Severn Railway Bridge
1872 Parliamentary agreement to construct the bridge
1875 Construction began
See The Engineer 1877/01/05 pages 11 and 12 for details of its construction.
The engineers were George Wells Owen and George William Keeling.
The wrought ironwork and iron castings were produced by Hamilton's Windsor Ironworks Co, who also erected the bridge. Hamilton's Manager was Samuel Henry Louttit, and Samuel Sharrock was their Civil Engineer. George Earle was their site manager. Hamilton's also had the contract for the swing bridge at the nearby North Docks.
Vickers and Cooke were the civil engineering contractors, responsible for masonry and tunnelling.
1879 Tests conducted to confirm the strength of the girders before opening.[1]
The bridge was put out of action when stuck by two ships which had collided in fog on the night of 25th October, 1960. The bridge was subsequently demolished.[2]
OPENING OF THE SEVERN BRIDGE.[3]
This great engineering achievement was brought to a crowning issue on Friday with demonstrations fitting to the accomplishment of a work so gigantic as linking the Forest of Dean and opposite shores of the Severn, and the inestimable benefit that is likely to accrue to the commercial interests of the Forest, as well as to those of South Wales.
The bridge has been built in four years, and, taking into consideration its length, three quarters of a mile its height above high water, 70 feet; the width of the spans, &c., it compares favourably in time with structures of a similar character. The Severn Bridge Railway, five miles in length, commences at Lydney, with the Great Western Railway and Severn and Wye Railway, crosses the River Severn near Purton Passage, terminating at the Sharpness Docks by a junction with the Midland Railway. It shortens the distance from South Wales to Bristol 30 miles, and if a junction half a-mile in length were made at Stonehouse, between the Midland and Great Western, it would also shorten the distance from South Wales to London by 14 miles. The line is partly single and partly double. The land has been enclosed for a double line, and all the works, except the bridge, have been constructed for a double line.
The bridge, which has been constructed by Messrs. the Hamilton Windsor Iron Company, of Liverpool, has cost £200,000, and is only surpassed by one of its class in the United Kingdom - the bridge over the Firth of Tay. Its entire length, inclusive of the handsome stone viaduct - a work also of interest - with revolving swing bridge over the Gloucester Canal on the Berkeley shore, is 4,162ft., and the weight of iron used in its construction 7,000 tons. On the Forest shore, connecting with the viaduct, the first span is 134ft. 6in. Next to this are a couple of spans 327ft. in length the next five are 171ft. each, and the remaining spans (making 21 in all) are 134ft. each.
The contractors for the railway portion, viz from Lydney to the bridge, and from the opposite shore to the Midland Junction, and the branches to docks, about five miles in length, were Messrs. Vickers and Cook, of London, but latterly Mr. Griffith Griffiths. The scheme was designed by Mr. G. W. Keeling, M.I.C.E., son of Mr. G. B. Kelling, T.P., of Lydney, the esteemed, secretary of the Severn and Wye Railway Company. In conjunction with the first-named gentleman was Mr. George Wells Owen, C.E., of Westminster, and the consulting engineer has been Mr. Thomas E. Harrison, M.I.C.E. The bridge was inspected by Colonel Rich, R.E., on October 3rd and 4th, and subjected to very severe tests.
The Company determined to render the formal opening to some extent consistent with the completion of an enterprise of such magnitude, and a large number of guests were invited, who were conveyed at 11 o'clock from the Midland Station, Gloucester, to Berkeley Road, for Sharpness, picking up additions on the way, when they proceeded across the bridge to Lydney, returning to Sharpness Dock for luncheon. At eleven o'clock a special train, consisting of 24 carriages, left the Midland Station at Gloucester, and proceeded to Sharpness, where there was a large display of bunting upon the warehouses and ships. On reaching the bridge, which was decorated with flags of various nations, the train pulled up, for the purpose of enabling Earl Ducie, Lord-Lieutenant of the county; Mr. W P. Price, one of the Railway Commissioners and Mr. Lucy, Chairman of the Bridge Company, to-alight from the saloon carriage, and get upon the engine. As the train passed slowly over the bridge artillery salvoes, represented by fog signals, were placed at intervals between the piers. Happily it was a fine day, and the bridge was effectively illumined by gleams of sunshine. At Purton Railway Station and Lydney large crowds of spectators greeted the arrival of the train. On the return journey the train was brought to a stand-still upon the viaduct, when Mr. Lucy and a large number of gentlemen proceeded to the centre of one of the large spans, where- the first-named gentleman attached the final rivet, and formally declared the work finished and the bridge open. On reaching Sharpness the party proceeded to the pleasure ground of the Canal Company and partook of luncheon in a commodious marquee. The guests numbered about 400. On Wednesday evening Mr. Earle, the well-known and respected manager of the Severn Bridge, was entertained to a public dinner at the Bird in Hand Inn, Blakeney, by the tradesmen of the village.