Track re-laid in latest phase of SVR Falling Sands viaduct refurbishment
THE £1.32 million project to refurbish the Severn Valley Railway’s Falling Sands viaduct is on schedule, with track re-laid across it as part of the completion of the first phase.
Work began at the end of last year to tackle the internal structure of the 1877-built viaduct, in order to improve the drainage and incorporate a waterproof layer.
The project has been financed by £925,600 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and by the railway itself, which raised matched funding of £397,000 through its Helping Hands for
Falling Sands campaign.
The first phase saw 200mm-thick panels of fibre-reinforced concrete cast over the arches and two coats of a special bituminous paint poured over the concrete and the walls. On top of the waterproofing, a layer of chippings was laid to permit water to migrate to the low points and out through pipes.
Contractor Walsh took the full brunt of storms Ciara and Denis to succeed again the odds.
Infrastructure volunteer Nick Yarwood said: “The project has progressed ahead of programme, due in part to an exceptionally mild winter. The greatest risk was prolonged freezing or snowfall interfering with concreting and waterproofing.
“Waterproofing needed seven days to complete and was also vulnerable to rain. With good programming and a week of calm dry weather, it all went to plan.”
Nearly 3000 tons of fill material was tipped back into place and compacted prior to the re-laying of ballast. Concrete troughs were also laid to accommodate signal cables.
By late March, the track was being re-laid ready for the scheduled reopening of the line between Bewdley and Kidderminster in early April. However, those plans were overtaken by the coronavirus pandemic. This resulted in the railway cancelling its Easter holiday activities, the April 16-19 spring steam gala and the 50th anniversary celebrations in May, among other events.
The second phase of the viaduct refurbishment, to be started later this year, will see contractors use rope access to replace damaged bricks and repoint the mortar on the outside walls and arches.
The 132-yard red brick viaduct, otherwise known as Bridge 3, takes the railway 64ft above the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and River Stour.