Albert Edward Bridge
Albert Edward Bridge carried the line from Coalbrookdale and Lightmoor Junction across the River Severn near Buildwas, the junction with the Severn Valley line. The bridge is almost identical to Victoria Bridge, with a 200ft cast iron span, and was named after Albert Edward (later Edward VII), the eldest son of Queen Victoria. It was designed by the SVR's chief engineer, John Fowler, and opened on 1 November 1864. Following the closure of the Severn Valley and Much Wenlock lines, the bridge was used by coal and other freight trains travelling to Ironbridge power station until the closure of the latter in November 2015.
In 2019 the line was mooted by Network Rail (NR) to be mothballed, but on June 9 Vintage Trains ran a railtour with GWR Collett 4073 Castle class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle. It was unable to traverse the bridge, stopping just short, as NR engineers had closed it to all rail traffic (apparently over structural issues with the abutments).[1][2][3]
Telford Steam Railway have released plans to extend across the bridge to the power station site.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 'Last Steam from Ironbridge', Vintage Trains (Retrieved 11 May 2019)
- ↑ Andrews, M., 'Trains taking to the tracks on Ironbridge line for 'final time, Shropshire Star, 23 April 2019 (Retrieved 11 May 2019)
- ↑ RAIL Magazine, Issue 878, 8 May 2019, p. 22
- ↑ 'Steaming to Ironbridge', Telford Steam Railway website (Retrieved 22 October 2018)