The Severn Railway Bridge

After the tragic collision of the Arkendale H and the Wastdale H on the night of 25th October 1960 which resulted in the demolition of two spans of the Severn Railway Bridge I filmed the remains of the bridge which stood unrepaired until it was finally demolished in 1965. COMMENT: The demolition of this bridge has to be the worst transport decision made by transport chiefs at any time in Gloucestershire as today this link would provide a shorter route for diverted trains from the Severn tunnel than using Gloucester. It would also have provided a short rail link between the Forest and Cam and Dursley and Yate, Filton and Bristol. But the did save the taxpayer £85,000 to rebuild pier 17. Subsequent demolition cost £2million.. Who employed these people???

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• The
• Severn
• railway
• Bridge

[LIFE2272]

great piece of historic film. Cannot understand why this music was used, totally ludicrous. (nothing against the music itself)

[michaelayland]

You do not get much choice of copyright free music on YouTube and Andrew Lloyd Webber was busy that evening when I posted the clip so turn the sound down and hum loudly!

[JimTLonW6]

Very interesting; oddly enough I flew over the damaged bridge on an RAF 'Flight Experience' trip from Hullavington.

Bridges like that one are unfortunately rather vulnerable to collisions by boats.

[michaelayland]

Jim,

Glad that you said that you flew over it because there were many claims of aircraft flying "under" it

[dramadudejack]

Did one of the aust ferrys crash into one of the pillars too

[michaelayland]

In Ron Huxleys book The Rise and Fall of the Severn Bridge railway the ex Aust Ferry boat Severn King was being used in the demolition of the piers and on Friday 4th July she came adrift and became impaled on stump no 2. and was hole amidships. . She was refloated and towed back to Sharpness where the engines were removed and she was cut up. mike a

[xxxyorks]

I think in those days anything that was to do or associated with the railways was an afterthought - car was king unfortunately

[plasticspastic201]

@LIFE2272 what would you prefer some nog telling you that you had sexual relations with your mother and he is going to "pop a cap in yo ass"? a fine bit of jazz. thankyou very much,

[ScumOfTheRoad]

Great video (although the music is not my cup of tea at all!) I went down to Sharpness the other day to see what I could find of the remains of the bridge and the two barges. I'm descended from John Harker - whose company operated the barges which knocked the bridge down - so I feel a personal connection to this. I wish I was old enough to have seen the bridge in its heyday. Thanks for the video.

[atomage2006]

Very interesting piece of film and Sharpness even then was a strange and half forgotten place. No one wearing a hard hat or yellow jerkin! On the question of music and copyright Youtube seem to have a rather inconsistent attitude as i've posted stuff sometimes with music which must still be in copyright and its been accpeted - only once have I had to substitute one of Youtube's copyright free pieces

[NN2Blue]

Super film - thank you for sharing. It is easy to forget, or not understand like me, just how big a structure this was! - Mike

[atomage2006]

Fascinating piece of film. I well remember visiting shortly after the accident. Sharpness Docks always always worth a visit