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to Guy Gorton's website.
Clearance of the tunnel collapse site at Gerrards
Cross
July 2005
This page follows earlier pages which you can reach from
a link at the bottom of this one.
These pictures follow some of the activities over
the period July 4 to July 10.
Many segments had already been removed by July 4,
which gives a better view of the remaining ones. These are
on the north side at the eastern end of the gap.
Some still remain at the eastern end as well.
By July 5 the gap is almost clear of segments but
still has a thick layer of fill material. This can hardly
be beneficial to the drainage properties of the track ballast beneath!
Some segments were broken up in situ and the reinforcing
steel burned through but by July 7 they were being handled in
a work area between the hole and the site entrance. The crane
here is lifting pieces, all carefully numbered with spray paint, on
to a low loader.
Transport on site is by whatever means can cope with
the weights involved. Stretching the boom forward to place
this chunk on the ground almost had the machine tipped on its
nose. The skill of the many operators on the site has been
most impressive. The man in the white hat in this and the previous
picture is cutting reinforcing steel.
Back to the remaining tunnel segments. The
first three to the west of the gap have been numbered, and.....
the stitching beam has been destroyed.
Now it is the turn of the eastern end to receive
the stitching beam destruction treatment. At the eastern
side of the gap, four segments have been numbered. The implication
of the numbering and the stitch beam destruction is that these segments
are due to be removed. Once they have been separated from
their opposing segments, they should be quite easy to remove.
By late afternoon on 7 July, the fill material
is not very deep and the rails have appeared, but by early morning
on the 8th....
all the fill hase gone, the rails have been cut (note
length of rail each side of the far line which were ready to replace
the old rails) and all the rails, sleepers and most of the ballast
has been removed from the gap.
The cable duct has been mangled and possibly will have
to be replaced, although it seems that controls to signals beyond
this point have not been affected.
.
This is a rare sight on a major construction (or destruction)
site these days! About a dozen men wielding shiny new shovels
were working to clear the remaining fill material from between the
rails.
Sleepers, some complete, some broken up, and cut pieces
of rail were loaded into one of the big 6x6 dump trucks.
The tranquil scene on Sunday July 10. The collapse
site has been cleared, all the machinery (except three lighting towers)
has gone, there are no bright jackets and hard hats, and there is a
high fence separating the collapse site from the remainder of the construction
site. The citizens of Gerrards Cross have had a peaceful night
and look like having a peaceful Sunday.
Version 3, July 10, 2005
You can go to the 'Collapse' page here.