Trackside on the Victorian Goldfields Railway

Saturday 19 September saw us go for a drive up to Maldon to visit the Victorian Goldfields Railway.

After travelling out the branch with the Steamrail Vintage Train with K 160 and K 183 in August to deliver K 160 home trip, I decided to take advantage of the last weekend of leave to go get some photos from trackside.

I'd initially planned to go Friday, but the announcement of double headed locos, and two trips on the day due to the Victorian school holiday timetable led to a change of mind.

I wasn’t planning on going too hard trying to get too many photos, (I still took a fair few), and also managed to catch up with some people I hadn’t seen in a while, a couple I’ve known since before the railway reopened in 1986.

I'm not going to write too much here, it's more of a photo essay to share images of this fantastic 16 km long railway.

Enjoy!

Approaching Pipeline crossing with the first trip of the day.

I was expecting more wattle out this time of year, but not to be. There were plenty of shadows in the forest, so we left it at that.

On the last climb into Maldon, and past the home signal.

Fireman Addison gives K 160 a drink before the loco is pulled forward for a spin on the turntable. Filling the tender first helps with the balancing of the loco on the turntable, and makes it somewhat easier to push around by hand.

Somewhat being the magical term - there’s still some effort involved!

Driver Rob watches on as K 160 takes a spin on the turntable. The turntable was relocated from Skipton after that line closed in the 80s, as the Maldon one had been removed prior to the line closing in the 70s.

After being turned, 160 faces towards Castlemaine, and will move into No.2 road to take on coal while the J gets water and turned.

J 549 gets its turn under the water column before it to is turned.

Rob and Addison look on as John adds some coal to the tender of 160. In the background, tank loco E 371 is visible at the end of the platform, it’s just been announced the loco will be next in line for restoration, and will make an interesting addition to the railway.

Heading back to Castlemaine, the train is approaching the intermediate station of Muckleford where the staffs for the sections will be swapped, before continuing the journey.

A fairly standard practice on the Victorian Railways was for the platform track to diverge, leaving a straight run for through traffic. Far more important on mainlines than a small country branch that might see a couple of trains a week.

Safeworking completed, the train crosses the road and small trestle bridge at the up end of Muckleford to continue into Castlemaine.

The second trip out of Castlemaine, with the train climbing away from the Winters Flat trestle, approaching the Midland Highway bridge.

With Wattle scarce, the wild daises were a splash of colour in the cutting. I wasn’t alone here - there was about eight of us all angling for ‘the shot’! (I was there first).

My last for the day. The final climb into Maldon, some wattle, smoke, and Rob and Brett keeping an eye on things from the cab of the locos.

We left it there and headed for home cross country though the Central Highlands - it was a nice afternoon for a drive!

It’s always a great railway to visit and ride on, or photograph, I try and do a balance of both to support the ongoing maintenance and restoration of this piece of history.

I hope you’ve enjoyed having a look at what was a pleasant casual day out taking some photos and saying hello to friends, let me know if you’ve been on the railway, and what you think of it.

Regards,

Scott