Black Potts Railway Bridge
Black Potts Railway Bridge carries the railway from London (Waterloo) to Windsor, Berkshire across the River Thames. The bridge crosses the Thames and terminates after the bridge at Windsor and Eton Riverside railway station..
In 1849 the Windsor Staines and Richmond Railway sought leave to erect a temporary crossing here and the bridge was opened in 1850.
The opening delay was caused by the collapse of one of the piers on the day before inspection. The bridge is supported in the middle by Black Potts Ait.
The Engineer was Joseph Locke, and the contractor was Thomas Brassey[1]
Originally the bridge had ornate cast-iron ribs, but these were replaced with more utilitarian wrought iron plate girders in 1892, which radically altered the bridge's appearance.[2]
To the east of the bridge the approach viaduct had to be provided with substantial protection when the Jubilee River was constructed, as the outfall of this channel passes through the brick arches of the existing Victorian viaduct, just downstream of the Black Potts Railway Bridge.
To the west of the bridge is the Windsor Town Bridge (pedestrian) and Brunel's Windsor Railway Bridge.
1849, September: 'The Windsor Extension of the South-Western Railway.— The extension of this line of railway from the present terminus at Datchet to the town of Windsor was expected to have been opened in the course of a very few days, Monday, it is stated, having been appointed for the Government inspector to proceed over the works previously to this line being opened for traffic. In the course of Sunday, however, an unfortunate occurrence took place, which may probably delay the opening of the line for some considerable period. It appears that the girders of one of the arches of the bridge which crosses the Thames near Eton College snapped, rendering that arch, for the present, most insecure. The masonry and brickwork of the piers are built on caissons of cast-iron, driven into the bed of the river by meaus of Dr. Potts' patent process; the superstructure above the masonry being cast-iron. One of the piers, consequence of the great weight, appears to have sunk several inches, thus causing the snapping of the girder question. We are informed that considerable fears are entertained that tbe caissons will sink still further, it being supposed that they are now chiefly resting on a soft bed of clay. Should this turn out to be tbe case, it appears evident that the bridge must be reconstructed, or at least a great portion of it.'[3]
1849, November: 'THE SOUTH-WESTERN AND WINDSOR EXTENSION. On Thursday morning, Captain Robinson, one of the Government Inspectors of Railways, proceeded from Vauxhall station in a special train, accompanied by the engineer and some of the chief officers of the company, to Datchet, for the purpose of inspecting the continuation line from that place into Windsor. The inspector was met at Datchet some of the agents of the contractor, when some heavy engines were attached to the carriages and Captain Robinson at once commenced testing tbe bridge over the Thames, a portion of which may be recollected gave way some three months since when on the eve of completion. Independent of the many tons weight that were on the bridge at one time, far exceeding the weight of ordinary train, the inspector passed to and fro over the bridge no less than nine times. The bridge consists of three iron girders arches, resting on massive stone piers.
The new line proceeds out of the present station at Datchet across the main road upon a level, and thence taking a curve through Black Potts, crosses the River Thames, and enters the park at its extreme boundary, alongside which it continues a mile and half, and terminates the foot of the Castle walls in the lower part of Windsor. The line will be continued a further distance of a quarter of mile into the heart of the town, where it is proposed to erect a permanent terminus. Captain Robinson expressed his approval of the line, which will doubtlessbe opened in a few days.'[4]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [2] Wikipedia