The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), working with contractors VolkerLaser, have reached the last stages of a £1.26 million project to build and install Bridges 24 and 25 at Goathland.
Two new 40-tonne steel structures, each spanning 50 feet, were delivered by road from VolkerLaser’s appointed painter’s facility in Sheffield and lowered into place. These will carry the railway over Eller Beck, replacing structures that had served the line for 150 years.
VolkerLaser began work at the Goathland site in December, with the team taking apart and removing the old structure and paving the way for 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 is part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s ‘Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey’ project. This is a £10 million project to ensure future generations can enjoy the 180-year-old line – made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the European Union, NYMR’s Local Enterprise Partnership and donations from supporters.
Tim Bruce, director of civil engineering at NYMR, commented: “We’ve enjoyed a really good working relationship with VolkerLaser, who were 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.”
