GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Leamington Spa Station: gwrls2086b

Close up of image 'gwrls2086' showing a GWR 0-6-0 Armstrong Goods locomotive standing at the head of an engineer's train. The ballast has been dug out exposing the sleepers that appear to be laid on two sets of timbers, one set being placed beneath and aligned with the the rail whilst beneath this timber are supporting timbers laid at 90° to the rail. The track was therefore effectively part of the bridge structure meaning vibration or the hammer blow of a locomotive passing over the top would be transmitted through the structure. On the extreme right of the photograph temporary staging can be seen. In between the train and the staging are two sets of girders, the outer set being bowed and of a similar construction to the set of girders seen to the right of the locomotive. This set of girders were built on the temporary staging and then placed alongside the existing bridge before being tied together.

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