Johnny's Pages - Old SAR Shunter

Johnny's Pages
Old S.A.R. Shunter's Memories

Last edited: 11 June 2010

NOARLUNGA LINE TRACKWORK UPGRADE

... click on the small picture to view a larger picture ...

26th November 2009.

A line up for this weekends MAJOR WORKS on the NOARLUNGA line, between Goodwood and Brighton. Seen here in the Oaklands siding, which probably has not seen rail traffic in many years.

(Wayne Morris)

... click on the small picture to view a larger picture ...

27th November 2009.

The rain has stopped, the trains have stopped out this way and the work will start any minute on the Major Works for the weekend. This arvos re-visit to the site of course it 'poured' down again, managed a few pics between the downpours.
The main emphasis here was this great mound of ballast piled up near the Brighton Road rail crossing, had it not been pouring (was going to say pissing down) would have climbed the mound and got a shot or two off BUT it rained and there was thunder around.

(Wayne Morris)

The Ballast pile near Brighton Road.

The Ballast pile

Last train on the old tracks

The pile trackside

Last train on the old tracks

About to rain

The ballast pile in rain. 27-11-2009

... click on the small picture to view a larger picture ...

28th November 2009.

Giving you an idea of progress from yesterdays shots....
All very slow when you imagine the orange crane is able to grab just four concrete sleepers at a time. It lifts the sleepers off the other machine holding the stack of sleepers (only four at a time), swings the load around placing on the trackbed within the painted lines on the ballast, manouevres them into place, releases them and repeats the process. Hardly modern technology from what I can see, almost third world standard, unless the other tracklaying machines are unable to lay track on a bend which may account for the perceived lack of progress from my perspective of this operation (ignorance is not bliss)..
Will go out and have another crack tomorrow, I cannot see the weather improving at this time (0023 on Sunday) - still gale force winds and showers lashing in off the sea, have heard a tile or two lifting as well.

(Wayne Morris)

Track laying gear all out of the Oaklands siding standing on main line.

Oaklands RWS area. 28-11-2009