Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[Andy W]

"If anyone remembers this article, or (I should be so lucky) has the magazine tucked away in the attic, knows the whereabouts of any photographs of demolition work out on the line in the 1970s, or has any personal recollections from that time, please send me a message."

Wiil, you might try Michael Clemens who may be able to help, he has loads of material, much published, on the Cotswold Line  http://www.michaelclemensrailways.co.uk/

[willc]

Andy. Thanks. Added to my things to do list.

Incidentally, if anyone is interested, Mike Clemens is doing a talk and film show about Worcester's Railways in the city in a fortnight's time. Details here http://www.clpg.co.uk/StBarnabas.htm

[willc]

Couldn't take a picture of the foundations at Moreton-in-Marsh, as what looks like a signal equipment room has been plonked on top of them.

Not redoubling. but the contractors repairing the bridge over the River Evenlode at Ascott-under-Wychwood and improving flood protection seem to have finished the work and are now tidying up the site.

[IndustryInsider]

The bridge over the River Severn just Worcester side of Evesham Box has been cleared, waterproofed and a fresh layer of ballast laid down in readiness for the small section of double tracking west of Evesham.  New rails have been waiting there patiently for a year or so now.

[willc]

The CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) has launched an appeal for money to add to proceeds of last year's and this year's seaside excursion trains in a station enhancements fund for the stations that are getting new platforms next year. For full details, see http://www.clpg.co.uk/stationprojectsappeal2010.htm

[willc]

Surveyors out in force at Moreton-in-Marsh yesterday morning at the station and past the bridge at the Evesham end and assorted Network Rail and contractors vans in town when I got home. More men in orange at Charlbury in the morning but not sure that they were up to.

[IndustryInsider]

As it's been over a month since a post on our longest forum thread, I thought I'd give a little update.

Work and materials are now starting to build up in readiness for the major bulk of the work starting in the autumn.

In the last couple of weeks:
1)  New track has been dropped west of Charlbury and now stretches over two miles from the station ready to be laid.
2)  Embankment work is taking place at Mickleton.
3)  Concrete cable troughs are ready to be installed between Clayfield Crossing at Honeybourne.
4)  Littleton and Badsey Level Crossing is being currently replaced or realigned.

[willc]

Few more nuggets to contribute.

New crossing at Littleton & Badsey is, I believe, slated for completion during one of the weekend blockades at the start of October but not sure of scheduling for the other crossings. No sign of anything much going on at Blockley when I passed over it at the weekend, though rather a lot of cable has been laid alongside the track in full view, rather than put into troughing. Hmm.

New platforms at Charlbury and Honeybourne are going to be 135-140m, so just long enough to take a 2x3 car Turbo formation - though not a lot of help without SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening).

The new bridge for Honeybourne has been made in Eire. The single-line bridge being removed will be donated to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

[stebbo]

I came through Mickleton by road this afternoon (the B4632 - old A46 to Cheltenham) and clear signs of activity on the Evesham side of the bridge over the road at Norton Grounds with sleepers laid out on the embankment. No sign of work on the Moreton side of the bridge.

[willc]

Couple of pictures of the work on the embankment at Mickleton for all you civil engineering fans at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc2009/

[53808]

Birse Rail are getting on well with the job at the Honeybourne bridge, where the currently single OWW^▸ (Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton) passes over the trackbed of the former Cheltenham to Stratford line. Steel reinforcement rods are in place for new concrete abutments, which are being constructed in front of the old brick ones (which will effectively be buried behind the new ones). The have started pouring the concrete this week. The new bridge spans arrive in a few days, ready for the big weekend possession on 2nd and 3rd October.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for that update, 53808 - and a warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!

Chris. 

[willc]

The new bridge for Honeybourne has landed from Ireland. Final assembly to take place nearby before it is installed over the weekend of October 2-3.

[eightf48544]

The new bridge for Honeybourne has landed from Ireland.

Don't we make anything in this country!

[ChrisB]

Not when it costs the earth!