mow Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Took some photographs of the Great Britain VI tour crossing this bridge on Sunday. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157633303128886/with/8672399773/ There was a great pile of portacabins near the bridge exit on the Plymouth side, and which limited my choice of location for photos. There is a model of the bridge on top of a notice which highlights that work is underway for 2 years to renovate it - some work platforms are visible below the main bridge deck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Added four more photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157633303128886/with/8672399773/ This article might be of some use. http://www.therailengineer.com/2012/08/31/royal-albert-revisited/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted April 24, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 24, 2013 Thanks for sharing those. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Hi Nice pics & especially thanks for the link to an interesting & informative article Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted May 8, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 8, 2013 i would love to have a go one day at scratch building the bridge to scale that would be so cool Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted May 9, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 9, 2013 i would love to have a go one day at scratch building the bridge to scale that would be so cool Something that Stumpytrain of this parish has contemplated, I believe... www.alextrack.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rhubarb Loop Posted May 27, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 27, 2013 Something that Stumpytrain of this parish has contemplated, I believe... www.alextrack.co.uk Still contemplating, but like 99.9% of my railway modelling, it never moves beyond contemplation! Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted May 27, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 27, 2013 Thanks for the pictures. The renovation will, as I understand it, render the bridge fit for many more years service and also see it repainted into the colour (found many layers down) which it was in originally and which isn't grey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted May 28, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 28, 2013 Thanks for the pictures. The renovation will, as I understand it, render the bridge fit for many more years service and also see it repainted into the colour (found many layers down) which it was in originally and which isn't grey. Er, well, the final colour that is emerging from the scaffolding and sheeted areas is a light grey, which is the final colour. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rhubarb Loop Posted June 1, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 1, 2013 A rather excellent documentary about the work taking place can be viewed here: Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted June 1, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 1, 2013 The bridge looked almost sliver as I went over the road bridge beside this afternoon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted June 2, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 2, 2013 Having had the good fortune to again traverse this famous structure in both directions a couple of weeks ago - while hearing a fellow passenger telling his companions the Brunel story - I am delighted to know it is receiving the necessary TLC. Only the adjoining road bridge - which I used many years ago - spoils the views! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted June 2, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 2, 2013 Only the adjoining road bridge - which I used many years ago - spoils the views! Only partially so. The best view (IMHO) will always be that of the Cornish border and shoreline seen approaching from England. Left-hand side of the train, facing direction of travel, window seat, as far back down the train as the reservation system allows if you want to watch the train take the curve onto the bridge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted June 2, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 2, 2013 A rather excellent documentary about the work taking place can be viewed here: Alex cool video Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R A Watson Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 On the other hand the pedestrian walkway on the road bridge gives very impressive close up views of Mr B's masterpiece including some good photo angles. Wally Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted July 24, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 24, 2013 Here's an old pic of the royal Albert bridge from the Devon side Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froxfield2012 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This was taken from almost the same spot in 1961. The locomotive is 5069 Isambard Kingdon Brunel, which seems a happy coincidence? Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I'm told by those that know these things that the RA bridge is unusual in its fundamental concept (almost unique) in that is a suspension bridge which you just don't use for railway bridges due to the heavy moving point loads...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold grandadbob Posted September 5, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 5, 2013 Interesting to note the road bridge presumably nearing the end of construction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Er, well, the final colour that is emerging from the scaffolding and sheeted areas is a light grey, which is the final colour. Reminds me of the story of Cuneo doing a painting of the bridge for a BR poster. To get the best angle for his picture, he perched on one of the girders of the approach spans and consequently got quite dirty, both from the girders themselves and the soot etc of passing trains. Eventually he got down and returned to Plymouth station to begin the journey back to London. As he boarded the first class carriage BR had given him a ticket for, an elderly lady looked disapprovingly at her unkempt new travelling companion in his dirty overalls. "I'm sorry, I've just been painting the Saltash Bridge," Cuneo explained. "Oh," replied the old lady. "I do hope you chose a nice colour..." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted September 5, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 5, 2013 Interesting to note the road bridge presumably nearing the end of construction. Completed late 61 opened April 62. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted September 5, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 5, 2013 I think the best view of The Bridge is off the Tamar Bridge too Not before 1961 it wasn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R A Watson Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Not before 1961 it wasn't. But then you got a good view looking up from the Saltash ferry which incidentally departed Devon from the same slipway as the bridge spans did! Wally Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted September 5, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 5, 2013 And often had a decent wait to get onto the ferry during which you could admire the view. With track occupation at todays levels and pressure on FGW (and possibly also XC) to deal with overloading how long before we see the redoubling of that short but critical section back to the bridge itself? Along with Probus that was a decision taken in times of falling traffic when costs were being cut and the line west of Plymouth was talked of being cut in its entirely. Not so today when 8-coach HST formations cross the bridge more often than ever before plus full and standing increasingly frequently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
floss_4 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 With track occupation at todays levels and pressure on FGW (and possibly also XC) to deal with overloading how long before we see the redoubling of that short but critical section back to the bridge itself? Not sure this would gain much. Would also require a doubling of the bridge over the Gunnislake line just after the single line starts. Had the RAB been life expired a more drastic and expensive approach would be to realign the main line as a double line down the Gunnislake branch (former SR line) and branch off left on to a new bridge crossing the river over to Wearde Quay. This would give a faster double track connection into Cornwall. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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