Albert Edward Bridge

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Albert Edward Bridge
Albert Edward Bridge.JPG
Coordinates 52°37′51″N2°30′11″W / 52.6309°N 2.5030°W / 52.6309; -2.5030 Coordinates: 52°37′51″N2°30′11″W / 52.6309°N 2.5030°W / 52.6309; -2.5030
Carries Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension Railway
Crosses River Severn
Locale Coalbrookdale
Named for Edward VII
Heritage statusGrade II listed building
Characteristics
Design arch bridge
Material Cast iron
Longest span200 feet (61 m)
No. of spans1
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks 2
Track gauge 4 ft 8.5 in (1,435 mm)
History
Designer John Fowler
Opened1 November 1864
Statistics
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameAlbert Edward Bridge [1]
Designated24 February 1986;36 years ago (1986-02-24) [1]
Reference no.1055277 [1]
Location
Albert Edward Bridge

The Albert Edward Bridge is a railway bridge spanning the River Severn at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, England.

Contents

History

Opened on 1 November 1864 and named after the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), its design is almost identical to Victoria Bridge which carries the Severn Valley Railway over the Severn between Upper Arley and Bewdley in Worcestershire. Designed by John Fowler, its 200 feet (61 m) span cast iron arch has four ribs, each of nine parts bolted together. The patterns for the radiused beam castings for the bridge were prepared by Thomas Parker at the Coalbrookdale Iron Company. Originally it was built to carry the Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension Railway of the Wellington and Severn Junction Railway across the river. Until the closure of Ironbridge power station it carried coal traffic as part of the line between Lightmoor Junction and Ironbridge Power Station.

The bridge's timber and wrought iron deck was replaced by a structural steel deck in 1933. It may be one of the last large cast iron railway bridges to have been built. [2] Due to its age and the condition of the ironwork, traffic over the bridge is restricted to a 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) speed limit to minimise stress. Although it carries two tracks only the one on the downstream side is still in use.

The bridge is a Grade II Listed Building, one half by Shropshire Council, the other by Telford and Wrekin District Council as the boundary is mid-span. [3]

Telford Steam Railway have aspirations to run trains over the bridge using the presently unused track as part of their southern extension to Buildwas.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Mythe Bridge

Mythe Bridge carries the A438 road across the River Severn at Tewkesbury. It is a cast-iron arch bridge spanning 170 feet (52 m) and 24 feet (7.3m) wide, designed by Thomas Telford and completed in April 1826. It is a Grade II* listed structure.

Shropshire Canal

The Shropshire Canal was a tub boat canal built to supply coal, ore and limestone to the industrial region of east Shropshire, England, that adjoined the River Severn at Coalbrookdale. It ran from a junction with the Donnington Wood Canal ascending the 316 yard long Wrockwardine Wood inclined plane to its summit level, it made a junction with the older Ketley Canal and at Southall Bank the Coalbrookdale (Horsehay) branch went to Brierly Hill above Coalbrookdale; the main line descended via the 600 yard long Windmill Incline and the 350 yard long Hay Inclined Plane to Coalport on the River Severn. The short section of the Shropshire Canal from the base of the Hay Inclined Plane to its junction with the River Severn is sometimes referred to as the Coalport Canal.

Museum of the Gorge, Ironbridge

The Museum of the Gorge, originally the Severn Warehouse, is one of the ten museums of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. It portrays the history of the Ironbridge Gorge and the surrounding area of Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, England.

Belvidere Bridge

Belvidere Bridge is a cast iron arch railway bridge in Shrewsbury, western England, built for the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway in 1849. It carries the modern Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury railway line over the River Severn and is a grade II* listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Albert Edward Bridge (1055277)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. Cragg, p.240
  3. Historic England. "Albert Edward Bridge (1055277)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 10 May 2019.

Bibliography