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 The first test run! |
 The formation can be seen disappearing behind the back of the workshop. |
 Work on the first set of points begins. |
 The first set of points are a success! |
 A concrete footing is prepared in front of the workshop doors to allow vehicle access without damaging the track. |
 The concrete is finally poured following hold ups due to months of rain. |
 Track work continues and extends around the back of the workshop on the 1 in 30 grade. |
 Drivers view heading down the newly completed 1 in 30 section with the top reversing loop formation and bridge abutments in the back ground. |
 Boulder Creek’s Malcolm Moore loco descends the 1 in 30. |
 The current track work ready for ballasting – August 09. |
 Looking down the 1 in 30 grade around the back of the workshop as the newly completed track awaits ballasting. |
 Looking up the 1 in 30, the location of the top loop points can be seen with the top loop formation in the background. |
 View from the loop. The track heads down the hill behind the workshop and reappears on the right. |
 The first official passenger train up the hill on the newly laid track. |
 Final earthworks have now been completed. The levelled area is the covered BBQ and seating area. The top loop station area formation can be seen running around the middle of the cutting. |
 Track panels to complete the top loop, ready to be laid. |
 Track work continues in the top loop following the completion of 5 new sets of points. The top loop station area has the first of two tracks laid and is awaiting the second track to be installed. |
 Track laying on the top loop continues and is now almost complete apart
from the bridge crossing. |
 The end of the line for the Malcolm Moore loco until the bridge is completed. The elevation between the top loop and the points leading into the workshop is just on 3m. |
 After much waiting, the pipe for the tunnel finally arrives!!! |
 The pipe is unloaded by L & J Shadbolt Earthmoving with their 20 ton excavator. |
 22 metres of tunnel pipe lined up ready to be sectioned. Work on the tunnel will commence as soon as the top loop is completed. |
 A template was cut from sheet metal and wrapped around the pipe where the tapered section is to be removed, then cut with a 9" angle grinder. |
 The first tapered section is removed and lies on the ground in front of the pipe. A chain block is run along the length of the pipe ready to close the gap. |
 The gap before being winched closed with the chain block. About 250mm was left attached in the back to hold the sections in position relative to each other. |
 The chain block makes short work of the sectioned pipe and the first bend takes shape! |
 The pipe is welded back together after being bent into shape. |
 5 hours on the angle grinder and around 30 metres of cutting and the first section of the tunnel pipe is cut, bent and welded into shape. |
 The cutting for the tunnel begins to take shape. |
 The first of the tunnel pipes is positioned in the cutting. |
 Looking back towards the workshop with the first tunnel pipe in place. The top loop formation and bridge abutments can be seen in the background just above the tractor. |
 The second pipe is positioned on the ground to mark out where the cutting needs to be. Pictured sitting in the pipe is Leigh Shadbolt, responsible for the entire Boulder Creek Tramway formation and earthworks. |
 The cutting is complete and the second pipe is in position. |
 After welding the two sections, it was sprayed with a bituminous based product as a protective layer to help prevent corrosion. |
 As the tunnel is being filled in it takes its first substantial load - a 20 ton excavator! |
 The filling in of the tunnel is almost complete. |
 As luck would have it, not more than 3m past the tunnel opening, we struck a huge boulder that required a rock breaker. |
 With the rock breaking out of the way, the cutting out the bottom end of the tunnel in almost complete. |
 Looking back up the tunnel there is little evidence of the boulder that required rock breaking to remove. |
 The first section of track into the tunnel being welded together. |
 Track work continues through track the tunnel. |
 The first train exits the tunnel with a carriage load of track workers! |
 A drivers view looking out of the tunnel through the passing loop up towards the workshop. |
 Track laid through the passing loop at the top end of the tunnel. |
 Looking down the formation towards the loco storage container. The 1 in 30 can be seen climbing up around the back of the workshop. |
 The spur line running off to the right is the new line down to the loco storage container. |
 It appears as though 'Komatsu' now build ballast wagons!!! |
 The first run over the newly laid and ballasted track. |
 The next section of track will get us into the tunnel at last. This marks the half way mark, give or take a bit. |
 Finally, work on building the bridge commences - June 2010. |
 Cutting the foundation pads into the rock bridge abutments with a 9" angle grinder is dusty work! |
 The first of the bridge girders is lifted into place. |
 Both bridge girders positioned and clamped in place. |
 The bridge structure is all but complete and the track panels are positioned across the bridge ready for welding. |
 The last panel is clamped up for welding. This completes the top loop! |
 The new bridge is completed and has the first train over it. |
 Another view of the new bridge. Just needs a coat of paint now. |
 The new bridge and the finally completed top reversing loop. |
 Video:
Building track in the workshop, and track laying. If only it was this fast in real life . . .
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 Earthworks for the next stage begins. The Boulder Creek workshop can be seen in the distant background.
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 Looking down the 1 in 40 grade. |
 Looking down the new 1 in 40 formation with the completed embankment. The cutting can bee seen exiting at the left. |
 At the bottom end of the passing loop cutting looking back up towards the new embankment. |
 An aerial view of the new embankment showing the cutting for the reversing wye on the right. |
 The first of the new track panels in place and clamped ready for welding. |
 The work train waits as the first new track panel is fitted in place. |
 More new panels being delivered by train. |
 Back to work you lot … Geez … what do you think this is!!! |
 A test train is run over the new track. |
 The formation for the passing loop and reversing wye is complete and the track panels and points are laid out. |
 The small cutting can be seen on the right for the reversing wye. |
 Hard at it, laying track around the passing loop to the right and into the cutting on the left for the reversing wye. |
 The tracks through the passing loop and reversing wye are completed and ready for ballasting. |
 End of a days work on the track with the work train loaded up and ready to head back to the workshop. |
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