Bury Mead Springs 28th December 2011

Took my dog to the Bury Mead Springs conservation area today to blow away a few cobwebs.  Took one or two photos from the other side of the scrap yard.  There was an area of tree clearance right beside the River Hiz that I hadn't noticed before.  This is presumably where the final settlement pond will go before the run off from the viaduct enters the river after all oil and other polution has been settled out.

Looking south towards the scrapyard with the River Hiz on the right

 Same place looking east towards the railway

I moved further along to the open meadow and took the following shot of the now cleared Bedford line embankment.  An East Coast service can be seen behind on the main line.

 This is an older scan of unknown origin of the same embankment showing a DMU passing Gerry's Hole, having just crossed the Icknield Way.  The meadow hadn't been planted with trees at that time.  I am guessing this was the late '50s or early 60's as passenger services ended on 30th December 1961

Latest photos

Took a quick look today at the progress around the work site.  Took a few photos of the latest developments.  First shows the relatively clear area along the former Bedford line embankment looking north from the scrapyard.  Didn't have time for a detailed look.

 I didn't want to go any further as there was an engineering gang working on the overheads on the main line as my next photo just about shows.

I then moved to the end of Wilbury Way and took a few more photos of the developments there.

Looking north towards the Icknield Way, the site has been fenced off and warning notices have gone up.  Although it is not easy to see, a new gate giving access to the sewage treatment works has been installed at the end of the far orange fence.  The second photo, taken from the same spot but further to the right, shows that the haul road has almost reached here.

 Moving round the corner into Hillgate, I took three more shots.  The first two show the partial fencing off of the site.

The final shot looks across to the point where the new line will join the existing Cambridge branch.  The existing embankment has been cleared of tree growth and the Stotfold Road bridge is clearly visible.  The fence posts are in now but the fencing has yet to go up.

Tree clearance complete

I had another look at the Network rail plans and on closer inspection the new line junction is further north from Cambridge junction than I first thought.  On that basis I think the tree clearance has reached that point.  I noticed a group of orange clad workers standing at the end of the cleared embankment as if they were checking the clearance work was complete.

For anyone who is interested the plans can be found here:-
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6401.aspx

Also there is a video of a train drivers view of the new line:-

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f7fjjv4gxvw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And an aerial view here:-

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cGF0YAiMpus?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Update Sunday 11th December

On visiting the site yesterday, I could see that the tree clearance had continued apace.  A huge number of trees and bushes have grown up unchecked since the final closure and lifting of the Bedford branch. 

I noticed that a large log carrying machine had been brought onto the site to move the increasingly large number of tree trunks that have been stacked up.

Now that the trackbed has been cleared, you can start to see a similar view to the pictures I uploaded earlier from 1964.  Although it is still hard to believe that this was once a very important section of line for the Midland Railway allowing them access to London.  For ten years this was a twin track main line from Leicester until the Midland fell out with the Great Northern and built an extension from Bedford to St Pancras.  Then from 1867 to closure it was branch line having largely been singled in 1911.  Even to this day the Midland main line is still referred to as the Leicester to Hitchin line.

 I then moved a couple of hundred yards south and took the footpath by the River Hiz under the bridge.  This photo shows the substantial three arch main line bridge with the lower arch of the Bedford line visible behind. In between is a later addition which I can't work out the purpose of.  Because of its semi-hidden location, there is a considerable amount of graffiti here.

Viewed from the other side, bridge two of the Bedford line is quite clearly visible for the first time for many years.  Quite a contrast to the other side as presumably the slightly later construction blocked the three arches of the main line bridge.  Note the odd mix of blue and yellow bricks.  The bridge is still in excellent condition which is a testament to the Victorian bricklayers that built it.

 Moving further away this shot shows more of the cleared embankment with blue netting along the far side of the Bedford embankment.  This is presumably to stop any tree fellers from straying on to the main line embankment as there no fence here unlike north of the scrapyard.

 Returning to my starting point, I took a picture of the other side of the scrapyard bridge, another substantial three arch blue brick construction.  One wonders why they are both so big when a single arch would surely have sufficed.

Finally, a shot east from the end of Wilbury Way of the haul road extending into the field along side the perimeter of the future embankment.  There was no evidence of this last week so preliminary works are moving ahead quite quickly.  Top left you can just see the edge of the main site compound.

Progress Report 4th December 2011

Apologies for a lack of an update last week.  A family illness prevented me from visiting the site until this weekend.  I could see from my workplace that work had commenced over by the scrap yard so I made that my first port of call.   The site had been fenced off from the bridge right up to triangle of land between the two embankments.   The first photo shows the site  notices that have gone up warning that this was a hard hat work site.  The second photo shows the tree clearance that has commenced looking South from the bridge.

I noticed that there were quite  a few other walkers passing through the site and exiting by the scrap yard.  A couple grumbled that their regular walk had been cut off by the works.  I decided to take a chance and grab a few photos from inside the site.  The fencing wasn't at all secure although I imagine when the actual construction (as opposed to tree clearance) starts it will be much more secure.  There will be plenty of vantage points where you will able to observe progress but these will involve a much longer walk from Ickleford via the Icknield Way.  I certainly won't trespass once this happens.

The usual workforce "comfort" facilities were in evidence although it appears that whoever installed them had forgotten their spirit level!

Clearance of elderberry and sloe trees that had thrived along the Bedford line embankment.

Logs piled up awaiting collection.  You can clearly see the level of the former Bedford branch with the main line behind.

View towards the scrapyard from the embankment, a view that wasn't possible two weeks ago.

Finally moving up onto the triangle, a shot of the fenced off area where the viaduct will swing east over the main line.

I then walked to the Stotfold Road where the main site compound is being constructed.  I took the footpath that is shoehorned in between the Wilbury Way factories and the existing Cambridge branch line.  No evidence that this path is to be closed but it will have to be as it crosses the point where the new embankment joins the existing line.  I took a few more shots while I was there.

The first shot looks North towards the Icknield Way.  The new embankment will cross from left to right.

Looking East towards the new site compound.  The existing Cambridge line runs immediately to the right of the photo

 Moving closer to the compound, you can just make out the orange perimeter markers which denote the edge of the new embankment.

 Looking back towards the industrial area along the blue centre line markers which curve away to the right.

 The site compound well under way, soon to be ready to receive the estimated 170 lorry movements a day.  The speed limit on Stotfold Road has been reduced from 60mph to 40mph as a safety measure.  The road has been a notorious accident blackspot over the years despite several improvements.  Hopefully the compound has brought a welcome cash crop for the farmer! 

 Last blue centre line marker at the point where it meets the existing embankment.

Just for completeness, a view west towards Hitchin along the existing Cambridge line.  Shortly after the embankment ends, the line enters a deep cutting on the approach to Hitchin, followed by another embankment where it joins the main line.

New development

Yesterday, several lorry loads of site fencing were seen heading on to the Bury Mead Springs conservation area.  As I suspected, workmen in orange jackets have started fencing off the Bedford line embankment so I guess that access will be limited now.  I am pleased I was able to photograph the area before this happened.  I will visit the site again at the weekend.

Saturday 19th November

Very little change from last week.  The works compound is a little more advanced but apart from that everything is pretty much as it was.   I spoke with a contact from the Countryside Management Services who look after the Bury Mead Springs conservation area which includes Gerry's Hole.  They were told that they were not allowed to enter the area after the 1st October for up to two years.  They will have a lot of catching up to do afterwards.    They (Network Rail) are apparently going to create a settlement lagoon to take the run-off from the viaduct to prevent any contamination entering the marshes and subsequently the River Hiz.  Whilst there I took a few more photos of Grove Road and Bury Mead Road.

This one is for a now and then comparison of the one I posted earlier.  The trees on the right are  bigger now and obscure the arch that the River Hiz runs under.  A recent addition which is hard to make out are railings across the bridge.   Strangely there have always been railings on the other side but these ones have only appeared in the last year.  Sadly there is graffiti on the right which Network Rail have removed more than once.  This bridge is much larger than the next one South in Cambridge Road because it once carried the four main lines and the two Bedford branch lines.  Interestingly there are only two arches this side but four on the other former Great Northern side.  I am guessing the Midland added their bit to the existing bridge and were more cost conscious by only building what was necessary. 

This is a shot looking North from Grove Road along the embankment.  I expect that tree clearance will commence here soon.  The fence on the right is also relatively new possibly in anticipation of the forthcoming works.  It extends as far as the Sewage Treatment Works which can be seen top left.

This was taken further along Bury Mead Road and looks across the Shanks waste transfer station in the foreground with the sewage works behind.

Gerry's Hole

Where the former Bedford branch crossed the Icknield Way, one finds the curiously named Gerry's Hole.  This was actually a borrow where material was taken to create the adjacent embankment.  Last Saturday it was virtually dry which is quite unusual.  Pity it wasn't dry the night Gerry returned that way from the pub!

More photos from 12th November

 Photo taken from the Icknield Way bridge looking towards the field behind the hedgerow in the centre  where the viaduct will cross towards the main line.  The line of trees to the right is the solum of the former Bedford branch.

 Shot of the main line.  The viaduct will cross somewhere behind the fourth set of staunchions.  This will be a good vantage point as work progresses.

Field to the South of the Icknield Way with a row of blue markers denoting what will be the embankment that will follow the viaduct.  Running across the picture in the distance is the existing Cambridge line.

The same field but further to the right.  The orange markers are the edge of the works.  In the distance a digger and cabin can be seen.  This is the main work site compound under construction.

Back at the start, I took this photo from where I think the photo on my earlier post was taken.  Looking back towards Hitchin along the track bed of the Bedford branch just North of bridge three at E and S metals.  Rather overgrown but still walkable up to the parapet of the bridge.  Next photo shows the view across the gap where the bridge was.  There is no access to the other side as this is well and truly fenced off.

Site survey 12th November

The weather was glorious today so I took the opportunity to visit the site of the forthcoming works.   I started my visit in Cadwell Lane by the entrance to the Gas Works.  The opportunity to do this must surely be limited as this will be a major work site and will be closed off soon.  There was a sign on the public footpath saying that it was closed between two points which were not that clear on the map.  There was evidence of the preliminary works and I took quite a few pictures.  I walked as far as the Icknield Way and crossed the main line.  I could see that the farmer's field off Stotfold Road had markers showing the route as far as the existing Cambridge line embankment.

The photo at the top shows where the viaduct will run at the extreme right of the photo as it moves off the line of the former Bedford branch.  The photo at the bottom shows the footpath closure notice.

 Looking back towards the scrap yard there is a blue marker on the bottom of the embankment and evidence of what appears to be drainage work.

Looking the other way the markers continue.  I think they must mark the centre line of the viaduct.

Moving up on to the "landfill" site, there are a cluster of markers.  On closer inspection they mark the line of a gas main.  The former Bedford line runs to the left and the main line is behind the trees on the right.

The blue markers continue up to the point where the viaduct will cross the main line.