The world’s oldest cast-iron over-bridge has been lifted away from a railway line in northern England and taken for restoration.
Crawshaw Woods Bridge is to have stone added to its abutments to raise the structure by 1.5m to accommodate overhead wires that will electrify the TransPennine Main Line between York, Leeds and Manchester. The cast-iron, single-span segmental arched bridge, which was built between 1830 and 1834, is protected by a Grade II Historic England listing.
The arched framework that supported historic Crawshaw Woods Bridge during the move. Credit: Network Rail
The cast-iron bridge on the move. Credit: Network Rail
After months of preparation, Network Rail’s engineers constructed an arched framework to support the structure (link opens in new tab). It was moved in one piece on to a 128-wheeled self-propelled modular transport. It will be taken off-site so that the cast-iron girders, deck, parapets and railings can be repaired and renovated.
