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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 Maidenhead Bridge – Cross Section through Chamber

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Five drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of longitudinal section on central line of bridge, second drawing is of springing at east end, third drawing is of springing at west end, fourth drawing is of view of west wall of chamber, fifth drawing is of cross section BC.

[1929]

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L Drawing No.3 – Elevation and Plan of Maidenhead Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge. Two drawings on one sheet. Drawing No. 3 for Contract No. 6L. First drawing is of an elevation, second drawing is of a plan.

May 1836

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Paddington to Penzance Corroded Barlows under Tracks (Up Main Line)

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Six drawings on one sheet of corroded barlows under tracks up main line. Drawings are of plans of bearings and full size.

26 April 1929

Great Western Railway Contract No.6L – Arch of Maidenhead Bridge

Drawing is of an outline of the line of one of the arches for Maidenhead Bridge with pencil calculations.

May 1836

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Diagram of Stresses on Arch

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing is an elevation of an arch on the Maidenhead Bridge as a diagram showing different stresses as well as dead and live loads.

[13June 1913]

Great Western Railway Maidenhead Bridge – Curves of Equilibrium

Maidenhead Bridge Data Drawing. Drawing shows curves of equilibrium relating to stressing of arches.

[1913]

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

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of half longitudinal section, second drawing is of horizontal section thro spandrill walls part sectional plan at springing. Signed by Edward Olander.

07 July 1890

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

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge, including centrings 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, eighth drawing is of detail at G. Signed by Edward Olander.

15 August 1891

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

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of elevation of bridge, second drawing is of plan of the track. Signed by [Edward Olander].

07 July 1890

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

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of half longitudinal section, second drawing is of horizontal section thro' spandril walls, part sectional plan at springing. Signed by Edward Olander.

27 July 1890

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

Widening of line Maidenhead to Didcot, Maidenhead Bridge. Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of elevation of bridge, second drawing is of plan of the track. Signed by [Edward Olander].

25 July 1890

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