Difference between revisions of "Mills Hill Bridge, Chadderton"
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The attractive skewed iron bridge carried the railway from Rochdale to Manchester over the [[Rochdale Canal]], adjacent to Lock 61 (Scowcroft). A girder bridge was added immediately alongside in the late 19thC to provide quadriple tracks. In the 1970s the line reverted to double tracks and the original bridge was taken out of use and had its deck removed.<ref> 'Britain's Historic Railway Buildings' by Gordon Biddle, Oxford University Press, 2003</ref> | The attractive skewed iron bridge carried the railway from Rochdale to Manchester over the [[Rochdale Canal]], adjacent to Lock 61 (Scowcroft). A girder bridge was added immediately alongside in the late 19thC to provide quadriple tracks. In the 1970s the line reverted to double tracks and the original bridge was taken out of use and had its deck removed.<ref> 'Britain's Historic Railway Buildings' by Gordon Biddle, Oxford University Press, 2003</ref> | ||
The original bridge is of the bowstring (tied arch) type with a suspended deck, a form pioneered by George Leather. | The original bridge is of the bowstring (tied arch) type with a suspended deck, a form pioneered by George Leather. Each side of the bridge comprises a pair of girders, spaced several feet apart. These are joined to each other by transverse X-braces. Each of these cast iron girders includes a 'Tudor' arch as its main member, and the 'string' of this 'bow' is a group of four tensioned rods. Each of these tensioned wrought iron rods comprises several bars joined by cast iron spools with tapered cotters. Decorative castings are attached to the top and bottom of the girders. | ||
Details of construction of a somewhat similar bridge can be seen in drawings of Robert Stephenson's 1838 bridge which carried the London & Birmingham Railway over Regent's Canal near Chalk Farm<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/railwaypracticec00bree#page/n193/mode/2up] 'Railway practice: A Collection of Working Plans and Practical Details of Construction in the Public Works of the Most Celebrated Engineers Comprising Tunnels and Tunnel Fronts, Turnpike Road Bridges...' by S. C. Brees, 1838</ref>. | |||
Numerous photos, showing details, [https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/photosviewer.php?bridgebrowser=unitedkingdom/irondonger/&gallerynum=2&gallerysize=2 here]. | |||
Geograph entry [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6814873 here] | Geograph entry [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6814873 here]. The photo is reproduced above. This was taken in 2021 and shows that the decorative castings below the girder to be missing from the right hand side. | ||
Note: The older [[Todmorden - Gauxholme No. 2 Viaduct]] is of similar construction, but has been much altered. | Note: The older [[Todmorden - Gauxholme No. 2 Viaduct]] is of similar construction, but has been much altered. | ||
Revision as of 19:14, 30 December 2021
in Chadderton, near Oldham
Also known locally as Th'iron Dongle.
The attractive skewed iron bridge carried the railway from Rochdale to Manchester over the Rochdale Canal, adjacent to Lock 61 (Scowcroft). A girder bridge was added immediately alongside in the late 19thC to provide quadriple tracks. In the 1970s the line reverted to double tracks and the original bridge was taken out of use and had its deck removed.[1]
The original bridge is of the bowstring (tied arch) type with a suspended deck, a form pioneered by George Leather. Each side of the bridge comprises a pair of girders, spaced several feet apart. These are joined to each other by transverse X-braces. Each of these cast iron girders includes a 'Tudor' arch as its main member, and the 'string' of this 'bow' is a group of four tensioned rods. Each of these tensioned wrought iron rods comprises several bars joined by cast iron spools with tapered cotters. Decorative castings are attached to the top and bottom of the girders.
Details of construction of a somewhat similar bridge can be seen in drawings of Robert Stephenson's 1838 bridge which carried the London & Birmingham Railway over Regent's Canal near Chalk Farm[2].
Numerous photos, showing details, here.
Geograph entry here. The photo is reproduced above. This was taken in 2021 and shows that the decorative castings below the girder to be missing from the right hand side.
Note: The older Todmorden - Gauxholme No. 2 Viaduct is of similar construction, but has been much altered.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 'Britain's Historic Railway Buildings' by Gordon Biddle, Oxford University Press, 2003
- ↑ [1] 'Railway practice: A Collection of Working Plans and Practical Details of Construction in the Public Works of the Most Celebrated Engineers Comprising Tunnels and Tunnel Fronts, Turnpike Road Bridges...' by S. C. Brees, 1838