Monument record MLI52559 - Torksey Viaduct
Summary
A railway bridge built in 1849 and designed by John Fowler. This is one of the earliest box girder bridges and is a rare survival.
Type and Period (2)
- RAILWAY BRIDGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1849 AD to 2050 AD)
- BRIDGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1849 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
PRN 52559
Railway bridge (Torksey Viaduct), north-west of the church and castle, built in 1850 by Sir John Fowler. {1}
Torksey Railway Viaduct was built in 1849 and carried the Retford to Lincoln double track line across the River Trent. The western part of the bridge is in Nottinghamshire. The bridge has twin 130 foot river spans and a 570 foot long eastern approach viaduct. The original design of the two mains spans consisted a pair of tubular wrought iron girders, rectangular in sections, 10 foot high and 2 foot 3 inches wide. Wrought iron cross members, level with the base of the main girders, supported the bridge decking. The original design of the bridge was strengthened in 1897, where a conventional steel lattice was inserted centrally into each main span, the original southern girders being moved outwards to maintain track clearances. The line across the River Trent was closed in 1959. {3}
A structural survey of the viaduct (complete with scale drawings of all elevations and plans, including elevations on internal surfaces) was conducted between the 12th and 15th May 2003. The survey concluded that the main structure was in good condition; with corrosion, paint and cracking defects having no affect to the structural integrity in the short to medium term. {3}
Torksey Viaduct is a railway viaduct, by the engineer John Fowler, completed in 1849 and designed to span the River Trent and its flood plain. Different engineering solutions were deployed to carry the line over the main river channel and the wider flood plain, including a very early use of box girder construction for the river channel section. The viaduct remained in use until the closure of the line to passenger traffic in November 1959, but now carries pedestrian traffic. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {4}{5}
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SLI1062 Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). P 768.
- <2> SLI3659 Map: OS. 1956. OS 6 INCH SERIES. SK 87 NW.
- <3> SLI9075 Report: Up and Under Limited. 2003. Inspection of Torksey Viaduct.
- <4> SLI8885 Index: Department of the Environment. 1985. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 2/79.
- <5> SLI13386 Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1359456.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 8359 7915 (306m by 114m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | TORKSEY, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
- Event - Survey: Inspection of Torksey Viaduct (ELI4497)
- Event - Survey: Railway Bridge, Torksey (ELI4527)
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External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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