1. George and Robert Stephenson railway bridges listed
Thirty railway bridges, viaducts and
tunnel portals have been listed to help preserve them ahead of electrification
of the Midland Main Line.
Many of the structures were designed by George Stephenson and his son Robert, both pioneering railway engineers.
The listed status means Network Rail would need to get consent to alter the
structures, which are in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
English Heritage said many were "masterworks of engineering".
Tony Calladine, head of designation at English Heritage, said: "The new
listings are a celebration of the amazing legacy left to us by England's
Victorian engineers.
The Stephensons and the Midland Main Line
- The Midland Main Line is the amalgamation of several earlier lines that were originally built by different railway companies
- The first two lines, the North Midland Railway and the Midland Counties Railway, were built between 1836 and 1840
- The vast majority of the newly listed buildings are on the North Midland Railway and were designed by George Stephenson and his son Robert
- George was responsible for the Rocket steam locomotive, and Robert was responsible for more miles of railway construction than any other engineer of his time: 2,000 miles, compared to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 1,100 miles
"Their railway bridges are such a part of our landscape
that we often don't notice them, but many of these bridges are masterworks of
engineering and design, and pushed the boundaries of technology when they were
first built."
He added that the aesthetic quality of the bridges often "far exceeds the
functional requirements".
English Heritage said it was the "cutting edge of railway engineering and
innovation" when it was built to the designs of the Stephensons in 1836-40.
The other structures have been listed at Grade II.
Network Rail said electrifying the Midland Main Line, which runs from London
to Sheffield via the East Midlands, would allow for more reliable and faster trains.
The structures were listed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
following a joint project between English Heritage and Network Rail.
Derwent Viaduct has been listed
at Grade II*, meaning it is of more than special interest, Beatties Bridge, Amber Valley,
Derbyshire, was built from 1836-40 for the North Midland Railway to the designs
of George and Robert Stephenson with Frederick Swanwick and Alfreton Stream Bridge,
Wessington, Derbyshire, was built 1836-40 for the North Midland Railway to the
designs of George and Robert Stephenson with Frederick Swanwick
Culture minister Ed Vaizey said: "The listing of these
structures highlights the unique heritage of our railways, which when originally
built were world-renowned for their engineering and ingenuity.
"These listings along the Midland Main Line will help ensure they are cared
for in the future."
.JPG)
Sawley Road Bridge in Long
Eaton, Derbyshire, was built in 1837-38 and is one of the few bridges for which
original drawings and other documents survive
2. Disruption to services
A line-side embankment between Chesterfield and Sheffield has been gradually moving towards the railway line since the beginning of January 2014. The situation has been constantly monitored since January and as the hillside continues to move, it is causing damage to the track. This appears to be north of Dronfield Station which is now closed.
As a result of this, emergency engineering works are taking place between Chesterfield and Sheffield to repair the track and stop the embankment from slipping any further. Network Rail have advised that it will take six weeks to complete the repairs. Therefore, until 1 April, Cross Country, East Midlands Trains, Northern Rail and all other services to and from Sheffield will be amended.
Trains operate via the 'Old road' through Barrow Hill, Renishaw and Beighton. Currently a number of services have been cancelled.
