Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct: gcrcs159

This large square head frame was erected above one of the shafts which were sunk during the construction of Catesby tunnel. At almost 3000 yards long, it was far more efficient to both drive the bore and bring materials down from the surface at several points along the tunnels length rather than send them along a congested 'highway' of wagons and spoil.

Piled on the loading stage, ready to be lowered to the army of men working below, are some of the thirty million bricks which are estimated to have been used to complete this mammoth engineering achievement. Note the tracks in the foreground: for contractor's temporary rails they have been relatively well laid and maintained.

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