Barmouth Bridge - major refurbishment

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From New Civil Engineer

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^▸ (United Kingdom) 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.

[CyclingSid]

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^» (Network Rail - home page) will do as the Victory used to do and sell some of the old replaced timber to put something into the refurbishment kitty.

[grahame]

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^» (Network Rail - home page) 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" 

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.

[grahame]

From Network Rail - https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/first-stage-of-barmouth-viaducts-biggest-restoration-is-completed

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.

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

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^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system.

[Lee]

Here is a working steam view from 1963:

[Red Squirrel]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

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^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system.

Do the BBC read this forum?

Trigger's Broom .. and "heritage" v "preserved" 

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

[infoman]

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?

[Lee]

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

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

[stuving]

Network Rail have announced:

Dates announced for the final phase of Barmouth Viaduct restoration


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: 

• Saturday 2 September to Friday 24 November – This 12-week closure of the line has been confirmed. During this period, engineers will be working to refurbish the metal sections of the bridge. 
• Saturday 25 November to Saturday 2/Sunday 3 December – Network Rail teams are planning to renew the tracks near to Barmouth Toll House, on the northern end of the viaduct, during this period. These dates haven’t yet been confirmed but will be announced as soon as they are.

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. 

[grahame]

From Network Rail Media Centre

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 ...

[Mark A]

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

[Mark A]

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/

[grahame]

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



and what's pushing it along?



Also a good illustration of "Behind every successful man (Eddy Stone) is a woman (Jenny Lewis)".

[Mark A]

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