brianusa Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Its not often that I can include a picture with my comments but I couldn't resist this one. RA bridge on a gorgeous April evening taken from the Bridgecam as I'm not exactly on the spot! Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted April 18, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2015 All they need to do now is preserve and paint the approch spans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted April 19, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 19, 2015 There will be a public walk over the RAB on Sunday 12th July next, organised by me and the local Community Rail group, with whom all bookings will need to be made. Very early start (0630 - 0845 only) a repeat of the two such events we held in 2009. More details when a bit more planning has been done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 Good show, Cap'n! Sadly,not only is it too far away, its way too early fro me! Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Nerdy fact No.1 It is the only railway suspension bridge in the UK............... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted April 20, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 20, 2015 Nerdy fact No.1 It is the only railway suspension bridge in the UK............... Ever since the practice one at Chepstow burnt down............ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted April 20, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 20, 2015 Chepstow didn't burn down.... And if you are thinking about Stephensons Britannia Bridge, it wasn't a suspension one either! Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted April 20, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 20, 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chepstow_Railway_Bridge Definitely Chepstow. Agreed, it didn't burn down, some of the girders distorted. http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1301 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 20, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 20, 2015 While suspension chains form part of the structure, I don't think it can really be considered to be a suspension bridge. In any case, I rather think that I have seen a suspension bridge on a UK railway. But not a standard gauge one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM42 Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 There's one (a suspension bridge) over the M25 near Junction 12, between Chertsey and Virginia Water stations. Strange concrete thing and not a patch on the RAB. Nice to see most of the scaffolding and sheeting has gone which spoilt my view from the road bridge when I was down that way last year. Andy Edit for accurate location of bridge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 While suspension chains form part of the structure, I don't think it can really be considered to be a suspension bridge. In any case, I rather think that I have seen a suspension bridge on a UK railway. But not a standard gauge one. The RAB being standard gauge is only a modern alteration to it. It wasn't built that way! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2015 Nice to see most of the scaffolding and sheeting has gone which spoilt my view from the road bridge when I was down that way last year. The public walk on 12th July is to celebrate the completion of the repainting and removal of the scaffolding and sheeting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 The public walk on 12th July is to celebrate the completion of the repainting and removal of the scaffolding and sheeting. Passports and pasties ready I presume ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 While suspension chains form part of the structure, I don't think it can really be considered to be a suspension bridge. I would disagree there, admittedly it's one with a fairly unique method of bracing the piers though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestPines Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 There's one (a suspension bridge) over the M25 near Junction 12, between Chertsey and Virginia Water stations. Strange concrete thing and not a patch on the RAB. That's not a suspension bridge either - it's a cable-stayed bridge. I believe it was the first cable-stayed railway bridge in the country. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 There are relatively few 'classic' suspension bridges that carry railways. One is in the eastern Pyrenées, near Perpignan:- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=petit+train+jaune&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=785&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qnE2VdPhAtX1arLvgOgP&ved=0CDQQsAQ Another is the Golden Gate bridge, where interurban electric trains used the lower deck of the twin deck bridge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2015 There are relatively few 'classic' suspension bridges that carry railways. One is in the eastern Pyrenées, near Perpignan:- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=petit+train+jaune&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=785&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qnE2VdPhAtX1arLvgOgP&ved=0CDQQsAQ Actually, if you look at the pictures closely, this is actually more of a 'cable stayed' bridge rather than a 'suspension' bridge. The clue is the way most supports to and from the deck all run in a straight lie from the towers rather than running vertically (i.e. suspended) from a supporting cable - though there are some 'suspension' elements in the design too, particularly mid span. I would imagine this was done to try and improve the 'stiffness' over a true suspension bridge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 The Brooklyn Bridge in New York used to carry subway and streetcars. However this is also a hybrid of suspension and cable-stayed, and I agree a pure suspension bridge is unlikely to be stiff enough to accommodate the moving weight of a train. Another is the Golden Gate bridge, where interurban electric trains used the lower deck of the twin deck bridge. The San Francisco bridge that carried interurbans was the Bay Bridge, where the two decks probably resulted in much greater stiffness than a single deck would have. Golden Gate has always been road-only as far as I know. The Royal Albert combines the three basic forms of bridge in one structure: beam, arch and suspension. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 The GGB was built with the intention of either road or rail on the bottom deck. Neither has yet materialised. Probably never will be now! Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2015 I have a feeling that there may have been a suspension bridge on the metre gauge in Brittanny but don't hold me to it.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted April 23, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 23, 2015 Passports and pasties ready I presume ? Come along and find out! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Saltash station building is in an appalling state. What happened to the plans to develop an RA bridge view cafe? Surely the buildings are as Brunellian as the bridge and are listed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10, 2015 Saltash station building is in an appalling state. What happened to the plans to develop an RA bridge view cafe? Surely the buildings are as Brunellian as the bridge and are listed? I believe that there are plans to talk to the owner of the building regarding its future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I would really like to see see the building restored and some acknowledgement of or display about Brunel. As is the want of the Plymouth area there is almost an ethos of denial about history and culture. Even Drake only warrants a statue on the Hoe. Scott has nothing in Plymouth. Nottingham sells itself on the mythical? figure of Robin Hood and we have three real life giants to celebrate with virtually nothing to inform or promote the city and its heritage. We have one of the worlds iconic bridges, people love it and they deserve a visitor centre at least! The station is the ideal site for the centre as the bridge can be seen from it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10, 2015 The station is the ideal site for the centre as the bridge can be seen from it. Certainly the Saltash Rail Users Group and other local groups would like to see it put to some good use that will benefit the community. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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