Background
The RIR has had the exact location confirmed for a pedestrian level crossing over Ontrack at Maymorn station. Ontrack undertook a safety assessment to determine the facilities required over their track, and at this time only back-to-back PW-59 “Look for trains” signs are considered necessary. These were installed by an Ontrack contractor in late February (see photo below).
The RIR portion of the pedestrian crossing will provide the following:
- Safe passage for people passing through the RIR site to and from Tranz Metro trains at Maymorn station.
- Security for the site for the western side of the pedestrian crossing, which will be flanked by security fence and gates.
- A defined crossing point for future RIR track.
As part of the development of the crossing Trust members are building the easternmost part of the fence that will eventually enclose the whole site.
Update: 14 April 2007
The pedestrian crossing is almost complete, with major concrete work being done in December 2006, most chain-link mesh in place and in-filling progressing well through Summer and Autumn.
Looking across the future crossing from loop through to main showing concrete top poured on 16 December 2006. Chain-link mesh was placed onto the posts shortly after, the whole facility now close to completion. The track awaits additional ballast before it can be jacked up to finished height. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
Work continued on the pedestrian crossing through Spring 2006, including the installation of field drains and sumps. On 28 October 2006 Ian Shore and Colin Craddock take a well-earned rest from construction work. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
On 16 December 2006 saw seven trust members placing Firth ready-mix concrete at the pedestrian crossing. This completed the walking surface on the Parkes Line Road side. Photo: Glenn Fitzgerald.
Peter Milburn, Steve Porter, Hugh McCracken, Wayne Longstaff, John de Graaff and Ian Shore pause for a photograph after placing concrete on 16 December. Photo: Glenn Fitzgerald.
Over the summer break a short length of track was put in position at the pedestrian crossing, on the future loop alignment. The track still requires ballast and a lift to the design rail height. Once at position boarding will be fitted to give a flat walking surface across the track.
It will be a relatively simple matter at a later date to replace these rails and incorporate the pedestrian crossing into the rail system proper. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
On 1 July formwork for second part of Maymorn crossing was being installed, involving a second maze to the Parkes Line side of the future Rimutaka Incline Railway main (to be located at the gap between structures at centre right). A substantial amount of fill will be required at this location to bring formation level up to the final height. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
22 April 2006
2.4 cubic metres of ready-mix concrete was placed on 19 April 2006, completing the pavement surface of the first part of the Trust’s Maymorn pedestrian crossing (centre and right). On 22 April we continued placing concrete for the middle portion of the crossing, boxing for which can be seen to the left, the loop formation running inbetween. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
19 April 2006
Ready-mix concrete being placed to the form pavement surface. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
14 April 2006
A tall gate post was installed at the Maymorn pedestrian crossing on Thursday 13 April 2006, on which a security gate will eventually be placed. The future alignment of the loop is shown as a white dotted line heading towards the Maymorn Road underpass. The main line alignment is out of shot some 4 metres to the right. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
4 April 2006
Most of the fence posts at the crossing have been installed, and on Saturday 1 April a concrete footing was poured in preparation for a concrete footpath between the future RIR loop and the Ontrack boundary.
Steve Porter and Ian Shore working on boxing on 1 April 2006, Maymorn pedestrian crossing. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
11 March 2006
Ian Shore and Colin Craddock working on the pedestrian crossing on 11 March 2006. The Rimutaka Incline Railway pedestrian crossing is being constructed opposite the Ontrack crossing, denoted by the PW-59 “Look for trains” sign. Photo: Hugh McCracken