Barracks Rail Crossing, Perthshire – Geotechnical Investigation Scotland
Enabling critical rail access to unlock £1.5M of commercial timber
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Specialist ground investigation to support new rail crossing in remote Scottish forest
Northpoint Geotechnical was appointed by Beaver Bridges on behalf of Fountains Forestry to carry out a geotechnical investigation at Barracks, located 10 km south of Bridge of Gaur near Pitlochry.
The project aimed to facilitate a new rail vehicle crossing over the Glasgow to Fort William line, providing essential access to 700 ha of forest on the west side—known as ‘White Cow’.
This area contains over £1.5M of harvestable timber, but its only access route was an unsuitable ford crossing. Our investigation provided the geotechnical data required to design and construct the new crossing safely.
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS & CHALLENGES
Delivering accurate geotechnical data in an isolated and logistically complex site
Assess ground conditions on both sides of the railway to inform the design of the new crossing.
Overcome difficult site access in a remote forestry location.
Work within tight logistical and time constraints to enable timber extraction.
Conduct operations adjacent to an operational railway with strict safety protocols.
Characterise complex geological conditions, including superficial deposits over granodiorite of the Rannoch Moor Pluton Formation.
OUR APPROACH & METHODOLOGY
Specialist plant and targeted investigation for challenging terrain
Access Planning: Mobilised specialist plant capable of traversing remote and uneven forestry terrain.
Rotary Boreholes: Drilled two boreholes on either side of the rail line to assess sub-surface conditions.
Geological Logging: Recorded detailed geological profiles, identifying significant granodiorite bedrock beneath superficial deposits.
Data Analysis: Provided geotechnical parameters to inform the structural design of the rail crossing foundations.
Railway Safety Compliance: Coordinated with rail authorities to ensure safe working adjacent to live tracks.
RESULTS & DELIVERABLES
Clear geotechnical insight for safe, cost-effective crossing design
Delivered a full geotechnical interpretive report with ground profiles, testing data, and foundation recommendations.
Supplied information to support structural design, ensuring stability and safety for heavy timber lorries.
Enabled the client to proceed with crossing construction, unlocking access to high-value forestry assets.
Demonstrated Northpoint’s capability in delivering complex investigations in hard-to-reach locations.
NEXT STEPS
Specialist investigation for remote and transport infrastructure projects
Whether your scheme involves a rural bridge, rail crossing, or urban infrastructure, we provide the technical expertise to get it built on time and safely.
Email: info@northpointgeotechnical.com | Tel: 0191 917 2310
Or contact us online to discuss your project requirements.