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| Standing under the N&C bridge, looking east along the bankside of the S Tyne, there is an embankment straight ahead |
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| It's obviously a railway embankment, the same height as current, heading for the river |
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| The S Tyne has footings in it, & large blocks of dressed stone scattered around the bank side Was this an earlier N&CR bridge alignment? |
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| A c1900 OS map shows the crossing, & the railway east of two houses on the far side |
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| A recent satellite view reveals a straightened alignment west of the same houses, plus trees showing the former alignment |
Out of interest, does anyone know when & why the alignment was changed?
Using OS maps in conjunction with satellite views is quite easy & freely available on line at the National Library of Scotland. OS mapping expanded across the UK from about 1850, so we can't use it to investigate, say, Causey around 1700. But it is possible to look at the changes to railways, mining & other industry in NE England in the 1900s. You may find it interesting to investigate the history of housing & roads in relation to industry in your own area.
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| Warden Bridge, JW Carmichael, 1838 |
Footnote: the original was known as Warden Bridge. It was drawn by JW Carmichael for the promotional booklet "Views on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway" published in 1838.
2 comments:
This article focuses on the original Newcastle & Carlisle Railway alignment of 1836 which included an original Bridge known as Warden Bridge. It was constructed of timber and burnt down in 1848. It was replaced by a cast-iron structure on the original piers. The alignment was changed in 1903 (to the railway in use today) and the present bridge constructed. The former alignment and bases of the old bridge are still visible - as shown in the (very interesting) article.
I used to make regular trips to Carlisle and I noticed this just by looking out the carriage window; I would look out for it thereafter. An interesting feature on an interesting railway, and I like the name "West Boat!"
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