Keadby Canal Bridge speed restriction

[boing_uk]

Over the Christmas period I popped home for a couple of weeks to Grimsby; apart from the sorry state of the track in places** one thing I did notice was the speed that the trains were passing over the canal bridge.

Anyone know what the reason is, given that the new structure is only 8/9 years old?

** The track is quite rough riding in places, particularly between Brocklesby and Melton Ross, the usual places across the Ancholme carrs, the Trent Bridge was particularly rough in both directions considering it is a structure and of course we were stopped and cautioned due to apparent instability in the formation east of Thorne.

As it was dark both times I was travelling I couldnt see any TSR boards, but as a semi-regular traveller on this route the train *seemed* to be slowing for quite a number of restrictions in places...

I know this route has difficult ground conditions, anyone know anything thats going on with this route?

 

[Rich_D3167]

Keadby Canal Swing Bridge has a permanent 25/40 speed restriction on it, so 25mph for freight, 40mph for passengers & light loco's. I doubt there's much scope to increase this in the future due to the type of swing bridge being used, not that it'll make much difference, as the linespeed between Thorne Junction & Wrawby Junction is only 55mph maximum, anyway. There is meant to be quite a bit of engineering work going on between Wrawby Junction & Thorne Junction on weekends over the next couple of months, so there may be a couple of Temporary Speed Restrictions in place, but I don't know for sure.

The 3-track section between Brocklesby Junction & Barnetby, particularly the Up Main (from Barnetby to Brocklesby) is noticeably rough, but bearing in mind that this section of track is used by every train heading east (including some rather weighty freight trains), it's not surprising. It's not so bad on the Down, as the Down Goods takes some of the strain off the Main line. If the Up Goods between Barnetby & Brocklesby was still in place, it wouldn't be such a bad ride, as it wouldn't be getting hammered so much by heavy freight trains!

 

[unlevel42]

The railway crosses the Stainforth and Keadby Canal at Keadby by the Vazon Sliding Bridge which is less than ten yeas old and much more interesting than a swing bridge.