Probably burning plastic of the copper cables ...

15 April 2011 Last updated at 07:36

M1 in London closed by scrapyard fire

The M1 in north London has been shut following a fire at a scrapyard.

The road was shut between junction 1 at Brent Cross and junction 4 at
Elstree at about 0430 BST and is expected to remain closed for several
hours.

About 40 firefighters have been tackling the blaze close to Ellesmere
Avenue in Mill Hill which is thought to involve several gas cylinders.

A number of nearby homes have been evacuated as a precaution and train
services have been disrupted.

Services on East Midlands trains between St Pancras and Sheffield have
been reduced to three an hour.

There are also delays and cancellations on Southeastern and First
Capital Connect services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13090742

On 15 Apr, 08:26, CJB wrote:
Probably burning plastic of the copper cables ...

15 April 2011 Last updated at 07:36

M1 in London closed by scrapyard fire

The M1 in north London has been shut following a fire at a scrapyard.

The road was shut between junction 1 at Brent Cross and junction 4 at
Elstree at about 0430 BST and is expected to remain closed for several
hours.

About 40 firefighters have been tackling the blaze close to Ellesmere
Avenue in Mill Hill which is thought to involve several gas cylinders.

A number of nearby homes have been evacuated as a precaution and train
services have been disrupted.

Services on East Midlands trains between St Pancras and Sheffield have
been reduced to three an hour.

There are also delays and cancellations on Southeastern and First
Capital Connect services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13090742



The fire is actually under the motorway and there are fears of damage
to the bridge.

Apparently two of the four railway lines are still in use.

This caused mega-problems on the roads. A friend went via the M25 from Woodford to Heathrow and got caught in the repercussions. The journey took nearly three hours!

On Apr 15, 5:05*pm, George wrote:

The fire is actually under the motorway and there are fears of damage
to the bridge.

Apparently two of the four railway lines are still in use.

It was stated on the radio yesterday evening that a section of the
road could (not would) be closed until Monday; I think they said
towards London.

"Stephen Furley" wrote in message
...
On Apr 15, 5:05 pm, George wrote:

The fire is actually under the motorway and there are fears of damage
to the bridge.

Apparently two of the four railway lines are still in use.

It was stated on the radio yesterday evening that a section of the
road could (not would) be closed until Monday; I think they said
towards London.

M1 still closed both ways between J1 and J4, 28 hours after the fire
started. Being inspected this morning, so may (or may not) reopen by midday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13079087

Two of the four tracks of the MML were closed for a couple of hours on
Friday morning, which messed up the morning peak, but have been open since
then.

Meanwhile the ECML was in a mess yesterday afternoon and evening, after a
fatality at Sandy, and major signalling problems and a failed train between
Newark and Retford. The 1400 Kings Cross to Aberdeen was delayed by a total
of around 3h35m and terminated at Edinburgh. Later trains were either
cancelled or very badly delayed.

Peter

On Sat, 16 Apr 2011 08:31:44 +0100, "Peter Masson"
wrote:



"Stephen Furley" wrote in message
...
On Apr 15, 5:05 pm, George wrote:

The fire is actually under the motorway and there are fears of damage
to the bridge.

Apparently two of the four railway lines are still in use.

It was stated on the radio yesterday evening that a section of the
road could (not would) be closed until Monday; I think they said
towards London.

M1 still closed both ways between J1 and J4, 28 hours after the fire
started. Being inspected this morning, so may (or may not) reopen by midday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13079087

The early morning news showed it closed southbound with some traffic
running northbound.

Two of the four tracks of the MML were closed for a couple of hours on
Friday morning, which messed up the morning peak, but have been open since
then.

Meanwhile the ECML was in a mess yesterday afternoon and evening, after a
fatality at Sandy, and major signalling problems and a failed train between
Newark and Retford. The 1400 Kings Cross to Aberdeen was delayed by a total
of around 3h35m and terminated at Edinburgh. Later trains were either
cancelled or very badly delayed.

Peter

"Charles Ellson" wrote

The early morning news showed it closed southbound with some traffic
running northbound.

One northbound lane reopened on Saturday evening, but the viaduct needs
propping up, and teh southbound side isn't expected to reopen until Monday
morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13107189

Peter

On Sun, 17 Apr 2011 12:04:29 +0100, "Peter Masson"
wrote:



"Charles Ellson" wrote

The early morning news showed it closed southbound with some traffic
running northbound.

One northbound lane reopened on Saturday evening, but the viaduct needs
propping up, and teh southbound side isn't expected to reopen until Monday
morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13107189

In this evening's news it seems "that somebody must be done" and that
the existence of scrapyards under railway lines is to be investigated
(but no mention of various other businesses possessing inflammable or
explosive substances under hundreds of railway arches).

In message , at 00:19:07 on
Mon, 18 Apr 2011, Charles Ellson remarked:

In this evening's news it seems "that somebody must be done" and that
the existence of scrapyards under railway lines is to be investigated
(but no mention of various other businesses possessing inflammable or
explosive substances under hundreds of railway arches).

From a structural engineering point of view it makes quite a difference
whether the railway is on a brick built viaduct or a reinforced concrete
flyover.

In this case the motorway is a concrete construction and the railway is
an earth embankment. I'm pretty sure this is the scrapyard in question:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8017358

What I can't quite follow with the M1 closure is why they can't allow
cars and not lorries, and set up a speed restriction. Or do they think
it would be too difficult to enforce?
--
Roland Perry

On Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:42:53 +0100
Roland Perry wrote:
What I can't quite follow with the M1 closure is why they can't allow
cars and not lorries, and set up a speed restriction. Or do they think
it would be too difficult to enforce?

Probably the latter. Unless you put up physical width restrictions on the
carraigeway you're going to have to permantly have a plodsworth waving trucks
and buses off at junction 4. Which doesn't sound like a safe job. Or I
suppose you could ANPR and just fine them heavily but they'll still drive
over the damaged bridge so it won't help.

B2003