Update 18th May

As the project nears completion, there is now not so much to report each week.  The overhead line installation appears to be complete.   I noticed a couple of track mounted machines operating during the week but it looked more like fine tuning than major work.  The drainage work seems to have stopped with no noticeable difference from two weeks ago.  Apart from finishing this, there is probably just the signalling to go in now.  Also the reinstatement of Wilbury Hill but that has no bearing on the completion of the project.

A look at the recently completed overheads from the River Hiz bridge.  Vegetation really taking hold here.

 A closer look at the first gantry.  This is where the track walk left the work site last week.

 Some re-pointing work has been carried out on the wing wall of the River Hiz bridge.  Although it is in pretty good condition after 156 years, it is now back in service so needs to be maintained.

 Looking south towards the scrapyard.

 A new security fence is being installed along the line of the viaduct. I think I would have preferred to see something a bit more secure as it would be a pity to see graffiti appearing on the viaduct supports.  I know the palisade fencing by the scrapyard is not so visually attractive but is more resistant to trespassers.

 Limit of the new fence.  I guess it will eventually go right up to the ECML. 

 Some new electrical installation work, possibly to do with the signalling.

 A long shot of the quarry. I know it is hard to make out from long way away, but the cliff edge is being removed and replaced with a more sloping profile.

 Last picture shows the east end of the viaduct with the overheads in place.

Track Walk 11th May

Today saw the track walk of the new chord generously facilitated by Network Rail to raise money for local charities and also to showcase the nearly completed work.  It was very good of them to give up their time to escort the various groups round.  I was working until 3pm so was unable to join one of the walks but I did manage to take some pictures of the last groups.  From what I could see, the guides were stopping frequently and explaining the various aspects of the work.  The weather was not that great and at one stage there was torrential rain and thunder.

 First group stops and looks over towards the quarry.

 While the next group stops to admire the accommodation bridge

 You can just make out an earlier group returning via the Icknield way in the background to the right of the gantry.

 The second group moves on while a third group stops at the bridge.

The first group reaches the east end of the viaduct. 

 After a short talk, they move on the viaduct.

 Meanwhile round at the end two Network Rail employees wait by Hitchin North junction.  The reason for this will be apparent in the next pictures.  The fencing at the bottom marks the River Hiz underbridge.

 An earlier group arrives on the link from the viaduct.

 Just as they arrive, an East Coast express approaches heading north.  No room for error here hence the people stationed here for the duration of the walk.

 Passing the group now. 

 The group then move on to the access walkway and down to the entrance of the scrapyard.

Further update on OLE work 10th May

By Friday morning it looked as if the contact wire was in place all the way round.  Work to reinstate the quarry back to farmland had started.  I took just a few pictures of this from Hillgate.

First shows three track mounted machines working on the overhead lines.  Gantries on both sides of the line here.

 Two workers were making their way round checking the work as they went.

 Long shot of the quarry with a digger working on the left and a dumper bringing in topsoil on the right.

May Day bank holiday update

In the ten days that I have been away, work has continued to advance.  The overhead gantries are now all in place.  The catenary wire is in place all the way round.  Although not finished, I have been asked to point out the danger of electrocution from the 25,000 volts supply that is now live in some places. However I have been assured that this will be turned off for the duration of the track walk next Saturday.  The drainage work has moved on and the landscaping on the west side of the main line looks to be about finished.

Looking north from the River Hiz bridge, there is now one more gantry on the far side, centre of picture.

 The new gully has now been lined almost up to the River Hiz.

Moving on to the Bury Mead Springs, landscaping work has included two new access ramps from the lower to the higher ground, seen here one to the left, one to the right.

Here is the left hand one cutting right through what was the alignment of the former Bedford line embankment.

The triangle of higher ground is now quite smooth and level.

Looking north east from the same spot.

Moving further along, the new gantries can be seen on the viaduct as it passes over the ECML  Again the ground is nicely smooth and level.

And finally looking back from the far corner of the site.  The ground is now smoother than it was before the work started although a bit higher than previously.  The grassy bit in the foreground is the original level.  The fence line just visible to the right runs along what would have been the centre of the Bedford line embankment.

These two gantries visible from the end of Wilbury Way mark the neutral section between the ECML supplied section and the Cambridge line supplied section.  They are a different style to the others.

View of the east end of the viaduct where it looks as if reinstatement of the sewage treatment works has commenced.

The quarry looked very bright and white in the May sunshine.  I expect that work to return this to farmland will start soon now that the weather has improved.

Last shot shows the embankment with the gantries in place.  Looking even greener with grass starting to grow on the beetle bank as well, it is starting to have the look of always being there rather just a few months.

I have included a few grab shots that I took from a train heading north.  They are not particularly good has they are affected by reflection from the the train window.  However they show the work from a different perspective.

 First one shows the Grove Road underbridge coming up marked by the railings centre right.  All the ground on the left is the former double track alignment of the Midland Railway's line from Leicester via Bedford.  It had reached the same level as the main line at this point.  The reason it maintained its own line all the way to Hitchin station was to access its goods yard in Nightingale road without having to use Great Northern metals.  It could even had its own platforms there if it had become necessary.  The relationship between the the two companies was never that good and after ten years the Midland's extension to St Pancras opened.  As a result of this, the Bedford to Hitchin section was reduced to branch line status.

 Moving along, the trackbed has been cleared and a new surface laid.

 Now lower here than the mainline.

 A glimpse of the new cabinet seen in a previous picture.  Trackbed now quite a bit lower.

 Hitchin North junction coming up.  Scrapyard in the background.

Past the junction, temporary stop attached to the track.

New line moves onto the link to the viaduct.  Scrapyard quite clearly visible behind.

Start of the viaduct coming up.

Viaduct runs alongside the mainline gaining height.

 Now swing round to cross the main line. Landscape work visible on the other side.

 Last two shots show more of the landscaping work.