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Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct: gcrcs180

View of the 'first tunnel shaft' taken in 1896 showing the method of disposing of spoil from the tunnel

View of the 'first tunnel shaft' taken in 1896 showing the method of disposing of spoil from the tunnel. Soil is lifted from the tunnel to the top of the shaft and then moved to the centre of the bridge above the contractor's temporary track. The soil is then dropped into the truck, which can be seen under the bridge, to be moved along the route to where an embankment needed to be built. The above photograph is a wonderful illustration of the speed at which the contractor's worked; the temporary rails and precarious looking bridge structure are hastily constructed and poorly maintained. T Oliver & Son was the contractor responsible for building this section of the Railway (Contract No. 4 Rugby to Woodford).

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