duffield
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Unfortunately my health issues have flared up, doesn't look like I'll be going anywhere this weekend.
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GCR Bridge Project
- Thread starter Flying Phil
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Unfortunately my health issues have flared up, doesn't look like I'll be going anywhere this weekend.
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Flying Phil
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.......and this is what it looks like!
The cantilever beam is in place, so I assume they will be lifting and repairing the South end bearing pads.
That’s looking great Phil. How’s the work on clearance work down the side of the shed going? Any progress, or is it a case of still planning?
Flying Phil
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There is still a slow but steady tidy up and removal of some "stuff", but actual hard facts re the shed are not apparent so far!
Haha. I bet.
I suppose there’s no immediate rush really, there’s so much to do over the next couple of years despite us all wanting to see your brake van parked on the refurbished bridge.
Flying Phil
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....As if that thought had ever crossed my mind! But it is a really exciting time to be a supporter of the GCR......Onwards!Haha. I bet.
I suppose there’s no immediate rush really, there’s so much to do over the next couple of years despite us all wanting to see your brake van parked on the refurbished bridge.
Flying Phil
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Progress on the South end of the Canal bridge as new steel has been put in above the bearing pad (The light grey painted sections)...apologies for poor quality photograph.(..into the sun, which just came out from behind a cloud!).
Flying Phil
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There is an update on the GCR /Unify website which says that the lattice girders will go up soon and the Canal Bridge will be finished by the end of this month......and the next stage will be announced!
AndyY1951
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Does 'end of this month' include repairs to the brickwork and replacement of the missing parapets?
Andy
Andy
Flying Phil
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I think it probably does include the brickwork repairs as I had a quick look topside of the Canal Bridge. It looks as though the major repairs are complete, as the red and white water containers, which acted as counterweights, are no longer on the bridge decks. There was no sign yet of the lattice sections.
Flying Phil
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Lattice sections still not in place but I think all the steel work jobs are done. Brickwork is being pointed and repaired.
Flying Phil
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As reported on the GCR website the next phase will be the "Factory Flyover" using the ex Reading bridge decks behind the Precispark site.
Great to see it moving forward Phil. Thanks for keeping us updated.
Flying Phil
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Here is part of the press release;-
“We’ve already achieved so much to reunify the two halves of the Great Central Railway,” said Andy Fillingham, the Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line. “Millions of pounds have been raised and spent already on delivering this exciting project. Now we want to build not one, but two further sections which include crossing a factory car park and a road called Railway Terrace.”
The next phase of the fundraising campaign has been dubbed the ‘Factory Flyover’. Two bridge decks which Network Rail had no further use for and were able to generously donate to the Great Central, will be incorporated into the work. Building two pieces of the jigsaw at the same time - rather than separately - is expected to be cheaper overall...."
“We’ve already achieved so much to reunify the two halves of the Great Central Railway,” said Andy Fillingham, the Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line. “Millions of pounds have been raised and spent already on delivering this exciting project. Now we want to build not one, but two further sections which include crossing a factory car park and a road called Railway Terrace.”
The next phase of the fundraising campaign has been dubbed the ‘Factory Flyover’. Two bridge decks which Network Rail had no further use for and were able to generously donate to the Great Central, will be incorporated into the work. Building two pieces of the jigsaw at the same time - rather than separately - is expected to be cheaper overall...."
Flying Phil
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Post #557 shows the "N" gauge model of this section but, to save time, here it is again...(.complete with wrong line working and a dinosaur!)
Flying Phil
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The Canal bridge is still awaiting the lattice girders, but more brickwork pointing etc has been done.
Here are two pictures, taken today, of the site for the "Factory Flyover" bridges and arches for phase 3 and 4. There were three orange clad people, further down towards the engine shed, on the embankment base.
Here are two pictures, taken today, of the site for the "Factory Flyover" bridges and arches for phase 3 and 4. There were three orange clad people, further down towards the engine shed, on the embankment base.
Is there any news about progress with fundraising for the new shed? The feature on the website went unchanged for some considerable time and has now been removed. I notice also that there's no mention of it on the schematic showing what's required to complete the reunification project. I'd understood that the running lines will pass through the site of the current shed and that the new one will need to be slightly to the west so it seems a little odd that it's been omitted. Having said that, it's great to see things progressing and I'm looking forward to seeing the next stage start.
Flying Phil
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Certainly the shed has dropped from the news front but I suspect there is a lot of planning activity going on behind the scenes. Meanwhile the scaffolding has been removed from the Canal bridge but the big "cross beams" are still in place. These will be craned out and the lattice girders put back "soon". Although much of the brickwork has been repaired and re-pointed, the "wing walls" canal side will still need a fair bit of work.
With regards to the Shed is it for certain going to be at Loughborough or is that still to be determined, as seems it may be a bit limited for space with double track going beyond until the gap. Is it possible somewhere like Quorn and Woodhouse with all the land at that station could be used for the Loco Shed?
Have to say, going by the standard Google Earth view, it does look like an impossibly tight squeeze. Mind you, a lot probably depends on how the space is utilised. I doubt that the current structure allowed much in the way of sophistication!
Flying Phil
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The shed will be at Loughborough. The residents at Quorn are quite vocal about possible "industrial" use so that is a non-starter. There was thought of the space to the North East of the current shed site, the other side of the brook, but the ground conditions have ruled that out.
In fact you can easily get a similar sized shed on the western boundary line which will easily have space for two tracks alongside going North on the original alignment. it overlaps the present shed footprint by just over one track width.
In fact you can easily get a similar sized shed on the western boundary line which will easily have space for two tracks alongside going North on the original alignment. it overlaps the present shed footprint by just over one track width.
Flying Phil
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Here is a view of the canal bridge without the scaffolding. The ballast will be approx 12" and so the rails will be about level with the horizontal platework.
Flying Phil
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There is now a new video about the Re-unification on the GCR website....nice to have something positive in these extraordinary times...
Link for anyone else:
Interesting to see what I presume will be the final overall design. From the south; canal bridge, embankment, arch, bridge deck (over Railway Terrace), bridge deck, arch, MML bridge, embankment! Just out of curiosity, where are the two bridge decks being stored? Not exactly items that can be easily moved about!!!
Flying Phil
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Hi Andy
I believe the bridge decks are in one of the moving company's yards.....Let us hope that, despite the crisis, fundraising proceeds quickly and that the project can restart soon.
I believe the bridge decks are in one of the moving company's yards.....Let us hope that, despite the crisis, fundraising proceeds quickly and that the project can restart soon.
Flying Phil
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As I was able to go out and exercise I happened to have my camera with me....
Just awaiting removal of lifting girders then installation of the repaired lattice work.
Just awaiting removal of lifting girders then installation of the repaired lattice work.
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Flying Phil
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There is to be another Zoom presentation of the Reunification Project on the 28th June, as the previous presentation was so successful. Details on GCR website.