Bathampton & Box blockade - July/August 2015

[Captain Kernow]

As one or two other folk have observed, a six week blockade commenced at 0115 hrs on Saturday morning 18th July.

 

There are several major worksites taking place throughout this period, and the blockade itself is split into two portions.

 

From commencement yesterday morning until the early hours of Saturday morning 01/8/15, the block is between Bathampton Jct (exclusive) and Thingley Jct (exclusive). This is to enable the main worksite at Box, Middle Hill and Box Tunnel to get started. Here both Up and Down main lines are being removed, each in turn, the formation dug out and lowered, and new track laid in. The lowering is, of course, to provide clearances for electrification. The work is being done by Babcock and the work has started on the Down line at the former Box station end, and is working towards Corsham in the Up direction. Half-way through the block, the gangs will reach Corsham on the down, and will then effectively switch to the Up line and dig/relay the Up in the Down direction back towards the Bath direction. The need for this engineering access is the main reason for the block.

 

Starting on the weekend of 01/02 August, additional worksites will start up, once the area of the possession extends to Bath Spa (exclusive) and Bradford Jct (exclusive). During this 3rd week of the block, another gang will start the relay of the Up and Down lines through the Dundas Aqueduct. This is to improve gauging through the twin masonry arches under the canal, to allow larger containers to pass, amongst other reasons. The larger freight gauge will be necessary to allow subsequent diversions during later engineering works.

 

Also in this 3rd week, the High Output Ballast Cleaner will work on the Down line on two sites, one near Bathford, the other closer to Bath. Drainage works will also be carried out at Bathampton Junction.

 

In the 4th week, a two-week worksite starts at Bathampton Jct itself, where all the point work will be removed, the formation dug out and lowered, and new S&C laid in, plus associated sections of plain line. This is also in connection with electrification clearances. There are two listed bridges at Bathampton, which require track to be lowered under them.

 

Also in the 5th week, the High Output Ballast Cleaner returns to work on a section of the Up line between Sydney Gardens and Bathampton Jct.

 

In the 6th week, another Babcock plain line gang will dig out and relay sections of both Up and Down lines in Sydney Gardens itself, again for electrification clearances.

 

During this time, other worksites will also be in operation, the Shockerwick footbridge has already been mentioned, also work will be taking place in Box tunnel to attach electrification fittings inside the tunnel. This work will be done around the key track work that has already been mentioned.

 

I will hope to post photos as and when I get to visit some of the above sites.

 

[Vin]

Thanks Captain for the info on the closures. When they lower the tracks through the tunnels are they underpinning the foundations or are they going to make a concrete channel to support the existing tunnel?

 

Regards

Vin

[Steadfast]

Thanks for posting that Tim, interesting to get an overview on the works. I'll have to try and photograph the works at some point.

The first trains for the work left Westbury Friday night/ Saturday morning, each one over 80 SLU. Impressive amount of work involved

 

jo

[Captain Kernow]

Thanks Captain for the info on the closures. When they lower the tracks through the tunnels are they underpinning the foundations or are they going to make a concrete channel to support the existing tunnel?

 

 

Apparently there's no need for any major structural works to the existing tunnel when the lowering takes place. Extensive preparations have already been done and a lot of specialist monitoring undertaken, both prior to the blockade and during it.

[Captain Kernow]

Thanks for posting that Tim, interesting to get an overview on the works. I'll have to try and photograph the works at some point.

The first trains for the work left Westbury Friday night/ Saturday morning, each one over 80 SLU. Impressive amount of work involved

 

jo

There's no doubt that, given the relatively public nature of the railway between Bath Spa and Bathampton, there will be lots of opportunities for photos of engineering trains.

 

Over the 6 week period, there are over 220 engineering trains working in the blockade. These are hauled by a mixture of DBS, FLHH and Colas Rail motive power.

 

They will run from and back to various yards, including Bescot, Hinksey, Westbury and Fairwater and others.

[The Stationmaster]

Thanks Captain for the info on the closures. When they lower the tracks through the tunnels are they underpinning the foundations or are they going to make a concrete channel to support the existing tunnel?

 

Regards

Vin

I suspect not (noting also the good Captain's comment of course) because in many places on the GWML the ballast depth, and thus rail height, has been considerably increased over the years. The interesting thing is what will be done in the lower part of the formation with track being lowered after it was raised to provide blanketing to improve drainage and the ballast deepened to improve the track in order to handle higher speeds.

[Captain Kernow]

Quite right, Mike.

[Fat Controller]

I suspect not (noting also the good Captain's comment of course) because in many places on the GWML the ballast depth, and thus rail height, has been considerably increased over the years. The interesting thing is what will be done in the lower part of the formation with track being lowered after it was raised to provide blanketing to improve drainage and the ballast deepened to improve the track in order to handle higher speeds.

I just realised, with horror, that was almost 40 years ago, in preparation for the HSTs taking over mainline services- it seems like yesterday. I remember the Badminton route being blocked for months whilst they dug out and replaced all the ballast, and trains of Mermaids standing at Stoke Gifford.

[Calnefoxile]

I'm surprised no-one has asked this of the good Captain, but what is happening to the super secret strategic reserve that is secreted within the confines of Box Tunnel???    

 

Regards

 

Neal.

[D1059]

Does anyone know which end of the possession the engineering and spoil trains are working in and out from to the work site on the Box Tunnel section - Thingley or Bathampton or both ?

 

Thanks

[HillsideDepot]

Real Time Trains shows them working Up so the system shows them as terminating at Bathampton Junction and starting at Thingley East Junction, there being no recording point in between.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BTHMPTJ/2015/07/20/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=non-passenger&order=wtt

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/THNGLEJ/2015/07/20/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=non-passenger&order=wtt

[edcayton]

Is it naiive of me to ask why they're not putting the masts and wires up while the line is closed, especially with the problems they're having further East?

 

Ed

[Captain Kernow]

Does anyone know which end of the possession the engineering and spoil trains are working in and out from to the work site on the Box Tunnel section - Thingley or Bathampton or both ?

 

Thanks

For the first two weeks, most trains will enter at at Bathampton Jct and exit via Thingley Jct.

 

For the final four weeks, as additional worksites come into play, we will see trains entering and leaving at Bath Spa, Thingley Jct and Bradford Jct, depending on the worksite and the way they will work there.

[Fat Controller]

Is it naiive of me to ask why they're not putting the masts and wires up while the line is closed, especially with the problems they're having further East?

 

Ed

Presumably because the wiring trains/lorries would get in the way of the ballast, spoil and rail trains? Even when a section of track isn't being worked on, it'll be needed for the large number of works trains.

[Captain Kernow]

Is it naiive of me to ask why they're not putting the masts and wires up while the line is closed, especially with the problems they're having further East?

 

Ed

The key works that need to be done are the track works, this kind of work is not really compatible with the erection of masts and wires, which do not necessarily need to be done under blockade conditions. That said, there is some work taking place in the tunnel in connection with the future OLE.

There's a fair chance the new, lowered track will be laid on a concrete floor, with adequate drainage, as the construction height is lower then a standard ballast bed. The only downside is the noticeable transition between ballast and concrete after some use, it needs fairly regular attention from the track gangs.

No plans for concrete floors, Vincent.

[PaulRhB]

The new OLE train needs the track sorted to do its work and it can work in the short night blocks without disrupting the main day traffic with a full blockade, very good piece of kit when you know the ground conditions. I guess the problems experienced elsewhere would be discovered, if relevant, as part of this work rather than literally hitting it on the night.

Thanks for the update Tim and look forward to the pictures though I doubt it will rival the Dawlish thread size

[bgman]

I suspect not (noting also the good Captain's comment of course) because in many places on the GWML the ballast depth, and thus rail height, has been considerably increased over the years. The interesting thing is what will be done in the lower part of the formation with track being lowered after it was raised to provide blanketing to improve drainage and the ballast deepened to improve the track in order to handle higher speeds.

  

Quite right, Mike.

I've heard that there should be plenty of room for steam hauled specials is that correct ?

 

 

[D1059]

For the first two weeks, most trains will enter at at Bathampton Jct and exit via Thingley Jct.

 

For the final four weeks, as additional worksites come into play, we will see trains entering and leaving at Bath Spa, Thingley Jct and Bradford Jct, depending on the worksite and the way they will work there.

 

Thanks - might well try and come down to get some shots of locos exiting Box at the classic viewpoint location

[Gary H]

If you can get in there sometime, Tim, would be good to see some pictures of the inside of Box tunnel again.

I can remember that for the first 4 or so chain at the London end, its very much like a conventional tunnel with a brick or block lining but

after those first few yards, it opens out inside like a big cavern, literally carved from the rock without any brick lining whatsoever!

Its an unusual tunnel.

Done a couple of rail defects in there, probably about 16 years ago now.

Walking into it in the dead of night is 'interesting'.

Box tunnel always seemed eerie to me for some reason. 

You can also see the doors for the M.O.D property at the London end partially hidden in vegetation.

[Captain Kernow]

Went there yesterday. Was going to walk through from country-end to London-end, but didn't in the end, for reasons outside of my control.

 

Photos of the visit on 22/7/15, which involved walking from the former Box station site, through Middle Hill Tunnel and up to Box Tunnel, going a few hundred yards inside and then coming back the same way, although we got a ride back to Shockerwick in a man-rider from Box Tunnel.

 

First of all we visited an overbridge at Bathampton, and saw this tamper entering the possession on the Down Main line:

 

Walking from Box old station towards Middle Hill Tunnel:

 

Box Tunnel in the distance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Calnefoxile]

I managed to get some photting time in yesterday, between the showers     and here are some of my photos taken at Box and Corsham.

 

 

regards

 

Neal.

 

[Captain Kernow]

You must have missed me by a short time, Neal!

 

Here are some photos of my site visit to Corsham and Box Tunnel yesterday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More photos to follow.

 

 

 

[bgman]

Can you get sausages through that big yellow cage mesh CK or is it just bananas ?

[Captain Kernow]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bgman]

This is pretty scary because I'm literally reading this as i post !

 

 

Loved the old station.