woodenhead

Judging by the title and other photographs I wonder whether the condition is due to the Platt Brook Culvert works? Later the rail was flat bottom. Do you know if there were any concrete sleepers and Continuously Welded Rail (CWR)? Any later photos I've seen appears to still be timber sleepers and jointed track. I found a Pandrol clip just before the cycle track opened. 

I think the track was just in a state and not long since the other track had been removed - the Platt Brook diversion was all over the other side and never broke onto BR property, they did improve where Cringle Brook dropped under the line with better protection but don't think that affected what went under the track.

I can remember in the mid 70s that I could identity the loco class by the sound of the wheels on the jointed track as the train approached - 24/25, 40 or 47 and then at some point it did become welded rail.  The very last time I heard any sound from the rails (and I really really hoped at the time it was a loco approaching, it wasn't) was when the whoever was recovering the track were hauling the rail away out of sight, I could see the track sliding away through the chairs, I presume they had removed all the clips to do that.

Can't remember if they ever put in concrete sleepers though, certainly the wooden ones had been replaced at some point, I remember seeing newly fitted ones over the years.

It must've been Long Welded Rail. Continuously Welded Rail would've necessitated concrete sleepers and heaped ballast shoulders to help resist the high thermal stress.