High Country Rail Trail Projects
Over the past few months the volunteer members of the Bonegilla and Tallangatta Rail Trail Advisory Groups in conjunction with Parklands Albury Wodonga staff, the Army Reserve Construction Regiment and other volunteers have been working on two major projects for the High Country Rail Trail.
The Tallangatta Rail Trail Advisory Group has focused on the restoration of the trestle bridge at Edgar’s Road, Koetong under the guidance of John Shaw, a member of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society. The Bonegilla Rail Trail Advisory
Group has focused on the design and creation of signage boards for a number of stations or sidings along the rail line between Wodonga and Cudgewa.
An assessment of the structure of the Edgar’s Road Bridge was completed in December 2011. This assessment identified those sections of the bridge that were no longer sound and structurally unsafe. The assessment identified a number of pylons, cross beams and bearers that had deteriorated and needed to be replaced.
In January 2013 the unsafe decking was removed to allow work to begin below the bridge span.
April 2013 was the first week long working bee. During this week, under the guidance of the Puffing Billy Preservation
Society, the volunteers were assisted by the Army Reserve Construction Regiment.
The Army Reservists felled and milled timber, as per the cutting list of timber, needed for this community project. The bridge abutment was replaced and a number of the upright pylons were cut to remove the deteriorated section and a new section attached and braced to the original pylon. By the end of the week, some decking was in place, starting from each end of the bridge.

The second week long working bee continued with the replacement of cross beams, bearers and the placement of decking.
During October volunteers were assisted by Bruce Campbell, Helen Campbell and
Ewan Carkeek, to mill more timber and to transport the timber to the work site at
Koetong.
During the next five day working bee, the last of the cross beams and bearers were replaced and the decking was completed across the bridge.
Before the bridge can be used by trail riders or bush walkers, hand rails need to be installed.
We wish to thank and acknowledge the financial support of the
Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and the Commonwealth Government’s T-QUAL Program that has enabled us to purchase consumables (lots of nuts, bolts and all thread!), earthmoving equipment and contract Puffing Billy Preservation Society to oversee the project.
The Bonegilla Rail Trail Advisory Group has focused on designing and creating of signage for a selected number of station sites. In total we have eleven signs. The design is consistent with the previous designs used by the railways when the line was in use.
The advisory groups are currently seeking interested persons, families or groups to sponsor a sign. The sponsorship is a one off contribution to assist cover the cost of construction and placement of the sign. The cost of each sponsorship is
$350. If you, a family member or a community group had an association with the railway or you like to sponsor a sign, please contact either Joy Bayes on 02 6020 6600 or Arthur Trenchard on 02 6071 2345.