GCR Bridge Project

[AndyY1951]

Phil,
Thanks,
Andy

 

[Flying Phil]

The latest GM Update video has the news that the track is to be relayed over the A60 bridge this month. So a little bit more progress.

 

[AndyY1951]

About time, is the gypsum traffic likely to come back?

 

[duffield]

The latest GM Update video has the news that the track is to be relayed over the A60 bridge this month. So a little bit more progress.

I wonder if the opportunity exists to also add the necessary pointwork in anticipation of running over the MML bridge? I would have thought some money could be saved (plant etc. onsite) by doing the two jobs together, given they're nearly in the same location.
As this is beyond the NR boundary I guess the bureaucracy wouldn't be too onerous.

(Probably good reasons I'm not aware of exist why this won't be done though. Maybe at least a bit of embankment needs reinstating first?)

 

[Flying Phil]

Duffield makes a good point, but I believe the plan is to have the junction for the second track about 3-400 yards North of the A60 bridge. That way there is plenty of space on virtually level track to hold a train from the MML. Stopping on the uphill curve of the actual chord line would be operationally difficult.

 

[Flying Phil]

What is also in the latest news from the GCR is that the total raised for the "Factory Flyover" section is now more than £2 Million pounds! This achievement is really magnificent and a tribute to all who are supporting this project.

 

[al_557]

What is also in the latest news from the GCR is that the total raised for the "Factory Flyover" section is now more than £2 Million pounds! This achievement is really magnificent and a tribute to all who are supporting this project.

I think they need close to £3 million to complete the factory flyover.

Does anyone know roughly how much the 2 embankments that need to be built to complete the reunification will cost?

 

[Flying Phil]

Whilst there have been no figures quoted yet for the embankments, there is an indication that more planning work is being undertaken as the Combined Sewer outflow pipe (just North of the Canal bridge) has been mentioned in the latest Main Line. Also it is stated that the project, as a whole, will proceed in smaller sections as finance is raised. There is still much detail work (- and costs involved) required for the planning approval which will be for much of 2024, but it is hoped to get "spades in the ground" again before the end of the year.

 

[AndyY1951]

I suggest 'spades in the ground', demonstrating visible progress, is vital to maintaining the momentum of the project and therefore the fund-raising.

 

[Flying Phil]

I suggest 'spades in the ground', demonstrating visible progress, is vital to maintaining the momentum of the project and therefore the fund-raising.

I totally agree Andy....but the GCR has only a limited number of people with the skills and time to keep this sort of project moving forward and they have had their hands full with the A 60 bridge and three replacement bridges around Quorn over the past two years!
I'm sure they are doing the best they can and the team is being strengthened, so I think we will be seeing other bits of progress sooner rather than later, ie track laying on the A60 bridge etc. What is impressive is that the fundraising is continuing to go well with over £1/2M raised this year....despite the gloomy economy.

 

[Flying Phil]

There is a picture in the latest GCR news of a single track now laid across the new A 60 bridge so the GCR(N) is now reconnected to Network rail.

 

[ZL exile]

More news on the main line in the shed area in a GCR video on YouTube, (link below), appears life expectancy of the shed at Loughborough is much reduced with a double track mainline to run straight through it.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I watched this this morning. I dont think he said where the new shed would go. Is that land at Loughborough still available where Workington shed was going to go?

 

[ZL exile]

Correct he states they are still investigating where to locate the facilities for the various activities currently carried out at Loughborough, notable saying they may not all be in the same locations in the future

 

[JKF]

No reason it would have to be on the southern section I guess! How about covering the end of the southern three sidings at Ruddington?

 

[1Q18]

The up side at Quorn may be an option, although it would mean losing at least some of the car parking/event space.

 

[Flying Phil]

The up side at Quorn may be an option, although it would mean losing at least some of the car parking/event space.

Whilst Quorn does have the space, it is also in a rural residential area and so planning permission for any significant structure/industrial use is extremely unlikely.
The land to the North East of Loughborough shed (by the Waste Recycling depot) is apparently heavily contaminated and would be very expensive to build on, the "Workington Shed" is effectively all gone.
I suspect a "two shed" solution may well evolve based at Loughborough with Ruddington enlarging its engineering work. Time will tell, but first we need to get work on the "Factory Flyover" started by the end of this year...

In the latest Main Line there is a lot about the reunification work and the statement that there will be a tamper going up the chord off the Midland Main Line in March to tamp the track over the new A 60 Bridge. So more progress.

 

[Teaboy1]

Quorn Shed !!! Ohh yes, I can quite imagine the response of the locals to having a smelly smokey noisey shed in their midst. All that rivetting banging and mess that a shed would produce to the detriment of the Quorn elite peace and quite ..... its going to frighten the horses ..... lower the house prices .... etc etc
Imagine the uproar when lighting-up say 4 locos at 6am on a Sunday morning?? All that smoke ...... given my Asthma a right turn for the worse ..... cant breath while lying in bed .... etc
Its never going to fly IMO!

Maybe better up Ruddington, not so many Nimby's !!

 

[trebor79]

Where is the northern terminus going to be? Field in the middle of nowhere? I can't think that reversing into the Ruddington site is going to be the answer.

 

[1Q18]

Where is the northern terminus going to be? Field in the middle of nowhere? I can't think that reversing into the Ruddington site is going to be the answer.

I don’t think anything’s been confirmed yet with that, but it’s probably a safe assumption that providing passengers with access to the Ruddington site in some manner will feature, whether that’s trains running round at the junction to get into the heritage centre as the GCR(N) have done, providing a pilot loco, or something else entirely.

 

[hucknallred]

Reunification update dropped at midnight.
Farewell embankment, hello urban viaduct. Subject to planning.

 

[AndyY1951]

The redesign all sounds very logical.

 

[Flying Phil]

What a great way to start the day!
This viaduct makes so much sense! The GCR went on viaducts through Leicester and elsewhere and is a classic image.
It also explains why the engine shed will need to be relocated. To have a single track around the shed and a long section of double track North of the shed (To allow a full length train to wait entry to Loughborough) would mean a double track embankment almost up to Precis-spark. The extra height needed to cross Railway terrace would mean a significantly taller and wider embankment....lots of lorry loads of material!
Using piles and standard bridge decks for the long single track viaduct from the Sewer outflow to the MML bridge will be a lot faster to build, and far less intrusive in terms of lorry movements during construction. It also means though that it becomes one construction project rather than three phases but I suspect because of the modular construction, a smaller workforce could be used?

CAUTION WIBN Alert!
It would also be good if the single track bridge across the sewer outflow had steel lattice parapets ( as per the new Quorn bridges and canal bridge) ....also the viaduct could have blue brick arch facades along the East side where it runs past Precis-spark. This was done on the new MML bridge abutments.
If you really had some spare cash, then a non-structural "Bowstring Girder" would be nice across Railway terrace!

 

[SLC001]

Good to see progress. I hope the planning application goes well as you can never be sure these days and problems here will eat into the funds available. I still wonder about the commercial benefits by reunifying the lines especially given the struggles some heritage lines are having but as a former resident of Mountsorrel I am delighted that things are moving on.

 

[LUYMun]

I’m curious whether or not the Reading bridge will be donated to another heritage railway in the hopes of replacing a similar bridge approaching life expiry, or to put it forward to an extension? I could name a few that would be happy receive the bridge.

 

[MarkyT]

I’m curious whether or not the Reading bridge will be donated to another heritage railway in the hopes of replacing a similar bridge approaching life expiry, or to put it forward to an extension? I could name a few that would be happy receive the bridge.

As explained in the video, the spans have a slight skew (the wrong way for the GCR application) and are a particular length. They might be cut in length and the skew altered or eliminated, and if someone has a suitable project they will probably come forward. A new user would have to weigh costs and difficulty of any alterations required against a new build, just as the GCR did in making their decision not to use the spans. There will be a fair amount of scrap value in the heavy steel items, if no other reuse proposal materialises. In the 1980s, I remember looking out of the office window (far too much according to my boss) at these bridge spans, or more accurately the traction crossing them. They carried the Relief lines in the old layout and had clearly been renewed for some reason, probably in the 1960s or 70s, while the Main and Goods lines either side were still supported by much older structures.

 

[railfan99]

Transporting the spans would not be cheap.

 

[Flying Phil]

Further details are now being talked about...
There will be a short double track embankment (80m ish) from the canal bridge. This will go down to a single track over a short steel bridge over the Severn Trent Combined Sewer Outlet. This has to allow vehicle access beneath. Then it is along the long single track Urban viaduct, about 10 x 20m spans of concrete bridge decks. This then leads onto the bridge across the Railway Terrace, access road to the council tip site (which needs a 5.3m clearance height). There is then the section across the Preci-Spark car park and onto the MML bridge. There is then a short new embankment to be rebuilt to join the existing embankment with the Chord line to the MML. There will be twin tracks along to and over the A60 bridge and for about 400m, then they will go to a single track to Rushcliffe/East Leake and GCR(N).
In the latest re unification video there is a more detailed explanation. In essence though, a new rebuilt embankment would need to be taller and thinner on a flood plane and so would have needed about 400 piles and be very carefully constructed....very expensive! The new design of urban viaduct requires about 200 piles and modular construction with less intrusion on the flood plane/wildlife/environment. Also there will be Continuously Welded Rail on the viaduct which will be quieter and have less vibration for the (Precision!) machining operations at Preci-Spark.
It will be slightly cheaper and better in many respects so Win Win.
There is then plenty of space to the North of Lbro station to have a full length train awaiting entry, when coming South. This will also require much less track/signalling alteration than having to put new track around the West of the shed.
Obviously there is much discussion about the existing loco shed but I suspect a smaller shed might remain on the East side incorporating the existing machining workshop? A two road running shed might fit onto the West side a bit further North, up to the canal?
A further consequence of the more detailed planning is that there will be a major constraint in the future with the single track from Rothley to Leicester North. So that will need to be doubled at some time, sooner rather than later. Perhaps will will then get our railway museum?

 

[railfan99]

A further consequence of the more detailed planning is that there will be a major constraint in the future with the single track from Rothley to Leicester North. So that will need to be doubled at some time, sooner rather than later. Perhaps will will then get our railway museum?

The majority of your contribution that I've omitted was very informative, but complex.

Does the 'further consequence' mean a second platform would be required at Leicester North?

 

[Flying Phil]

Hi Railfan
I think there will have to be a second platform at LN, there is already a short stub which could easily be lengthened. There would probably be a central "relief" road to allow locomotives to run round the rake from either platform. It is a long way into the future though.