This time I am predrilling the fishplate (joint bars) holes but rolling and painting on site, as its easier to carry when straight. Sleepers get one screw in the outer holes which saves time on site on my hands and knees with a battery drill. First train on the other side of the creek. No turning facilities for a while so traffic is construction vehicles only. (plus the obligatory posed shot!)
Chillagoe will have a passing loop but no turnaround. Access restrictions mean Canungra might be finished first and tracklaying back to Chillagoe after. |
Peter NixonThe one man track gang behind the building of the Brisbane Valley Tramway. Archives
September 2015
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