Difference between revisions of "List of infrastructure"

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(Add explanation of accommodation bridge, occupation bridge etc)
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'''Viaduct''': A viaduct is a particular type of bridge characterised by having a number of small spans, for crossing a valley or a gorge.
 
'''Viaduct''': A viaduct is a particular type of bridge characterised by having a number of small spans, for crossing a valley or a gorge.
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==Track, rails and sleepers==
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[[File:Rail profile.svg |thumb|300px|right| Rail profiles (Wikipedia)]]
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The majority of the SVR’s 16 miles of track uses bullhead rail. This type of rail was the standard on British railways between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries.  The rail sits in chairs which are in turn attached to the sleepers, and the rail is held fast to the chairs using metal wedges or keys. 
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After the mid-20th century, Britain’s railway network moved over to using flat-bottom rail. This sits directly on the sleepers without the need for chairs, and is held by to the sleepers using Pandrol clips.  Some flat-bottom rail can be seen on the SVR, including the section near [[Country Park Halt]].
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Individual rails of both types are typically 60 ft in length, and are joined to each other by fishplates.  The fishplates allow a certain amount of longitudinal movement to cater for expansion and contraction of the rails with temperature changes.  Each section of the line is regularly inspected to check for faults in the fishplates and rail fastenings.
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Modern railway practice is to use continuously welded rail (CWR), in which adjacent lengths of rail are welded together, removing the need for fishplates.  This gives a smoother ride and reduces maintenance costs.    Heritage railways do not generally use CWR, although the section of track through [[Bewdley Tunnel]] was re-laid with CWR during the winter of 2011-12 in order to simplify future maintenance.
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The 1960s track acquired by the SVR from BR predominantly used wooden sleepers, many of which were in less than ideal condition.  Although wooden sleepers have generally been retained in stations for aesthetic purposes, the rest of the line has been re-laid over the years using more modern concrete sleepers.
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<gallery>
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File:Bullhead_Rail_20150528.jpg |A fishplate joining two lengths of bullhead rail
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File: Flat-bottom_rail_20150528.jpg | Flat-bottom rail near Country Park Halt
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File:Les sabots rouges (Pandrol clips) - geograph.org.uk - 667729.jpg | Pandrol clips (Wikimedia Commons)
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</gallery>

Revision as of 16:39, 11 November 2015

This list includes bridges, viaducts, tunnels, crossings, and any other infrastructure along the SVRSevern Valley Railway. Barrow crossings and staff-only crossings are not included.

Geographical List

Kidderminster to Bewdley

Bewdley to Arley

Arley to Highley

Highley to Hampton Loade

Hampton Loade to Bridgnorth

Alphabetical List of Bridges, Viaducts and Tunnels

Types of bridge and crossing

Accommodation bridge / crossing: An accommodation bridge or accommodation crossing is one built during construction of a new railway, or other transport route, in order to accommodate a pre-existing private road, path or right of access. Construction of the bridge or crossing is normally at the cost of the route developer as a condition for obtaining the land for building the new route.

Occupation bridge / crossing: An occupation bridge or occupation crossing connects two parts of an estate separated by a railway, road or canal. Unlike an accommodation bridge or accommodation crossing, it is not necessarily installed during construction of the railway or at the route developer’s expense, nor may there have been an existing road or path at its location.

Overbridge: An overbridge is a bridge over the railway, normally carrying a road or track.

Underbridge: An underbridge allows a road, river etc. to pass underneath the railway.

Viaduct: A viaduct is a particular type of bridge characterised by having a number of small spans, for crossing a valley or a gorge.

Track, rails and sleepers

Rail profiles (Wikipedia)

The majority of the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s 16 miles of track uses bullhead rail. This type of rail was the standard on British railways between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. The rail sits in chairs which are in turn attached to the sleepers, and the rail is held fast to the chairs using metal wedges or keys.


After the mid-20th century, Britain’s railway network moved over to using flat-bottom rail. This sits directly on the sleepers without the need for chairs, and is held by to the sleepers using Pandrol clips. Some flat-bottom rail can be seen on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, including the section near Country Park Halt.


Individual rails of both types are typically 60 ft in length, and are joined to each other by fishplates. The fishplates allow a certain amount of longitudinal movement to cater for expansion and contraction of the rails with temperature changes. Each section of the line is regularly inspected to check for faults in the fishplates and rail fastenings.


Modern railway practice is to use continuously welded rail (CWRContinuous Welded Rail, where joints between lengths of rail are welded rather than connected by fishplates.), in which adjacent lengths of rail are welded together, removing the need for fishplates. This gives a smoother ride and reduces maintenance costs. Heritage railways do not generally use CWRContinuous Welded Rail, where joints between lengths of rail are welded rather than connected by fishplates., although the section of track through Bewdley Tunnel was re-laid with CWRContinuous Welded Rail, where joints between lengths of rail are welded rather than connected by fishplates. during the winter of 2011-12 in order to simplify future maintenance.


The 1960s track acquired by the SVRSevern Valley Railway from BRBritish Rail or British Railways predominantly used wooden sleepers, many of which were in less than ideal condition. Although wooden sleepers have generally been retained in stations for aesthetic purposes, the rest of the line has been re-laid over the years using more modern concrete sleepers.

  • A fishplate joining two lengths of bullhead rail

  • Flat-bottom rail near Country Park Halt

  • Pandrol clips (Wikimedia Commons)

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