Building the last Main Line Railway

Rugby to Barby: gcrcs74

View of a steam shovel being employed beneath the bridge carrying Ashlawn Road over the railway. The road overbridge was built prior to the excavation of the line which required a short section of cutting to be excavated prior to the overbridge being built. After the bridge was erected the main excavation of the cutting would then take place as seen above. The excavator is fitted with a ramshackle cab while the wagon behind it probably carried coal or water. The size of the machine can be appreciated when compared to the wheel barrow sitting just behind it and the boy standing just in front of the wagon. Note the temporary light hanging from the pole on the right of the photograph. The steam shover appears to be of a different type to those seen earlier being narrower but much higher. Presumably reflecting the need for it to work in a more confined area. This section of the railway was constructed by T. Oliver & Son between 1894 and 1897.

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