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Wednesday 30 April 2014

Header Challenge Bridges

Lew's theme for our Header Challenge this week  is Bridges...  sorry to everyone for not being around to vote last week. To see the other contenders in our little challenge please follow the links at the top right
My header this week shows 3 shots of Barmouth Bridge,  it's a single-track largely wooden railway viaduct that crosses the estuary of the Afon Mawddach river on the coast of Cardigan Bay between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth in Gwynedd, Wales. A footbridge is incorporated on the landward side and pedestrians can walk by the side of the track across the river on payment of a toll of 90 penc. The toll is the same for a single or same day return crossing. The distance is about 900 yards (820 m). 
The viaduct carries the Cambrian Line, the main line of the former Cambrian Railways, which runs from Shrewsbury, England to Pwllheli, and carries passenger trains operated by Arriva Trains Wales.

The bridge was built by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and opened in 1867. As built, it included a lifting drawbridge section to permit the passage of tall ships, it was constructed entirely of wood. The drawbridge section, at the northern end of the bridge, was rebuilt in 1901 and now as a swing bridge with two steel spans.  Barmouth is a place I am drawn back to many times.... there's certainly nicer places to see nearby but there is just something about this place. 



Series of Bridges or the railway lines in Bath


Cast Iron canal bridge on the Stratford Canal


Canal Bridge on the Kennet & Avon canal in Bath.



Brick and cast Iron Bridge on the Oxford Canal


Decorative Cast Iron bridge supports


The last four pictures are from our trip last week on the Kennet and Avon
Early morning reflection of wooden foot bridge


Approaching a set of canal locks under stone bridge 


Nice & Peaceful


Jane working a swing bridge... there are a lot of these on the Kennet & Avon canal and  Jane was happy to see they all worked by electric motor, one or two have barriers which block of the traffic complete with flashing lights and warning alarms.  The motorist are not always happy to be held up...

I promise that not all my pictures are canal related, and I go all out to not show anymore for a while.

7 comments:

imac said...

Super Bridges here TomW, and little jane too, with a smile.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Tom: I knew you and Mac would have some great bridge photos, nicely captured.

Craver Vii said...

Nice variety of the types of bridges here. I like that bridges are often as visually appealing as they are functional.

Craver Vii said...

Whoever distorts the letters for word verification is an overachiever. It took me 3 tries before I got that first comment through. Hahaha

Tom said...

Craver I'll get rid of that now.... might not be attracting as much spam these days. Thank you for sticking with it.

heritagemom said...

Love the images. You certainly have some beautiful bridges in your part of the world!

Lew said...

Love your bridge reflections, especially the early morning mist! There is just something wonerous about the old bridges and viaducts built primarily with manual labor.