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028 - Maidenhead Bridge

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In Folder: Historical Engineering Collection

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028 - Maidenhead Bridge

The London to Bristol main line crossed the River Thames via the Maidenhead Bridge. As the Thames was a navigable river used by barges, the Thames Navigation Commissioners insisted that neither the channel nor the towpath was obstructed, which allowed only one pier to be set in the river. Brunel designed the bridge so that his philosophy of minimal gradients on the line was not compromised (the inclined approaches towards either end of the bridge are only 1 in 1,320, or 0.076 per cent), so that existing tow paths were uninterrupted on each river bank for the benefit of bargemen, and the point at which it crosses the Thames took advantage of a small island on which the middle pier could stand. Built entirely of brick, and comprising of two shallow spans over the river, which combined a rise of only 24ft (7.3m) with an unprecedented width of 128ft (39m), the design of the bridge caused an engineering sensation when it was completed. During construction wooden scaffolding was built to support the building of the masonry arches. The Great Western Railway directors did not share Brunel’s faith in his own abilities and insisted that this scaffolding, initially at least, remain in place to reinforce the bridge. Secretly, Brunel arranged for the timber frame to be slightly lowered – without the support he knew that the bridge would remain solid. In the end the timber frame was washed away by the forces of Nature, either by strong winds or the river in flood according to different accounts. The bridge remained, and was immediately recognised as a triumph of engineering on the Great Western line. As built and opened on 1 July 1839, the bridge carried two 7ft (2.14m) broad gauge railway tracks. In due course traffic to and from London increased enormously, and mixed gauge tracks were provided between London and Bristol during 1861. In anticipation of the final conversion to the standard rail gauge, during 1890-1892 the bridge was widened on each side in order to carry four standard gauge tracks. This work was carried out under the supervision of Sir John Fowler, the width overall being increased from 30ft to 57ft 3in. (9.1m to 17.5m). However, this was undertaken so sympathetically that the outward appearance of the bridge remained almost unaltered.

Network Rail Corporate Archive

Level of Description: Item

Reference Code: NRCA110024 - NRCA163132

Title: Maidenhead Bridge

Extent and Medium: 18 drawings

Creator: Great Western Railway

Date: 1836-1891

Scope and Content: 18 Drawings from Contract 6L by the Great Western Railway and Widening from Maidenhead to Didcot showing Maidenhead Bridge construction and widening. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Contract Number: 6L

Drawing Number: n/a

Drawing Office Number: n/a

Keywords (Person): Brunel, Isambard Kingdom

Keywords (Country): England

Keywords (Structure Name): Maidenhead Bridge

Keywords (Structure Type): Bridge or Viaduct

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Title

Description

Date

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L Drawing No.1 – Simple Elevation of Maidenhead Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge. Working drawing No. 1 for Contract No. 6L. Drawing is of an elevation of a section of the bridge showing measurements relating to one of the main arches.

May 1836

G.W.R. Widening of Line Maidenhead to Didcot – Section through Maidenhead Bridge

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Five drawings on one sheet. First drawing is cross section AB, second drawing is of half cross section CD, third drawing is of section at GH, fourth drawing is of coupling, fifth drawing is of half cross section EF. Signed by Edward Olander.

29 July 1890

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L Drawing No.2 – Maidenhead Bridge Elevation

Maidenhead Bridge. Four drawings on one sheet. Drawing No. 2 for Contract No. 6L. First drawing is of a longitudinal section, second drawing is of transverse section at A, third drawing is of transverse section at B, fourth drawing is of transverse section at C.

May 1836

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Stresses on West Span

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing is an elevation of west span on Maidenhead Bridge loaded with dead load showing different stresses.

13 June 1913

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Diagram of Stresses

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing shows diagram of stresses for various different forces and loads.

13 June 1913

G.W.R. Widening of Line Maidenhead to Didcot – Maidenhead Bridge

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Four drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of section thro' centre pier, second drawing is of section thro' centre of arch, third drawing is of half sectional plan at springing, fourth drawing is of sectional plan at abutment. Signed by Edward Olander.

07 July 1890

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Sketch of Central Pier of Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing is of half section plan at springing and section through centre pier.

[1913]

G.W.R. Widening of Line Maidenhead to Didcot – Cross Sections of Maidenhead Bridge

07 July 1890

G.W.R. Widening of Line Maidenhead to Didcot – Maidenhead Bridge Centres

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge, showing centring for arches. Eight drawings on one sheet. First drawing is a elevation second drawing is section at A A, third drawing is of cross section, fourth drawing is of detail at B, fifth drawing is of detail at C, sixth drawing is of detail at E, seventh drawing is of detail at F, seventh drawing is of detail at G. Signed by Edward Olander.

06 August 1890

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Stresses on Arch

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawings are of stresses on arch on Maidenhead Bridge for loading and the ballast.

13 June 1913

G.W.R. Maidenhead Bridge – Elevations of Arches on North Side

Maidenhead Bridge. Drawing is of elevation of arches on north side.

1890

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Section of Barlow Rails

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing is of cross section at GH.

[1929]

Maidenhead Bridge – Section at Crown

Maidenhead Bridge. Drawing is of section at crown showing level of rails and existing arch.

1890

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Diagram of Stresses on Arch

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawings are of stresses on arch on Maidenhead Bridge. Live and dead loads with GWR locomotive Great Bear.

13 June 1913

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L Working Drawing No.2 – Parapet Details Maidenhead Bridge

Four drawings on one sheet shwoing details of the parapet. Working Drawing No. 2 for Contract No. 6L. First drawing is of section at AB, second drawing is of an elevation, third drawing is of section at CD, fourth drawing is of a plan.

May 1836

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Proposed Additional Tie Rods

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of proposed additional tie rods half section AB and half section CD, second drawing is of a plan.

06 September 1921

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L Drawing No.I – Plan of Maidenhead Bridge

Drawing No.I for Contract No. 6L. Drawing is of an aerial view of the plan for the location of the Maidenhead Bridge.

May 1836

G.W.R. Widening of Line Maidenhead to Didcot – Maidenhead Bridge Section through Arch, Abutment, Pier and Springing

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Four drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of section thro' centre pier, second drawing is of section thro centre of arch, third drawing is of half sectional plan at springing, fourth drawing is of sectional plan at abutment. Signed by Edward Olander.

29 July 1890

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