Usk Railway Bridge: Difference between revisions
m typoette |
m date format audit, minor formatting |
||
| (41 intermediate revisions by 27 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} |
|||
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}} |
|||
{{Infobox Bridge | |
{{Infobox Bridge | |
||
|image = Great Western Railway Usk bridge.jpg |
| image = Great Western Railway Usk bridge.jpg |
||
|bridge_name = Great Western Railway Usk bridge |
| bridge_name = Great Western Railway Usk bridge |
||
|caption = [[First Great Western]] [[ |
| caption = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|First Great Western]] [[InterCity 125|High Speed Train]] crossing the River Usk. |
||
|locale = [[Newport]] |
| locale = [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] |
||
|carries = Railway |
| carries = Railway |
||
|crosses = [[River Usk]] |
| crosses = [[River Usk]] |
||
| |
| owner = [[Network Rail]] |
||
| maint = [[Network Rail]] |
|||
|width = Quadruple [[Standard gauge|standard-gauge]] (4 foot 8½ inch) track |
|||
| id = |
|||
| id_type = |
|||
| architect = |
|||
| designer = |
|||
| engineering = |
|||
| design = |
|||
| material = |
|||
| length = |
|||
| width = |
|||
| height = |
|||
| mainspan = |
|||
| spans = |
|||
| pierswater = |
|||
| load = |
|||
| clearance = |
|||
| below = |
|||
| life = |
|||
| num_track = 4 |
|||
| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|standard}} |
|||
| electrification = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} [[OHLE]] |
|||
| builder = |
|||
| fabricator = |
|||
| begin = |
|||
| complete = |
|||
| cost = |
|||
| open = |
|||
| preceded = |
|||
| followed = |
|||
| heritage = |
|||
| collapsed = |
|||
| closed = |
|||
| replaces = |
|||
| map_type = |
|||
| map_relief = |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
The ''' |
The '''Usk Railway Bridge''' is a railway viaduct in [[Newport city centre]], [[Wales]]. It crosses the [[River Usk]] in an east—west direction, carrying the [[Great Western Main Line]]. |
||
The original |
The original bridge was constructed for the [[South Wales Railway]] and designed by the accomplished railway engineer, [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]. Brunel's viaduct, which was primarily constructed of [[creosote]]-treated [[timber]], suffered a catastrophic fire near completion, resulting substantial delay and its rebuilding. The redesigned structure used considerably more [[wrought iron]] in place of wood, and included the first use of the now-common bow-string-shaped girder. This first bridge was opened to traffic during 1850. |
||
During the late 1880s, a second bridge was constructed alongside the first, which benefitted from a simpler design in comparison to the first. During the 1910s, the second bridge was extended to accommodate a quadruple track configuration, enabling the original bridge to be retired during 1925. During 2019, the lines across the second bridge were [[railway electrification|electrified]] as part of the [[21st Century upgrade of the Great Western Main Line]]. |
|||
In 1888 the bridge was replaced with one made of stone, and by 1911 it had been widened to four lines. |
|||
==History== |
|||
===Origins and predecessors=== |
|||
The origins of the Great Western Railway Usk bridge are closely connected with the early history of the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) and its renowned chief engineer, [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] |
|||
.<ref name = "teleargus"/> The directors of the GWR had resolved to construct a trunk route between [[London]] and [[Swansea]], running though various cities and major settlements in between. During the 1840s, Brunel, who had been put in charge of surveying and selecting the line's route, arrived in Newport for the purpose of planning how the [[South Wales Railway]] would traverse various geographic challenges, which included a means of carrying the line across the River Usk.<ref name = "teleargus">{{cite web |url = https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14473681.amp/ |title = The Long View: How Newport's vital crossings were built |work = Telegraph & Argus |first = Martin |last = Wade |date = 6 May 2016}}</ref> |
|||
Brunel decided that a [[viaduct]] would be the optimal means of crossing the river and designed such a structure.<ref name = "teleargus"/> Possessing eleven spans and stretching to a length of 1,200 ft, this viaduct was largely composed of [[timber]], which was treated with [[creosote]] under pressure as to sufficiently weather-proof them against the prevailing conditions of the location. Construction work commenced during 1846.<ref name = "teleargus"/> The total cost of the viaduct's construction reportedly exceeded £20,000.<ref name = "engtimeline"/> However, its extensive use of wood heavily contributed to the bridge's destruction just prior to completion. On 31 May 1848, as the final arch was being put into place, a heated [[bolt (fastener)|bolt]] used to [[rivet]] a beam together ignited the flammable creosote; within the space of six minutes, a catastrophic fire had spread across the whole structure, setting the opening back by years.<ref name = "teleargus"/> |
|||
Brunel swiftly redesigned the bridge explicitly to prevent any recurrence of fire.<ref name = "teleargus"/> Recognising that starting from scratch would set the line's completion back even longer, he decided to incorporate the remaining structural elements into the new bridge. While some elements continued to use wood, [[wrought iron]] plates and girders were also adopted; the remaining wooden elements were subject to a different treating method, known as [[chyanizing]].<ref name = "teleargus"/> In his redesign of the bridge, Brunel effectively invented the now-common bow-string-shaped girder to replace several of the wooden sections originally used.<ref name = "engtimeline">{{cite web |url = http://www.engineering-timelines.com/why/timberViaductsWales/timberViaducts_05.asp |title = Timber Railway Viaducts in Wales |publisher = engineering-timelines.com |accessdate = 16 August 2020}}</ref> |
|||
By 1850, the Usk railway bridge was effectively complete, and the first trains crossed the structure that same. It would be in service for exactly 75 years, being retired during 1925 and dismantled soon thereafter, having been replaced by a newer bridge alongside.<ref name = "teleargus"/> |
|||
===Current bridge=== |
|||
In 1888, the original bridge was supplemented with a second one, which was made largely of stone. Its deck, made of metal, made use of a [[Latticework|lattice]], or criss-crossing, design to enable the supporting girders to resist bending forces; it was considered to be of a simpler and more routine design than its predecessor.<ref name = "teleargus"/> By 1911, the second bridge had been widened to accommodate the running of four lines across its deck, in anticipation of the first bridge's retirement. During 2019, the tracks across the second bridge were [[railway electrification|electrified]] as part of the [[21st Century upgrade of the Great Western Main Line]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wales/south-wales-electrification/ |title = Electrifying the south Wales mainline – an important rail route linking major towns and cities |publisher = Network Rail |accessdate = 16 August 2020}}</ref> For several years prior, the bridge was subject to preparatory and improvement works to renew the structure, which included numerous repairs and all exterior surfaces being repainted during temporary closures.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/railway-upgrade-will-improve-newport-viaduct |title = Railway upgrade will improve Newport viaduct |publisher = Network Rail |accessdate = 5 October 2017}}</ref> |
|||
==Citations== |
|||
{{reflist}} |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{Commons category|GWR Usk railway bridge}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/39611 Image of the Great Western Railway Usk bridge via geograph.org.uk] |
|||
* [https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/308394/details/usk-railway-bridge-south-wales-railway-newport Usk Railway Bridge via coflein.gov.uk] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
{{River Usk crossings in Newport}} |
{{River Usk crossings in Newport}} |
||
{{Brunel}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
{{Wales-struct-stub}} |
|||
{{UK-bridge-struct-stub}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Bridges in Newport, Wales]] |
||
[[Category:Bridges in Wales]] |
|||
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1849]] |
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1849]] |
||
[[Category:Railway bridges]] |
[[Category:Railway bridges in Wales]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Bridges over the River Usk]] |
||
[[Category:1849 establishments in the United Kingdom]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 04:51, 4 January 2024
Great Western Railway Usk bridge | |
|---|---|
 First Great Western High Speed Train crossing the River Usk. | |
| Coordinates | 51°35′28″N 2°59′40″W / 51.5911°N 2.9945°W |
| Carries | Railway |
| Crosses | River Usk |
| Locale | Newport |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Maintained by | Network Rail |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 4 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrified | 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE |
| Location | |
 | |
The Usk Railway Bridge is a railway viaduct in Newport city centre, Wales. It crosses the River Usk in an east—west direction, carrying the Great Western Main Line.
The original bridge was constructed for the South Wales Railway and designed by the accomplished railway engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel's viaduct, which was primarily constructed of creosote-treated timber, suffered a catastrophic fire near completion, resulting substantial delay and its rebuilding. The redesigned structure used considerably more wrought iron in place of wood, and included the first use of the now-common bow-string-shaped girder. This first bridge was opened to traffic during 1850.
During the late 1880s, a second bridge was constructed alongside the first, which benefitted from a simpler design in comparison to the first. During the 1910s, the second bridge was extended to accommodate a quadruple track configuration, enabling the original bridge to be retired during 1925. During 2019, the lines across the second bridge were electrified as part of the 21st Century upgrade of the Great Western Main Line.
History
[edit]Origins and predecessors
[edit]The origins of the Great Western Railway Usk bridge are closely connected with the early history of the Great Western Railway (GWR) and its renowned chief engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel .[1] The directors of the GWR had resolved to construct a trunk route between London and Swansea, running though various cities and major settlements in between. During the 1840s, Brunel, who had been put in charge of surveying and selecting the line's route, arrived in Newport for the purpose of planning how the South Wales Railway would traverse various geographic challenges, which included a means of carrying the line across the River Usk.[1]
Brunel decided that a viaduct would be the optimal means of crossing the river and designed such a structure.[1] Possessing eleven spans and stretching to a length of 1,200 ft, this viaduct was largely composed of timber, which was treated with creosote under pressure as to sufficiently weather-proof them against the prevailing conditions of the location. Construction work commenced during 1846.[1] The total cost of the viaduct's construction reportedly exceeded £20,000.[2] However, its extensive use of wood heavily contributed to the bridge's destruction just prior to completion. On 31 May 1848, as the final arch was being put into place, a heated bolt used to rivet a beam together ignited the flammable creosote; within the space of six minutes, a catastrophic fire had spread across the whole structure, setting the opening back by years.[1]
Brunel swiftly redesigned the bridge explicitly to prevent any recurrence of fire.[1] Recognising that starting from scratch would set the line's completion back even longer, he decided to incorporate the remaining structural elements into the new bridge. While some elements continued to use wood, wrought iron plates and girders were also adopted; the remaining wooden elements were subject to a different treating method, known as chyanizing.[1] In his redesign of the bridge, Brunel effectively invented the now-common bow-string-shaped girder to replace several of the wooden sections originally used.[2]
By 1850, the Usk railway bridge was effectively complete, and the first trains crossed the structure that same. It would be in service for exactly 75 years, being retired during 1925 and dismantled soon thereafter, having been replaced by a newer bridge alongside.[1]
Current bridge
[edit]In 1888, the original bridge was supplemented with a second one, which was made largely of stone. Its deck, made of metal, made use of a lattice, or criss-crossing, design to enable the supporting girders to resist bending forces; it was considered to be of a simpler and more routine design than its predecessor.[1] By 1911, the second bridge had been widened to accommodate the running of four lines across its deck, in anticipation of the first bridge's retirement. During 2019, the tracks across the second bridge were electrified as part of the 21st Century upgrade of the Great Western Main Line.[3] For several years prior, the bridge was subject to preparatory and improvement works to renew the structure, which included numerous repairs and all exterior surfaces being repainted during temporary closures.[4]
Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wade, Martin (6 May 2016). "The Long View: How Newport's vital crossings were built". Telegraph & Argus.
- ^ a b "Timber Railway Viaducts in Wales". engineering-timelines.com. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Electrifying the south Wales mainline – an important rail route linking major towns and cities". Network Rail. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Railway upgrade will improve Newport viaduct". Network Rail. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
External links
[edit]
- Image of the Great Western Railway Usk bridge via geograph.org.uk
- Usk Railway Bridge via coflein.gov.uk
- grid reference ST312885
