Athlone Railway Bridge
The Athlone Railway Bridge, also known as the White Bridge, is a railway bridge over the River Shannon at Athlone, Ireland.[1][2]
Athlone Railway Bridge | |
|---|---|
 View of the bridge | |
| Coordinates | 53.4272°N 7.9459°W |
| Carries | Trains |
| Crosses | River Shannon |
| Locale | Athlone |
| Other name(s) | White Bridge |
| Heritage status | Listed in NIAH |
| NIAH Number | 15004129 |
| Followed by | Custume Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Viaduct |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 542 feet (165 m) |
| No. of spans | 6 |
| Piers in water | 4 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,600 millimetres (63 in) |
| History | |
| Designer | G.W. Hemans |
| Constructed by | Messrs. Fox and Henderson |
| Construction start | c. 1850 |
| Opened | c. 1851 |
| Inaugurated | 21 July 1851 |
| Location | |
History and Technical Details
The bridge was built in 1851[3] and took 18 months to complete.[4] The bridge is 542 feet (165 m) long. It was designed by G.W. Hemans, and built with a central span which can be opened to accommodate tall sailing craft. The iron-work was shipped to Limerick and then was transferred to Athlone by barge. The twelve cylindrical pillars are each 10 ft (3.0 m) in diameter.[5] The opening central span is 120 ft (37 m) in length,[4] but this was changed to a fixed section in 1972.
The bridge is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage under number 15004129.[6]
References
- Kelly, Tom (6 July 2011). "Protester's Athlone railway bridge demonstration is criticised". Westmeath Independent. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- Coghlan, Finian (2 August 2013). "White Bridge boat crash driver gets trial date". Athlone Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013.
- "Railways". Realized Vision. Institution of Engineers of Ireland. 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- "Buildings of Note". Athlone. Athlone Town Council. 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- "The Railway Viaduct, Athlone". Ask About Ireland. Changing Libraries Initiative, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- "Shannon Railway Bridge, Grace Road, Athlone, County Westmeath". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
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