Bridge SAC7 Revealed

Among the many problems of maintaining a railway line is keeping nature in check.   This was the north east wing wall of railway bridge SAC7 over Station Road - about 100 yards from the tower:

click to enlarge

Unsightly and almost obscured by trees and ivy.   Today, a blisteringly hot (13 degrees) and dry January day fellow volunteer Dave Freer and I decided to act.   Just two hours later voila :

Still tidying up and finishing jobs to do but already some magnificent Victorian masonry revealed.

More importantly we found worrying damage from tree roots, which will be reported to Network Rail for urgent attention.   A wing wall about 60 miles further north collapsed recently, closing the up line when the embankment gave way.

Tedious maintenance work like this is low on NR's priorities and is an area where our volunteers can help.   But - there are well over 1,000 wing walls between Settle and Carlisle!