Athlone Railway Bridge

Bridge in Athlone
53°25′38″N 7°56′45″W / 53.4272°N 7.9459°W / 53.4272; -7.9459CarriesTrainsCrossesRiver ShannonLocaleAthloneOther name(s)White BridgeHeritage statusListed in NIAHNIAH Number15004129Followed byCustume BridgeCharacteristicsDesignViaductMaterialSteelTotal length542 feet (165 m)No. of spans6Piers in water4Rail characteristicsNo. of tracks1Track gauge1,600 millimetres (63 in)HistoryDesignerG.W. HemansConstructed byMessrs. Fox and HendersonConstruction startc. 1850Openedc. 1851Inaugurated21 July 1851 (1851-07-21)LocationMap

The Athlone Railway Bridge, also known as the White Bridge, is a railway bridge over the River Shannon at Athlone, Ireland.[1][2]

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.[citation needed]

The bridge is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage under number 15004129.[6]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Coghlan, Finian (2 August 2013). "White Bridge boat crash driver gets trial date". Athlone Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Railways". Realized Vision. Institution of Engineers of Ireland. 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Buildings of Note". Athlone. Athlone Town Council. 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  5. ^ "The Railway Viaduct, Athlone". Ask About Ireland. Changing Libraries Initiative, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  6. ^ "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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