Cancelled - "bridge being open for river traffic"

[lincolnshire]

There will be no question of boats having precedence on the Stainforth & Keadby. A narrowboat or cruiser can easily stop within a few seconds. There will be no historic rights here - the S&K, like most canals, was eventually owned by a railway company which would have rescinded any historic rights if there were any (I don't know of any having been in place for railways that crossed canals, though rivers are a different kettle of fish). I have a vague recollection that the S&K actually converted itself into a railway company, seeing the coming thing, but I may be wrong.

We took our boat past this bridge a few years back. We just waited for the bridge-keeper to open up and signal us through. A couple of Pacers went through while we were waiting. Believe me, after the trip up the tidal Trent, any boater will be plenty happy to wait a few minutes here.


No, I believe that (many years ago) boaters were expected to wait for a gap between trains. Didn't Rolt go through that bridge in Narrow Boat?

Officially the canal traffic has right of way at Keadby Canal Drawbridge but these days that traffic is not that often so usually its opened between trains etc. But the Canal & River Trust can actually fine the railway for none opening of the bridge as required for boats. It will be interesting to know if Network Rail paid out when the wire rope failed a few months since as everyone these days will be after some money if its there to be claimed for the bridge has been un-available just like the Tocs on train delays etc.

 

[Ediswan]

Yes, must have been 15-20 years ago. It was quite prolific local news at the time. The bridge was very troublesome since new in 1986 when it was lifted with the jacks in.

See the quote below from the Broads Authority navigation advice. This does support the idea that Trowse bridge is troublesome and that Network Rail are declining to honour their legal obligation to open the bridge 'at any time of day or night...'. It does, however, indicate that bridge can still be opened by arrangement.

https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/bridge-heights-and-opening-times

Trowse bridge currently is currently experiencing mechanical problems requiring extra assistance to operate. Network Rail therefore require seven days’ notice to open the bridge. The opening times are 9.05 am on Sundays and any day between 02.00 am and 04.00 am. To arrange opening please call Network Rail on either 01603 675297 or 01603 763440. Any problems in arranging the opening of the bridge should be reported to the Broads Authority Monitoring Officer on 01603 756085 or to rob.rogers@broads-authority.gov.uk, who will be pleased to assist.

 

[dk1]

See the quote below from the Broads Authority navigation advice. This does support the idea that Trowse bridge is troublesome and that Network Rail are declining to honour their legal obligation to open the bridge 'at any time of day or night...'. It does, however, indicate that bridge can still be opened by arrangement.

https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/bridge-heights-and-opening-times

To be fair I didnt think it swung at all anymore. The last larger boat (the cadet ship) was moved in the early hours one Sunday with much publicity around 5 years ago & following that I was under the impression Trowse Railway & Carrow Road lifting bridge would remain fixed & no longer allow passage for anything other than smaller vessels.

 

[Townsend Hook]

The "Keadby bridge" last opened in 1956.
The Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge crosses the Stainforth and Keadby Canal very close to where it enters the Trent.
Photograph taken by Andy Dyer on canalplan.uk
The Keadby Bridge (King George V Bridge) crosses the Trent and no longer lifts.
Both bridges are at Keadby, nearest station Althorpe, Lincolnshire.

I was simply mentioning the bridge geographically located in Keadby which still opens..

 

[Ediswan]

To be fair I didnt think it swung at all anymore. The last larger boat (the cadet ship) was moved in the early hours one Sunday with much publicity around 5 years ago & following that I was under the impression Trowse Railway & Carrow Road lifting bridge would remain fixed & no longer allow passage for anything other than smaller vessels.

Theory vs. practice.

The only way to find out for sure would be to own/operate a large enough vessel and request that those bridges be opened. With the risk one or both may fail behind you and leave you stuck in Norwich. Or you get the blame for b*******g up the local rail and/or road network.

I looked up the cadet ship. Found a decent video (June 2018) of it being towed backwards through Carrow Road bridge.

 

[dk1]

I looked up the cadet ship. Found a decent video (June 2018) of it being towed backwards through Carrow Road bridge.

That would be the one. All rather boring so thought it was longer ago than 2018.