Ridley Railway Bridge

Ridley Railway Bridge
Ridley Railway Bridge
Coordinates	54°58′25″N2°19′32″W / 54.9737°N 2.3255°W / 54.9737; -2.3255
OS grid reference	NY814641
Carries	Tyne Valley line
Crosses	River South Tyne
Locale	Northumberland
Owner	Network Rail
Maintained by	Network Rail
Network Rail Bridge ID	NEC2-96
Preceded by	Millhouse Bridge
Followed by	Ridley Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Girder bridge
Material	Cast iron
Pier construction	Sandstone
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
History
Constructed by	Sir William Arrol & Co.
Opened	1907 (1907)
Location

Ridley Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the Tyne Valley line between Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle across the River South Tyne near Ridley Hall in Northumberland.

History

The first bridge near Ridley Hall for the railway between Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle was designed by the railway company's engineer, John Blackmore, and originally built of timber; it was completed in 1838 but as the condition of the wood deteriorated it was replaced by the current iron-girder structure constructed by Sir William Arrol & Co. in 1907. ^{[1] [2] [3]} It was one of three bridges across the River Tyne and River Allen completed in 1838. ^[4]

Such was the influence of the owner of Ridley Hall, Sir Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet, that a small station was built nearby for the benefit of the local community travelling on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. ^[5] Cast iron railings from the original bridge, built in 1838, were recovered and retained by the Science Museum in London. ^[6] The current bridge is approximately 137 metres (449 ft) long. ^[7]

References

1. "Ridley Railway Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
2. Simmons, Jack (1970). Transportation: a Tour of Museums. A. S. Barnes. p. 152. ISBN   978-0498075735. Ridley Hall near Haydon Bridge on the Newcastle and Carlisle line, put up in 1838 and replaced by a steel successor ninety-four years later
3. "Renewal of the Lipwood, Ridley Hall and Allen viaducts by Sir William Arrol & Co. of Glasgow". The Courant. 10 August 1907.
4. Reports Relating to the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company. Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle Rail-road Company. 14 March 1838. p. 5.
5. Blackmore, John (1836). Views on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. p. 59.
6. "Cast iron troughs, rails and sides from Newcastle & Carlisle Railway, Ridley Hall bridge, 1838". Science Museum Group. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
7. "Railway Viaducts". Railway Codes Listing. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

Next bridge upstream	River South Tyne	Next bridge downstream
Millhouse Bridge Footbridge	Ridley Railway Bridge Grid reference NY814641	Ridley Bridge
Next railway bridge upstream	River South Tyne	Next railway bridge downstream
Alston Arches Viaduct Formerly Alston line, now footbridge	Ridley Railway Bridge Grid reference NY814641	Warden Railway Bridge Tyne Valley line