Border Counties Bridge

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Border Counties Bridge
Bridge piers of the old Border Counties Railway viaduct (3) - geograph.org.uk - 1057552.jpg
Border Counties Bridge
Coordinates 54°58′56″N2°07′15″W / 54.9821°N 2.1207°W / 54.9821; -2.1207
OS grid reference NY923652
CarriesFormerly, Border Counties Railway
Crosses River Tyne
Locale Northumberland
Owner British Railways at the time of demolition in 1959
Preceded by Hexham Bridge
Followed by Constantius Bridge
Characteristics
Design Beam bridge [1]
Material Wrought Iron [1]
Pier construction Cast Iron and Masonry/Concrete [1]
No. of spans5
Piers in water4 [1]
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks Formerly, 1
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
History
Construction end1856 [1]
Opened1856 (1856)
Closed1 September 1958 (1958-09-01)
Location
Border Counties Bridge
Border Counties Railway
Overview
StatusClosed
Locale
Service
Type Heavy rail
History
Commenced11 December 1855
Opened2 April 1858 (1858-04-02)
Completed24 June 1862
Merged into North British Railway - 1860
Merged into London North Eastern Railway - 1923
Merged into British Railways - 1948
Closed
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

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Riccarton Junction
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Saughtree
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Scotland
England
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Deadwater
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Kielder
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Lewiefield Halt
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Plashetts
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Plashetts Colliery Waggonway
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portion of line flooded by Kielder Water
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Falstone
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Thorneyburn
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Tarset
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Charlton
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Bellingham
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Reedsmouth
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Countess Park
(1859–1861)
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Wark
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Barrasford
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Chollerton
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Chollerford
(later Humshaugh)
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Wall
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Border Counties Junction
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Hexham
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Border Counties Bridge was a 19th-century railway bridge across the River Tyne just west of Hexham, Northumberland, England. The bridge used to carry the Border Counties Railway over the River Tyne at Border Counties Junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.

History

The Border Counties Railway was authorised by Parliament in 1854. [1] The bridge was part of that railway and linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, near Hexham, with the Border Union Railway at Riccarton Junction. The first section of the route was opened between Hexham and Chollerford in 1858, the remainder opening in 1862. [2]

The bridge was beset with problems from its construction when the temporary wooden structure erected initially to allow a crane access, was swept away by floods. The abutments at the south end had to be moved eastwards to avoid scouring of the river at its original site. Both weight and speed restrictions have always been a feature of the bridge. The bridge was reportedly damaged by floods in August 1948 and was given temporary repairs sufficient to keep the line open for a time.

The condition of the bridge was a major factor in the eventual closure of the line, the cost of repairs being considered prohibitive. Regular passenger trains ceased on 13 October 1956 although the line (and the bridge) remained open for goods traffic until 1 September 1958.

The bridge was demolished in 1959. [1] Today, the remains of the piers can still be seen in the river. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Border Counties Bridge – Hexham". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  2. Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies . Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN   1-8526-0049-7. OCLC   19514063. CN 8983.
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