Building the last Main Line Railway

Flecknoe, Willoughby and Staverton: gcrcs85

A line of contractor's 'temporary way' snakes under a brick arch occupation overbridge near Staverton, Northamptonshire, circa 1897. The scene is unusual in so much as the initial bed of ballast has already been laid for the permanent way, and contractor's rails are normally pictured running over muddy and uneven ground. Soon after this photograph was taken, these tracks would have been lifted and replaced with rails and sleepers for the 'permanent way'.

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