Machynlleth half through girder bridge

Post

Posted
Rating:
#152796 (In Topic #8514)
Inactive Member
This is a road overbridge at the Dovey Junction end of the station. It not only carries the tracks but also the down platform. The road dips quite markedly to get enough headroom under the bridge for road traffic and as a consequence the road is prone to flooding at this point. The span carrying the platform is of a shallower depth as can be seen in the first two photos. Construction is conventional, being fabricated from plates rivetted together.
© David Meaden













Online now: No Back to the top

Post

Posted
Rating:
#152906
Full Member
Hi,

With the central girder it looks like the bridge was extended in width, and the central girder added then for the extra strength.

That is just what the Midland Railway did on the Settle & Carlisle in 1903 ish so the (then new ) compounds could be used on the line.

Yours Peter.
Online now: No Back to the top

Post

Posted
Rating:
#152921
Avatar
Full Member
Excellent set of photos, particularly useful for us scratchbuilders. Any idea what the bricked in arch was for?

Marty
N Gauge, GWR West Wales
Newcastle Emlyn Layout.
Newcastle Emlyn Station is "Under construction"
Online now: No Back to the top

Post

Posted
Rating:
#153006
Inactive Member
Hi Peter,
According to G Briwnant-Jones in his book 'Railway through Talerddig' the bridge was rebuilt in its present form in 1927. However it appears to have been a replacement rather than rebuilding as the original was a wrought iron affair with timber decking. A photo of the earlier bridge in the book indicates it was a similar sort of structure with central girder.
regards
David
Online now: No Back to the top

Post

Posted
Rating:
#153010
Inactive Member
Hi Marty,
The arch was built to acommodate the Morben tramway. The tramway became part of the Corris, Machynlleth and River Dovey Tramway. This was a 2 ft 3 in gauge line originally worked by horses and gravity. It allowed slates to be carried down to quays at Morben on the Dovey estuary. Once the Newtown and Machynlleth railway was up and running in 1863, an exchange yard was built and the Corris slate traffic moved by rail. The Morben extension fell out of use and the arch was filled in, although I don't have a date for that.
regards
David
Online now: No Back to the top

Post

Posted
Rating:
#153044
Avatar
Full Member
Oooh… I didn't expect a tramway…. Neat. Thank you for the reply. I might potter off and do some research….. :lol:

Marty
N Gauge, GWR West Wales
Newcastle Emlyn Layout.
Newcastle Emlyn Station is "Under construction"
Online now: No Back to the top
1 guest and 0 members have just viewed this.