Swing Bridges

[eastdyke]

Is there any freight on that line at all

Engineering trains?

 

[alxndr]

Is there any freight on that line at all

I lived in a village alongside it for 16 years and although I've obviously not seen or heard every train that's gone through there, I can't say I can ever recall having seen freight go any further than to Sizewell from Ipswich.

 

[TheEdge]

The only booked freights over the East Suffolk (bar the section between Ipswich - Westerfield) are the Sizewell services that branch off after Saxmundham.

 

[eastdyke]

The only booked freights over the East Suffolk (bar the section between Ipswich - Westerfield) are the Sizewell services that branch off after Saxmundham.

And if the political/financial case should enable Sizewell C to proceed then a significant upgrade of the Westerfield Junction to Saxmundham section would be expected. That could mean somewhere between the next 5 years and never!

I believe that the Nuclear Flask trains can run to Saxmundham Junction at 40, subject to other restrictions.

 

[brompton rail]

Google swing bridge over the River Ouse carries frequent passenger trains and freight. It is on the direct line between Doncaster and Hull (Thorne junction to Gillberdike station - not sure if the junction is still called Staddethorpe).

According to Wikipedia the speed limit is 60mph for passenger services, but lower for freight. Passenger trains include classes 144, 158 on a regular basis and a couple of HST movements (VTEC am empty working Neville Hill - Doncaster -Hull, and a return evening passenger working Hull to Doncaster). Hull Trains 180s only go that way if diverted from Shelby route, or a very occasional am stock movement from Crofton to Hull.

As shipping uses the River Ouse to reach upstream to Shelby and York, it isn't unknown for vessels to strike the bridge piers, causing disruption to train services.

Wikipedia article. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goole_railway_swing_bridge

 

[Freightmaster]

Google swing bridge over the River Ouse

Is that near Appleby?


MARK

 

[IanXC]

Another variation is the 'Slide Bridge'.

The only example I am aware of is in Lincolnshire. I've never seen it called 'Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge' rather Keadby Canal Slide Bridge, however that is what it is listed as: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_and_viaducts_in_Lincolnshire

I suppose most of the same principles apply, however presumably these are a little more reliable due to the lesser potential for misalignment?

 

[eastdyke]

Another variation is the 'Slide Bridge'.

The only example I am aware of is in Lincolnshire. I've never seen it called 'Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge' rather Keadby Canal Slide Bridge, however that is what it is listed as: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_and_viaducts_in_Lincolnshire

I suppose most of the same principles apply, however presumably these are a little more reliable due to the lesser potential for misalignment?

On the Keadby it has to be operated for every boat passage. Most conventional swing bridges (eg those in East Anglia) have clearance sufficient for most 'pleasure craft'.

 

[edwin_m]

Other things being equal I'd have thought a swing bridge was more reliable than a slide bridge, as the parts that slide over one another are concealed so less vulnerable to contamination.

There are some better photos here, although they note that the bridge has since been replaced. Looking at the last photo I wonder if it travels on wheels rather than actually sliding.

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/sheffield/sy9.htm

 

[John Webb]

Bridge being closed (click on pictures to go to the larger originals):
The Keadby Canal Crossing sliding bridge closing to boaters

© Copyright Christine Johnstone and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

A view of the tracks on which it runs:
Vazon sliding bridge, Keadby Canal Junction

© Copyright Chris Allen and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
It looks as though it runs on wheels, although when closed for trains to use I think it may be lifted off the wheels for stability?

John Webb

 

[ge-gn]

When Reedham, Somerleyton and Oulton Broad our swing back 'on' for rail traffic the bridge swing into a latch which is the on position, it is then lowered onto the parapet at which point the bolts, which are similar to a FPL are inserted. As part of the operation wedges are also inserted at the central gears to protect them against the hammering effect of passing trains. AFAIK wedges in, bolts in, bridge home have to be proven before trains can be signalled.

 

[aylesbury]

Quite some years ago Vidio 125 produced a video covering the branches from Norwich. In the video they showed the operation of a swing bridge and the rails indeed are locked in place by bolts operated from the box all interlocked with the signals.The operation is surprisingly quick and interesting to watch.

 

[lincolnshire]

Another variation is the 'Slide Bridge'.

The only example I am aware of is in Lincolnshire. I've never seen it called 'Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge' rather Keadby Canal Slide Bridge, however that is what it is listed as: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_and_viaducts_in_Lincolnshire

I suppose most of the same principles apply, however presumably these are a little more reliable due to the lesser potential for misalignment?

Its correct name is Keadby Canal Drawbridge not sliding bridge. Vazon House bridge is actually a small single track wooden road swing bridge across the canal after the level crossing access on the Doncaster side of Keadby Canal Drawbridge that gives access to the signal box and farmers fields on the other side of the canal. This bridge is worked by the boat owners themselves and is called after the house adjacent in which the the bridge operator lived. For years it was opened and closed by a woman called Dolly.

The railway bridge could also suffer from misalignment at times.

 

[dk1]

From memory I think that the speed limits for the 4 East Anglian swing bridges are all different!
Trowse 40, Reedham 20, Smerleyton 30 and Oulton Broad 25.
(Freight on the East Suffolk is 20 max. so a lower limit would apply at Oulton Broad, it may be even less than 20).

Spot on Somerleyton has had an annoying 10mph TSR on the UP line for some time now.

 

[IanXC]

Its correct name is Keadby Canal Drawbridge not sliding bridge. Vazon House bridge is actually a small single track wooden road swing bridge across the canal after the level crossing access on the Doncaster side of Keadby Canal Drawbridge that gives access to the signal box and farmers fields on the other side of the canal. This bridge is worked by the boat owners themselves and is called after the house adjacent in which the the bridge operator lived. For years it was opened and closed by a woman called Dolly.

The railway bridge could also suffer from misalignment at times.

That now makes much more sense, thank you.

 

[lincolnshire]

Bridge being closed (click on pictures to go to the larger originals):
The Keadby Canal Crossing sliding bridge closing to boaters

© Copyright Christine Johnstone and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

A view of the tracks on which it runs:
Vazon sliding bridge, Keadby Canal Junction

© Copyright Chris Allen and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
It looks as though it runs on wheels, although when closed for trains to use I think it may be lifted off the wheels for stability?

John Webb

If you click on the top picture in John Webb,s reply and flick through the other pictures you will see the actual Vason House swing bridge across the canal and is name after the white house on the right on the bridge.

In his second picture you you can see the the tail rollers or wheels and the wedge blocks located either side of the wheels which the bridge stands on when in the closed position.

There is 10 wedges across the back end and another 10 more further under the bridge out of view these support the bridge when in its closed to canal and open to rail position. Also further under out of site is 3 more large wheels or rollers which the bridge rolls on, been pulled by the wire ropes attached to the rear end of the bridge.

This is the second drawbridge, to replace the one installed by Sir William Arrol, that replace the original swing bridge that was located on the Doncaster side bank of the canal which swung into the canal bank for boats to pass.

 

[Tio Terry]

Strangely enough, there is a connection between Reedham Swing Bridge, the adjacent pub, The Ship, and the Profumo affair.

 

[lyndhurst25]

For videos on the operation of Goole and Selby swing bridges, take a look at -

http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/archivevideo.php

 

[Steptoe]

The swing bridge at Sutton Bridge (obviously!) still exists and AFAIK is still operational (I last witnessed it swinging about 8 years ago) though sadly it no longer carries the M&GN across the Nene. It was noteworthy for previously carrying both road and rail traffic in twin spans.

 

[Firesprite]

The swing bridge at Sutton Bridge (obviously!) still exists and AFAIK is still operational (I last witnessed it swinging about 8 years ago) though sadly it no longer carries the M&GN across the Nene. It was noteworthy for previously carrying both road and rail traffic in twin spans.

It is still operational, opening when required, otherwise coasters and ships would not be able to get up the Nene to Wisbech Port. There is a fortnightly service to and from Riga in Latvia to Wisbech. About 800,000 tons pass through the Port each year mainly Dry bulks, Grain/feedstuffs, Forest products

 

[Dai Corner]

There is what appears to be / have been a combined rail/road swing bridge in Compass Road, Cardiff Docks. It crosses what is known as the COMmunication PASSage between Roath Dock and Queen Alexandra Dock.

https://goo.gl/maps/6xgWk5dSTSx

 

[John Webb]

There was a combined rail/road swing bridge across the channel linking the Victoria dock to the Albert dock when the latter was opened in 1880 in what became known as the "Royal" docks. At the same time the Dock company provided a tunnel under the link for Great Eastern passenger services to North Woolwich to use to avoid delays due to the bridge being swung for shipping. It is this tunnel that has been recently been upgraded for the "Crossrail" line. The swing bridge has been removed and a fixed bridge (the "Connaught Bridge") provided since commercial shipping stopped using the docks; it is road only as all the dock railways have been removed as well.

The "Cross Keys" swingbridge at Sutton Bridge mentioned above open two years ago:
KEPETb - A Russian cargo boat passing Cross Keys Bridge in Sutton Bridge

© Copyright Richard Humphrey and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

John Webb

 

[Chris M]

There was a combined rail/road swing bridge across the channel linking the Victoria dock to the Albert dock when the latter was opened in 1880 in what became known as the "Royal" docks. At the same time the Dock company provided a tunnel under the link for Great Eastern passenger services to North Woolwich to use to avoid delays due to the bridge being swung for shipping. It is this tunnel that has been recently been upgraded for the "Crossrail" line. The swing bridge has been removed and a fixed bridge (the "Connaught Bridge") provided since commercial shipping stopped using the docks; it is road only as all the dock railways have been removed as well.

The Connaught Bridge is a swing bridge - there is a video of it opening on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpf-XRJqXVM

 

[signallerscot]

Strangely enough, there is a connection between Reedham Swing Bridge, the adjacent pub, The Ship, and the Profumo affair.

Do you plan to enlighten us?

 

[snowball]

Do you plan to enlighten us?

Googling "Profumo Reedham" finds this:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2567761&postcount=115

 

[John Webb]

The Connaught Bridge is a swing bridge - there is a video of it opening on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpf-XRJqXVM

Thanks - we live and learn; all the pictures I'd seen of it didn't mention it also swings!

John Webb

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I have anecdotal evidence about why the Trowse swing bridge was designed in the manner it was. A delegation of BR bridge engineers visited the Netherlands for inspiration during the 1970s. Following several days of fruitless examination of a multitude of different designs, none of which fitted the bill for Norwich, one of the engineers visited an Amsterdam nightclub one evening and by complete chance, observed the mechanism for swinging a perfomance stage back and forward over the dance floor. Extrapolating the fundamentals of the design, complete with the lift/rotate/drop process, and use of locking bolts, and Trowse was born.

And it has been a total pig to operate ever since it was commissioned. The moral of this story; don't go swinging in Amsterdam. :roll:

 

[Freightmaster]

The Connaught Bridge is a swing bridge - there is a video of it opening on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpf-XRJqXVM

...and an even more exciting one here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdYgf8_tN60

 

[Chris M]

...and an even more exciting one here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdYgf8_tN60

Answering the question "can black cabs fly?" with a resounding "no"!

 

[181]

Readers of this thread might be interested to know that, according to the people who were on site on Sunday as part of the Oxford Open Doors events, the Oxford Preservation Trust have now raised enough money to restore the Rewley Road Swing Bridge, and hope that work will start in the next few months. See also http://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/content/lms-swingbridge.

There is a video of the bridge in operation here. It appears that as well as using sliding bolts to hold it in position, they fishplated the rails together at the ends of the bridge. Latterly I think it was only used once per day -- the latter technique presumably wouldn't be practicable for a bridge that was opened and shut frequently.