Maidenhead Railway Bridge

Maidenhead Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. The bridge was designed by the Great Western's famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The railway is carried across the river on two brick arches, which at the time of building were the widest and flattest in the world. Each span is 128 feet (39 m), with a rise of only 24 feet (7 m). The Thames towpath passes under the right-hand arch (facing upstream), which is also known as the Sounding Arch, because of its spectacular echo. It was completed in 1838.

Related Topics:
Railway - Bridge - Great Western Railway - River Thames - Maidenhead - Berkshire - England - Isambard Kingdom Brunel - Brick - Arches - Towpath - Echo - 1838

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As built, Maidenhead Railway Bridge carried two lines of Brunel's broad gauge track. Subsequently the bridge has been widened, and now carries the four lines of standard gauge track that make up the Great Western Main Line out of London Paddington Station.

Related Topics:
Broad gauge - Standard gauge - Great Western Main Line - London Paddington Station

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Maidenhead Railway Bridge features in Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway, painted by Turner in 1844 and now in the National Gallery, London

Related Topics:
''Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway'' - Turner - 1844 - National Gallery - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~