|
|
|
|
GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton
Leamington Spa Station: gwrls225a
|
Close up of image 'gwrls225' shows workmen laying timber
planking to the track and track bed between the up and down platforms. The
workman is carrying a 'boning rod', which is the staff shaped like a crucifix,
which was a simple device used to determine approximate levels of the bottom of
trenches between fixed points. The writer believes the planking laid between
the rails is the only evidence of the work undertaken to excavate the new
passenger subway which was constructed during the rebuilding. How the subway
was actually constructed is not known to the writer but based on current
practices the rails would have be lifted during a series of 'possession
periods' conducted on Sundays when the contractor would be allowed to occupy
the line. Once the rails had been lifted temporary works would have been
constructed such as driving steel piles into the ground to act as columns to
carry the track either side of the proposed subway. The columns would then
support beams carrying the track over the area to be excavated. Once the
temporary works had been complete the subway could be constructed in normal
hours without disrupting traffic. The time taken to construct the subway would
otherwise have taken many weekends and escalated the costs. During this
possession period through traffic would be diverted from this area of the route
probably via the goods line to the rear of the station.
back
|
|
|