#wallangarra

[southerndownssteamrailway]

Trek

[southerndownssteamrailway]

The 1-40 pinch up towards Fletcher, northbound.

[southerndownssteamrailway]

Afternoon weather was a distinct improvement.

[southernline]

This isolated stretch at approx 353kms has multiple burnt out bridges either side, so there were no concerns about unexpected track movements. Elsewhere this was a real potential as a hi-rail vehicle was sighted at Glen Aplin the same morning.

This is facing south, note the burn marks on the tree trunks to the right hand (highway) side. The sleeper surface area appears intact but even without this possibility, there were multiple sleepers showing signs of age-related wear, degradation and possible fire damage.

Some of the sleepers appeared charred, but I'd seen enough and didn't check further. Any serious considerations of reopening would probably need partial sleeper renewal at a minimum (see below), despite the deceivingly intact grass-free surface.

Looking north towards one of the burnt out bridges, grassy overgrowth is visible in the distance. Its possible the white painted rail markings were part of a damaged sleeper count made for track work repair estimates after the fires.

These white markings were frequent along this section. Note the fresh vegetation regrowth and multiple blackened tree trunks either side of the track, suggesting there was fire activity in this section.

[southernline]

A trestle bridge gone missing at 352.87kms.

[southernline]

This bridge between Wallangarra and Bald Mountain is also gone.

[southernline]

Here is one of the reasons the trains have stopped: a missing trestle bridge at 352.87kms.

[southernline]

The turning fork is disappearing.