CMRPS to upgrade Castlemaine Station & Yard

[Yuri J Sos <steam4me@dingoblue.net.au>]

Castlemaine & Maldon Railway Preservation Society have announced that
they have obtained a grant of up to $100k from the Vic Gov's Regional
Infrastructure Development Fund.  The proceeds of the grant will be
used to restore mainline access to platform 3 and the turntable.

Work to be undertaken includes
* reinstate mainline points and associated signal works (contractor);
* resleeper platform road and run around loop;
* resleeper access siding up to the turntable;
* connect turntable to this siding;
* complete turntable works;
* relocate telephone lines (currently obstruct turntable);
* improvements to passenger facilities.

Completion of these facilities are in anticipation of the eventual
restoration of the railway between Muckleford and Maldon Junction
(Castlemaine) and in the meantime will enable main line operators to
use Castlemaine as a destination for their tours. 

The project needs to be completed by 31 December 2001.

As well as providing Castlemaine as a new destination, this will shave
hours off a Melbourne - Castlemaine - Maryborough - Ballarat -
Melbourne round trip: currently this trip needs to operate all the way
into Bendigo to turn the loco(s) to head towards Maryborough.

Other applications for funding totalling almost $1.6 million to
complete the railway are currently under assessment.

Help in the form of memberships, donations and working bees is being
sought by the Society.