10th Oct 2009

Looking eastwards from the Red Bridge at Cloakham during the afternoon, the bed of the new second line is clear to see, with the first layer of ballast down. This is being tamped down by huge whacker plate machines remotely controlled. In the distance is 66189 and a ballast train from Eastleigh (6N96). Beyond can be glimpsed 66079 and its train of concrete sleepers (6N79 from Eastleigh Yard).

Note the large concrete blocks either side of the line in the foreground. These were placed here during the second world war as part of the "Stop Line" defence system, designed to block Hitler's tanks from using the railways to travel around. Rails would been placed in the grooves cast in the blocks. Of course, they were never needed but they remain there still today, Network Rail deciding that the effort needed to remove them not being worth it.