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SVR Embankment collapse

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yorkie

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Just a gentle reminder that if anyone is posting in relation to something they read/heard from an external source, we ask that the source is stated (and, if at all possible, this should include a web link) and that a quote is provided; this is in addition to your own comment.

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AndrewE

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Some good news on their progress: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czel4x3d099o
The heritage line said more than 2,500 tonnes of material had been excavated from the site and a temporary culvert had been installed to allow full access for machinery.
The next phase of the operation will involve the installation of concrete blocks to support the embankment and the railway said it hoped to announce a reopening date for the full line within the next week.
Engineering contractors CML moved on to the site at the start of the month and the railway said the culverting work would "allow further excavation to take place around the collapsed wing wall of the bridge".
Once that is complete, more than 100 concrete blocks, each weighing 2.5 tonnes would be moved into place. After that the contractors plan to cover it with alternate layers of matting and imported aggregate, to create a stronger embankment.

Finally, concrete blocks will be placed on the top of the bridge to form a base for the railway track.
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I would hope that they are addressing the (lack of?) invert too!
 
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SLC001

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I find it hard to believe but if it is pulled off, it is an impressive achievement given the initial pictures of the damage.
 
duffield

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They are displaying a great deal of confidence here! I'm guessing they must actually be expecting the track to be back in place a couple of weeks before this allowing for tamping, testing, and a bit of weather contingency?
 
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YorkshireBear

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duffield said:
They are displaying a great deal of confidence here! I'm guessing they must actually be expecting the track to be back in place a couple of weeks before this allowing for tamping, testing, and a bit of weather contingency?
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I mean, putting the track back fit for 25mph over that length is a day maybe two days work max.

Based on pictures I've seen I would say July feels very easily achievable. This is based on experience doing civil engineering on another heritage line.
 
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swt_passenger

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Is a wall of giant concrete “lego” bricks deemed to be a permanent repair, and is the failed bridge invert going to be fixed in similar timescales?
 
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Forty29

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I'm hoping this announcement doesn't put a spanner in the works but here's hoping they pull it off. I expect they'll have a speed restriction on the bridge to settle everything down, don't want to rush it and make problems later on.
 
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Harpo

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Forty29 said:
I expect they'll have a speed restriction on the bridge to settle everything down
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Sterns has had speed restrictions for years. The infamous white telegraph pole on its long slow journey from the lineside to the Severn explains why.
 
Wilts Wanderer

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From a steam-enthusiast perspective, having a speed restriction right at the bottom of a long(ish) 1:100 rising gradient isn’t the worst thing in the world! (Far better than the 10mph TSR about 1/4 mile short of the summit a few years back that essentially ruined every ascent until the track alignment was restored.)
 
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railfan99

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Harpo said:
Full re-opening on 25 July featuring Flying Costman according to the SVR Facebook page.

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The total of nine return trips apparently sold out online in three minutes.

Amazing. As the Managing Director said, this is a vote of confidence by UK residents in the future of SVR.

At a conservative guess of 300 seats per train, that's 2,700 tickets sold at £45 a pop. Does anyone have a better estimate of how many seats would be on a (say) seven carriage train, which presumably includes a buffet car in the middle?

Even if it costs thousands of pounds to place 'Flying Scotsman' at SVR, a decent net profit for the three days should be the result.

My prayer is that by 25 July, the section from Hampton Loade to Brignorth has reopened. It would be extremely embarrassing (and costly financially for this preserved railway) were this not the case.
 
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kje7812

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railfan99 said:
The total of nine return trips apparently sold out online in three minutes.

Amazing. As the Managing Director said, this is a vote of confidence by UK residents in the future of SVR.

At a conservative guess of 300 seats per train, that's 2,700 tickets sold at £45 a pop. Does anyone have a better estimate of how many seats would be on a (say) seven carriage train, which presumably includes a buffet car in the middle?

Even if it costs thousands of pounds to place 'Flying Scotsman' at SVR, a decent net profit for the three days should be the result.

My prayer is that by 25 July, the section from Hampton Loade to Brignorth has reopened. It would be extremely embarrassing (and costly financially for this preserved railway) were this not the case.
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8 coach LNER set is planned. Up to 360 seats, though it depends how well the compartments are filled. Some seats may still be available as some places have been reserved for VIPs and special donors.

There's a decent amount of slack in the schedule. The concrete pad has been poured.
 
duffield

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kje7812 said:
8 coach LNER set is planned. Up to 360 seats, though it depends how well the compartments are filled. Some seats may still be available as some places have been reserved for VIPs and special donors.

There's a decent amount of slack in the schedule. The concrete pad has been poured.
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Is the SVR at all likely to be subject to steam bans due to dry weather? Or does that not happen due to the nature of the surrounding land? It would be a bit galling to have the line open and the Flying Scotsman ready to go but unable to run due to fire risk. Or would they run it anyhow in light steam with a diesel doing the real work?
 
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duffield said:
Is the SVR at all likely to be subject to steam bans due to dry weather? Or does that not happen due to the nature of the surrounding land? It would be a bit galling to have the line open and the Flying Scotsman ready to go but unable to run due to fire risk. Or would they run it anyhow in light steam with a diesel doing the real work?
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Still running steam at the moment. SVR fire risk is categorised as Green, Yellow, Red, Black. Currently red which has various instructions to crews about the running and handling of the locos. Black would be no steam.

It's still over a month between now and the reopening weekend...
 
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Harpo

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Lets be honest, you could stick a Flying Scotsman headboard or nameplate on any loco and most of the public would be none the wiser.

I doubt Joe public would care if a box-on-the-back did all the work either. It works for all the main line operators nowadays. So much so that unassisted steam on tours is a USP. (See Vintage Trains)
 
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AndrewE

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Gooner18 said:
I’ve never fully understood the massive fascination with the flying Scotsman
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nor me - nor the new-build things with the same livery either. This might be OT... but give me a restored everyday coal-train slogging loco or a Black Five any time. In reality it's all the mundane/common cheap-to-buy and "easy" to maintain workhorses (including industrials) which saved most preserved lines.
 
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HOOVER29

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Ploughman said:
You may laugh, but Ballast Glueing is a known technique.
Especially where ballast falls away on embankments.
I was involved on one site near Elland Rd Stadium.
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Also at Dawlish along the sea wall.
Obviously not for an embankment there but for the sea that used to & still does top the sea wall
 
fgwrich

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HOOVER29 said:
Also at Dawlish along the sea wall.
Obviously not for an embankment there but for the sea that used to & still does top the sea wall
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And London Paddington of all places too. The Glued Ballast is used at the country end of the station where there is a sharp cant.
 
Dunfanaghy Rd

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Ploughman said:
You may laugh, but Ballast Glueing is a known technique.
Especially where ballast falls away on embankments.
I was involved on one site near Elland Rd Stadium.
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At Woking, around the trap points from the Down Bay. When new it looked as though it was covered in glacé ice. Rock solid to walk on.
Pat
 
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