RMweb Premium 31A Posted April 30, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, chris p bacon said: I've often wondered how it crossed Steve, as both the Ox/Cam on the left and the ECML on the right are on embankments, I'm guessing they just built the ground up on the approach and made a crossing. I don't remember any earthworks for the chord when I was a kid, it had all been flattened out and returned to growing land. The old field lane is now Sunderland Road which serves the industrial estate and new housing to the North. (I'm about right for the arrow location). The footbridge would have been New Zealand bridge ( named because it accessed the camp adjacent to Tempsford airfield occupied by the Kiwis) and was Bridge '123' ....the plate for this now resides not far from where I sit.....repatriated when I was 15... I think the lane rose up to cross the chord line then dropped down again. I presume it was flattened out at the same time as the embankment was removed, or something like that. I didn't know why the foot bridge was called that! I looked at that Google Earth view just now as well. As you say, all that area is built over now. Surprisingly though, the Google Earth doesn't show the huge solar panel farm that has sprung up on the east side of the main line in the last few years! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 1E BoY Posted April 30, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 30, 2020 Today's walk (in between rain showers) saw that the crane had been reassembled and that a hiab type machine was reducing the first section to rubble etc. (second picture) by picking away at it. This clearly explains the role of the demolition contractors. Looks like the crane has been moved ready for the removal of the next section. 5 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted April 30, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 30, 2020 12 hours ago, 31A said: A rare error by the Ordnance Survey! I have seen it said that OS (and other map makers) make minor deliberate mistakes on their maps, if they are copied, it helps to establish that there has been a copyright breach. Adrian 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold rodent279 Posted April 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 30, 2020 5 hours ago, 1E BoY said: Today's walk (in between rain showers) saw that the crane had been reassembled and that a hiab type machine was reducing the first section to rubble etc. (second picture) by picking away at it. This clearly explains the role of the demolition contractors. Maybe there are structural defects in the concrete after all, despite it looking in good nick? I guess it must have been on minimum maintenance from the end of regular traffic in what? 1992, until well into the present century. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) Or are they doing destructive testing of one section before deciding whether the rest are OK? Looking at the state of the rebar perhaps? Jonathan Edited May 1, 2020 by corneliuslundie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 1 hour ago, corneliuslundie said: Or are they doing destructive testing of one section before deciding whether the rest are OK? Looking at the state of the rebar perhaps? Jonathan That would be a bit over the top. Ultrasonic testing would give you that information very easily. Bernard 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 1, 2020 I suspect that if they are going to put platforms there the whole deck will have to be redesigned to take the new loads and structures. It may well be that they start to build up new units then lift them back into place. Justca hypothesis. Jamie 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold rodent279 Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 1, 2020 1 hour ago, jamie92208 said: I suspect that if they are going to put platforms there the whole deck will have to be redesigned to take the new loads and structures. It may well be that they start to build up new units then lift them back into place. Justca hypothesis. Jamie Seems more likely to me. I would imagine it would pay to build new purpose built bridge decks, properly fit for the purpose they are intended for, rather than modify structures that are now over 60 years old. At that age, they are probably near half life anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 1, 2020 2 hours ago, rodent279 said: Seems more likely to me. I would imagine it would pay to build new purpose built bridge decks, properly fit for the purpose they are intended for, rather than modify structures that are now over 60 years old. At that age, they are probably near half life anyway. Except the platforms are going to be the other side of the WCML. If that is the case, then it looks like the whole lot will be renewed, and if the decks are not worth keeping, then surely the supports will be replaced too? If the lot is coming down, then the WCML is going to have to be shut to remove those spans at some point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold rodent279 Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) Maybe. The cost of renewing the decks might be worth it, given the cost of ongoing maintenance, and the likelihood of having to renew at some point in future anyway. Better to do it now, without an operational railway on top of it, even it it does means closing the WCML to remove some of the decks. There can't be more than 2 or 3 individual decks spanning the WCML, I would think that it should be possible to remove the necessary decks in one or two overnight possessions. Edited May 2, 2020 by rodent279 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 1, 2020 This seems to be contrary to the announced plan which AFAIK shows the viaduct "to be re-used" It didn't say "to be replaced"! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted May 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 1, 2020 22 minutes ago, melmerby said: This seems to be contrary to the announced plan which AFAIK shows the viaduct "to be re-used" It didn't say "to be replaced"! Trigger's broom? 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 1E BoY Posted May 2, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 2, 2020 12 hours ago, melmerby said: This seems to be contrary to the announced plan which AFAIK shows the viaduct "to be re-used" It didn't say "to be replaced"! From what little information I can ascertain, some sections have failed the tests and are being removed. Others are staying. I may well be wrong but we shall see as the story unfolds further. My unofficial sources suggest that the next section is due for removal in the next few days. They were working on this bit yesterday during my walk which looks like it may be readied for removal. Will see if there are any further developments later today. 4 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 1E BoY Posted May 2, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 2, 2020 The only activity today was the departure of a large lorry with empty trailer which had delivered some form of machinery to site. It is in the top picture departing through the compound gates. It was not obvious what it had delivered. Picture 2 shows that Water Eaton Road will be closed - although the G in Warning has gone AWOL! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southof1E top tmd Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 There is an all day blockade MK - Hemel on the WCML tomorrow,so assume the flyover sections over the running lines will get shunted about..I dont think there are any more blockades for this project coming up cheers NR 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 The missing G.......isn't that just how they talk in Bletchley ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 1E BoY Posted May 2, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 2, 2020 13 minutes ago, caradoc said: The missing G.......isn't that just how they talk in Bletchley ! No we miss out the T - hence Waer Eaon Road!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray M Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Steve Wright, from radio 2 must have being walking past ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 13 hours ago, Southof1E top tmd said: There is an all day blockade MK - Hemel on the WCML tomorrow,so assume the flyover sections over the running lines will get shunted about..I dont think there are any more blockades for this project coming up cheers NR I have just been passed Hemel station on my morning exercise walk. The forecourt is marked out with tape, there are a few people about in orange jackets, but little sign of passengers. I hope it stays dry for those involved and that they get fed. There is sweet FA open nearby to get any thing. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 1E BoY Posted May 3, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 3, 2020 The third section (the first over part of the WCML) was removed early this morning. Other work was on-going (picture 1) whilst the section was lowered onto the trailer ready for removal to the slings. Possesion in place until 0500 Monday. 8 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 NR press release says bridge being rebuilt to latest standards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold highpeakman Posted May 3, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 3, 2020 1 hour ago, ess1uk said: NR press release says bridge being rebuilt to latest standards Link here. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/up-up-and-away-1960s-west-coast-main-line-railway-flyover-has-lift-off 3 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted May 3, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 3, 2020 With 14 spans being removed, and three blockades this month, I might try and get down there if we get set free soon.... I wonder if the 14 are the central ones, and why the others don't need replacing?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 16 hours ago, ess1uk said: NR press release says bridge being rebuilt to latest standards Or, media speak for bridge no longer in fit condition to carry trains, although it might have been a moot point as to whether it was ever up to coping with 25T axleloads and class 66s. In any case, being late 1950s concrete, its condition may be less than desirable. Jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ray H Posted May 4, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 4, 2020 26 minutes ago, jim.snowdon said: Or, media speak for bridge no longer in fit condition to carry trains, although it might have been a moot point as to whether it was ever up to coping with 25T axleloads and class 66s. In any case, being late 1950s concrete, its condition may be less than desirable. Jim Would similar aged vertical supports not need replacing then? Just a question as they seem to be untouched at present. Wasn't there a suggestion earlier that the build of the new platform has started, presumably that stretch is OK if so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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