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Site last updated: 21st June 2008. See the change log for details.
A train of tipper wagons stands on the
bridge during construction. Photo courtesy of S.W.A.Newton
Collection - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
The
bridge stands but the embankments have not yet been
finished.Photo courtesy of S.W.A.Newton Collection - Record
Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
Photo
taken from Loughborough Midland's Up platform, it show an engineers
train during the construction of the GCR line.Photo courtesy of
S.W.A.Newton Collection - Record Office for Leicestershire,
Leicester and Rutland.
LNER B1 class loco no 1248 crosses the bridge on a Down freight on the
24th April 1948. Photo by courtesy of the Neville Stead collection.
BR 'Black 5' 45310 crosses the bridge on a summer
Saturday in July 1961 with the 10.25 Poole to Bradford express. The
location must have been a favourite with locospotters as three
separate groups of them can be seen. Photo by courtesy of Colin
Walker.
BR (Eastern) class V2 loco no 60975 on a northbound
train crossing the bridge. Date unknown. Photo by courtesy of the Rex
Conway Steam Collection.
An unusual angle on the gap. The Midland main line
as seen from a train on the GC in 1969. Photo by Nigel Tout.
Bridge 328 over the Midland mainline after closure of the GC. Facing London with the slow lines in the
foreground and fast lines to the right. Photo courtesy of R.F.Hartley.
Bridge 329 over Railway Terrace. Photo courtesy of R.F.Hartley.
The canal bridge 331 seen from the east
after closure of the line.
Photo courtesy of R.F.Hartley.
Class 25 7598 seen hauling a track
recovery train over GCR bridge 328 above the MML. We are looking
south along the MML and the loco is facing towards Loughborough
Central. Photo
by David Taylor of Main Line Steam Trust.
Another
view of the Class 25 loco on the track recovery train. This was one of the
last, if not the last, loco movements over the original GCR bridge. How
long until one of the Class 25s current resident on either the GCR(N)
or GCR(S) will be on the new bridge hauling a track laying train?
Photo by David Taylor of Main Line Steam Trust.
A view
of the diggers and tipper lorries in the process of removing the
embankment between the Grand Union canal and the MML. Photo
by David Taylor of Main Line Steam Trust.
A tipper lorry trundles over bridge 328 on the way to deposit its load
onto the new chord line from what is now the GCR(N) to the MML,
which can be seen growing to the
right on the photo. Sleepers were laid in place of the tracks, to enable
tipper lorries to move the embankment material over the Midland Main Line
and so create the new chord. Photo
by David Taylor of Main Line Steam Trust.
Bridge 328 over the MML as seen
in the winter of 1979/80, just prior to its demolition. The chord
line and arched concrete culvert between the remaining GCR line to
Ruddington and the MML can be seen in the top right. Photo
by Nigel Tout.
Its closer than you think! A diesel railcar
standing on the GCRN section viewed from the Loughborough side of
the Midland main line. Photo by John Bagshaw.
A view looking north-east showing the
Hermitage Brook passing under the chord line from GCRN to the
Midland main line.Photo by Tony Sparks.
The same spot as above, but looking
south. The Hermitage Brook is in the centre with the new link to
come on the right. Photo by Tony Sparks.
The contract at Indian Queens on the
Newquay branch in the south-west showing lifting-in of the first
beam. It may be that a bridge launch might be considered instead of
a lift. Photo by courtesy of Cloud Nine Imaging.
Indian Queens again, with the second beam
being placed.Photo by courtesy of Cloud Nine Imaging.
The same bridge with a deck section being
inserted. This is a single track bridge, but we are still
considering a double-track option, although the site is restricted.
Photo by courtesy of Cloud Nine Imaging.
The last deck section being inserted. Note
the thin deck necessary to save height. Photo by courtesy of
Cloud Nine Imaging.
Although not part of the Gap scheme, we thought you
might be interested in the photographs of the recent removal of the old
Rugby 'birdcage' bridge which carried the old Great Central route over the
line of the West Coast Main Line just south of Rugby station. We shall have
to use similar heavy-lifting techniques for the temporary removal of bridge
331 over the Grand Union Canal for refurbishment. Also if it is found either
uneconomic or impracticable to slide the main span of the proposed Gap
bridge over the Midland Main Line, then a heavy lift may have to be
considered.
We are extremely grateful to Network Rail for
permission to use these photos.
Soil sample boreholes being taken on the
old embankment between Railway Terrace and the Midland main line.
Photo by Tony Sparks.
Another soil sample being taken. These are
then sent to a laboratory to ascertain the strength and
characteristics of the ground. Photo by Tony Sparks.
Taking levels on the northern embankment by
the spur to the Midland main line. Photo by Steve
Hallam.
A train from Ruddington to Leicester? Yes,
if we can do it! The Board on a site visit in July 2003. Photo
by John Bagshaw.
The Board again on the site visit. from
left to right - Tony Sparks, George Green, Peter Morley, Steve
Hallam, Richard Lovatt and Colin McIntyre. Photo by John
Bagshaw.
Bos
Taurus. Amazingly, this skull was unearthed during the excavations
for the GCR line near Brush Works. Photo courtesy of
S.W.A.Newton Collection - Record Office for Leicestershire,
Leicester and Rutland.
We would very much like to receive more photos of the old bridge in use. All photos will be credited where known.
