Sutherland line closure for points installation, December 2018
This project is to install the points at TAFE crossing that will eventually become the end of the museum’s double track section. A Melbourne point mechanism is being installed, and the crossing diamond is one recovered earlier in the year from Anzac Pde, Kensington and is thus a ‘genuine’ Sy
For the foreseeable future these points will be locked out of use
This project was intended to be completed before New Years, but the wild weather in Sydney during the last week resulted in many local builders cancelling their concrete orders, so the local concrete plant shut down early. The museum order is not large enough to warrant opening the plant. The concrete plant doesn’t expect to open till the 4th of January.
After assembly up at Waratah loop, the ‘prefabricated’ assembly was moved down to TAFE in two sections.
On Friday the 21st of December the Sutherland line was formally closed beyond TAFE and the track lifted for 36m north of the crossing slab. This was levelled and then the points placed into position and welded back into one unit.
The two sections being leveled 
Welding the sections together
Martin Pinches / Matthew Geier
Saturday 22nd December
It was originally planned to concrete, but the early shutdown of the local concrete plan put an end to that plan. The rails between the points and the crossing were placed and welded.
Lining up the rail before welding 
Matthew Geier
Saturday 29th of December
The next panel of rails was cut and welded into position and the track straightened. The track drain frames were also welded into position.
Lining the new track via a string line
Matthew Geier
Saturday 12th of January
The local concrete plant has restarted. 12m³ of concrete was ordered. 15m³ turned up. With a crew on only 2 workers, this was placed, locking various bits of the track into position. The remaining bits need more rail lining before they to get locked in with concrete. The day was hot, humid and still. It was hot hard work.
Martin Pinches
Saturday 2nd February 2019
After another delay due to the Australia day public holiday, we were able to purchase another 8 cubic metres of concrete to finish most of the 4 foot on the related track. There is now only 2.5 linear metres of track left to finish. This will be done in the 2 weeks as some minor adjustments need to be done on the track before it can be finished concreting. This can only be done after this recent load of concrete cures.
Martin Pinches
Wednesday 6th of February 2019
Another 3.6 cubic metres of concrete was poured at the TAFE crossing track relay by the Wednesday infrastructure crew.
Danny Adamopolous
Tuesday night 12th February 2019
Completed lifting the dipped rail the maximum we could without seriously cracking the previous concreted sections. The head was rewelded and the replacement western running rail was started to be welded in.
Danny Adamopolous
Wednesday 13th February 2019
2m³ of concrete arrived and the Wednesday crew completed the western cess from the crossing all the way to the points now as well as the 4 foot where the rail joint was lifted the night before. The next evening the last bit of rail was welded into position and everything is now ready for concreting on Saturday.
Saturday 16th February 2019
An intensive week to complete the track for traffic operations to recommence over the entire Sutherland Line for our our Feb 24 special event saw multiple work days through week to get the job done. Many thanks to those members who worked well past midnight and multiple days in a row to get the project finished in time.
The 4 foot at the points floated and finished. Image taken facing North. 
The 6 foot finished and floated. Image taken facing North. 
After sign off and inspection by the chief engineer and the Infrastructure manager. Ballast motor 42u takes the honours of being the first tram to run on the rebuilt track.
Danny Adamopolous (text and images)
In the next few weeks there will be another Sunday closure of the line after the ‘cess’ is concreted to allow that concrete to cure with out being shaken up by passing trams.
