Brockenhurst - current state of platform swing bridge

[swt_passenger]

I thought I'd start a new thread rather than continue to clutter up the Fawley refinery last train discussion. There'd been a couple of questions about Eastleigh station, that then led off at a bit if a tangent to the state of the remaining identical swing bridge at Brockenhurst:

Talking about Brockenhurst. Is the luggage swing bridge still at Brockenhurst. From memory Eastleigh and Brockenhurst both had them. I did here some years ago. Brockenhurst was the last station to retain a luggage swing bridge on the former southern network.

It was still there earlier this year, but was supposed to be going to some preserved line or other...

Pretty sure it's gone, at least, I'd expect it to be gone since they put the new footbridge in with lifts. I'd be very surprised if it's still there.

Not quite sure after all that, so I took a quick trip down to Brockenhurst this afternoon to confirm the current condition of the swing bridge.

As can be seen in the attached photo, the bridge itself remains in situ, but the circular track that the wheel used to run on has been removed from where it used to cross the running rails. It seems to be thoroughly chained up in the open position, and although I didn't study it at all I think the lever system that used to release it for use has been removed. (Would that have been interlocked with the signalling?)

Sure I heard a rumour that the Brockenhurst luggage bridge was going to Eridge, for the Spa Valley Line.

Perhaps they have to arrange their own possession to take it away?

 

[John Webb]

Picture here of it across the line:
Platform swing bridge

© Copyright Mat Tuck and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on the picture to go to the larger original.)

I'm sure I recall seeing an older picture, when the bridge was of heavier wood construction - the present but now disused bridge looks to be of relatively modern build?

Regards,
John Webb

 

[Bletchleyite]

Of course there is now no need for it - a new footbridge has been installed complete with lifts.

 

[swt_passenger]

Picture here of it across the line:
Platform swing bridge

© Copyright Mat Tuck and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on the picture to go to the larger original.)

I'm sure I recall seeing an older picture, when the bridge was of heavier wood construction - the present but now disused bridge looks to be of relatively modern build?

Regards,
John Webb

I think you're right and it was renewed not that long ago. Maybe that's the underlying reason it hasn't gone for preservation yet?

 

[Train wasp]

From memory the old bridge had a red stop light on it at handrail height.

 

[swt_passenger]

Of course there is now no need for it - a new footbridge has been installed complete with lifts.

We knew that, hence the quote above where Muzer anticipated it would have gone when the lifts opened, as did I. The $64000 question is why is it still there...

 

[Chris125]

IIRC it was expected to go to the Spa Valley Railway, has that fallen through? It would be nice to see a run round loop at Eridge.

 

[L&Y Robert]

What are those yellow things in the four-foot?

 

[swt_passenger]

What are those yellow things in the four-foot?

Lateral restraint anchors. They extend a steel plate into the ballast either side of the sleeper and help to maintain track alignment.

 

[edwin_m]

Lateral restraint anchors. They extend a steel plate into the ballast either side of the sleeper and help to maintain track alignment.

Oh, I thought they would be datum plates...

 

[L&Y Robert]

Lateral restraint anchors. They extend a steel plate into the ballast either side of the sleeper and help to maintain track alignment.

Er - do you mean 'both sides'? - or one side OR the other? I'm not being pedantic -it matters. We had a court case once investigating the meaning of "either" in the sense of "both". Judge said "If he had meant 'both sides'' he'd have said 'both', wouldn't he! Case dismissed!"

 

[swt_passenger]

Er - do you mean 'both sides'? - or one side OR the other? I'm not being pedantic -it matters. We had a court case once investigating the meaning of "either" in the sense of "both". Judge said "If he had meant 'both sides'' he'd have said 'both', wouldn't he! Case dismissed!"

Yes, it would be both. I don't write like a lawyer normally though, and think that's probably one of the lesser errors used in these forums...