Are further updates available on the status of the track and when trains to Castlemaine might resume?

They already are, as reported by BrentonGolding earlier in the thread.

Typing this totally knackered after a huge day as Guard (trainee) on the VGR today. K153 was the loco after fire restrictions were lifted and we got the ok to run to Castlemaine. We were rewarded with good numbers on the first Up service followed by 5 full cars on the 11.45 down Maldon train. It took ages to find seats for all the kids and some families got a free first class upgrade just to fit then all in. Brilliant stuff, full marks to John Shaw and crew, Matt, Steven and everyone else who helped make it possible. BG

Yep, all back to normal, the prohibition notice was lifted last Wed am in time for running of services but speed and load restrictions still applied. Latest info today is that following repairs the restrictions have now been removed so normal running again in affected section.

Good numbers on today's services, 6 cars behind K153 with on time running all day thanks to the above, a good Loco and a great crew.

BG

On a brighter note for the VGR guess what's going to run soon

http://www.vgr.com.au/victorian_colonial_express.php

Have these old carriages been moved from Seymour?

They were moved back in January 2015

Thanks for that - I knew they had been previously been at SHRC, didn't know about the move.  Will look forward to seeing them in action.

Here we go again, some people are spreading false rumors about one of the trains derailing over the weekend. That is entirely untrue. The rest is provided by a statement from the VGR's facebook page

[color=#141823][size=2][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][quote=Victorian Goldfields Railway]It has come to our attention that someone over the weekend put up a post on Facebook saying that one of our steam locomotives had derailed. We would like to say to everyone that this is not the case at all and we are very annoyed at the person who put that rumor across social media. What needs to be realised is this: The government bodies such as Public Transport Victoria, Department of Transport, etc, look at the social media pages of preserved railways all the time, and that includes photos taken at them and links, likes, shares, etc. When anything unusual is posted, these government bodies come straight to us looking for answers, reports, etc. Because of one persons carelessness and eagerness to jump onto their Facebook, we now need to tell these government bodies that a derailment did not take place. This exercise wastes time and energy. The VGR would like to urge people not to spread rumors and gossip or photographs of things that may have these bodies asking for reports and explanations. One careless action can effect us in so many ways, so please keep this in mind next time you may be thinking of jumping onto a social media site like Facebook and spreading information that you 'think' you know. Please share this post to help us get the message out there. Thank you.[/quote][/font][/size][/color]

Unfortunately the XYZ veteran cars will not run this Saturday, due to two of them still sitting inside a shed at Newport

Not exactly. The Veteran Train service scheduled for this Sat, the 23rd, had to be cancelled as the final approval has not been received from TSV to run the rolling stock. It is hoped this will be finalized in time to run next Saturday's service. The 2 cars which were at Newport were due to be transferred to Maldon by road on Friday 22nd April.

BG

edited due to me no knowing what day it is!

Looks OK for subsequent Saturdays.  On May 14th two trains will be running, departing Castlemaine within 10 minutes of each other.  The veteran train will go first, at about 11.30, followed closely by the Ales on Rails train.  Respective motive power not known at this stage.

Looks OK for subsequent Saturdays.  On May 14th two trains will be running, departing Castlemaine within 10 minutes of each other.  The veteran train will go first, at about 11.30, followed closely by the Ales on Rails train.  Respective motive power not known at this stage.

Hmmm, I'm thinking aloud here, trying to remember my safeworking....... but I'm not sure if that is possible. If the first train runs on a ticket and the second on the staff and they are not the same train number (as they are when the second one is a Fire Patrol) then 10 minutes wouldn't be enough time for the first train to clear the section to Muckleford and get the ACRE

http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&section=safeworking#tst

BG

http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&section=safeworking#tst

BG

BTW can anyone explain to me how Staff and Ticket (no Ticket) works? Is it as simple as the Ticket being issued verbally by the signaller?

On the VGR we run Staff and Ticket with a Pink ticket issued for Up trains and a While ticket for Down but most other lines still using Staff and Ticket seem to be (no Ticket)

BG

As simple as no ticket means no ticket. Opperate with the staff only so only that train can opperate in the section is the one holding the staff

As simple as no ticket means no ticket. Opperate with the staff only so only that train can opperate in the section is the one holding the staff

Thanks for the info, that one's been bugging me for ages! I wonder why they don't just call it Staff?!?! Maybe to make it definitive and not open to interpretation.

BG

Looks OK for subsequent Saturdays.  On May 14th two trains will be running, departing Castlemaine within 10 minutes of each other.  The veteran train will go first, at about 11.30, followed closely by the Ales on Rails train.  Respective motive power not known at this stage.

Hmmm, I'm thinking aloud here, trying to remember my safeworking....... but I'm not sure if that is possible. If the first train runs on a ticket and the second on the staff and they are not the same train number (as they are when the second one is a Fire Patrol) then 10 minutes wouldn't be enough time for the first train to clear the section to Muckleford and get the ACRE

http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&section=safeworking#tst

BG

Unless of course you establish a Temporary Intermediate Block Post.......