"Bridge & Wheels Appeal" NYMR

Yes, that the the entire girder structure. As a proportion of the overall project cost, the beams are perhaps less than you might expect. The biggest single element of cost - over 1/3 of the project cost in total - is the work to the abutments, which includes the scaffolding. This is also the greatest unknown until the old deck is off and the abutments are open up.

The Volker Rail crane can life the whole structure - with just a nice margin! There was a slight concern whilst final calculations were done and as previously stated, the crane has to do the life from the "empty" side fo the double track formation - it isn't empty now! The NYMR Steam Cranes would have been much more limited.

The programme is tight for reopening on 27th March but Nigel Trotter and Roger Bastinan have worked their way through the programme and identified what should be enough slack to cover unforeseen eventualities - including the weather!

Can anyone advise me how to get the other 2 photos uploaded? I seem to have filled my "Manage Files" box and it has no visible means of deleting used images!

Steven

 

Presumably all those little spikes on top are there to stop the pigeons roosting on them then!

 

Steven: Is some work already taking place on the abutments and retaining walls of Bridge 30? I was just wondering if this arctic weather is already eating into the "recovery margin" in the schedule. There must be some things that you just cannot do in these very low temperatures, like pointing, pressure grouting and the like.

 

Day 1 Report from Civil Engineer Nigel Trotter - we are now about 1/2 day behind schedule but he has plans in place to get this back!

The main contractors CML have arrived on site and had first to clear Darnholm Lane and salt it - this is not a priority route for the County Council (not surprising - it is an unclassified no through road) but they are supportive of us clearing it, which has proved popular with local residents. The County Council will plough it is the snow plough has chance whilst in the area. Materials and equipment have been delivered to the bridge, scaffolding contractors are on site, now awaiting the removal of waybeams to enable scaffolding to be completed.

Track has been removed from the bridge but the sluing of the track to the temporary crane track has been delayed by the snow. Gerry Carter hopes to finish this by mid-week and the lifts are now planned for towards the end of the week and over the weekend - the later will involve extra costs for contractor weekend working.

The bridge beams and crane were delayed because of snow at Battersby which needed clearing the points to allow run round - great credit to DBS and Network for working in the very difficult conditions to achieve this! The train got as far as Middlesbrough from Tees Yard and had to return to await the loop being cleared.

Given the current conditions, I think it is actually a great credit to everyone that we have managed to get this far despite weather!

CML are back on site today. Nigel is drawing up plans to recover time lost and still hopes the lift of the old deck will progress later this week.

IT IS GOING TO INCREASE COSTS to counter the weather and resultant delays - contributions to the Bridges and Appeal are still gratefully received as weekend working looks set to be needed from contractors to complete the job on time.

Steven

 

Thanks for that update. The foreward forecast has snow in your area on Thursday, but hopefully nothing thereafter for a few days. Not as bad as over here in the West. Also not quite as cold as over here.
Fingers crossed.

 

Any pictures of the beams being moved to Grosmont by rail? Sounds like a really interesting project - best of luck in the cold weather! It has been too long since I visited the Moors and look forward to crossing the new bridge at some stage over the Summer.

 

From the NYMR forum...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opvpUXvathg

 

Very interesting - thanks for sharing. Nice to know that the railway can still handle loads like this - well done DBS. That crane looks like a serious bit of kit.

How many men in orange overalls does it take to run a 66 round a train!

 

From NYMR website http://www.nymr.co.uk/tv/e8-bridge-arrives/

 

That link doesn't appear to be working (for me, anyhow!) Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6L28Hlc87U&feature=player_embedded

 

Great to see the bridge parts coming in by rail, this really is an amazing feat of engineering. I look forward to seeing further progress. Good luck to all involved.

Mighty impressed with NYMR TV, great for people who aren't local to keep up to date.

 

Youtube video of the new bridge beams at Grosmont, and the start of the preparatory work at Bridge 30 in very snowy conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7QF7fXXoOE

 

Despite extreme weather they seem to be getting on with the job . Hope this weather doesn,t continue much longer as I know how the timescales can go out the window . Don,t mention the St.Ives to Cambridge Busway !!!

James

 

Update from Nigel Trotter.

The crane "siding" (on Up formation) is basically complete and requires only a little packing. This has required heroic efforts from the PWay department. Similar efforts have been necessary to ensure that the crane is now on site and being prepared for initial lifts. Thanks to the PWay team (paid and voluntary), John Bruce and Volker Rail.

CML have cleared necessary roads and car parks of snow, much to the appreciation of local residents and councillors. They have on site all the materials they need in the short term and have almost completed the scaffolding. Thursday and Friday will see the dismantling of the bridge begin with the first cutting on the bridge. The lifts are planned for the weekend. Weekend working was not originally planned but the delays due to weather, principally to scaffolding, can be largely recovered this way. Many thanks to all - NYMR, Volker Rail, CLM etc - who have agreed to this.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO THE SITE DURING THE LIFT. IT IS AN ACTIVE WORK SITE WITH SKILLED WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN BY SPECIALISTS. Measures are being taken to ensure that the event is recorded for posterity.

The weekend and other overtime working (both to date and likely to be needed given the ongoing arctic weather) is costing extra and hence donations to the Bridges and Wheels Appeal would be much appreciated.

Steven

 

Day 4 update fro Nigel Trotter.

The crane siding is ready and Gerry Carter is taking a very well earned break after working through the blizzards and their aftermath since before New Year. The crane will be moved into place when required.

The stone walls at the Goathland side (flanking the side beams) have been dismantled and the stone safety stored for reassembly once the bridge is complete. CML have materials on site but the scaffolder has continued to suffer difficulties both due to the weather and the effect of other work. Scaffolding will now not be finished before the weekend.

The trail cuts of today have confirmed that iron parts of the bridge require thermic lances for cutting, but have also revealed that strengthening added in 1906 and believed to be steel are actually wrought iron!

Volker Rail have been stood down until Monday morning and the lifts will now take place on Monday to Wednesday next week.

This puts the programme 4 days down but the original programme is based upon not working weekends, which will be part of the recovery plan – but at a cost of paying premium rates.

Steven

 

from the weather forecast i've just seen it could be well behind schedule this weekend. looks like they are about to get a whole load more dumped on them up there. good luck NYMR hope it all goes well for you with the weather.

 

The Appeal website has been updated with some recent images in the "gallery" section, and the home page contains details of a model auction which is to benefit the appeal.

http://www.bridgeandwheels.co.uk/gallery/

Presumably the NYMR TV team will be around when the lifts take place next week, so we should have some interesting viewing. ( Access the internet TV from the main NYMR website)

The daily updates being posted here are much appreciated.

Much credit due to the people working at Bridge 30 in such difficult conditions.

 

Yes, NYMR TV are planned to be present - weather permitting! Other media are also interested and the delay in the lift will probably help them in atending.

Radio York have just reported 8 inches of snow fell over the Moors last night. More showers forecast over the next couple of days.

The teams continuing to work and progress matters in these conditions have my upmost respect (and thanks)

Many thanks also for the good wishes - we have certainly picked our time to do the biggest and most inacessible bridge renewal we have!

Steven

 

Provided there is no more snow in the North east on Monday, the rest of the week doesn't look to bad, with temperatures actually rising above freezing in the North east.

Main "battleground" looks like being down here in the Welsh Borders as milder air tries to push in from the Atlantic.

We'll take the snow here if it keeps away from Bridge 30!

Fingers crossed the work can go ahead.