The 2018 Rylstone-Kandos Show (February 23-24) will miss out on the ‘Rylstone Rambler’, but with work to reinstate the rail link between the two towns right on track – it won’t be long before you’ll be able to take the ride.
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Railcars 623/723 have been acquired and in January they were taken from Thirlmere to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia’s (CFCLA) Goulburn workshop.
Where they’ll be overhauled and painted and brought up to modern requirements after being parked for the last 25 years.
It’s hoped to have them running in May, if not earlier, which will be in time for the June re-opening of the line. Then they’ll be looking towards their ultimate goal of making regular services out of the Capertee Valley journey and Kandos-Rylstone-Kandos rides.
Kandos Museum president, Buzz Sanderson, said work on the eight kilometre rail link was forging ahead and estimated that 75 per cent of the work was now completed.
“The ballasting stones which gives good drainage and foundation for the track is now in place and problem sections have been fixed,” he said.
“New traffic signals are in place at the rail crossing in Kandos as well as a pedestrian crossing and most of the signalling work is also done. I reckon we’re about 75 per cent of the way now.”
Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole [pictured visiting to check on work], said the initiative is expected to increase visitor numbers in the region and as well as adding to the diversity of local and regional activities.
“Funding for rail infrastructure is essential to the prosperity of regional NSW,” he said.
“This funding from the Government will enable the replacement of 3,500 old timber sleepers with new long-life steel sleepers, as well as the fastening and laying out 1,000 tonnes of stone ballast to support the track.”
The petition formed the basis of the push by the Kandos Museum and Lithgow State Mines Railway to form a rail precinct to attract visitors to the Kandos-Rylstone region.