The Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) has welcomed a new depot in Castlemaine for the historic trains that run between Castlemaine and Maldon. An official opening celebration took place on Saturday 2 November with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP and Clynn Lord, whose husband Kevin made the generous donation that kick-started the project. Kevin Lord had been a VGR volunteer before his death in 2016 and a plaque on the shed commemorates his contribution.
The VGR, with the support of Maree Edwards MP and Regional Development Victoria, leveraged that seed funding into a $2 million infrastructure project to build the new VGR Castlemaine Depot.
The many benefits of the new depot buildings include greater space and more comfortable indoor environs for VGR volunteer workers to maintain locomotives and prepare them for service. The facilities in Maldon can now be repurposed and the station precinct can be cleaned up to be better presented as a typical Victorian Railways branch line terminus.
The VGR says its focus will now shift to finding the funds to properly fit out the buildings, as part of the strategy to provide volunteers with better and more productive working conditions, which is a key component towards the railway’s long-term sustainability.
VGR volunteers work on most days of the week on either maintenance or train operations and the VGR is always seeking new volunteers to join the team – just go to vgr.com.au/volunteer or email volunteers@vgr.com.au.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 8 November 2024.
