Difference between revisions of "Cleobury Road Bridge"
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| − | [[File: Cleobury_Road_Bridge_20150528.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Cleobury Road Bridge]] | + | [[File: Cleobury_Road_Bridge_20150528.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Cleobury Road Bridge (2015)]] |
[[File:Cleobury Road Bridge Repairs 1973.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Overhaul of the bridge underway in 1973]] | [[File:Cleobury Road Bridge Repairs 1973.jpg|thumb|300px|right| Overhaul of the bridge underway in 1973]] | ||
| − | Cleobury Road Bridge (Bridge 35) allows the main road from Bridgnorth towards Cleobury Mortimer and [[Highley]] to pass underneath the Severn Valley Railway. It is a plate-girder bridge with a span of 55ft on the skew and 35ft on the square, and is located immediately | + | '''Cleobury Road Bridge''' (Bridge 35) allows the main road from Bridgnorth towards Cleobury Mortimer and [[Highley]] to pass underneath the Severn Valley Railway. It is a plate-girder bridge with a span of 55ft on the skew and 35ft on the square, and is located immediately south of [[Bridgnorth|Bridgnorth Station]].<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 104.</ref> The points controlling access to platforms 1 and 2 are located on the bridge itself, with the switch blades on one side of the bridge and the point nose on the other,<ref name=SVR31>SVR News 31</ref> meaning the bridge is crossed by locomotives while 'running round'. The viewing gallery at the foot of [[Bridgnorth#Pan Pudding Hill|Pan Pudding Hill]] ends next to the bridge's northern abutment. |
| + | The picture (right) is looking west with Bridgnorth station to the right. | ||
==Preservation== | ==Preservation== | ||
| − | + | An overhaul to replace the bridge timbers began at the end of October 1973 with work being carried out by the Permanent Way and Civil Engineering Departments. Only six weekends were available, as the SVR planned to run its first [[Christmas services]] that year. The first two weekends were spent dismantling the bridge down to the metal girders. These were then cleaned, primed and painted with bitumastic, the process being hampered by a prolonged cold snap which prevented the paint from drying. At the same time the new timber baulks were drilled and test assembled next to the bridge. The assembled baulks were then dragged into place using [[John Fowler 150hp Diesel Shunter No 17 Highflyer|diesel shunter No 17 "Highflyer"]]. Refitting of the rails was hampered by the failure of the [[GWR RS38|2½ ton steam crane]], with the rest of the rails needing to be hauled into place by hand. Despite these setbacks, the rails were set to gauge and screwed down and the track levelled in time for the scheduled [[Christmas services]] to run, with the job being completed in the New Year.<ref name=SVR31/> | |
| − | A more significant refurbishment was carried out over the winter of 1978-79, during which the steel bridge span itself was replaced as part of the program to upgrade the whole line to take heavier trains. The work was carried out by a combination of the | + | A more significant refurbishment was carried out over the winter of 1978-79, during which the steel bridge span itself was replaced as part of the program to upgrade the whole line to take heavier trains. The work was again carried out by a combination of the SVR's Permanent Way and Civil Engineering Departments. The old girders were lifted out and replaced by new girders, supplied by [[David Owen#Rubery_Owen|Rubery Owen & Co]], using the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087|30 ton]] and [[Smiths, Rodley DW35 6-ton steam crane|6 ton]] steam cranes positioned on each side of the bridge.<ref>SVR News 51</ref> |
| − | In mid-1992 problems were noted with the | + | In mid-1992 problems were noted with the bridge's abutments and the SVR’s consulting engineers recommended that they should be rebuilt. Shortly before this could be carried out, the bridge also suffered a vehicle strike.<ref>SVR News 104, 105</ref> In January 1993 the girders were again lifted out so that the necessary repair work could be carried out to the abutments. Completion of the work overran by one day, with the SVR running a 'replacement bus service' between Bridgnorth and [[Hampton Loade]] on Saturday 13 March, the first weekend of the 1993 season.<ref>SVR News 106</ref> |
In early 2008, a few days before the section of the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was due to reopen after repairs following the [[2007 Storm Damage|2007 storm damage]], the southern end of the bridge was found to be out of alignment by about 10cm following an unreported strike by a lorry. An emergency road closure was authorised while the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087|30 ton steam crane]] successfully relocated the end of the bridge on its bearings, allowing the reopening to take place on Saturday 9 February as planned.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Sowden (2012)]] p.44.</ref> | In early 2008, a few days before the section of the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was due to reopen after repairs following the [[2007 Storm Damage|2007 storm damage]], the southern end of the bridge was found to be out of alignment by about 10cm following an unreported strike by a lorry. An emergency road closure was authorised while the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087|30 ton steam crane]] successfully relocated the end of the bridge on its bearings, allowing the reopening to take place on Saturday 9 February as planned.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Sowden (2012)]] p.44.</ref> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | [[Category:Featured articles]] | ||
Revision as of 15:20, 14 March 2022
Cleobury Road Bridge (Bridge 35) allows the main road from Bridgnorth towards Cleobury Mortimer and Highley to pass underneath the Severn Valley Railway. It is a plate-girder bridge with a span of 55ft on the skew and 35ft on the square, and is located immediately south of Bridgnorth Station.[1] The points controlling access to platforms 1 and 2 are located on the bridge itself, with the switch blades on one side of the bridge and the point nose on the other,[2] meaning the bridge is crossed by locomotives while 'running round'. The viewing gallery at the foot of Pan Pudding Hill ends next to the bridge's northern abutment.
The picture (right) is looking west with Bridgnorth station to the right.
Preservation
An overhaul to replace the bridge timbers began at the end of October 1973 with work being carried out by the Permanent Way and Civil Engineering Departments. Only six weekends were available, as the SVRSevern Valley Railway planned to run its first Christmas services that year. The first two weekends were spent dismantling the bridge down to the metal girders. These were then cleaned, primed and painted with bitumastic, the process being hampered by a prolonged cold snap which prevented the paint from drying. At the same time the new timber baulks were drilled and test assembled next to the bridge. The assembled baulks were then dragged into place using diesel shunter No 17 "Highflyer". Refitting of the rails was hampered by the failure of the 2½ ton steam crane, with the rest of the rails needing to be hauled into place by hand. Despite these setbacks, the rails were set to gauge and screwed down and the track levelled in time for the scheduled Christmas services to run, with the job being completed in the New Year.[2]
A more significant refurbishment was carried out over the winter of 1978-79, during which the steel bridge span itself was replaced as part of the program to upgrade the whole line to take heavier trains. The work was again carried out by a combination of the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Permanent Way and Civil Engineering Departments. The old girders were lifted out and replaced by new girders, supplied by Rubery Owen & Co, using the 30 ton and 6 ton steam cranes positioned on each side of the bridge.[3]
In mid-1992 problems were noted with the bridge's abutments and the SVRSevern Valley Railway’s consulting engineers recommended that they should be rebuilt. Shortly before this could be carried out, the bridge also suffered a vehicle strike.[4] In January 1993 the girders were again lifted out so that the necessary repair work could be carried out to the abutments. Completion of the work overran by one day, with the SVRSevern Valley Railway running a 'replacement bus service' between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade on Saturday 13 March, the first weekend of the 1993 season.[5]
In early 2008, a few days before the section of the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was due to reopen after repairs following the 2007 storm damage, the southern end of the bridge was found to be out of alignment by about 10cm following an unreported strike by a lorry. An emergency road closure was authorised while the 30 ton steam crane successfully relocated the end of the bridge on its bearings, allowing the reopening to take place on Saturday 9 February as planned.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Marshall (1989) p. 104.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 31
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 51
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 104, 105
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 106
- ↑ Sowden (2012) p.44.
