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I well remember the project to lower the line through box tunnel for electrification. Recently on social media there has been discussion of a speech where the local MP is asking for completion of electrification through Bath.
I mentioned that the majority projects such as Box tunnel and Sidney gardens had been done. One poster stated categorically that the box project encountered an underground stream and the project was abandoned and the track bed put back where it was. He knows because "he works on the railway".
Is this a load of rubbish or was it covered up at the time?
I well remember the project to lower the line through box tunnel for electrification. Recently on social media there has been discussion of a speech where the local MP is asking for completion of electrification through Bath.
I mentioned that the majority projects such as Box tunnel and Sidney gardens had been done. One poster stated categorically that the box project encountered an underground stream and the project was abandoned and the track bed put back where it was. He knows because "he works on the railway".
Is this a load of rubbish or was it covered up at the time?
which are quite common in limestone areas. And running through salt beds and some other soluble strata.
However railway tunnels often have a trough-shaped invert (the buried floor structure which keeps the walls apart) and many - maybe all - will incorporate a drain at the bottom, in addition to drains in the cess at the foot of the walls.
I would expect the railway engineers to know the structure of Box tunnel in minute detail, but it is possible that the flow in the drainage was far more than their track-lowering plan could cope with so they quickly rebuilt it as found.
which are quite common in limestone areas. And running through salt beds and some other soluble strata.
However railway tunnels often have a trough-shaped invert (the buried floor structure which keeps the walls apart) and many - maybe all - will incorporate a drain at the bottom, in addition to drains in the cess at the foot of the walls.
I would expect the railway engineers to know the structure of Box tunnel in minute detail, but it is possible that the flow in the drainage was far more than their track-lowering plan could cope with so they quickly rebuilt it as found.
I think the post you quoted was at least slightly in jest. It used to be a bit of a running joke on the forum in the past (God I’m getting old!) that I’m not sure I ever knew the origin of that the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) kept a top secret fleet of Steam locos in(?)/ Box Hill Tunnel. It’s been a while so apologies if I’ve got some details misremembered!
I recall there being a lot of work being done down there, so the lowering was done as far as I am aware. I know someone that was involved and have asked them.
The Box Tunnel pre-electrification work was done over six weeks during the summer of 2015 (with Sydney Gardens closed during four of these weeks). This was later followed by a 10-day possession in Spring 2016 between Bath and Bristol, and then in May 2017 IIRC there was another period of works at Bath Spa station to widen the platform to better accommodate electrification through the station, not long before Grayling canned everything that was not complete. If an underground stream or other problem in Box Tunnel was encountered, it can't have been a barrier to electrification, as all the subsequent works would not have happened.
The Box Tunnel pre-electrification work was done over six weeks during the summer of 2015 (with Sydney Gardens closed during four of these weeks). This was later followed by a 10-day possession in Spring 2016 between Bath and Bristol, and then in May 2017 IIRC there was another period of works at Bath Spa station to widen the platform to better accommodate electrification through the station, not long before Grayling canned everything that was not complete. If an underground stream or other problem in Box Tunnel was encountered, it can't have been a barrier to electrification, as all the subsequent works would not have happened.
I well remember the project to lower the line through box tunnel for electrification. Recently on social media there has been discussion of a speech where the local MP is asking for completion of electrification through Bath.
I mentioned that the majority projects such as Box tunnel and Sidney gardens had been done. One poster stated categorically that the box project encountered an underground stream and the project was abandoned and the track bed put back where it was. He knows because "he works on the railway".
Is this a load of rubbish or was it covered up at the time?
The detailed books on Underground Corsham give a bit more info. There is a diverted stream which runs at a lower level and a short bridge across the stream within the tunnel. It mentions a small 2 person boat which is kept there for inspections. The siding into the quarry which was later converted to MOD navel shells store apparently has at least 12 feet of rock and a concrete blast wall between it and main Box tunnel (it opened into two or three sidings and transfer platforms inside). Those formerly secret tunnels are now not classified and navy doesn't use big guns that fire shells anymore.
But as far as I am aware all the structures including oddities like the Corsham aqueduct have been cleared for the electrification before it was stopped. From memory there were only 2 outstanding items, the old station footbridge at Chippenham, and St Anne's tunnel near Bristol.
There was a few days closure of St Anne's tunnel recently and I would guess any work done would have been compatible with overhead wires, although possibly clearance work is only partial. My understanding is Chippenham station footbridge is listed, but could probably be jacked up and raiser spacers inserted with couple of extra steps at bottom. I believe the Westbury line is structurally clear as far as the Kennet and Avon aqueduct (which would be useful to allow BEMUs to accelerate clear of the junction of Bathampton, and pantograph up/down where the coast on the curving Avon valley line.
I well remember the project to lower the line through box tunnel for electrification. Recently on social media there has been discussion of a speech where the local MP is asking for completion of electrification through Bath.
I mentioned that the majority projects such as Box tunnel and Sidney gardens had been done. One poster stated categorically that the box project encountered an underground stream and the project was abandoned and the track bed put back where it was. He knows because "he works on the railway".
Is this a load of rubbish or was it covered up at the time?
I was part of the team that was involved with a site survey that took place before the work in Box Tunnel took place. As part of this I walked the entire length of Box Tunnel.
During this, the following was noted:
Yes there is an underground river (or stream of you prefer) that flows under the track at one location. You can clearly hear the sound of the water. In addition, before this I met a former member of the team that maintained the tunnel structure and he told me about the river.
A signalling cable ran through the tunnel, part-way through, rather than being on cable hangers or in surface concrete troughing (SCT) throughout, it ran from the tunnel wall out under the down line and then along under the six foot area until the London end portal. This cable had to be replaced before the track lowering works could take place, even though the new cable would eventually later become redundant due to the resignalling. The replacement cable was installed and taken into use.
Box Tunnel was blasted out of the limestone of the hill. You can still see the drill marks in some of the rocks. But after it was constructed, in parts, a brick lining was added, including a roof. At one point, where the brick lining starts, you can see an entrance for an overhead horizontal air vent.
Yes, there was a big blockade for various works to take place, the bulk of these works was for the electrification preparation work. I was part of a team that carried out work within the blockade. I well remember the wasps that were harassing workers at the temporary burger / catering can that was provided for the workers.
All the works scheduled for the blockades took place, the work in the tunnel was most definitely not abandoned. The only reason that the project did not proceed was the political change of mind due to the time the actual OHL work was taking and the extra money needed to continue funding it. Plus resources were moved to try to complete the scheme to Cardiff first.
If you search this forum, I have spoken about the under river in Box Tunnel before.
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The siding into the quarry which was later converted to MOD navel shells store apparently has at least 12 feet of rock and a concrete blast wall between it and main Box tunnel (it opened into two or three sidings and transfer platforms inside).
The siding entered via a separate portal at the London end, as shown in the photo already posted. Inside the main railway tunnel, there is no access to the tunnel for the former siding. The tracks for the siding were lifted long ago (at least 35 years ago). Inside the portal for the former siding, the tunnel is bricked up with a steel door set into it.
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I believe the Westbury line is structurally clear as far as the Kennet and Avon aqueduct (which would be useful to allow BEMUs to accelerate clear of the junction of Bathampton, and pantograph up/down where the coast on the curving Avon valley line.
The line under Dundas aqueduct (between Bathampton and Limpley Stoke) was lowered, as mentioned in the link in #11. I assume the limit is the Avoncliff aqueduct, the next overbridge beyond it I think and also the Kennet & Avon.
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