Newbridge Railway Bridge (Bath)

Looking downstream from the River Avon towpath

A shower in Bath. This shows the multi-ply steel plates of the top flange. The apparently thicker horizontal member below the plates is actually of angle section

Underside, showing deep multi-ply flange of central girder, and concrete infill between cross beams

Expansion joint at end of girder

This is an unofficial name for a former railway bridge over the River Avon at Newbridge, on the western edge of Bath, now used by the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.

The Mangotsfield-Bath branch of the Midland Railway had to cross the sinuous River Avon at no less than 6 places in just 8 miles. This is the third bridge west of Bath Green Park station.

The original lattice girder bridge was built in 1869, but was replaced by the present steel plate girder at some point, possibly in 1933 when the LMS embarked on a programme of strengthening the bridges on this line. The bridge is no beauty, but its rational design impresses by its strong construction.

A very similar bridge is crossed by the Bristol and Bath Railway Path approx 1 mile downstream.

See Also

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