Steeling Albert's iron.

[Tiny Tim]

The Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash is over 150 years old, and is our sole remaining rail link into Cornwall. It's not only a vital transport link, but a listed monument. Work is presently taking place to repair and reinforce the structure. Grade 1 listing usually requires the use of 'like for like' materials, but it's clearly impractical to use wrought iron to effect repairs, so steel is being used. The present project is set to be completed in November 2013. Hopefully this venerable structure will be with us for many years to come.

The design of Saltash Bridge is almost unique, if steel in quantity had been available Brunel would never have built it this way. Now we're having to use steel to repair it as wrought iron is neither available or desirable.

More info at:

http://www.therailengineer.com/2012/08/31/royal-albert-revisited/

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I am sure they know what they are doing, but you instantly will have a bimetallic couple becasue wrought iron and steel have slightly different chemical potential and position on the Electrchemical/Galvanic series and thus could actually design corrosion into the system if care is not taken.

 

[John55]

I am sure they know what they are doing, but you instantly will have a bimetallic couple becasue wrought iron and steel have slightly different chemical potential and position on the Electrchemical/Galvanic series and thus could actually design corrosion into the system if care is not taken.

From reading about the RAB over the years I would be surprised if there was much wrought iron left in the structure apart from the tubes themselves. What the GWR hadn't replaced BR seem to have done so since.

 

[Mvann]

From what I remember, china was the last place you could get wrought iron from in quantity.