On Tuesday 28 February 2017, there was, without warning, a catastrophic collapse of a section of the original sandstone wall that ran along the top edge of the Lime Street to Edge Hill Cutting. The old Sandstone wall, was over 20 metres above track level and close to the Williamson’s Tunnels between Mason Street and Smithdown Lane. The collapse caused around 170+ tonnes of masonry and other debris to fall into the cutting below, blocking all four running lines and causing a great deal of damage to the Railway infrastructure within the cutting.
At the top of the sandstone cutting wall, the area of the collapse can be clearly seen. The old wall now completely removed and waiting to be replaced.
Thankfully, no trains were struck by the falling debris, so it was a huge relief that nobody was hurt. Liverpool Lime Street Station and the cutting, remained closed for 8 days, whilst the area around the collapse was made safe. Lime Street Station finally reopened on the 8th March 2017.
The repair and reinstatement of the wall was undertaken by ‘Stone Central‘, Stonemasonry and building restoration specialists, who were to rebuild the wall to as near original as possible. This would have been an extremely complex repair given the location and height of the wall, above a live railway.
Before work to rebuild the wall could begin, a complex frame and platform system had to be built at the top of the cutting. This would enable the stone masons to be able to work at height safely, whilst also allowing access to the inside of the cutting face in order to rebuild the new wall. Amazingly, all this work took place whilst trains continued to run in the cutting below. The new section of finished wall is simply stunning and once weathered with time, will blend in with the old wall beautifully.
The beautifully built section of replacement wall, complete with it’s ‘2019’ date stones.
Wall construction underway
The process of repairing the wall is well underway. The overhanging frame and platform seen here, is required so the masons can work safely above the cutting and railway.
The cutting and finished wall
The wall, once all work had been completed. Views taken from inside the Railway Cutting. Look carefully to see the ‘2019′ date stones.
Map showing the location of the Lime Street to Edge Hill Cutting
A ‘Railway Clearing House map’, dated 1909, shows the Old Railways of Liverpool with a closeup of the section detailing the long disused the Lime Street to Edge Hill Cutting.
The second, is a map I purchased for my collection of Historic Liverpool maps. A ‘Kelly’s Directories’, ‘Map of Liverpool, Bootle and Suburbs 1903’, shows the Railways and stations throughout Liverpool at this time.
Click the maps, to view in more detail.
Media Coverage
Stone Central – Lime Street Station Approach Walls, Liverpool
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