·  LMS  ·  GWR  ·  LNER  ·  Misc  ·  Stations  ·  What's New  ·  Video  ·  Guestbook  ·  About

Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct: gcrcs159

View of one of the large square head frame used during the construction of the Catesby tunnel

View of one of the large square head frame used during the construction of the Catesby tunnel. It was erected above one of the shafts which were sunk at given distances along the bore of Catesby tunnel. At almost 3000 yards long, it was far more efficient to both drive the bore and bring materials down from the surface at several points along the tunnels length rather than send them along a congested 'highway' of wagons and spoil. Piled on the loading stage, ready to be lowered to the army of men working below, are some of the thirty million bricks which are estimated to have been used to complete this mammoth engineering achievement. Note the tracks in the foreground: for contractor's temporary rails they have been relatively well laid and maintained.

back