North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Hence my comments about "when it has hit if not that something would be required". I may be critical of NYMR leadership and management, but I am not so critical that I believe that they knew it would require this level of work and made no plans for that eventuality.

 

To be fair, the problem with Bridge 42, or at least some of it, was known about a while ago. Piglet mentioned it in a staff & volunteer forum earlier in last year and reported that a plan was being developed for it. I believe that the scheme was to do some work this winter with a intention of doing the major works next winter. Piglet at that time had become the Director of Engineering following the departure of the previous civil engineer. However, a new civil engineer was recently appointed and Piglet has reverted to being the Mechanical Engineering director. I understand the new civil has changed the plans.

 

The latest update issued by the NYMR doesn't really say more than has already been said on here. As it is a listed structure the planning authority have vetoed any plans to prop by drilling into the existing stonework. Closing the line to do a full repair is very much a non-preferred solution for reasons we have discussed. The one currently favoured it to prop the bridge by jacking and this is being investigated. I'm not sure what the EA might say about that as it must surely block the river to some extent. They have objected to such suggestions elsewhere in the past.
Adding to the woes, it appears that Bridge 18 also has significant structural issues. That's the one just south of Newtondale halt.

 

Surely the cost of propping a bridge like that with difficult access and high above a river gorge will be nearly as expensive as actually doing the proper job? Is this why the cost of a full repair hasn’t been released yet? Will the cost of a temporary repair be made public?

 

1. Maybe
2. Maybe, but more likely they don’t yet have a price for the their new direction of travel
3. There are perhaps 3 or 4 people who can answer that, none of them on this forum

 

What's the benefit of propping the bridge by jacking now to repair later (which presumably will cost more overall)? Is it so they can do it during a period of planned closure rather than eat into the running season?

 

Because a repair might take longer and prevent trains running whilst it is undertaken. Therefore the choice might be, prop it up and run trains for most of the season, or not run trains until 2027 (on that section of line anyway)