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GCR Bridge Project

fflint

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Thanks again Flying Phil for your coverage. Can I ask if there will be support columns needed in between the 2 sets of tracks to support the bridge?
 
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Flying Phil

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Thanks E50019 - As I understand the situation re the GCR/MML bridge, the design is fully electrification compliant and so yes is more expensive and higher. However the height will also be needed to cross Falcon(?) Road which leads to the local re-cyling tip, as I'm sure the original bridge there, would not have allowed the current height of lorries. The GCR will be using the Ex Reading bridge decks for that part of the project.
 

Flying Phil

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fflint - messages crossed! There will be no central column between the MML tracks hence the need for a completely new bridge deck to be made (originally the Ex Reading bridge decks were to be used) but, to periodically close the MML for central column construction etc. made the redesign a better option.
 

Cowley

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Thanks for the updates Phil. That's going to be a very long span then isn't it?
Are there many rail bridges in the UK that cross four lines in one span does anyone know? There probably is, I'm just curious.
 

Flying Phil

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According to the latest "Main Line" article the new bridge will be about 35m long and is being made, now, in Peterborough (coincidence with previous post!). It will go to the GCR as two side beams (box sections) and a track bed box section. It is to be lifted into place by a LARGE mobile crane 1200T or 1000T capacity either in one piece or as three sections - in late August........exciting times indeed.
 

Ploughman

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Thanks for the updates Phil. That's going to be a very long span then isn't it?
Are there many rail bridges in the UK that cross four lines in one span does anyone know? There probably is, I'm just curious.

Bridge 5? out of Hull near the stone terminal.
I think this used to have 8 lines through it now just one.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1129567
 

73202

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Thanks for the updates Phil. That's going to be a very long span then isn't it?
Are there many rail bridges in the UK that cross four lines in one span does anyone know? There probably is, I'm just curious.

The GC bridge over Nottingham Midland spanned across five lines (platforms 1,3 & 4 plus two middle roads) with abutments far side of Platform 1/Station Street and the other in the middle of platforms 4 & 5.
 

a_c_skinner

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The GC bridge over Nottingham Midland spanned across five lines (platforms 1,3 & 4 plus two middle roads) with abutments far side of Platform 1/Station Street and the other in the middle of platforms 4 & 5.

Was there not a similarly ambitious GC bridge at (IIRC) Rugby?

Andrew
 

fflint

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It's great on here as a question and you end up with loads of info. over and beyond what you ask. Thanks for that Phil et al.
 

Flying Phil

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Thanks fflint and other posters - over 40,000 views so it would seem to be popular.
Also I have seen pictures of the bridge site with a lorry pouring concrete into the holes, so the piles on the North site will soon be finished.
 

dbmbridges

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Thanks for the updates Phil. That's going to be a very long span then isn't it?
Are there many rail bridges in the UK that cross four lines in one span does anyone know? There probably is, I'm just curious.

I have worked on a good few bridges crossing four tracks over the years - I have a couple of websites that show examples - www.dbmbridges.com and www.dbmbridges2.com

Project 8 Micklefield - this is a 36m span concrete pre-stressed beams carries the A1M over the Leeds - Hull & Leeds - York Line (2004)

Project 13 TJC3 Bridge 17 Nineveh Road (2001) this one is a plate girder which also flies over the sidings lines at Holbeck Leeds. Actually can't remember the span - have the drawings somewhere !! sad i know!!

Project 15,17,18 are all on the Leeds Inner Ring Road - they cross two tracks but are also likely to enable HS2 to get into leeds (future proof in 2007)

Project 45 ECML5 Bridge 19 Warehills Christmas 2015.

Project 47 SPC3 Bridge 53 Headlands (part of MML 2015)

It's interesting to see the GCR project progress - i actually led one of the rival bids to build the new bridge and i can sympathise with the piling problem - we had problems on Project 56 - TCC 27A Awsworth Road Ilkeston - with high water tables - This structure only crosses 3 tracks and the new bridge is curved vertically to give allowance for Overheads (future proof) it is possible to fit 6 tracks under the bridge (at least there were 6 tracks under the old bridge in 1953 !!) i think 4 is more realistic. This project won the ICE East Midlands Merit Award Team Achievement Award last week - just saying!!.

Sorry to rabbit on - the new structure was going to be a box girder construction (similar to project 23 ECML149 Darkes Lane Potters Bar replaced after the train crash in 2002) - but as i understand the bridge was being changed to an E Type Plate Girder (Similar to the Project 3 Bingham Railway bridge) not sure if this is the case - the one at Bingham was 66m long but was located onto central pile columns.

Hopefully not to much information - lost of bridges on my two website they are useful - also not for profit just for helping students and engineers design good bridges and structures.
 

Cowley

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I have worked on a good few bridges crossing four tracks over the years - I have a couple of websites that show examples - www.dbmbridges.com and www.dbmbridges2.com

Project 8 Micklefield - this is a 36m span concrete pre-stressed beams carries the A1M over the Leeds - Hull & Leeds - York Line (2004)

Project 13 TJC3 Bridge 17 Nineveh Road (2001) this one is a plate girder which also flies over the sidings lines at Holbeck Leeds. Actually can't remember the span - have the drawings somewhere !! sad i know!!

Project 15,17,18 are all on the Leeds Inner Ring Road - they cross two tracks but are also likely to enable HS2 to get into leeds (future proof in 2007)

Project 45 ECML5 Bridge 19 Warehills Christmas 2015.

Project 47 SPC3 Bridge 53 Headlands (part of MML 2015)

It's interesting to see the GCR project progress - i actually led one of the rival bids to build the new bridge and i can sympathise with the piling problem - we had problems on Project 56 - TCC 27A Awsworth Road Ilkeston - with high water tables - This structure only crosses 3 tracks and the new bridge is curved vertically to give allowance for Overheads (future proof) it is possible to fit 6 tracks under the bridge (at least there were 6 tracks under the old bridge in 1953 !!) i think 4 is more realistic. This project won the ICE East Midlands Merit Award Team Achievement Award last week - just saying!!.

Sorry to rabbit on - the new structure was going to be a box girder construction (similar to project 23 ECML149 Darkes Lane Potters Bar replaced after the train crash in 2002) - but as i understand the bridge was being changed to an E Type Plate Girder (Similar to the Project 3 Bingham Railway bridge) not sure if this is the case - the one at Bingham was 66m long but was located onto central pile columns.

Hopefully not to much information - lost of bridges on my two website they are useful - also not for profit just for helping students and engineers design good bridges and structures.

Don't worry about rabbiting on, your website is excellent and I'm going to have another look tomorrow. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested in bridge engineering...
I'm really enjoying seeing this project come together as it's been in my top five railway wish list for a long time. It's going to be amazing seeing the bridge in place and I have a feeling that once it is actually in position, the momentum to get everything else done is going to be huge.
 
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snowball

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pessimistic, yes, but accurate as i'm involved on the project.

Irrelevant not really, i take it that the GCR Bridge will provide clearance to OLE requirements for MML below, my question is does this introduce a 'sky jump' like the East Lancs Railway? I know there is plenty of land either side so it wont be too steep or noticable but does the design account for this and how much extra work/materials/time/money does this involve? as opposed to jus putting a bridge back to the previous clearance levels.

Electrification clearance is only likely to add a foot or two difference in height at most, so I'm sure it will be taken up very gradually on the approaches to the bridge. It's nothing like the situation at Bury where the ELR was previously at the same level as the line that became Metrolink.
 
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dbmbridges

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Bridge 5? out of Hull near the stone terminal.
I think this used to have 8 lines through it now just one.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1129567

I didn't know it was called priory bridge - i was Network Rail SPM on the refurbishment and long timber replacement in 2013 carried out by Story Rail- it was called Dairycoats. I have attached a photo (not very good one) of a Beaver Tamper running over the bridge.

I actually built a scale model of the bridge and have used it at STEM events (Run as part of the GCR Bridge project) and at Railweek last year. There is more photos - Project 31 Dairycoats www.dbmbridges.com

- 20160701_122219.jpg

(60044).jpg
 

Flying Phil

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Thanks dbm for your input to this thread - much appreciated, as I'm sure is your STEM work.
This morning's visit showed more progress as the final pile hole has been bored on the North side and the re-bar cage is in place, awaiting the concrete to be poured.
4557594a63263ce00.jpg

I expect the rig will soon move to the other side of the MML for the South abutment pile boring.
 
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Flying Phil

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More progress as the piling rig has moved to the South abutment site and has already bored one hole and is half way down on the second.
45575953cfc66075a.jpg

On the North site there is an excavation around the piles and the tops of the piles are being prepared for a large concrete cap to be poured.
45575953cfc5978fe.jpg

This will be the base for two pre-cast trapezoid concrete forms (Remember the bridge is skewed 30 degrees to the MML) which will be blue brick faced and filled to create the bridge support.
45575953cfc40a85f.jpg
 

Flying Phil

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Work on the bridge continues with the North site appearing to have had the first part of the base on the piles poured.
4557595ce0a2e738f.jpg

Meanwhile, on the South site, six piles are bored, re-bar fitted and concrete poured. Whilst I was there the seventh hole was finished, re - bar fitted and the concrete lorry arrived with the pump lorry to pour into the hole.
4557595ce0a3bc129.jpg

So one more hole to be bored and then, I believe,the drilling rig will move off site and the abutment work above ground will start.
If anybody else wants to update this over the next couple of weeks please feel free as I will be away.
 

Mogulb

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All the piling is complete and foundation excavation is occurring both sides of the MML
 

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fflint

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Welcome to the forum mogulB snd thsnk you for taking up the "Baton" whilst Phil is away.
 

Mogulb

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No problem. Really just passing on as reported elsewhere.

Things appear to moving swiftly at Loughborough,two lorry loads of precast units for the northern abutment have been delivered today and are being installed with a fairly beefy crane.
 

Flying Phil

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Now back and many thanks to those other posters for keeping this thread updated. I had a great morning on the GCR riding from Quorn in the DMU up the Mountsorrel Branch, return via Rothley. The 9F did a great TPO drop and then I went to the Bridge site......Just in time to see the 8F from Ruddington also visit the site!
45575974db68a5f88.jpg


45575974db6b45580.jpg

As can be seen the outer shell of the abutment base layer is in place awaiting the Re-Bar work before concrete is poured to fill it up.

45575974db6c07a69.jpg

It is a similar situation on the South abutment site.
 
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Flying Phil

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As of today the North site is ready for the concrete to be poured and the South site is having the Re-Bars put in place.
45575979e8f5213bf.jpg


45575979e9357d6d4.jpg
 

fflint

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Glad to see you back Phil. I hope you've had a good break and are ready to continue your reporting:D
 

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