Stori Pont Britannia Ar Dân! Britannia Bridge On Fire!

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

@Mathew9714 No prob! :D

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

@Mathew9714 There was a sort-of flat roof on the tubes (which was timber, felt etc supported by metal straps), which was a continuous span (even through the towers). That's what actually caught fire and fuelled it.

google "2d53", find "Main Line Railways of North Wales". That's got a menu, look for Britannia Bridge

[ricjuk]

40 years ago to the hour!

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

@ricjuk Bleeding heck, it was too! :-S

[ricjuk]

40 years ago tonight...

[ricjuk]

all the reports i've ever read about the fire claim that those responsible were searching for birds/bats in the tube and accidentally started a fire but the kid in this video mentions nothing about that whatsoever! - it sounds like he lit the fire intentionally!?! i also wonder if he still lives around that area and every time he looks at the bridge thinks about how he single handedly destroyed one of this countries greatest marvels of engineering.. only got fined £10 for trespassing too!!!

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

I think he lit it in order to create light to see what it was like inside, not realising that the innards were easily ignitable... with disastrous consequences!!

Mind you, the railway authorities were really stupid in not having a water supply available at either end. There was a serious fire in the 40's which damaged the tube, but luckily not beyond repair. They knew very well that the bridge was a fire risk!

[ricjuk]

@arglwyddanfradwrus he must be around 60 now! someone should find him and interview him this year (40th anniversary) and see what his thoughts are on the subject after all this time - could be part of a really interesting documentary about the bridge... i wonder if the 40th anniversary of the fire will be acknowledged at all, if only in wales?

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

Yes, he must be at least in his mid-50's now!

I was led to believe they were going to make a film about it being built some years back, don't know if it got mothballed, or cancelled even! :-S

[sapper8sqn]

@arglwyddanfradwrus

Do you know if any video available of the work carried out by the Royal Enginners following the fire. I was the RE Tug Operator and member of 8 Field Sqn.

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

@sapper8sqn NO, I'm afraid not. :( It would be wonderful to locate such a video and post it here (if the video owners would be willing!)

[sapper8sqn]

@arglwyddanfradwrus I do remember as part of our work on the Bridge, I had on board a number of TV crews filming our work, however trying to find any footage has drawn a blank. If I do find anything I will let you know.

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

@sapper8sqn Thanks! :) That would be great!

[MrWeekendoff]

@ricjuk what a story to tell the kids!!!

[colwynkid]

The main contribution to the destruction of the bridge was the design of the roof, and the high inflammability of the material in which it was made. The cavernous nature of the structure allowed fire to travel in all directions and made fire extinguishing impossible. Damage at over £1,000,000 (1970)

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

Thnx! :)

[weekendoff]

best comedy ever line. 'I wish I'd never been to no party now!!!'

[arglwyddanfradwrus]

Dwi'n gwybod!