22 March (Part 1) - Railway runs on time. It helps to have no trains
It was good of Nick Wilcox the Crossrail Project Manager at Abbey Wood to let
me know that this was to be a busy weekend on the railway and his timetable for the
bridge removal was spot on. The serious
work began early yesterday afternoon and by 9 a.m.
this morning the debris was being swept into neat piles. Piles however were not
in evidence at the tunnel approach early this morning,
Mr. Wilcox
had said “We’ll also be installing piles for the new Overhead Electrification
structures up near the Plumstead portal – Church Manorway footbridge would be a good vantage point to have a look at that”.
Probably it would be for someone wearing a Crossrail manager’s pass but the company’s fence
building skills are right up there with steering Maria and Sophia under the Thames. Five of
these photographs were taken through filthy Perspex windows and rescued
in Photoshop - as were some of the Abbey Wood bridge demolition photos.
Maybe I wouldn’t recognise an electrification pile if I tripped over one but
none were obvious although the tunnel approach was a hive of industry.
It is disappointing to note how much anti-vandal
protection has been installed on the Church Manorway footbridge but sadly there
are too many mindless morons in and around Abbey Wood.
Meanwhile, back at the station, the bridge is down and tomorrow’s train
timetable looks to be safe. All photos below taken between 06:45 and 07:00.
(First photo a left over from yesterday.)
