Stream diverted to accommodate new siding at Oxenhope station

29/05/2002

Gabions supplied by Maccaferri Ltd, specialists in retaining structures, erosion protection and slope reinforcement, have been used to divert the course of the Leaming Beck in rural Yorkshire. A short stretch of new river bank has been formed, re-routing the stream to accommodate the construction of an additional siding at Oxenhope station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

The setting for the ever-popular film 'The Railway Children' the railway recalls the romance of the steam era. Now a popular tourist attraction, enthusiasts maintain a regular timetable of steam trains which are enjoyed by both local people and visitors to the region. A generous grant from the Trustees of the Heritage Lottery Fund has allowed the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to undertake a number of major improvements including the construction of covered accommodation and an additional siding at Oxenhope station.

Expansion was constrained by the existence of a small stream, the Leeming Beck, running adjacent to the tracks. It was decided to divert the water course to create additional space for the new track to be laid between the Museum shed and the beck. To ensure the structural stability, consulting engineers, Rawcliffe Associates appointed Maccaferri to design and supply gabion retaining walls to support the riverbank. In addition, otters inhabit this stretch of the stream and were occasionally present during construction, so it was essential to restore the surrounding environment on completion.

P C Construction, a gabion and slope reinforcement specialist sub-contractor, undertook the construction for main contractor Mowlem Civil Engineering. Attention has been paid to aesthetic appeal, the gabion walls have been finished with split face stone to blend in with the existing railway buildings. Planting pipes have been inserted into the top of the wall to speed up the natural 'greening' process.

The walls were completed using conventional 'flat pack' PVC coated hexagonal woven mesh gabions fabricated from a double-twist, hexagonal mesh of PVC and Galfan coated steel wire. Galfan is a 5% aluminium/zinc metal which provides enhanced corrosion protection characteristics when compared to conventional galvanising.

The standard size for each gabion is 2m x 1m x 1m with a fixed diaphragm at 1m, but alternative sizes may be specified to meet precise specifications. Supplied folded flat, units are laced together using continuous 2.2mm diameter lacing wire, or alternatively high tensile steel fixing rings can be attached using a special pneumatic assembly tool. Once assembled, each unit is filled with natural local stone to create a retaining structure which is in sympathy with the surrounding environment.

The UK arm of the Maccaferri Industrial Group, headquartered in Italy, Maccaferri Ltd specialises in the supply of gabions, geotextiles, geogrids and geomats. In addition to a full range of products for retaining structures, slope reinforcement and erosion protection, the company offers an in-house design and advisory service.

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