Picture Credit Charlotte Graham
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Bridge Lift at NYMR
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) and contractors VolkerLaser have progressed into the final stages of the £1.26 million construction and installation work of Bridges 24 and 25 at Goathland.
This week saw the two new 40-tonne steel structures, each spanning 50 feet, delivered by road from VolkerLaser’s appointed painter’s facility in Sheffield lowered into place which will carry the railway over Eller Beck, replacing the old structures after 150 years of service.
VolkerLaser started work at the Goathland site in December, with the team dismantling and removing the old structure and preparing for the installation of the new structure. The NYMR’s in-house Permanent Way team will relay the ballast and tracks ready for the 2022 season.
The bridge work forms part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s ‘Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project, a £10 million project to ensure future generations can enjoy the 180-year-old line. It has been made possible thanks to generous funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the European Union, NYMR’s Local Enterprise Partnership and kind donations from many supporters.
Tim Bruce, Director of Civil Engineering at NYMR, commented: “We’ve enjoyed a really good working relationship with VolkerLaser, who was able to step in following the collapse last summer of engineering firm Cleveland Bridge, which was originally scheduled to carry out the work. We are now able to press ahead on schedule to reopen on April 4th.”
Jim Mawson, Operations Director for Steel at VolkerLaser, said: “This week represents the culmination of many hours of planning and preparation, and it is fantastic to see the new bridges being installed on time for NYMR following the removal of the life-expired bridges in January.
“The new bridges will allow NYMR to operate continuously for many decades, and we at VolkerLaser are proud to be involved, and to be included in the Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project.”
