Sunday October 28th

Suitably refreshed after the extra hour in bed and I ventured down to the west side of the work site on cold damp Sunday morning.  Leaves falling everywhere and the knowledge that it would be dark early today might it quite depressing!  As I expected the changes were more subtle but there were some things to report mainly concerning drainage work.   I went under the main line via the River Hiz underbridge and was surprised to find that a drainage outfall into the river had been constructed in the past seven days.  The access road up onto the embankment has been removed and the landscaping is being extended.  Access to the embankment will now be via the former Midland goods yard in Nightingale Road along the former Bedford branch embankment.

 Here is the recently constructed outfall of the drain from the embankment next to the River Hiz bridge.

 Looking up to the raised embankment there is evidence of the drainage work.

 Turning slightly left at the same point, the embankment top soil is being extended alongside the new retaining wall.

 The ground has been recently dug to install the new drainage system.  Some leftover pipework can be seen centre left.

 Taken from the scrapyard bridge, the steep access road has gone with top soil capping in its place.

 The final section to be installed now has edging work underway. Note the top of the former Bedford line embankment behind in relation to the viaduct.

 Looking north from the far side of the scrapyard.  Not much change here.

 See the difference in height here as the viaduct meets the higher ground compared to the Bedford embankment seen between the two piers.  It emphasises the quite steep gradient.

 Now the leaves are falling I was able to take a better panoramic shot of the viaduct from the nature reserve.

 The embankment is complete with the last bit filled in to viaduct level.  Needs the topsoil capping on a short section.

 Concrete edging has nearly reached the end on this side of the main line.

 Here is evidence of more drainage work.  Here is a similar construction to the Hiz outfall but presumably to take water through the embankment to the other side.  This would be the lowest point.  There is a new drainage gully running between the embankment and the beetle bank.  There were a lot of birds here today so maybe word has got out about the beetle banks!  Bit soon I reckon as they not any where near completed.

 Another drainage construction further round nearer to the Centre 3 office building. The gantries of the main line can just be seen as it heads north.

 Here between the two is the extent of the ballasting with a roll of membrane laying on top ready to be extended.

Saturday 20th October

Going forward any changes will not be as dramatic now that the viaduct and the embankment are complete. It is all going to be about finishing the viaduct edging, the overheads, and eventually signalling and track. Today was quite misty and damp with quite a lot of water underfoot in the Bury Mead Springs conservation area. A lot of construction workers on site today probably to take advantage of the weather before the winter sets in. All the work seemed to be focussed on the viaduct edging which continues to extend towards the scrapyard. The large yellow crane has left the site as its work is now finished. A smaller crane was working today lifting material onto the top of the viaduct.

 First shot shows the crane working on the last sections to be added.  Edging work has already started and extends almost the whole length of the viaduct.

 Looking back the other way at the completed viaduct.

 And again from a bit further north.

 Looking through the viaduct on the higher ground you can see it curving round to meet the main line.

 Edging work nearly finished here.  Just a small gap which was being worked on today.

 Looking across the main line you can just make out the viaduct curving round to meet the embankment.  The end wall is between the two piers.  A work platform on the ground on the left recently removed from the viaduct edge.

 Shot of an East Coast service heading south under the viaduct.  Concrete edging is finished here. Still quite misty unfortunately.

 Turning slightly left, the viaduct as it passes through the redundant sewage treatment works.

The quarry taken from the top of the Icknield Way footbridge.  Restoration works will soon be under way I am guessing now that the embankment is complete.

Final shot shows ballast has been mounded up ready for the link to the viaduct.  This is one of the widened overhead gantries next to the River Hiz bridge.

Embankment report.

A late afternoon visit to the east side of the site to check up on the latest progress on the embankment.  It was quite overcast with dark clouds so the pictures are not great.  The gap between the end of the viaduct and the embankment is being filled in so the route is substantially complete from end to end. 

 Here you can see the gap at the end of the embankment is nearly filled with a digger and roller on top.

 Turning to the right, the embankment skirts the end of Centre 3 office building behind the trees.  The new gantries can be seen in the distance.

 Concrete edging work is progressing well.

 The point where the two embankments meet with the new gantry work in the centre of the picture.

 The accommodation bridge with temporary ramp along side.

 Train passing the future junction

 Looking back towards the Centre 3 building at the highest part of the embankment

 As the farmer has harvested this field apparently by accessing it through the new bridge, I was able to skirt the edge of the field to a point where I was almost level with the top of the embankment.  You can clearly see the layer of ballast.

 View through the bridge.  The public footpath will be diverted through here.

 Another view of the embankment from the Cambridge branch.

 Closer look at the final viaduct sections.  Cross bracing now in place.

 Provision for installing the overhead gantry at the start of the viaduct.

 I hadn't noticed this before but the main line overheads have been widened here to accommodate the extra line as it leaves the down slow.

I looked back at earlier photos and this one taken in May clearly shows the two new uprights next to the existing ones which I missed at the time.

Final viaduct sections now in place

A major milestone was reached today when the final section of viaduct was lifted into place.  A quick visit yesterday revealed that the penultimate section had been installed so I made an early morning trip today to discover that the last section had arrived.  I watched as it drove into the site ready to be unloaded.  I was able to return an hour or so later to witness the very last piece being put into place.  I am sure that there must have been some well deserved celebrations at the Hitchin Alliance offices this evening for a job well done.  There is still a long way to go but they must be very satisfied with the progress they have made so far.

First picture shows the last gap to be filled taken from the River Hiz bridge.

 The last section arrives.  Note how the two halves are carried separately and pushed together to save room.  The driver dons an orange hi-vis jacket.

 The lorry moves off into the site entrance guided by a site worker.

 Bit of a tight turn so taking it slowly.

 Cones being laid out behind it.

 Nearly there.  Some other plant came out just before presumably to make room.

 One half in place with the other on the ground beside it.

 Crane is released from the first piece with the aid of a telescopic lifter.

 Lifting beam moves clear.  See how implausibly small the two D shackles are that hold the large section of steel.

 The crane then lifts the end section. 

 Shame that the dead trees had not been removed as they are in the wrong place today for photographing the end of this section!

 Nearly there!

 In place.

 Lifting beam now being attached to the last piece.

 Up it goes.

 Very small guide lines held by a site workers to stop it swinging.

 Two workers move up on a scissor lift and the telescopic lift to guide it into position.

 Whilst another at the other end guides it down onto the mounting.  He must have complete faith in those small D shackles and the crane driver!

 Getting there slowly. The relatively steep gradient of the viaduct at this point is apparent as the new section is hanging level.

 Now five workers doing final adjustments.

 The final piece is in place.  Well done to Hochtief and the Hitchin Alliance not to mention the fabricators and Powell Heavy Haulage!

 Gap is closed.