On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:02:05 -0000, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
"Bruce" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:18:36 GMT, "Richard J."
wrote:

You're talking as though the problem is insufficient brickwork at the
top of the arch. But it's clear from the photo that the failure occurred
lower down, where a great mass of brickwork has moved. Looks like a
gross failure of the foundations.


Indeed it does. It is probably a result of scour under the
foundations as a result of the extreme flows of water.


There are suggestions doing the rounds that this structure wasn't built as a
water course, but as a 'subway' under Feltham Yard when first built. There
is a second course of the River Crane under the tracks further east, next to
the recently built PO sorting office.

As a non expert, I'm wondering if the foundations for a subway would meet
the requirements for a culvert.


Probably not. There would be no requirement for the foundations of a
subway to be designed to resist the scouring action of flowing water.