Steam navvy extending cutting in Buckinghamshire.
This photograph has been damaged by overexposure. However, a number of features can still be made out. In a wide cutting beyond the jib of a working excavator, three temporary tracks have been laid down, the far right hand side one of which supports a contractors locomotive towing a rake of tipping wagons filled with sods of earth. To the left of the cutting a horse tows a wagon behind the steam navvy. The location cannot be definitively identified, but is believed to represent renovation of the joint Great Western & Great Central Joint line in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.
Plate Girder underbridge at Saunderton, Buckinghamshire
This girder underbridge has plate parapets and straight, narrow wing walls. It carries a section of the joint Great Central and Great Western Line in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, over Haw Lane.
Construction of joint line in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.
This photograph was taken looking south from the top of Saunderton Tunnel in Buckinghamshire. A new track is being laid in the deep chalk cutting penetrating the Chilterns. Temporary contractor's lines are already in use, and a number of tipping wagons are positioned along the route. The course of the down line, leading northwards towards the tunnel, can be seen to the right of the photograph.
Girder underbridge crossing lane in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire
This view, looking from the west, shows a plate girder underbridge to the south of Saunderton Station in Buckinghamshire. The structure has plate parapets and narrow wing walls, and carries the joint Great Central and Great Western line across a lane on the outskirts of the town.
Brick arch overbridge across joint Great Western and Great Central line in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.
This brick arch overbridge spans a deep chalk cutting carrying a single track of the Great Western & Great Central Joint line through countryside in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire. It has been identified as the first bridge south of Saunderton Tunnel.
Steam navvy and men excavating cutting in Buckinghamshire
This rare recording of a steam navvy without the ramshackle shelter commonly constructed over its' footplate enables us to appreciate the impressive nature of this formidable and beautifully maintained machine. Although the steam excavator can be regarded as the heavy artillery of railway construction after its introduction in 1880, the men retained their importance in the digging and securing of cuttings, alongside removal of tipping waste. In the far left of the photograph towards the top of the cutting, a navvy rests from his labour, leaning on his shovel to pose for S. W. A. Newton's lens. The majority of the men in the foreground of the image also carry a shovel. Three horses are also included in the frame, one of which is harnessed to a wagon filled with tipping waste, ready for transport along temporary tracks (see right of photograph). The precise location of this image is unknown, although it can be narrowed down to part of the Great Western and Great Central Joint line in Buckinghamshire.
Deep cutting and tunnel in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire
With this image we are able to appreciate the sheer scale achieved by earthworks on the Great Central's lines to London. This particular section of track forms part of the route shared by the Great Western and Great Central Railway Companies, and appears to be complete. A single track packed firmly with ballast runs through a deep chalk cutting in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, before disappearing from view under a brick arch tunnel. A steam excavator stands inactive by the entrance to the tunnel, presumably indicating that completion of the section of track was very recent at the time Newton captured the image.
Steam navvy at work in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire
This photograph provides an excellent overview of the construction of the 'Alternative Route', on a section of track which was to be used jointly by the Great Central and Great Western Railway companies. In the forefront a steam navvy is being used to extend the cutting through the fields of Saunderton in Buckinghamshire. The introduction of the steam excavator by Joseph Ruston in 1880 made a huge difference to the progress of such a large scale enterprise as the London Extension, where huge earthworks required the removal of massive amounts of earth. An additional steam navvy is visible in the distance, widening the cutting to the right of the photograph. A rake of wagons for the transportation of tipping stand stationary on temporary tracks, whilst to their right one stands full of earth ready for removal. A contractor's locomotive on the move can just be made out in the background, partially obscured by steam.
Two arch brick bridge over the River Cherwell, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Here S. W. A. Newton has captured a fine example of the impressive feats of engineering employed so frequently in the construction of the Great Central Railway. In order to maintain high speeds, tracks were laid at an easy gradient and generous curvature, and so heavy earthworks like this two arch brick underbridge carrying the Banbury Branch over River Cherwell were commonplace. Construction of the railway itself was still in progress at the time this photograph was taken. Over the far side of the bridge tracks appear to be in the middle of packing with gravel, known as ballast. A rake of wagons bearing the contractor's name 'T. O. & Son' are partially obscured by the brick parapet.
Bridge alongside the River Cherwell near Banbury.
This brick arch underbridge was built near Huscote Mill in Banbury, alongside the River Cherwell. It is evidently a recent addition to the landscape - rubble created in the formation of the embankment can be seen in the foreground of the photograph, alongside a discarded wheelbarrow. The stage of construction of the track cannot be seen, but as the embankment itself has not been secured, it is unlikely that permanent tracks had yet to be laid.
Interior of the Great Western Railway's station in Banbury.
This photograph shows the interior of Banbury Station. Situated just South of Banbury Junction it essentially belonged to the Great Western Railway, but the Great Central also used it for their services to and from Woodford Halse. The station provided an important link between the two companies, and saw both passenger and freight services. It was typically Great Western in style, with wooden platforms and an overall roof. Rebuilt in the 1950s the station still has platforms at the north end linking the line to Woodford.
Farmers' Occupation bridge in Chacombe, Northamptonshire.
The image shows an accommodation bridge - designed to link lands belonging to a common owner which had become separated as a result of the construction of the railway line. The farmer was able to have continuing access between fields via the gateway through the base of the bridge. In this instance a brick arch bridge with curved wing walls carries tracks belonging to the Banbury branch over farmland in Chacombe, Northamptonshire.
Farmer's Accommodation Bridge in Chacombe, Northamptonshire
The image shows an Accommodation Bridge designed to link lands belonging to a common owner, which had become separated as a result of the construction of the railway line. The farmer was able to have continuing access between fields via the gateway through the base of the bridge. In this instance a brick arch bridge with curved wing walls has been designed to convey tracks belonging to the Banbury branch over land in Chacombe, Northamptonshire. However, the line itself was yet to be completed at the time Newton captured this image on film. Earth on the embankment looks loose and freshly dug, and piles of tipping can be seen at the top left of the photograph.
Plate girder occupation bridge and railway under construction.
This plate girder underbridge carries the Banbury Branch over the River Cherwell, near Huscote Mill. It acts as an occupation bridge, allowing access between fields on either side. Materials which appear to be sleepers are stacked along the side of the embankment, indicating that work (possibly the construction of an additional line) is in progress.
Girder underbridge supporting railway under construction near Chacombe, Northamptonshire.
In this photograph, S. W. A. Newton has captured construction of a section of the Banbury Branch of the Great Central Railway. A completed plate girder underbridge conveys the line over the Chacombe - Wardington Road. Stacks of railway sleepers can be seen on top of the embankment, indicating a permanent way had yet to be laid. Note the signal post to the left of the bridge.
Girder underbridge at Chacombe, Northamptonshire.
A steel girder overbridge carries the Banbury Branch of the Great Central Railway over the Banbury to Daventry and Wardington road. Stacks of railway sleepers can be seen to the right of the photograph, indicating that this section of line in Chacombe was still under construction at the time of Newton's visit.
Occupation underbridge with girder deck and plate parapets in Culworth, Northamptonshire
This form of bridge is designed to allow farmers access between the two fields divided by construction of the railway. In this instance the occupation bridge has a girder deck and plate parapets, whilst the brick built wing walls are gently curved. The embankment conveys tracks forming part of the Banbury branch over land in Culworth, Northamptonshire.
Accommodation Underbridge with girder deck and plate parapets in Culworth, Northamptonshire
Here, S. W. A. Newton has captured an image of contractors' wagons (marked Walter Scott Contractors 101) travelling along an embankment through the countryside of Culworth. The bridge is designed to allow farmers access between the two fields divided by construction of the railway. It has a girder deck and plate parapets, whilst the brick built wing walls are gently curved.
Farmer's Accommodation Bridge in Chacombe, Northamptonshire
The image shows an accommodation bridge, designed to link lands belonging to a common owner, which had become separated as a result of the construction of the railway line. In this instance a brick arch bridge with curved wing walls conveys tracks over land in Chacombe, Northamptonshire. The farmer is able to have continuing access (for his machinery, cattle etc.) between fields via the gateway through the base of the bridge. This section of track formed part of the Banbury Branch, an offshoot of the London Extension which provided a link between rail networks controlled by the Great Central and Great Western Railway Companies.
Farmer's Accommodation bridge at Thorpe Mandeville, Northamptonshire.
This image shows a permanent way set in a deep, wide cutting as it winds through the countryside of Thorpe Mandeville in Northamptonshire. These lines formed part of the Banbury branch, an offshoot of the London Extension which provided a link between the rail networks controlled by the Great Central and Great Western Railway Companies. A brick arch overbridge spans the railway lines, linking previously adjoining farmland. This type of bridge, designed to allow free movement of cattle etc. between two areas of land under common ownership is referred to as an 'accommodation' bridge.