L3330 - Steam navvy at work near Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

iBase ID

10017

Title

Description

L3330 - A photograph showing a section of line under construction at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which formed part of the joint route shared by the Great Western and Great Central Railways. This image provides a perfect example of the use of 'steam navvies', which were introduced in 1880 by Joseph Ruston. Deep cuttings were a classic feature of the joint line, and these machines were used to remove large sections of earth, as shown. Two men can be seen securing the sides of the cutting, whilst other construction workers pose for Newton's lens. One of the men stands in a relatively crudely built hut, the like of which commonly formed a part of the steam navvies. The need for shelter from the elements was overlooked in the original design of the machine, and so men often erected their own protection from the elements. The horse seen in the right of the photograph will have been used to tow wagons full of tipping waste from excavation of the cutting.

British Railways - S. W. A. Newton Collection

More information about these photographs and the Great Central Railway can be found here

Maker

S.W.A. Newton

LCC ID. No.

L3330.tif

Image Use

Personal use only unless otherwise agreed

Notes

IM&ICT - RC
Original media type: Glass plate negative

Exhibitions with this image

L3330 - A photograph showing a section of line under construction at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which formed part of the joint route shared by the Great Western and Great Central Railways. This image provides a perfect example of the use of 'steam navvies', which were introduced in 1880 by Joseph Ruston. Deep cuttings were a classic feature of the joint line, and these machines were used to remove large sections of earth, as shown. Two men can be seen securing the sides of the cutting, whilst other construction workers pose for Newton's lens. One of the men stands in a relatively crudely built hut, the like of which commonly formed a part of the steam navvies. The need for shelter from the elements was overlooked in the original design of the machine, and so men often erected their own protection from the elements. The horse seen in the right of the photograph will have been used to tow wagons full of tipping waste from excavation of the cutting.

British Railways - S. W. A. Newton Collection

More information about these photographs and the Great Central Railway can be found here

Subjects

Transport

Transport > Rail

Working Life

Working Life > Industrial

File metadata

File name

8350.jpg

File size

2.32 MB

File extension

JPEG