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With Hanwell being so popular recently, for #FlashbackFriday I thought I'd share some photos from our step-free access project showing how the lift on the island platform (P2) was constructed. Working under a 100+ year old canopy it needed a careful approach.
The requirement was to sink a shaft from platform level down to the subway below. The position of the subway relative to the platform above meant the lift sat under the timber platform canopy. The shaft below platform level was to be formed of concrete piles with a steel top.
LB Ealing's Conservation Officer and the project were reluctant to remove the canopy during construction. Dealing with old structures imports risk and they often don't go back together easily. Thankfully the contractor head a solution that started with a low headroom piling rig.
The piling rig sank rows of piles alongside each other to form the shaft walls. The next job was to hollow the the shaft out which required a more old-fashioned approach. Over a period of 2-3 weeks the shaft was excavated by hand (all in line with modern H&S guidance).
Once down to subway level the wall to the subway was broken through. At this point some machine assistance could be employed to finish the base and form the hole in which the lift ram would eventually sit.
Back at platform level - the steel frame for the top of the shaft was assembled from small sections of steel carried in and bolted together.
After this the shaft was lined to make it waterproof protecting the lift equipment. Lift contractors then arrived to fit the car/machinery. Due to lack of space the room housing the lift's equipment is wrapped around the lift shaft at platform level -space planned to the mm
Once all the lift equipment was installed it was tested to ensure it all operated as it should and made ready for our passengers to use.
And that’s it really, a slightly abridged, behind the scenes look at constructing a lift in a small space.
And that’s it really, a slightly abridged, behind the scenes look at constructing a lift in a small space.
