Building the last Main Line Railway

Rugby to Barby: gcrcs100

View of the north side of the three arch bridge carrying Ashlawn Road over the Great Central line. The contractors temporary way can be seen in the foreground with one of the many locomotives used by the contractors standing on the temporary track attached to the line of wagons seen in image 'gcrcs99'. Visible in the central arch beneath the plume of white steam is the distinctive cab of the steam shovel, a makeshift shelter built of wood and corrugated metal that helped shield the engine and her crew from the elements. This side of the bridge the cutting is more complete than the side seen in image 'gcrcs99'. This suggests that the contractor commenced the excavation from the south near Barby and worked towards the LNWR line. This would be logical as the spoil could not be removed from the LNWR side until the GC bridge, viaduct and works were complete to transport the spoil. In addition, the Barby area would require spoil for the extensive embankments that were required.

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