Building the last Main Line Railway

Rugby to Barby: gcrcs98

View of a steam powered excavator being employed in a cutting south of Clifton Road bridge in Rugby. This photograph provides and excellent view of the fixed vertical column within which the arm of the steam shovel could be moved in a radius and the secondary arm could be moved up and down. The pile of track and sleepers in the foreground suggests these will be used to accommodate the Steam Navvy as it progresses down the route widening the cutting. The line extends into the distance, laid to transport the spoil to Barby Cattle Sidings etc. These contractor's rails were quickly put down and intensively used: in a matter of days these same tracks would almost certainly be covered in mud and debris. Note the line of tipping wagons stationed beneath the bridge, and the other girder overbridge visible beyond.

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