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Title: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on May 28, 2020, 05:43:07 From New Civil Engineer (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/network-rail-set-for-25m-barmouth-viaduct-upgrade-28-05-2020/)
Quote Network Rail is investing £25M as part of a major upgrade of the iconic Barmouth Viaduct in Wales. Work on the Grade II* listed structure will include replacing a large number of the timber and metal elements, as well as replacing the entire 820m length of track. “Barmouth Viaduct is one of the most celebrated and recognisable structures in Wales and is the only major timber-built bridge still in use,” said Network Rail route director for Wales and Borders Bill Kelly. “We are investing £25M to give Barmouth Viaduct the biggest upgrade in its history, protecting our industrial heritage and ensuring this vital transport link can continue to serve local people and visitors, when the time comes, for generations to come.” At over 150 years old, many of the viaduct’s timber elements have decayed and a large proportion of the metal elements have corroded. The upgrade programme will involve replacing components on a “like for like” basis in order to protect the structure and retain its appearance. “The Barmouth Viaduct is an iconic part of Wales’ railway heritage and I am pleased that it is benefitting from a portion of the £2bn UK government investment in the Wales and Borders network to preserve and upgrade it,” said secretary of state for Wales Simon Hart. “The upgrades by Network Rail will secure the important link between Machynlleth and Pwllheli and protect a popular part of the Wales coastal route.” Delighted to see continued investment in the Cambrian Coast line. Heavily engineered, major works are needed from time to time. The bridge between Penrhyndeudraeth and Llandecwyn was rebuilt a couple of years back too. I wonder if the swinging span will be able to swing after the "up"grade ... to the best of my knowledge it's not been swung for a couple of decades, but might still in theory be in working order. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: CyclingSid on May 28, 2020, 07:06:31 Does this end up like HMS Victory? Replace bits on a like for like basis and eventually you no longer have the original. I have no real problem with that.
I wonder NR will do as the Victory used to do and sell some of the old replaced timber to put something into the refurbishment kitty. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on May 28, 2020, 07:17:14 Does this end up like HMS Victory? Replace bits on a like for like basis and eventually you no longer have the original. I have no real problem with that. I wonder NR will do as the Victory used to do and sell some of the old replaced timber to put something into the refurbishment kitty. Trigger's Broom .. and "heritage" v "preserved" ;D It's a working railway and bridge and needs to work for people who use it or want to use it. At the same time, I would be concerned if it should be converted to a double deck bridge like the Brittania Bridge to Anglsey. Not that my concern on its own should have much say. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on November 04, 2020, 18:54:34 From Network Rail - https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/first-stage-of-barmouth-viaducts-biggest-restoration-is-completed
Quote First stage of Barmouth Viaduct?s biggest restoration is complete Network Rail has finished the first stage of a ?25m upgrade to Barmouth Viaduct to protect it for local people and visitors in the future The viaduct, which is a vital transport link for North West Wales, had the first phase of its work extended by 48 hours to allow more work to be carried out while passenger numbers are lower because of the firebreak lockdown. The entire restoration involves replacing more than 1,000 timber and metal elements of the viaduct, which are rotting or decaying, as well as the entire 820m length of track. Network Rail is doing this on a like for like basis to maintain the viaduct?s magnificent appearance. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on September 12, 2021, 08:42:48 From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58517351)
Quote The 'Trigger's broom' of bridges is to undergo a £30m restoration in a bid to keep the 154-year-old structure safe. In the classic Only Fools and Horses scene, Trigger proudly reveals he has used the same broom for 20 years, saying deadpan: "This old thing has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles!" Much like Trigger's broom, there is little remaining of the original 1867 Barmouth Bridge in north-west Wales. Now the Grade II listed rail and foot bridge will undergo another facelift. Spanning 840m (2,750ft) across the Mawddach Estuary in Gwynedd, it is the largest wooden viaduct still in regular use anywhere on the UK rail system. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Lee on September 12, 2021, 09:54:54 Here is a working steam view from 1963:
Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Red Squirrel on September 12, 2021, 11:08:50 From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58517351) Quote The 'Trigger's broom' of bridges is to undergo a £30m restoration in a bid to keep the 154-year-old structure safe. In the classic Only Fools and Horses scene, Trigger proudly reveals he has used the same broom for 20 years, saying deadpan: "This old thing has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles!" Much like Trigger's broom, there is little remaining of the original 1867 Barmouth Bridge in north-west Wales. Now the Grade II listed rail and foot bridge will undergo another facelift. Spanning 840m (2,750ft) across the Mawddach Estuary in Gwynedd, it is the largest wooden viaduct still in regular use anywhere on the UK rail system. Do the BBC read this forum? Trigger's Broom .. and "heritage" v "preserved" ;D It may seem improbable that anything could, but think the concept dates back even further than 'Only Fools and Horses though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: infoman on September 13, 2021, 05:28:40 Can any one recall the Barmouth bridge having an Open university type programme, which showed the inside of the bridge looking like a crunchie bar?
Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Lee on October 13, 2021, 08:27:18 Meanwhile, mysterious railway tracks leading into the sea at Barmouth have been discovered by the superbly-named local roofer Dicky Sharp - https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mysterious-railway-tracks-found-leading-25193560
Quote from: The Mirror First to notice the mysterious tracks was local roofer Dicky Sharp stating he had found the “railway to Cantre'r Gwaelod" - the legendary ancient sunken kingdom of Cardigan Bay. After posting his findings to his Facebook account, many people begun to question the purpose of the railway tracks. Many locals believe that the tracks are actually from the 1930’s where tracks were laid down so sand and debris could be removed by cart. Former Snowdonia National Park officer and local Historian Hugh Griffith Roberts debunks this theory, however. Instead he said, the railway tracks pre-dated the sea wall by at least 40 years and were almost certainly laid in the late 19th Century for the town’s new sewage system. Since Dicky’s discovery last weekend, a third section of rail track has become visible on the beach at low tide, along with a pair of wheels Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: stuving on March 22, 2023, 09:37:49 Network Rail have announced (http://Network Rail have announced):
Quote from: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/dates-announced-for-the-final-phase-of-barmouth-viaduct-restoration Dates announced for the final phase of Barmouth Viaduct restoration (https://cdn.prgloo.com/media/aa124540cd5545628c014a62490dd3cf.jpg?width=900) Network Rail will close the historic viaduct for up to 13 weeks this Autumn so teams can continue a like-for-like restoration Along with principal contractors, Alun Griffiths, Network Rail will work on carefully reconstructing the metal sections of the Grade II* listed structure, as well as renewing the tracks near to Barmouth Toll House, on the northern edge of the viaduct. Work began on this iconic structure back in 2020 in order to protect the well-loved bridge for future generations and to maintain its magnificent appearance. The multi-million-pound investment has already seen teams replace the timber beams that support the 154-year-old structure, as well as additional timber strengthening work. The restoration has been split across several years to reduce the impact on rail services, the community and local economy. Network Rail has also carefully planned the work to avoid the busy summer season when tourism in Barmouth and the local area is at its peak. The railway over the viaduct will be closed on the following dates:
While the viaduct is closed, Transport for Wales are expecting to operate a combination of bus replacements and train services along the Cambrian Coast line. The footpath over the viaduct will also be closed from Saturday 2 September to Friday 24 November. This is so teams are able to have full access while they safely carry out the essential restoration. Preparation work has already started and will be ongoing until September. Engineering teams and contractors are currently grit blasting the steel caissons (the large steel cylinders that support the metal parts of the bridge), ready for painting. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on August 30, 2023, 15:41:03 From Network Rail Media Centre (https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/video-successful-test-lift-of-160-tonne-metallic-span-marks-countdown-to-final-stage-of-barmouth-viaduct-restoration)
Quote Preparation is underway for the final stage of Network Rail’s multi-million-pound refurbishment of the iconic North Wales viaduct, with work on the metallic elements taking place from Saturday 2 September, for 13-weeks. Buses will replace trains between Machynlleth and Pwllheli between Saturday 2 September and Friday 1 December as engineers begin the final stage of Barmouth Viaduct’s restoration, which will boost resilience and reliability for passengers on the beautiful Cambrian Coast railway line for generations to come. The work will involve replacing and restoring the metallic elements of the Grade II* listed structure on a like-for-like basis, maintaining the historic aesthetic of the 154-year-old railway bridge, whilst demonstrating innovative 21st century engineering. This includes removing the two old metallic spans, which weigh 160-tonnes, each. Due to the complexities and challenges of this task, a mock manoeuvre was recently carried out to streamline the process ahead of the real move, this Autumn. The practice operation took place on a purpose-built mock railway track, just outside Barmouth, and involved a team of 15 engineers testing the cantilever and jack system, which will be used to lift the span onto the viaduct. With one newly fabricated span weighing the same as an average adult blue whale, teams had to utilise more than 16 jacks - ranging from 20 to 100 tonnes capacity - as well as six rail trailers to carry out the technical move I am delighted to see the works taking place, and the commitment it makes to this line. One missing question - will the bridge still be able to swing like the old one could, though it has not for years ... Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on August 30, 2023, 17:47:36 Thanks for this. Wondering if that is a 'Plan B', after 'Plan A' - reconditioning the existing steel spans - turned out to be unfeasable?
Here's a couple of photographs of the existing ones - from a fine summers day back in the first decade of the 21st Century. Mark (https://i.postimg.cc/ZKXnN3Sx/IMGP0671.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/qR2xf0x9/barmouth-viaduct-along-deck-swing-spans-full.jpg) Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on August 30, 2023, 18:01:58 An informative information-rich article from Rail Engineer mentions that the new bowstring spans will not have the ability to be swung, but will preserve the appearance of swinginess.
Mark https://www.railengineer.co.uk/barmouth-viaduct-upgrade/ Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: grahame on August 30, 2023, 20:38:59 An informative information-rich article from Rail Engineer mentions that the new bowstring spans will not have the ability to be swung, but will preserve the appearance of swinginess. Mark https://www.railengineer.co.uk/barmouth-viaduct-upgrade/ What a shame - though I appreciate the cost saving. Almost feels like a cheat. Reminds me of yesterday - looks lovely and genuine (http://www.wellho.net/pix/esmfront.jpg) and what's pushing it along? (http://www.wellho.net/pix/esmbehid.jpg) Also a good illustration of "Behind every successful man (Eddy Stone) is a woman (Jenny Lewis)". Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on August 31, 2023, 08:55:12 What a shame - though I appreciate the cost saving. It would be curious to know what the law is on that swing bridge. Presumably the Cambrian coast ones - Barmouth and the Dovey crossing whose name escapes me - were both stipulated as there were wharves upstream of the crossing points - though the new line was then ruinous for cargoes by sea. I was surprised to read that the swing span was last operated - for test purposes - around 1987 - surely someone must have taken photos. It's surely not the case that some yachtsman could rock up to the forthcoming fixed span and assert that they have the legal powers to insist that Network Rail swing it to allow passage. Also, if 'Dovey Plan 'A; for the line to Aberystwith had happened, that would have needed two opening spans in the two bridges that that route would have involved. (And if 'Dovey plan 'A' for the line up the coast, a bridge across the mouth of the estuary, that would have given the estuary a third, which would have resulted in shipping on the Dovey experiencing the pffaff of three opening bridges, one after the other.) Also, I need to find a source for my belief that the signalling on the Cambrian Coast line at first wasn't red/amber/green but instead was white and violet in order to avoid confusing the cardigan bay shipping. Mark Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: broadgage on August 31, 2023, 09:36:37 Had not heard about the white/violet signaling, but was aware that the original GWR used purple/violet lights in signals for proceed, on some freight lines. This to avoid confusion with green proceed signals on adjacent passenger lines.
Purple or violet light is challenging to produce from oil lit signals since the yellow flame of an oil lamp produces very little blue or violet light. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Witham Bobby on August 31, 2023, 12:27:57 What a shame - though I appreciate the cost saving. It would be curious to know what the law is on that swing bridge. Presumably the Cambrian coast ones - Barmouth and the Dovey crossing whose name escapes me - were both stipulated as there were wharves upstream of the crossing points - though the new line was then ruinous for cargoes by sea. I was surprised to read that the swing span was last operated - for test purposes - around 1987 - surely someone must have taken photos. It's surely not the case that some yachtsman could rock up to the forthcoming fixed span and assert that they have the legal powers to insist that Network Rail swing it to allow passage. Also, if 'Dovey Plan 'A; for the line to Aberystwith had happened, that would have needed two opening spans in the two bridges that that route would have involved. (And if 'Dovey plan 'A' for the line up the coast, a bridge across the mouth of the estuary, that would have given the estuary a third, which would have resulted in shipping on the Dovey experiencing the pffaff of three opening bridges, one after the other.) Also, I need to find a source for my belief that the signalling on the Cambrian Coast line at first wasn't red/amber/green but instead was white and violet in order to avoid confusing the cardigan bay shipping. Mark The ability of the bridge to swing will have been one of the conditions in the original Act of Parliament which authorised the railway, I'm sure. Some kind of legislation would have had to be invoked to remove the obligation from Network Rail As a railway signalling pedant, I'm going to mention that there are no amber railway signals. Traffic lights have an amber aspect, but for railway signals it's yellow Green used to be the colour for caution on signals, with a white light being the clear/proceed aspect in hours of darkness. It all changed in around the 1920s for fixed signals. But for handsignals, green was still the aspect indicating slow-down, or caution, and white was the "all right". I'm not up-to-date as to whether these hand signals remain a thing, with so little by way of shunting moves these days and the advent of radio comms Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on August 31, 2023, 12:31:59 As a railway signalling pedant, I'm going to mention that there are no amber railway signals. Rightly so, and thanks! I'm starting to wonder if I imagined the white/violet thing... Mark Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Witham Bobby on August 31, 2023, 13:53:21 I'm starting to wonder if I imagined the white/violet thing... Mark FWIW I don't recall having ever read about violet signal lights Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: broadgage on August 31, 2023, 16:00:14 Here is a reference to the use of purple lights in signals.
https://www.railsigns.uk/sect2page2.html (https://www.railsigns.uk/sect2page2.html) But it was on the old great northern railway and NOT the original GWR as I erroneously reported above. Purple and violet are rather similar, and the two terms are often used interchangeably though this is not strictly correct. Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: stuving on August 31, 2023, 17:52:42 This from the Cambrian News (https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/watch-test-lift-of-160-tonne-metallic-span-marks-countdown-to-barmouth-viaduct-restoration-635921) contains a video showing the bowstring span replacement process. The mental picture I got from the words in Rail Engineer was of the new girders sitting outside the old ones, similar to Nuneham in 1907. But this shows them sitting inside the existing bridge, though it's hard to believe this "vehicle" is narrow enough for that. It also looks odd that they will trundle the whole thing out from its launch site "near Barmouth" but really on the Fairbourne side, until you realise that there's no flat space for that launch site on the north bank.
Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on August 31, 2023, 18:12:25 On the Cambrian Coast line's choice of white violet signalling colours ,the mystery deepens. I asked Google's 'Bard' to do some digging and curiously it turned up several references including a couple of books, and the following. I've attempted to search that volume of 'The Engineer' magazine and not turned up with the original reference.
Moral: 'Bard' is probably not ready to do people's homework for them... Here's Bard's response: "Sure. The article I was referring to is titled "Signalling on the Cambrian Railways" and it was published in the The Engineer magazine in February 1903. The article discusses the signaling system used on all of the Cambrian Railways, including the Cambrian Coast Railway line. The article states that the Cambrian Railways used white and violet signals because they were the least likely to be confused with the lights of ships. The article also states that the signals were difficult to see in fog or rain, but that the Cambrian Railways had taken steps to mitigate this problem, such as installing signal lamps with reflectors. I couldn't find a way to retrieve the full text of the article online, but I did find a summary of the article on the website of the National Railway Museum. The summary states that the article "discusses the use of white and violet signals on the Cambrian Coast Railway line, and the problems that were encountered with these colors." The summary also states that the article "recommends that the Cambrian Railways should adopt a more standardized signaling system, such as the one used by the Great Western Railway." I hope this information is helpful!" Mark Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Witham Bobby on September 01, 2023, 10:36:55 ... I hope this information is helpful!"[/i] Mark That's very interesting indeed. Thank you. Every day's a school day Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on September 01, 2023, 10:51:37 Trouble is, I don't know if Bard's made it up or indulged wish fulfilment on my behalf. Bard provided four references for this - having checked two of them, including 'The Engineer' magazine, February 1993, they don't contain the information quoted by Google's A.I. The date at which Bard states the practice of using violet / white signalling ceased - 'The 1920s' is also very late in the day - commercial shipping in Cardigan Bay was by then very much a thing of the past, so it's all a bit suspicious. I still won't trust this stuff to do my homework (or be at the controls of a road vehicle, no matter what the colour of the signalling there).
In fact, the next time I leave the house I think I'll dress as a bell bollard. Mark Title: Re: Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment Post by: Mark A on November 14, 2023, 09:11:18 Network Rail's taken the opportunity to give the Cambrian coast line's Dovey bridge a heavy overhaul, resulting in a video that includes brief footage of the (personally chilling) sight of the trackbed on its southern side briefly devoid of rails and sleepers.
This structure when built also opened for shipping but the explainer doesn't delve much into its construction or whether the bridge as it is today has any reminders of *that* function. Mark https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-refurbishment-of-historic-dovey-junction-viaduct-along-the-cambrian-line-is-complete (https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-refurbishment-of-historic-dovey-junction-viaduct-along-the-cambrian-line-is-complete) This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |