really appreciate that but totally understand.maybe another time.im self employed so totally flexible.i will be pottering about on the outside anyway,want to get some film of some history that my grandad built,and more.

Let me ask trow, I want to get all of you in because I go travelling soon and want it all recording while away... I will also ask when the sign gets ripped down... my guess will be next week! Just took some night pics literally 5 mins ago as last chance to get the classic Butterley Hill shot... thats the way i remember driving into ripley at night as a little boy.. 😞

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Iclock,
Thanks for them photo`s,they look a bit similar,but beings thier L shaped Rails,they are a lot older than the Bridge Rails and Partins i mentioned.

The diagram below,is the shape of a Bridge Rail,i could`nt put the top on,so just imagine the top closed off.
Each Rail would have small round holes at each end of the base for cramping to the sleepers,even the Cramps were different to the ones one would use on T-Head rails.

When we re-open the mine,we`ll take a few photo`s of these Cast Bridge Partins for you to see.




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Bridge Rail is very similar to the Broad gauge rail used by Brunel but alot lighter in section!

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Any photo`s or Diagrams of Brunels Broad Gauge Rails,never heard of them before.?

There are two rail patterns particularly associated with GWR broad guage, though neither is unique to broad gauge.

As was observed above, one is a heavier version of familiar lightweight narrow gauge bridge rail so frequently encountered in C19 mines. This was known to mid C19 contemporaries as bridge rail and was fairly widely used on standard gauge railways as well as on broad gauge. Brunel (uniquely?) mounted bridge rails on heavy longitudinal timbers, creating what was termed 'baulk road'. It was expensive and profligate of timber, but certainly contributed to the legendary high standard of ride on GWR broad gauge track.

The other was Barlow patent rail. It has a less 'U' (upsided own) shape and more of a 'V' (also upside down) shape. It was much less widely used - though it was certainly used for the western portions of the South Wales Railway (Brunel was engineer) when money ran out and stringent economy prevailed. It was, by mid C19 standards, a very heavy and problematic section to roll. Its underlying concept was that it's spalyed 'V' (upside down) shape would enable sleepers to be dispensed with, the wide rails sitting directly on the ballast. They were held to gauge by wrought iron rods at intervals. Joins between rails were massively strengthened by the use of 'saddles' that, with a slightly tighter 'V' (also upside down) acted analegeous to a fishplate but underneath the rails. Barlow patent rails were not a success, digging into the ballast and migrating sideways on curves.

Whilst Barlow rails faded from view in the later 1850s, bridge rails continued in production into the 1870s and even 1880s (latterly of steel). Both have described by some authors as 'Brunel'ss broad gauge rails', though neither was unique to the GWR and bridge rails were quite widely in vogue around the 1860s.

Good post that... you won't believe this but there was a siding in Argentina last year still in use using Barlow rail 😮 ... it was tie rodded though to keep the gauge... I was somewhat surprised at the time!!
There is a section of Barlow rail track at Didcot as well as a fantastic broadgauge demo.

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Depressed today.... Butterley now a scene of total destruction, 9 shop gone, 10 shop a third gone, 8 shop a fifth gone and having seen the speed they demolish with the hydraulic cutter arm I dont think the shops will be there by Christmas... 😞
On the upside i got into the old works... definately worth saving 🙂

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is the old works the bit with the tracks and turntable in ? i was on a guided tour of the place years ago , and remember them

did not see turntable... but the spiral staircase was stunning and the cast girders and supports of a very high standard... the original herringbone patterned door half way up the wall was interesting too... pics on tonight.

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i still cant get my head round it.iclok cheers so much for getting me in.had a good potter about,although i didnt find anything as good as you did,i saved some old drawings.got alot of pics and filming.im bit depressed too,it reminded me of the old plant i worked in when i worked for hanson,that was an old place but not as old as butterley,i cant really describe it,its just so sad when you see the things left by men,and where once great things were built are all now gone.i got talking to the older guy when they came up from there break (didnt catch his name) and it was good to know that even though he drives the 'machine of destruction' even he thought it was a great shame.its just asset stripping on a grand scale.sh**.unfortunately i didnt get chance to get in the old bit where you went,i wouldnt mind getting in again to get there,and,also,with the permission of cawarden id love to retrieve some of those riddings double pressed bricks that once housed the generator.im sure i didnt see one broken one,certainly living up to there hard as iron name.also got long dead rels who worked at rids brickworks.

Yes it was thoroughly depressing today... real flook you turning up when you did... but the guys from Cawarden are bloody good... Am back next week so will ask re the bricks and
as you say it is flippin eerie ... drop me a pm with your phone number... had to have GEC plate... I used to work for them...
Old works is tremendous.... pics to follow! :thumbsup:

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Here's said spiral staircase:



It's lovely, I hope they keep it.

that is a true work of art.really hope that doesnt go.

That depends on next weeks adventures in 'save our heritage land'...

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Having looked at the photos of the 'interior' and 'reflections' I never realised it was such a huge concern. I liked the photo of the spiral staircase with the small office at the top.
The compressor is quite fascinating to see. Looks as if it has not been in service for quite a few years before closure.
What happened to the production machinery? Was most of it scrapped or was some of it sold to another engineering company in the UK?
I am sure some generations of many famillies have worked there and will be of course a great loss to the area.
What are they going to build on the site? Hope it will not be flats and houses for drugies and social outcasts from other areas like often happens these days.
Keep up the good work Iclok. :thumbup:

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that is a true work of art.really hope that doesnt go.

There are no better words that could describe that, a treat for the eyes.

If it has to go, I hope it is saved for use elswhere.

I doubt it will go anytime soon, but a new use needs to be found for the building, that stairase was in pristin condition when I went, along with the whole of the old works, but in ICLOK's photos, I see evidence of vandalism, for example, the cable drum was untouched on my visit. It's a horrible shame, the first step ought to be to secure this place, as you've seen in another thread, young hoodlums an easily get in and casue damage.

All useful machinery was sold off by the receivers almost immediatley.... the staircase, the lattice girders and arched beam walkway are a fabulous interior.... the old works has been secured by placing skips against the doors barring access... the chavs smashed the door tops instead and got in.... there is only so much they can do... copper = cash and since the copper went walkies they've left it alone... so should be ok now.... the prob is you cant board it up as they are still using it as an archiving area from time to time it seems.
If I get my way none of it will, go! Powerful letter written to English Heritage and am speaking to them Monday before sending it, we now have another powerful body writing and making a case too (more on that later)... Next stop central TV and radio stations. Feelings starting to run high in Ripley, at last people starting to take notice, they were simply not aware.
The site is allocated to housing... of course... 😞 Therein lies the problem, how do you re-use the buildings? ... given what I've seen in Wales with the blowing engine houses, they would make bl**dy great sports facilities and community buildings as at the end of the day we have a new community of hundreds of houses and more to come. They are well away from any small shop, doctors, anything in fact. Based on my Sth Wales visit we have a lot to learn up here... I am not saying that Cadw is perfect but coupled to well meaning local groups and authorities it wasn't bad.

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At the risk of getting nicked for stupid parking to get these shots :curse: .... What a difference 1 week makes!!!! 😮

🔗Butterley-Ironworks-Smelt-Mill-User-Album-Image-43872[linkphoto]Butterley-Ironworks-Smelt-Mill-User-Album-Image-43872[/linkphoto][/link]

And again a week later- 04/12/09
🔗Butterley-Ironworks-Smelt-Mill-User-Album-Image-44694[linkphoto]Butterley-Ironworks-Smelt-Mill-User-Album-Image-44694[/linkphoto][/link]

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