Mill o’Keir Viaduct

[PaxVobiscum]

After a series of precautionary line closures and status reports from Network Rail, the latest one at lunchtime on Sunday 23rd February makes for ominous reading.
https://twitter.com/networkrailscot/status/1231553698234617856

(1)Engineers have finished their inspection at Mill O' Keir viaducts with some new damage being reported. There are other critical areas of damage which have not been inspected due to the high and fast flowing water level. As such, the line between Perth and Stirling remains closed.
(2)Once the water level has significantly dropped we will have these areas fully inspected. At present, there is no estimate when this is likely to happen. We will provide further information as soon as we can regarding the situation. Please visit @Scotrail for service updates.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Screenshots of photos on the Tweets:

 

[Millisle]

With a bridge of that age one could think that installation of precautionary modern fortification or sheathing of the cutwaters might have averted such concerns. Living south of Lamington such things still come readily to my mind.

 

[swt_passenger]

With a bridge of that age one could think that installation of precautionary modern fortification or sheathing of the cutwaters might have averted such concerns. Living south of Lamington such things still come readily to my mind.

I expect in an ideal world they’d want to bring hundreds if not thousands of similar bridges up to modern standards. Presumably there’ll have to be some prioritising.

 

[Morayshire]

Post on another forum quotes Network Rail Scotland as reporting that one of the bridge piers has been damaged and that divers will be needed to inspect the submerged parts.

 

[Townsend Hook]

1Q79 Inverness-Mossend PLPR2 test train will be crossing the viaduct shortly as a line-proving train. Just departing Perth.

 

[Townsend Hook]

Route proving train has passed over the viaduct with no incident

 

[Speed43125]

A top and tail 37 NR set worked a south bound test train, followed by WCRC 47 (47854?) working light engine north. Line now open, Caledonian sleeper ran down on time.