Road/Rail River Crossing

[PFX]

I've tried without success, to locate a river crossing where the rail line and road share the same bridge. Without knowing the name of the crossing (I believe it may be near the coast in England) I've been unable to search for it here and Google has proved fruitless. I thought someone may know what I'm talking of if I attempt a description from photos I came across online last year.

It's a single line and at one end, and I recall there was a fairly sharp turn onto the bridge that joins the road alignment. At the opposite end, the road approaches the bridge at almost a right angle, with the rail continuing more or less straight on.

The bridge essentially operates as a long level crossing, barriers preventing access when a train is using the bridge. From the photos I saw, it didn't look like the line was in regular use, if at all, as I believe the train pictured may have been an enthusiast's tour.

If anyone has an idea where this is, I'd be grateful to know and I apologise if my description isn't entirely correct. It's a while since I saw the photos.

 

[table38]

Maybe Penrhyndeudraeth? (in Wales though!)

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Pwllheli&hl=en&ll=52.923613,-4.056702&spn=0.010491,0.021522&sll=52.8382,-2.327815&sspn=10.773224,22.038574&oq=pwhe&hnear=Pwllheli,+Gwynedd,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=16

Oh ignore that, not a Level Crossing

Could it have been one of the dock bridges in Birkenhead? http://www.flickr.com/photos/25691226@N07/6967656013/

 

[ushawk]

You may well be thinking of the Kingsferry Bridge between Sittingbourne and Sheerness.

 

[Llanigraham]

Isn't there something like that on the preserved railway in Preston Docks?

 

[w0033944]

Are you thinking of the Britannia Bridge in Porthmadog?

 

[Stuwhu]

Wasn't there a temporary arrangement of this nature somewhere in the Highlands in the last couple of years. possibly on the Kyle of Lochalsh line.

 

[Tomnick]

Isn't there something like that on the preserved railway in Preston Docks?

That's the only one that I can think of (Streetview link). The temporary arrangement on the Kyle line was similar, I suppose - but wasn't a bridge. The Connel Ferry Bridge used to be shared between road and rail though.

 

[steamybrian]

Many years ago Great Yarmouth had a freight line to the docks sharing a road bridge. The railway to the docks closed many years ago (1980s..??) and the road was diverted onto a new bridge over the river.
I believe the old bridge still stands although mainly derelict merely carries a footpath.
Maybe readers can confirm..?

 

[DXMachina]

Wasn't there a temporary arrangement of this nature somewhere in the Highlands in the last couple of years. possibly on the Kyle of Lochalsh line.

Yes, I remember that but couldnt remember where in Scotland it was but the description is exactly how I remember - rails set into road surface, use by train or road traffic but not at same time)

 

[Llanigraham]

Yes, I remember that but couldnt remember where in Scotland it was but the description is exactly how I remember - rails set into road surface, use by train or road traffic but not at same time)

Actually it was the other way around.
They filled between the rails with a wooden surface around an area of rock that had collapsed onto the road.

And no-one has mentioned Britannia Bridge in Portmadog, where the Welsh Highland crosses the main road.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=e...bnh=168&tbnw=284&start=0&ndsp=13&tx=176&ty=92

 

[eastdyke]

Could you be thinking of Crosskeys road/rail bridge on the long since closed M&GN at Sutton Bridge?

The bridge is still there but with both sides in road use (A47).

http://goo.gl/HIQxvT

 

[krus_aragon]

And no-one has mentioned Britannia Bridge in Portmadog, where the Welsh Highland crosses the main road.

w0033944 beat you to it a few posts earlier. But there's another one on the Welsh Highland: Pont Croesor.

 

[eastdyke]

Many years ago Great Yarmouth had a freight line to the docks sharing a road bridge. The railway to the docks closed many years ago (1980s..??) and the road was diverted onto a new bridge over the river.
I believe the old bridge still stands although mainly derelict merely carries a footpath.
Maybe readers can confirm..?

Vauxhall Railway Bridge has been refurbished just this year. It only carries a footpath these days and there is more work to do as Phase II - if funding can be secured.

Built between 1848-52, largely of wrought iron, it is historically significant.

http://goo.gl/4yjyOw

 

[snowball]

The description sounds roughly like Pont Croesor - see link in krus aragon's post. But the railway is straightish at both ends, whereas at Pont Britannia (Porthmadog) the road is straightish at both ends.

 

[The Planner]

Disused now what about Kings Road bridge on Swansea docks? The birds eye view on Bing shows it better as Googlemaps has more up to date aerial views.

 

[LWB]

Surely you mean Althorpe?


https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.5856...=ZkA9tHiSps12mpvIjl0a-w&cbp=12,104.55,,0,1.92


Edit: D'oh! Good idea to read OP THOROUGHLY first

 

[PFX]

Isn't there something like that on the preserved railway in Preston Docks?

That's the only one that I can think of The temporary arrangement on the Kyle line was similar, I suppose - but wasn't a bridge. The Connel Ferry Bridge used to be shared between road and rail though.

Guys, that's exactly the one I was after. Having looked at it now, my description would appear to be somewhat innacurate so well done and thanks for getting that.

I actually crossed the Connel Ferry bridge when there were still tracks on it though no train could have ever reached it.

 

[SeanG]

Nobody has mentioned the High Level Bridge in Newcastle/Gateshead, probablyone of the oldest around

 

[snowball]

Nobody has mentioned the High Level Bridge in Newcastle/Gateshead, probablyone of the oldest around

Because the OP was asking for one with road and rail at the same level. Same reason nobody has mentioned the other (Menai Strait) Britannia Bridge.

 

[Lankyline]

Isn't there something like that on the preserved railway in Preston Docks?

Your right its the swing bridge at the entrance to the dock which is shared

 

[jopsuk]

that Preston docks arrangement must be interesting if it's all interlocked

• The lights must show (and barriers down) before the signal can be cleared to allow a train across
• The lights must show (and barriers down) before the bridge can open
• The signal must be at danger for the bridge to open

There's also lights for the bridge for vessels, and no point in the bridge being opened if the no3 gate (upper end of the lock) is not open. All interlocked? The lights also only allow vessels to pass through the bridge in one direction at a time.