V/Line have released a webpage and photos from around Wandong, calling it "Rebuilding After The Fires". In summary 1200 sleepers burnt along with the two rail bridges. As a result the Wandong station pit sustained a fair amount of damage.

To view the full article and photos, click the below link:-
http://www.vline.com.au/home/latestnews/rebuild.html

Nice to see they are using concrete sleepers.

Maybe the recent heat related problems has forced Brumby & Kosky to order all new sleepers to be concrete. (Doubt it).

Nice to see they are using concrete sleepers.

Maybe the recent heat related problems has forced Brumby & Kosky to order all new sleepers to be concrete. (Doubt it).

By the looks of those photos they are using both concrete and wooden:-

Concrete:-



Wooden:-



&

New woodend sleepers to left.

I hope these arent more non gauge convertable concrete sleepers are they!!
Surely they have learnt their lesson after the debacle that is RFR

I hope these arent more non gauge convertable concrete sleepers are they!!
Surely they have learnt their lesson after the debacle that is RFR

They would be broad gauge only as per all the other platform pit renewals around the V/Line passenger train network.

This stupid Victorian Government never learns from anything

.....and where do you think they were going to get gauge convertible concrete sleepers from? Bloody gunzel experts.  

I think the question should be, when DG concrete sleepers are provided, what are we going to do with the BG sleepers? Will there be enough wooden sections in the metro network to use them? What about tourist railways? Or can the concrete be crushed and re-used?

They probably used whatever was on hand - it's not like they would have planned replacing the track and sleepers.  Helps if brain is engaged before typing.

Yes true. Short notice and immediate need for replacement.

LOL, Standard gauge.... I am pretty sure the Victorian Government are not aware of that one.

LOL, Standard gauge.... I am pretty sure the Victorian Government are not aware of that one.

My gods.  What on earth motivated you to post such things?  The track is broad gauge and was damaged and needs to be replaced in short notice.  

Would you rather have the passengers to and from Seymour inconvenienced because you think certain sleepers with dual-gauge capabilities should be used?

Highly unlikely that there will be any new dual-gauge track in Victoria with passenger trains running over them operating regular services.

Speed limit for passenger rolling stock (of any kind) is 60kph with dual gauge, and I cannot envisage any services being offered at that standard.

I didn't say dual gauge.  I am also not saying that they should have laid dual gauge sleepers.  What I am saying is that the Victorian government is utterly uncapable of letting the broad gauge go.  

Why is there even such thing as a broad gauge only sleeper ???

I hate everything that that gauge stands for.

I didn't say dual gauge.  I am also not saying that they should have laid dual gauge sleepers.  What I am saying is that the Victorian government is utterly uncapable of letting the broad gauge go.  Uncapable?



Why is there even such thing as a broad gauge only sleeper ???

Because in some circumstances, the sheer cost of converting the entire state's railway lines in metropolitan and country areas would be almost ruinous.

And what would gauge converting say the Sandringham line achieve aside from satisfying one dribbler on RP?

I hate everything that that gauge stands for.

Obstinacy on the part of NSW engineers?  
The Irish?  

While I can understand if you've listened to anything by Enya, but taking it to a railway gauge is a bit extreme.

Please, step away from the keyboard and back away slowly.

We have one currency in Oz, left hand drive vehicles, English language, 240V power, hot water on the left tap, Metric system and so on.

All I would like to see is some forward thinking on the Victorian Governments part.  I care not what the gauge is, 2 Metre for all I care, As long as it is all the same.  I want my tax money spent well and efficiently.  

A level crossing near Wodonga has just been standardized as part of the North East project, However not that long ago it was redone in, You guessed it, Broad gauge only concrete sleepers.  Little forward thinking on the Governments part and it takes the Federal or ARTC to break away from the mold.

Oh, And Deepthroat, While I am sure your friends think you are the life of the party, Witty putdowns down impress too many people.

We have one currency in Oz, left hand drive vehicles, English language, 240V power, hot water on the left tap, Metric system and so on.

All I would like to see is some forward thinking on the Victorian Governments part.  I care not what the gauge is, 2 Metre for all I care, As long as it is all the same.  I want my tax money spent well and efficiently.  

A level crossing near Wodonga has just been standardized as part of the North East project, However not that long ago it was redone in, You guessed it, Broad gauge only concrete sleepers.  Little forward thinking on the Governments part and it takes the Federal or ARTC to break away from the mold.


Oh, And Deepthroat, While I am sure your friends think you are the life of the party, Witty putdowns down impress too many people.

So when were ALL vehicles in Aus converted to LEFT hand drive.

We have one currency in Oz, left hand drive vehicles, English language, 240V power, hot water on the left tap, Metric system and so on.

I'll echo 42101's sentiments and wonder why every car I've ever driven has steering wheels and dashboards on the right-hand side.

All I would like to see is some forward thinking on the Victorian Governments part.  I care not what the gauge is, 2 Metre for all I care, As long as it is all the same.  I want my tax money spent well and efficiently.  

Let me repeat this again, as you seem to be the RP Poster of Little Brain:

The Victorian Government under V/Line Network and Access would not have and did not need to have 1km approximately of track to be replaced in a hurry.  Therefore there is every chance that if concrete sleepers were used, there is a good chance that they would have used them from whatever stock they had and some of it would be BG only.  Now while you've got some weird hatred of 5' 3" track "and everything it stands for" if you actually engaged your brain you'd recognise that if they had the DG sleepers cast and cured in time to be used, the line would be closed a lot longer than the time it is - which IMHO would be to only satisfy dribblers like yourself.

A level crossing near Wodonga has just been standardized as part of the North East project, However not that long ago it was redone in, You guessed it, Broad gauge only concrete sleepers.  Little forward thinking on the Governments part and it takes the Federal or ARTC to break away from the mold.

Apples and oranges.  What on earth does anyone - especially someone who in their OP in this thread used LOL, the red flag of cretinism - think that the two cases are similar?  I'd like to see the track repaired in the shortest time possible allowing for meeting of engineering standards.  If BG concrete sleepers are used, it's regrettable on a line slated for regauging, it certainly nothing for me to get so emotionally involved in that I'd hate it.

Oh, And Deepthroat, While I am sure your friends think you are the life of the party

Thank you.  I'm glad you recognise your betters

Witty putdowns down impress too many people.

And again, I'm glad you recognise wit when you see it, but I'm not trying to impress you - nor would I want to.

The repairs to the lines effected by the recent fires have to be completed in the shortest time period possible. So we have to use wooden sleepers and in this case concrete sleepers have been used at the Wandong Station Platform Pit.
What a previous poster was suggesting we should be laying gauge convertible sleepers and then we got into the discussion of where do find these sleepers at short notice.
During the Rural Fast Train rebuilding I read that to purchase gauge convertible concrete sleepers added one percent to the total price of the sleeper. We cannot predict when sleepers will be needed for emergency repairs but what I would like to see is all concrete sleepers purchased for Country lines be gauge convertible so that when ever we lay such sleepers at least for that section we will not have to redo them if and a big IF we ever standize the country lines.
Yes I certainly agree with another poster we will never nor should we ever think of converting the Suburban network as it would plainly be silly with absolutely no economic or operational payback.
PTE.

During the Rural Fast Train rebuilding I read that to purchase gauge convertible concrete sleepers added one percent to the total price of the sleeper.
PTE.

I think you will find the figure was around 11% (still not a great lot)

The argument of gauge convertable concrete sleeper is possibly base on a false premise, that being that the BG sleeps aren't convertable.

I'm fairly confident that a device could be engineered that could be fixed on the BG  clip that spaces out a SG clip. Problem solved..Ta Da.

I freely admit that the solution will cost more than using Gauge convertable sleepers from the start, however, it would be cheaper than replacing all the sleepers all ready laid.

I'm fairly confident that a device could be engineered that could be fixed on the BG  clip that spaces out a SG clip. Problem solved..Ta Da.

I freely admit that the solution will cost more than using Gauge convertable sleepers from the start, however, it would be cheaper than replacing all the sleepers all ready laid.

Yes a device could be engineered that could support a standard gauge on broad gauge sleepers using a piggy back setup (rail mounting clip)

But the cost of engineering/manufacturing the clip that would maintain the same track stability and support (and maintainance costs) as the normal setup would most likely make the Idea unworkable and there for unviable, making compleat sleeper replacement the only way

Any way we are getting a bit off the subject hear.

Here's one of many dual gauge sleepers in suburban Adelaide designed for easy gauge conversion. Plain and simple. Could it not be more obvious to the Vic government?

Christ almighty, why are people so cynical, the track gangs have managed to replace 2 bridge decks, 7km's of track, coping to 4 platforms, and telegraph wires stretching (most likely) 3km's, and yet here we are bitching about why weren't dual gauge sleepers weren't dumped in..

Think about it logically (if you know what that means). This happened unannounced, no prep time, no plan, no organisation. The blokes on the front line were there from the time the ok was given by firey's to go in, Sleepers were still smouldering quite badly, all the credit must given to the gangers who are getting the job done as quickly as they physically can.

V/Line used what they had available, and to be able to jump to the task of replacing 7km's of track, 2 stations, and 2 bridges at the drop of a hat, I see no point complaining about why dual gauge sleepers weren't used.

Think before you bloody well speak, then again, maybe not.

Christ almighty, why are people so cynical, the track gangs have managed to replace 2 bridge decks, 7km's of track, coping to 4 platforms, and telegraph wires stretching (most likely) 3km's, and yet here we are bitching about why weren't dual gauge sleepers weren't dumped in..

Think about it logically (if you know what that means). This happened unannounced, no prep time, no plan, no organisation. The blokes on the front line were there from the time the ok was given by firey's to go in, Sleepers were still smouldering quite badly, all the credit must given to the gangers who are getting the job done as quickly as they physically can.

V/Line used what they had available, and to be able to jump to the task of replacing 7km's of track, 2 stations, and 2 bridges at the drop of a hat, I see no point complaining about why dual gauge sleepers weren't used.

Think before you bloody well speak, then again, maybe not.

Well said 8)

For the benefit of some who may consider that they know all;-

Gauge convertible sleepers come in a couple of different designs. The currently perfered design that has superseded the style used between Serviceton and Adelaide around 15 years ago uses the newer clip style rather than the well known usual Pandrol "E" clip. That said the centre clip on the current sleeper is an E clip but to achieve the desired engineering requirements the sleepers can only be used with both broad and standard gauge rails in place. This is because the centre clip to be effective must touch on the foot of both rails. There is a risk related view that where dual gauge BG and SG track is laid, the line speed on BG needs to be limited due to experience with objects including mis placed brake blocks finding there way between the rails. Until this problem (which has occurred) is overcome line speed will be an issue.

In Victoria the engineering standard directs that platform tracks when renewed are to be done in concrete.

At Wandong the decision was taken to renew the entire pit area in concrete partly due to the number of timber sleepers damaged and the complications in actually getting space to replace, partly in an effort to comply with standards and further to inprove alignment concerns. There has been a history of track movement and trains brushing the platform from time to time. Therefore the concrete replacement and the total renewal of the coping of the down platform.

On top of the above all platform works are required to achieve rolling stock floor level and platform height uniformity when ever any significant works are undertaken. To achieve that it is necessary to lower track level in many cases as platform surfaces cannot always be raised without other problems. This can be seen north of Seymour where extensive excavation is being done on the former BG track to allow for the increased height and drainage needs.

At Wandong it was not feasible to lower the track far enough to achieve the platform height and still allow standard concrete sleepers with their increased depth compared to wood because of the depth of the platform face foundations. The only way the desired height clearances could be achieved was to use low profile concrete sleepers. To date there has not been a sucessful design of dual gauge sleeper in the low profile style.

The price differential between dual and single gauge sleepers is more than a percent or so and when coupled with the need to have the third rail in place the economics are seriously out of balance. perhaps I should also say that they are harder to pack amongst other things.

A glance around the network will reveal that the state has committed to using dual gauge sleepers in places where there is reasonable expectation based on sound economic modelling and good future likelihood of justification.