Repairing the Landport Viaduct with Network Rail

Down at Portsmouth & Southsea station there is the Landport Viaduct - the structure that platform 1 & 2 are built upon. Network Rail recently had a blockade on the section down to Portsmouth Harbour so that they could replace the wheel timbers, but ... what are wheel timbers?
Also, "1435mm" is indeed frequently used by engineers, it's more of the enusiasts who still use the imperial measurement terms. I'm definetely going to start using '1434' more when referring to track width!
The Guildford - Petersfield blockade is also happening this week, and there are no services on that part of the Portsmouth line : www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...

[@Ensign_Redshirt]

My dad was a bridge surveyor for railways in the late 60's and through the 70's. He would have been part of the planning for this kind of work. His measurements either came in miles, chains and links or millimeters. But the margains of error and rail expansion gapd were always a fraction of an inch. I was born after he changed career I love videos like this as it gives me more insight in to his past

[@rogink]

I can't believe any of us locals knew that this is called the Landport Viaduct! I go past 2-3 times a week, but when I saw this video pop up I assumed it was somewhere in London. Thinking about it, of course it makes sense, as Landport is the original name for the city centre. I've seen there has been some work going on for months, but never thought any more about it. From the ground level nothing has changed. Back in 2000 there were plans to build a tramway from Fareham to Gosport, then under the harbour to Portsmouth. This would have continued on to P+S station at street level, meaning the elevated route to the harbour was redundant. This got kiboshed because the navy needed to dredge the harbour deeper, so the tram wasn't viable. C'est la vie!

[@kumatoni5245]

Usd to live in Pompey a while back, and used to pass under that viaduct all the time. Never knew I needed it back in my life until now! Takes me back... :)

[@chrisjones5411]

Same here. Went to Portsmouth Uni and went from P&Ss almost every week.

[@kenbakie4590]

Excellent video Geoff. It was interesting to see that each wheel timber is engineered and cut for a specific piece of track then labelled to ensure it is fitted in exactly the correct place.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

assume that has to do with the curvature of the viaduct and the track itself so they don't have to do any fitting on-site, but can just drop the timber in - if it was just a dead straight line it wouldn't matter which piece of timber they use where

[@forthbrdge6162]

Have to add a double “like” for a video about rail bridge maintenance, a profession that has fed the family and put a roof over our heads for decades now. Lots of good tidbits, and as always it is interesting to see both the similarities and the differences between UK and US practice. I especially enjoyed the comment on platform salt corroding the steel structure. Rail bridges certainly can corrode, but in most cases we don’t have to pour salt all over them like a highway bridge, so many steel railroad bridges have remarkably less corrosion compared to a highway bridge of the same. So as a bridge engineer, we can often see where salt, or other corrosive element, was applied over the years on a bridge. I am overseeing repairs right now on a rail bridge that was adjacent to a passenger station. Even though the station has not been used for years, there is very severe, very localized corrosion where the platform abutted the steel span. Testimony to decades of a dutiful station agent salting the platform for passenger safety. It isn’t always a dutiful agent whose repeated effort results in increased corrosion. On moveable bridges, we often find a localized area of severely corroded steel a few steps from the bridge operator’s shanty. In this case the source of the “other corrosive material” came from decades of bridge operators answering the call of nature and saving themselves the walk back to shore.

[@Mirily]

Omg you just gave me a flashback's to the most hungover I've been in my life! Did a year of uni in Pompey as that's where my family are from and it feels like home from home. Went out for my 20th birthday (this was back in 2003!! 😳) then had to get the train back to Swindon the next morning. We were stuck on platform 4 at P&S for what felt like an eternity and I ended up drinking all my water before we left. That was longest Pompey to Swindon I've ever done, legit thought I'd still be there now!!! 🤣🤣 Also there used to be a takeaway under the railway bridge there that did the BEST mushrooms and cheese on chips!! Good times! 😂😁

[@citled]

Track gauge in metric (imperial). Used to be1435mm ( 4' 8 1/2") through jointed track but 1432mm (4' 8 3/8") through continously welded rail(CWR). I remember that from my PWay days as a PWay Patrolman. To do with wheel dynamics on freight trains when travelling at speed. However after several derailments of wagons on CWR, they reverted to 1435 and instead redesigned wagon wheels to suit 1435 at speed.

[@K-o-R]

Amazing that 3mm (0.2%) can make such a difference.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@K-o-R the ballast trackbed provides the majority of the suspension on the railways due to steam locomotives not having much play on their axles. With the diesels and electrics the trackbed were made more rigid than in steam days to allow higher speeds. This had unintended result that short wheelbase wagons, like the 16Ton mineral wagons, could when emptg and running at speed bounce themselves off the rails. I wasn't aware of the reduction in track gauge causing this issue as well.

[@citled]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 The idea was by the reduction of 3mm in gauge and line speed for short wheel based wagons to 45 mph they thought it would reduce the hunting/swaying effect. However, since the flange of wheel rarely makes contact with the rail edge, except in sharp curves, the hunting/swaying remained and in fact increased. There were several noted derailments of wagons on CWR because of this. There still remains some old installed CWR with the 1432 mm gauge, but as it is being renewed, the 1435mm gauge is standard measurement now.

[@biscuitty]

It's Geoff Marshall right here in Portsmouth! It's only a few days since I grumbled in the comments on another video how nobody ever seems to do videos in Portsmouth, yet here we are! The original station building is quite nice, one of the more attractive buildings in the city centre. It is fairly surprising it's still there, as very little of it is really used these days - it's just a big open concourse with not much going on. Its main job these days seems to be to make it take slightly longer to get from pavement to platform.

[@andycole366]

Happy to see Geoff in my home city! Great video.👍

[@redsaxmax]

I don't think Network Rail need to make their own videos - you seem to be doing it for them!

[@bullettube9863]

The fact that they allowed Geoff access to their construction site is a testimony to the quality of his videos and the 260k subscribers that will see this video. It's a win-win for the Rail Company with publicity you can't buy anywhere! Keep up the good work Geoff!

[@wildefyri]

The station I get off at for work at 6 every morning finally got featured !! Nice to see a look at the work that was taking place actually being carried out. I must admit I've never had to venture all the way down to the end of platform 1&2 before !!

[@davidgibson1978]

Thanks Geoff, great to see the work that goes on to keep the railways running and what it takes for our trains to run on time.

[@tededmunds8476]

Delighted to see Geoff in my hometown. My family and I have always called this station ‘the town station’ as opposed to our local, the Harbour station. Portsmouth Central would be a better name IMO because it’s not exactly in Southsea. Great behind-the-scenes content as always Geoff, and credit to the hard-working Network Rail teams across the country who keep us safe and get us to work on time.

[@aimdrummer]

That's made me feel old! I was there when we put some of those timbers in!

[@_axelaf]

Loved seeing Geoff outside P&S station on this day! Total celebrity moment!

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Geoff. Really enjoyed this video. What I would dearly love to see at some point in the future is how Network Rail installs superelevation to enable high-speed trains to contend with curves in the track.

[@connorgeorge6294]

Being Pompey born and bred it’s always good to see it in videos. Thank you very much!

[@GMDpowerman11]

Always good to watch a geoff video 👍

[@johnarthur4555]

I'm not sure why it is so surprising that engineering measurements in 2022 is in millimetres, we haven't used imperial measurements for at least 40 years.

[@retro_wizard]

It’s…. Metric….

[@strut06]

I use metric for everything except for bridge heights ask me the height of the truck and trailer I use at work in metric and I'd have to work it out I do know they're 13ft 9 inches though

[@underworldjam]

Boo

[@francesconicoletti2547]

I’m pretty sure the railways in Britain are still measured in chains. From the program I was watching, I infer it is because the there is are marker a chain apart on every track on every railway in Britain. For a system that cannot switch to a common signalling system, remarking the entire network is going to be impossible.

[@petermichaelgreen]

​@@francesconicoletti2547 I understand the eventual plan is to move to ETCS (which is metric by design) but it's difficult to justify said expenditure unless the work delivers needed upgrades to speed or capacity,

[@_its_finn]

Thanks for the amazing video Geoff, I have been a fan for a long time and can’t wait for the next video!

[@DesiroDriver]

They are spending a pretty packet on that line, what with the signal and level crossing upgrades too. As a driver who signs this route, I’m looking forward to the benefits along with the passengers!

[@rosskiddle9113]

They keep spending money (and ruining my weekend travel plans), but the line never gets better - only slower and slower

[@livlower276]

I watched the whole thing last year from my room in Old Bedhampton the whole tracks were packed with maintenance it was Awsome!!! 👻👻👻

[@Toxicpen456]

You should of came to my house Geoff!! I don’t bite you know! It would of been an honour seeing you at my home city!!!

[@morebasheder]

Getting off at Fratton, a most amusing naval euphemism 😂👍🏽

[@dda40x]

Fun fact: A number of railroads are currently going a tiny bit wider, with 1437 mm for ÖBB (Austria), SBB and SOB (both Switzerland), while Germany is experimenting with 1436. Apparently it leads to smoother rides and less wear and tear; it’s still well within the allowed tolerances of normal gauge, of course, so trains don’t need to be redesigned for that.

[@tyteen4a03]

Other fun fact: Hong Kong's MTR system uses 1432mm, also for the exact reason for lessening wear and tear and providing a smoother ride.

[@Rocksock531]

@@tyteen4a03 so what's wrong with 1435 lol

[@arthurgordon6072]

I love hard work. I could sit and watch it all day!

[@tonycook603]

I was only on that line on Saturday from Fratton to Portsmouth Harbour and never realised there were works about to happen. Great video as always.

[@jonnyhuk2]

This would have been filmed mid January

[@ChrisCoombes]

Videos like this are great for getting people interested in engineering in all its forms.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Great work Geoff! Love these engineering behind the scenes videos.

[@ian.blackwoodgwent.walesgb5668]

Know those platforms well, regularly travelling to and from Newport/ Gwent to Portsmouth and Southsea as a student at Portsmouth University.. Good memories... interesting video, thanks.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Way ahead of you Geoff, I've always called standard gauge 1435mm. Never knew what it was in feet/inches. I bet this is true for nearly everyone outside of the US and UK.

[@davidaarthur]

Yes, I've always found the metric gauges drastically more memorable. Plus, it's much easier to compare them to metre gauge, 1600, 1067, 891, etc.

[@tonys1636]

Those of us of a certain age struggle still with metric as taught Imperial at school in the '50's and early '60's. My Doctor gives me that look of exasperation when she asks my weight and height. Glad the UK still has miles, pints and the butcher will still sell one a pound of sausages.

[@impy1980]

I do enjoy these Network Rail (come along) videos, always good to see Chris, such a good sport and very accommodating.

[@roboftherock]

I do wonder if this is the kind of work he envisaged doing when joining Network Rail. He seems to enjoy it, but keeping KZbin videographers out of trouble on work sites?

[@CT_97]

Class vid Geoff, crazy seeing how that weather / grit erodes the steel like that!

[@MrGreatplum]

Really enjoy these engineering videos, seeing what goes on with the hi-vis gang!

[@PeterVC]

1435mm is what we call standard gauge on the continent ;)

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

It just wouldn't be one of Geoff's Network Rail videos without a cameo from Chris.

[@cjayos7654]

Mark really knows his stuff! Great vid as always!

[@martinbeaumont1135]

It's that Chris fella again! A mind of information, looking forwards to seeing his channel.

[@lorenzo_contini_7]

These videos are always nice. great to get the insight of the job :D Thanks to you and Network Rail ;)

[@brettpalfrey4665]

Great video, Geoff! makes me realise that railways ARE the future!

[@Drallasta]

Delayed an hour and had to get a bus... but got a Goeff video out of it soooooo worth

[@andrewholloway231]

Hi Geoff, great video. Really enjoyed it.

[@Fs3i]

I would've loved to see all the steps done from beginning to end for one thing, but I know that filming is logistically hard.

[@paulknight5018]

Lots of memories from that station been to all the platforms on and off, Uni in Pompey, used to go home every month or so by train. Fratton, Portsmouth Harbour, long time ago now...

[@K-o-R]

The high level platforms _used_ to have a similar roof to the rest of the station, but they got replaced with something "modern" at some point.

[@biscuitty]

And they used to extend right across the viaduct.

[@pokefan-ix7sh]

The Landore viaduct is a railway viaduct over the Swansea valley and the River Tawe at Landore in south Wales. It provides a link between Swansea city center and the West Wales Line to the South Wales Main Line. The valley crossing provides a panoramic view of Landore, Kilvey Hill, the Liberty Stadium and the Swansea Enterprise Park. The Landore viaduct was constructed as a key element of the West Wales Line during the late 1840s. The structure, which has a length of 536-metre (1,759 ft), was originally designed by the famed engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and incorporated a diverse range of structural design elements and was primarily constructed out of timber. It was officially opened to traffic in 1850. The structure was first updated in 1889, using wrought-iron for the central span. Between 1978 and 1979, the majority of the viaduct was re-decked using steel beams. The structure remains in use to the current day.

[@davefrench3608]

Pompey lad here. Good to see works going on at the town station. Always used Fratton though cos it was nearer, except for a wemberly trip when used the harbour. PuP

[@roboftherock]

I guess that was to make sure you got a seat on the train!

[@HuggyBob62]

I don't remember Geoff doing any videos on engineering work before. Interesting topic - I once visited the Paddock Wood Training Centre on an open day. There must be other types of engineering work going on; there's hardly a weekend when there's no disruption to services somewhere in the country!

[@radagastwiz]

He's done several, and just put them all in a playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLt4q5oaptyI8b3h-kGPky5YnVKN2TFi9z

[@scuzzy983]

Hi, if you search on KZbin “Geoff Marshall maintenance” it brings up a few videos that he’s done that are similar to this one (replacing track, repairing damage, that kind of thing). They’re very good 👍

[@engineeringvision9507]

And Chris from Network Rail is in all of them!

[@JK-db2wj]

There used to be 2 more platforms at Portsmouth and southsea too. Where the car park is downstairs next to 3 and 4

[@DT-hg7te]

I used to commute into this station from Portchester, just off the Island. I really, REALLY want to see the roof structure cleaned in my lifetime...

[@garethhiley6388]

1 min in - am I the only one who was convinced that train was coming in too fast to stop in time?! 😂

[@gh1851]

This Chris fella seems to be in most of Geoff's engineering videos these days. 😔

[@CharlieCooper3101]

Always love it when you goto portsmouth, I'm not sure if it's correct but they maybe doing some works at the harbour station, might be worth taking a look geoff.

[@a_eastcoast.pacer1]

My great grandad was a bridge builder, he helped build 'The Cage' at Deansgate, and many other bridges in the north west! 😁

[@HarryElliott_2007]

Wow Geoff went to portsmouth and southsea thats great 👍

[@slingerduk]

In metric countries track gauge is indeed 1435 mm! Greetings from Norway

[@rosskiddle9113]

When the old high level canopy was replaced in the 80s the plan was to build a more impressive single arched roof. But local conservationists insisted on the smaller structure which we are now stuck with indefinitely. It looks more like a bus stop than a train station

[@michellelincoln3933]

This is my home station that I use regularly so annoyed I missed u Geoff - do come back and look at the Portsmouth Harbour which is partly in the sea

[@zoefroon4269]

Thanks for sharing

[@DrRusty5]

I used that line for many years

[@garygriffiths2911]

Having had the (dubious) pleasure of traveling through it my on my way to Portsmouth Harbour on many occasions I can confirm that the 1980's elements of Portsmouth and Southsea Station are without doubt a strong candidate for the Worst Station Architecture on Railtrack Award'.

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

Let's be fair, the architect did a great job of blending it into its surroundings. I used to be a local too. Never used the station as I was mid way between Fratton and P&S.

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

1435 is now what I will call Britain's track gauge from now on. I was going to be clever and post something exciting from AD 1435, but it turns out that year was as exciting as loco spotting at West Croydon in the 80's.

[@paulmartin6397]

The Portsmouth Harbour extension opened in 1876 so any original ironwork dates back to then with the original low level station dating from 1847. Fun fact: It was called Portsmouth Town station until 1910 (I think) after which it became Portsmouth and Southsea. Us older enthusiasts still refer to the two stations as 'Town' and 'Harbour' 😉

[@tonycook603]

My mum and dad used to still refer to it as Town station in the 70's.

[@jimbo7223]

When you said hey Siri it set off my devices, thank you Geoff!

[@yeah356f1]

Finally somewhere that I have been to

[@robinfryer479]

ISTR Platforms 1&2 were called platforms 6&7. There were more platforms on the lower level and an extra siding. And a turntable towards Fratton. And the trackbed itself runs in what was originally Portsmouth Canal, which emerged in Locksway road, and, via Chichester, joined the Arun, I think…

[@jonnyhuk2]

Yes, there were more platforms which are now part of Matalan's car park!

[@sunjamm222]

With rail gauge in the UK. You find on Bullhead and wooden sleepers with old flatbottom its is 1435mm. On concrete and Flatbottom and most renewed areas 1432mm. The flatbottom gauge is depended on the age and poundage of the steel used.

[@dianapatterson1559]

I look forward to Chris's channel!

[@davidpoulton2860]

Geoff years ago the station had 6 platforms, Mataland now sits where the platforms were. I live in Pompey, was born here . Station opened 1848 and Harbour 1876.

[@davidrobot7818]

Thanks go too the railway engineers. Keep going Geoff...

[@jtb52]

Looks like some good firewood to offset price increases!

[@ChappersTravels]

Excellent Video! I love working on stuff like this Albiet on a Heritage Railway 🤣

[@jonnyhuk2]

Ooh you can see my office! The noise all day long from all the sand blasting (I assume it was) last year when they were working nearer the road bridge section started to get quite annoying! Oh, and they have some power unit in the station's car park, I've always wondered why the solar panels on it are on the north side :-)

[@Thats_Mr_Random_Person_to_you]

I wonder when the harbour station will need work as at least 1/3rd of it is on stilts into the harbour water... cant remember any major works on the station structure itself occuring in the last 15 - 20yrs... they must monitor it regularly though... Great video Geoff! As you point out the 80s Extension is...... well... brutal. I'm also really supprised that its taken as long as it has to consider alternative sleeper material for this type of situation... would of thought they'd have moved to a composite (like the reinforced fibre glass product mentioned) a Looooooooooooooooong time ago.

[@davefrench3608]

Also Geoff, on the diagram showing the 3 south Portsmouth stations i noticed you included the spur of the old East Southsea Line, nice touch.

[@aw34565]

I noticed that. Geoff's map did not have the route of the loop for the Royal Navy dockyard though.

[@geofftech2]

ha, thanks Dave! that short section now it still is use as sidings, isn't it? which is why i included it!!

[@davefrench3608]

@@geofftech2 sort of. It still peels off from the bay platform. The sidings are a little further down.

[@lostcarpark]

In Ireland we use a gauge of 5'3", which works out a nice round 1600mm in metric. I do find 1435 less of a mouthful than 4'8½".

[@hi-tech55]

Great video. The hardwood looked like Iroko. I wonder if it was.

[@PantsManUK]

P&S has a special place in my heart: travelled to and from there many times. Last time (couple years ago now; thanks COVID), a lovely steam train came through, went down to PH, then came back up through P&S (not that it had much choice, only one line out of PH 😄).

[@thenarstar]

The railway once continued past P&S to the north of the station and followed Stanhope Road as it bends right by 90 degrees where Catherine House (Student flats) and Travelodge are. Then continues north and enters the naval dock through Unicorn gate and continued on a network through the docks. All that remains is a single railway barrier (hand opperated one) as it crosses Bishop Crispian Way

[@WaylandJoe]

We always referred it as the 4 foot with the track terminology

[@EnchantFortnite]

Lets Goo, A new video!!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Your not far from that island that don't exist, nice interesting video

[@bugattiiscoollans15]

Very cool geoff

[@andrewsmith2399]

Good video 👌

[@danwiddon3854]

The petrol-powered spanner at the end 🤣

[@markwalls9656]

1435mm for inclined track. 1432mm for vertical track.

[@joermnyc]

In the NYC subway this isn’t wood, it’s reinforced concrete… which makes replacement work much more lengthy (they have a robot that breaks up the concrete, much more powerful than a human holding a jackhammer). But they do use Timbers as a temporary measure so services can run during peak travel, but at slower speeds.(They’ll come back the next Friday after 11pm, remove the temporary work, pour the concrete and rebuild the rails section by section, so that trains can run again by Monday morning. This usually take a number of weeks and they will work on sections with points at both ends, so trains can run on adjacent tracks (local or express.))

[@ilovetrains720]

Please do least used station in South Yorkshire 😊😀

[@garrysmith3885]

Hey Geoff, when you said "Hey Siri" on the video, my phone, which was sat next to my computer, asked me what I wanted to convert into millimetres! 😂

[@RAMBLINGSMANJMB]

As a track surveyor and site engineer.. always work to 1435!!

[@danielgoosen591]

Hi Geoff, I just want to ask you what editing software you use, because I want to edit my own videos and I’m not sure which editing software to use. And also, keep up the good work mate, your video last week and this week were amazing

[@geofftech2]

adobe premiere. pretty standard! even Mac users i know use it now. Thanks for the kind comment!

[@impy1980]

As a video editor myself, it really doesn't matter what software you use, especially in the beginning, it's more about learning the techniques, techniques transfer across all editing software. Like Geoff I use Premiere Pro primarily. I Started with Adobe Elements or Premiere Elements (I'm sure they changed the naming slightly within the last 10 years), then I used Final Cut Pro (Apple only), DaVinchi Resolve, and Premiere Pro. Adobe charges a monthly fee, and I'm not sure you can "subscribe" to just Premiere, as I use several Adobe programs. My advice would be to start with a free piece of software and get a feel for editing. DaVinci Resolve has a Lite version which is free, but may be a little overwhelming to begin with, or search for some free video editing software such as like Lightworks, Shotcut or VSDC Video Editor, free software may have limitations such as file types, export formats or video resolution support, but will be a great way to learn video editing without the expense. Just avoid Sony Vegas as it's janky and full of bugs apparently. Also cross reference KZbin for "tutorials" with the software you think you'll pick to see how much content there may be to guide you, but as I said once you learn the basics of cutting, moving, audio adjusting, adding text, and you figure out the aesthetics techniques, what you've learned will transfer to any paid software without too much issue, worst is the menus or shortcuts are a bit different.

[@danielgoosen591]

Mark Morris, thanks for the feedback, I won’t start editing until the end of the year, because I don’t keep my laptop throughout the summer (in Australia), so once I fully buy it out, I’ll be able to use any editing software I like really, but I’ll see what some of my other mates like to use too.

[@ajs41]

Does anyone have any news on when CrossRail might open? I'd like to be there, on the first train.

[@officialmcdeath]

Distinctly recall an article (may have been in Rail Enthusiast) in the early 80s that described a change of the nominal gauge between 1432 and 1435 (can't remember which way round) that was applied first to a stretch of the Selby Bypass near Temple Hirst, with a view to smoother running with newer wheel profiles \m/

[@BlairdBlaird]

Maybe a changeover from one of the almost standard gauges e.g. 4ft8 (1422) or 4ft9 (1448). An other possibility is that it was a heritage line switching the nominal from the 4ft8 1/2 "actual" (which is 1435.1, and remains the actual standard in the US) to the standard gauge proper of 1435. It seems unlikely that a railway would switch *away* from standard gauge in the 80s, at least to something so similar (there are lots of trams with wider gauges).

[@officialmcdeath]

@@BlairdBlaird no it was distinctly a main line, the article described the journey on a Modernisation Plan-era DMU, specifically the resulting change of ride quality when the train moved from the old gauge to the new - it was clearly worse for the legacy unit, the new gauge having been created for the benefit of the then new Mk3 carriage - IIRC the exact journey was York-Selby via the Bypass \m/

[@CloudmasterGaming]

Geoff, you should go to Cornwall and do "Lelant" request stop. Its on the St erth to St Ives line

[@abderrhmancherit5674]

Great

[@adeeyp]

Thank you for setting off my Siri!

[@davegreenlaw5654]

LOL! Towards the end there I was ready to shout at my monitor, "NO! It's fourteen-thirty-five!".

[@ortun5789]

Hey Geoff have you heard of the new London buses on route 63

[@zakirhussain2266]

Hi Geoff can you do a tour of the new 63 London bus where is has sunroof new design bigger space etc..