Cattle Creep Bridge Questions

[Andy873]

Something I've been meaning to ask for some time now - Cattle creep bridges.

There were two cast iron (CI for short) bridges on the North Lancs loop, bridges No. 44 and 42, called Webster's No. 1 and Webster's No. 2. These only had a nine foot span but what is puzzling me is these two bridges, unlike all the other CI bridges on the line (all of which had CI girders), these two didn't?

Which way round would the plates by placed? parallel to the path underneath? or in the span direction? and what length of span was it wise to start using girders? All the other CI bridges from 11 foot span upwards have girders.

 

[edwin_m]

Something I've been meaning to ask for some time now - Cattle creep bridges.

There were two cast iron (CI for short) bridges on the North Lancs loop, bridges No. 44 and 42, called Webster's No. 1 and Webster's No. 2. These only had a nine foot span but what is puzzling me is these two bridges, unlike all the other CI bridges on the line (all of which had CI girders), these two didn't?

Which way round would the plates by placed? parallel to the path underneath? or in the span direction? and what length of span was it wise to start using girders? All the other CI bridges from 11 foot span upwards have girders.

The use of girders may be more about the height - was the embankment in this area low enough that an arch would not be possible?

 

[Andy873]

was the embankment in this area low enough that an arch would not be possible?

All I can say is they look to have been around five feet maximum above ground level if less.

If you watch this video around from around the 17 minute point, you'll see the first cattle creep bridge, then a stone bridge and finally the second cattle creep one:

YouTube - A walk along the North Lancashire loop line

 

[Rescars]

Which way round would the plates by placed? parallel to the path underneath? or in the span direction? and what length of span was it wise to start using girders? All the other CI bridges from 11 foot span upwards have girders.

Chances are that these structures would have been much the same as similar bridges elsewhere on the L&Y. Perhaps there are cattle creeps on other ex L&Y routes which still exist in their original form? If so, these might provide some answers.