The HRE Group
@theHREgroup
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An alliance of walking, cycling and heritage campaigners, engineers and greenway developers who see the Historical Railways Estate as an asset for future good.
Joined December 2020
We're toying with producing a podcast, reflecting on the past three years' campaigning and where we are now. If you have any questions about the infilling/demolition of legacy railway structures, please post them in the comments or email us at campaign@thehregroup.org
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@theHREgroup @NationalHways Root & branch reform of @NationalHways is required, it’s a failing organisation, led by highly paid managers who over estimate their own worth. The Transport Secretary @Heidi_Labour needs to get a grip and break up this appalling organisation. @transportgovuk
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The shenanigans and incompetence around the proposed abandonment of Queensbury Tunnel stands as an appalling indictment of @NationalHways inability to manage these assets appropriately. They are not fit to be custodians of a paper bag, let alone our valuable railway heritage.
We published our podcast, #TheQueensburyConundrum. In this episode, we answer your questions on Queensbury Tunnel's abandonment and hear about progress to link the two existing sections of the #GreatNorthernRailwayTrail. Let us know what you think. https://t.co/TkraM0xrfb
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Podcast questions requested by the Queensbury Tunnel team, if you have any.
We're looking to produce a Q&A podcast about QT and associated issues. If you want to know anything about the structure's history, condition, repurposing, abandonment or political shenanigans, please post a question in the comments or email us at u2us@queensburytunnel.org.uk
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We’re pleased to report that ANB/4 - a masonry arch bridge known as Tilekiln, located near Kirtlebridge - has been subject to a modest programme of minor repairs, five years after @NationalHways slated it for infilling to "remove the associated risk of structural collapse".
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We’re pleased to report that ANB/4 - a masonry arch bridge known as Tilekiln, located near Kirtlebridge - has been subject to a modest programme of minor repairs, five years after @NationalHways slated it for infilling to "remove the associated risk of structural collapse".
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Campaigner @GraemBickerdike has been interviewed by @christianwolmar for the latest edition of the @AllStationsPod. They discuss the ongoing battle for @QburyTunnel and reflect on @NationalHways' vandalism of legacy railway bridges. Worth a listen! https://t.co/OQRhhb3CLs
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Does heritage matter? In the context of @QburyTunnel, @transportgovuk and @NationalHways clearly don't think so. They've misrepresented the associated risks to justify a £7.5M abandonment scheme. This is why these valuable assets should be transferred to a sympathetic custodian.
With AI's help, we've pieced together landmarks from Queensbury Tunnel's 151-year history. What value should we place on the exploits of the ambitious Victorians? Is its rich heritage a reason to secure the tunnel's future? @simonlightwood @JudithCummins @NazShahBfd @SAVEtoReuse
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Such an attractive structure, repurposed for public benefit.
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As masonry arches go...wow!
There can be few more spectacular masonry arches than the central span of Victoria Viaduct which extends for 160 feet, with a rise of 72 feet. Designed by James Walker, the 270-yard long viaduct was built by John Gibb & Son in 27 months, at a cost of £40,338.
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"We plant a lot of trees," Nick Harris, National Highways. The A14 trees: three-quarters of the 850,000 saplings planted to replace veteran trees felled for the project died https://t.co/TKkip6gZtk
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Take Action today to save Queensbury Tunnel
We forget that every one of our legacy railway structures has a story to tell. Queensbury Tunnel's is compelling: a breathtaking feat that served local industries and communities for almost 70 years, but constructed at an appalling human cost.
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@theHREgroup @NationalHways @LilianGreenwood There's a good case for retaining @QburyTunnel for future generations to use & enjoy. *They* may be more appreciative of the vision, investment & efforts of our Victorian forebears than current officials who seem to know the costs but cannot recognise the value of what we have.
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As more evidence emerges, @NationalHways has clearly exaggerated risk and misrepresented evidence to convince @LilianGreenwood to commit £7.5M to abandoning @QburyTunnel, four years after £7.3M was spent on strengthening/stabilisation works that made it safe for future reuse.
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We forget that every one of our legacy railway structures has a story to tell. Queensbury Tunnel's is compelling: a breathtaking feat that served local industries and communities for almost 70 years, but constructed at an appalling human cost.
Is this what Sutcliffe Hodgson might have looked like? 150 years ago today, the 29-year-old plunged 100ft to his death down No.1 Shaft at Queensbury Tunnel. He was one of 10 men who succumbed during construction. The Victorians' ambition sometimes came at very high personal cost.
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We forget that every one of our legacy railway structures has a story to tell. Queensbury Tunnel's is compelling: a breathtaking feat that served local industries and communities for almost 70 years, but constructed at an appalling human cost.
Is this what Sutcliffe Hodgson might have looked like? 150 years ago today, the 29-year-old plunged 100ft to his death down No.1 Shaft at Queensbury Tunnel. He was one of 10 men who succumbed during construction. The Victorians' ambition sometimes came at very high personal cost.
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As more evidence emerges, @NationalHways has clearly exaggerated risk and misrepresented evidence to convince @LilianGreenwood to commit £7.5M to abandoning @QburyTunnel, four years after £7.3M was spent on strengthening/stabilisation works that made it safe for future reuse.
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Bedcow Bridge was earmarked for infilling by @NationalHways. But work is instead starting on a scheme to replace its corroded deck with concrete beams, costed at £126K and expected to run into spring 2026. Not the perfect outcome, but better than the alternative.
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Bedcow Bridge was earmarked for infilling by @NationalHways. But work is instead starting on a scheme to replace its corroded deck with concrete beams, costed at £126K and expected to run into spring 2026. Not the perfect outcome, but better than the alternative.
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Two contrasting documents. The first shows the estimate for constructing QT in Dec 1872. £179,585 equates to £17M today. The second shows @NationalHways £7.5M cost for infilling 7% of QT and 5 shafts. When it comes to value for money, those two figures could not be further apart.
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Taxpayers’ funds are being used by National Highways to attempt to buy support for the controversial Lower Thames Crossing project. The projects funded with LTC Designated Funds are often completely unrelated to the LTC or mitigating the harms from the existing roads network.
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