£1.2 million project to replace KWVR bridge span

On September 7, no passenger trains run south of Haworth on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, as volunteers and contractors continue work to replace the main line span of Bridge 27 which carries the preserved line over Bridghouse Beck in Haworth.

Taking place over a September 1-20 closure, work has involved lifting out the old span, which dated from the 1880s, before rebuilding the abutments (as seen here) and lifting a new span into place. This was planned for September 14, after this issue of RAIL went to press.

The KWVR says that this £1.2 million project is the biggest piece of civil engineering it has undertaken. It comes with a £1m grant from the government’s community ownership fund.

Contractors have included bridge designer Cass Hayward, Keller (which has installed 12 15-metre-deep concrete piles to support the bridge), and Beaver Bridges (which has built the new 50-tonne steel deck.

Ainscough is supplying a 450-ton crane to lift the new deck, and this supplements a 50-tonne steam crane from the Bahamas Locomotive Society.