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Falling Sands Viaduct

935 bytes added, 15:21, 6 July 2020
update repair section
[[File:Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 499261.jpg | thumb|200px|right| Falling Sands Viaduct (Geograph)]]
'''Falling Sands Viaduct ''' (Bridge 3) was completed in 1877 as part of the [[Kidderminster Loop Line]]. It carries the railway across the [[Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal]] Conservation Area and 64 feet above the River Stour, about a mile from [[Kidderminster]]. It is built of red brick and is 132 yards in length, with seven arches of 46ft span.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 92.</ref>
The Viaduct was also numbered as Bridge 3 during the BR era; the BR-era numbering plate, which may still be seen on the northern parapet, gives its location as [[Gradient profile and mileages#Mileages|135 miles 78 chains]].
The line between Foley Park and Kidderminster, including the Viaduct, was acquired from BR in 1984, with passenger services commencing on 30 July 1984.
==Prospective repairsRepairs==Extensive By around 2015 it had been determined that extensive repairs are were needed to secure the Viaduct. Water has had seeped into the structure causing cracks and erosion, and there is a speed restriction in placebecame necessary.
===2016 HLF bid rejected===
The Trust submitted its bid on 26 October 2018 and on 25 March 2019 announced the award of a further £853,800 grant from The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Fund]] which together with the earlier grant took the total amount of its funding to £925,600. The grant, along with other funds raised, will be used to restore Falling Sands Viaduct and to launch an exciting programme of community engagement and exhibitions that will explore the Railway’s early history. In August 2019 the Trust unveiled a large donation wall at [[The Engine House]] acknowledging the individuals, organisations and businesses who had donated to the "Helping Hands for Falling Sands" appeal.
Repair ===2019-20 repair work commenced in January 2020===The timing was chosen to make the most of the annual six week shutdown period, with the work to be fully completed by the autumn in two phases.<ref>[https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=875 SVR website]</ref>. The first stage necessitated closure of the railway between Bewdley and Kidderminster from the end of [[Christmas services]]: works were essentially complete with the line reopening at the interruption of works in March by [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19)]], although track was not joined and signalling not yet in placeEaster. While the railway remained closed Phase 2 from May 2020 involved would involve replacing damaged brickwork and corbelling, and repointing throughout.<ref>[http://svrtrust.org.uk/our-projects/falling-sands-viaduct.html 'Falling Sands Viaduct', Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust website] (Retrieved 20 November 2018)</ref><ref>Shareholders' Newsletter, undated</ref><ref>SVR News 203, 204</ref><ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epnovember18 Express Points November 2018]</ref> Repair work began at the very end of December 2019 with the lifting of the track by a team of volunteers and paid staff. External contractors then removed the ballast and fill from the viaduct. After the infill was removed, the contractors improved the drainage channels and added a waterproof membrane, before putting everything back together. These works were essentially complete when interrupted in March by [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19)]], although track was not joined and signalling not yet in place.  While the railway remained closed, the contractors began work on stage 2. Easing of lockdown restrictions allowed work on stage 1 to restart in the week of 19 June, with laying of rail completed on 25 June. The following day [[BR Class 50 50035 Ark Royal]] became the first train to cross the viaduct since December while delivering S&T equipment for the new [[Ground Frames at Foley Park|Foley Park ground frame]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljul20 Branch Lines, July 2020]</ref>
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== See also ==
*[[Worcester Road Bridge | Towards Kidderminster]]<br>*[[List of infrastructure]]<br>*[[Underbridge off Lisle Avenue | Towards Bridgnorth]]<br>*[[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd]]
==References==
==Links==
*[http://svrtrust.org.uk/ Charitable Trust website]<br>*[https://www.svrlive.com/charitable-trust SVRLive page]<br>*[https://www.fallingsandsviaduct.org.uk/ Falling Sands Viaduct website]
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
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