Time for the acid test at Stanton

Saturday 3 August 

Little did we realise when we set off for Stanton this morning that our work would have undergone full user testing in our absence. From the inception of the project we knew that harvest traffic would be using the bridge around the end of July, hence the push to get the up side finished and the track passable in time. The surprise we got this morning was in the shape of a combine harvester sitting the field on the down side of the track. That could only mean one thing, harvest traffic had been using the bridge. A quick inspection showed that the structure had held up well, this is despite the fact that the concrete backfill on the up side hasn't had the requisite 28 day curing period to reach its 30 Newton strength.  

The focus today was on finishing the brickwork on the up side and starting it on the down side. The footings for the down side north wall were concreted as well. 

The wheat harvest has started 

Roger sizing up the block laying on the down side 

Temporary pipe installed to contain the flow 

First row of blocks laid 

On the up side, Michael finished off the headers on the north wall. 

Last brick on the wall
(Photo: Alastair) 

Roger filling the gap between the old and the new on the down side
(Photo: Alastair) 

Late morning saw the arrival of the farmer with his grain trailer, did it fit through the bridge? only just. There was about 50 mm between the top of the exhaust and the bridge deck. 

A bit of a squeeze 

Transferring grain from the combine to the trailer 

After doing the first row of blocks, Roger went over to the up side to finish off fitting the taper bricks in the arch. 

Former pulled forward for the last time 

After laying the tapers dry to test the fit, the mortar goes in
(Photo: Alastair) 

Inner ring completed 

Outer ring going in 

On the down side the excavation and shuttering had been completed for concreting the footing for the north wall extension. 

First row of bricks on the south wall and shuttering in for the north wall 

Michael doing gymnastics over the pipe while
Stuart compacts clay into the hole from where the sleeper was removed
(Photo: Alastair) 

After lunch the concreting started in earnest. 

Michael filling the top corner 

Alastair on the mixer 

Roger ferrying the ballast 

The afternoon grain haulage was with a slightly smaller tractor and trailer, unusually for harvest, the farmer was driving the combine and then taking the grain away himself. 

A bit better fit under the bridge 

Michael levels the concrete 

Progress on the down side today 

Sometimes we have to stop and think... 

Design conference for the next stage
(Photo: Alastair) 

End of the day... 

Up side channel brickwork finished 

Up side brick arch, brickwork finished 

Down side taking shape 

Weather today was warm and overcast, we missed the showers.