Forth Rail Bridge problem (11/02)

[MrBurnz]

Problem with the Forth Rail Bridge.

Edinburgh to Fife trains ‘severely disrupted' due to defect on the Forth Rail Bridge

Engineers have been on site this morning to assess the damage

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com

There is ‘severe disruption’ to train services on Saturday (February 11) due to a defect on the Forth Rail Bridge – leading to a number of delays and cancellations.

On Twitter, Network Rail said: “We have received reports of a track defect impacting services via the Forth Bridge between Dalmeny and North Queensferry. Our staff have been on site this morning carrying out an initial assessment of the defect and assessing what repairs will be required for this.

“Engineers have advised that due to the location of the defect, a line closure will be required for this repair. This will be organised after the last train tonight with work scheduled to take place overnight tonight and into Sunday morning,

 

[najaB]

I don’t know if this has already been posted here, if so mods please feel free to delete.

Problem with the Forth Rail Bridge.

Mandatory RailUK Forums pedantic note: The crossings of the Forth are the Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing.

 

[Darandio]

And although I am unable to quote the article right now (can someone assist?) the thread title is somewhat misleading. Quotes within the article suggest there is a track defect, not a problem with the Forth Bridge.

 

[najaB]

And although I am unable to quote the article right now (can someone assist?)

Since you asked nicely.

There is ‘severe disruption’ to train services on Saturday (February 11) due to a defect on the Forth Rail Bridge – leading to a number of delays and cancellations.

It comes as thousands of rugby fans prepare to head to Edinburgh for today’s Scotland v Wales Six Nations match at Murrayfield Stadium.

Network Rail said a track defect is impacting services via the Forth Rail Bridge between Dalmeny and North Queensferry.

 

[matchmaker]

Mandatory RailUK Forums pedantic note: The crossings of the Forth are the Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing.

And the two Forth Viaducts in Stirling, the Kincardine Bridge plus numerous other road bridges...

 

[najaB]

And the two Forth Viaducts in Stirling, the Kincardine Bridge plus numerous other road bridges...

Indeed. Though I was limiting the scope to the three immediately adjacent bridges.

 

[PG]

Indeed. Though I was limiting the scope to the three immediately adjacent bridges.

I suppose you could say that the others are each 'a bridge too far'

 

[mrcheek]

do many people come down that way for rugby? I always thought rugby fans in Scotland were largely confined to Edinburgh and the border regions

 

[Basil Jet]

I suppose you could say that the others are each 'a bridge too far'

And then there's the Tay Bridge, which is a bridge to Forfar.

 

[Alanko]

do many people come down that way for rugby? I always thought rugby fans in Scotland were largely confined to Edinburgh and the border regions

Displaced Edinburghers attracted north of the water by cheaper housing. Maybe.

 

[reb0118]

There's a fair few Fifers into their rugby - mainly, but not exclusively, from the East Neuk.

Then we have the Welsh. A great travelling support who stay all over South East Scotland & beyond when the match is at Murrayfield. Many are up & about a whole week before the match.

I picked up a squad of curly haired singing ex-miners at Cowdenbeath - they told me they liked to stay at Cowdenbeath because it reminded them of home.....cold, wet, miserable, grey, & depressing. Just like the Welsh Valleys. That said I managed to get a chorus of Delilah out of them.

On my North Berwick yesterday we had a mini eisteddfod - they were very good and received a round of applause upon our arrival at the Waverley.

Always a tip top weekend when the Welsh are up - isn't it.

 

[McRhu]

That said I managed to get a chorus of Delilah out of them.

It’s not unusual

 

[LAX54]

And although I am unable to quote the article right now (can someone assist?) the thread title is somewhat misleading. Quotes within the article suggest there is a track defect, not a problem with the Forth Bridge.

Crack on a breather blade, in such a position unable to have an ESR, line closed job, and lack of 'day' staff to assist too.
(although managed to get a team together later in the day)

 

[Enthusiast]

Crack on a breather blade,

What's a "breather blade"? Is it some sort of expansion joint? (Sorry for my ignorance).

 

[hexagon789]

What's a "breather blade"? Is it some sort of expansion joint? (Sorry for my ignorance).

I think it's where you have those joints between sections of track with the rails cut at diagonals and usually the sleepers are anchored by bolted rails across the 'joint'.

The breather blade would be one of the diagonally cut rails which is allowed to expand and contract at the joint.

 

[swt_passenger]

What's a "breather blade"? Is it some sort of expansion joint? (Sorry for my ignorance).

Picture 3 on the wiki page about “Breather Switches” is worth a few words.

Breather switch - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They’re usually sited at the transition between continuous welded rail and normal jointed rail.

I thought a picture might “expand” on the previous reply…

 

[Railsigns]

The rails on the Forth Bridge used to have a unique profile, with scarfed expansion joints at intervals as seen in the attached photo:

 

[Enthusiast]

Thanks both all three. I thought it must be something like that.

 

[stuving]

One specific place where scarf joints are needed, to allow free longitudinal movement, is on a bridge where the deck has an expansion joint. The Forth Bridge has such joints where you would expect: where the central girders meet the cantilevers. It's the two ends of the central (Inchgarvie) cantilever that have sliding joints in the bridge itself. Wikisource has a very detailed description from "Engineering" in 1890, with diagrams as well as (Victorian) words; the relevant pages start here. The expansion allowed was two feet - hence very long scarf joints are needed in the rails across the bridge's expansion joints.