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033/034/035 - Royal Albert Bridge

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In Folder: Historical Engineering Collection

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033/034/035 - Royal Albert Bridge

The Royal Albert Bridge was named after Prince Albert and designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It opened on 2nd May 1859. The Cornwall Railway first applied for an act of parliament in 1845 to connect Cornwall and Devon by rail. This was rejected as the engineer at the time, William Scarth Moorsom, had suggested conveying the trains across the water of the Hamoaze via the Torpoint Ferry. Following this setback, Isambard Kingdom Brunel took over as chief engineer. Brunel proposed situating the crossing higher upstream at Saltash. The modified act passed in 1846. His design adapted two pre-existing bridges, both designed by Robert Stephenson, his main influence being the High Level Bridge in Newcastle built in 1849. A ‘proof of concept’ was being built by Brunel on the South Wales Railway in 1849 at Chepstow, a much smaller bridge with the same design. Surveying began in 1848, examining the riverbed. 35 locations were tested with around 175 borings made. This enabled the company to determine the locations were solid foundations could be laid. In 1853 the works were put out for tender and it was agreed that Charles Mare, the contractor who built the ironwork for the Britannia Bridge, would undertake the works. However, in 1855 he filed for bankruptcy. Brunel suggested to the company that he be kept on as contractor but that the Cornwall Railway Company should take over the works. Brunel was absent for a lot of the works, and so his chief assistant Robert Pearson Brereton took charge. A yard and jetty were set up on the Devon shore and the works for the central pier were started. A 37ft cylinder was floated into the centre of the Tamar and sunk onto the foundations made in 1848. The water was pumped out and the masonry for the pier was constructed. This work began in 1854 and was completed in 1856. The land piers and girders on the Cornwall side were completed in 1854. The Cornwall truss was next to be constructed and used a lot of the chains from the suspended Clifton Bridge works. This truss was floated into position in 1857 and gradually jacked up into position. The Devon truss was floated into position in 1858 and raised in the same way. It was reported that Brunel supervised the floating of the trusses from a pontoon in the centre of the river, conducting them into place. Around 20,000 people lined the shores to watch this undertaking on both occasions. The Royal Albert Bridge was opened by Prince Albert on 2nd May 1859. Brunel was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness. He was able to see the bridge in its completed state 2 days later when he took a wagon across it. Four months later, on 5th September 1859, he died. As a memorial, the Cornwall Railway Company attached the words I.K. BRUNEL, ENGINEER, 1859, onto either end of the bridge.

Network Rail Corporate Archive

Level of Description: Series

Reference Code: NRCA120011 - NRCA163257

Title: Royal Albert Bridge

Extent and Medium: 140 drawings

Creator: Cornwall Railway

Date: 1845-1927

Scope and Content: 140 drawings from the Cornwall Railway Company showing construction details of the Royal Albert Bridge from 1845-1927. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Contract Number: n/a

Drawing Number: n/a

Drawing Office Number: n/a

Keywords (Person): Brunel, Isambard Kingdom

Keywords (Country): England

Keywords (Structure Name): Royal Albert Bridge

Keywords (Structure Type): Bridge or Viaduct

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Title

Description

Date

Royal Albert Bridge Saltash – Details of Connection of Platform to Main Truss [Traced from Original Drawing]

Six drawings on one sheet. Drawings are of details of connection of platform to main truss. Drawings traced from originals.

1845-1859

Saltash Pontoon [Royal Albert Bridge – Showing Line of Shortest Distance Between Scaffold and Main Side Pier]

Two drawings on one sheet showing Saltash Pontoon with line of shortest distance from scaffold and main side pier and small section of gunwale, waling and planking

1845-1859

Royal Albert Bridge [Section through 35ft Cylinder Shoring of Inner Plates and Pump]

One drawing on one sheet showing section of 35ft Cylinder showing shoring of inner plates and position of pump in the centre.

1845-1859

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge – Diagram of Section of Main Chains: The Bottom Chains Hanging Free & the Upper Chains Fixed to Each Alternate Vertical Strut]

Two separate drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of sections of main chains dated June 1st 1858. Second drawing is of east chains and west chains dated June 4th 1857.

01 June 1858

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge] – Plan of Centre Pier

Three drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of plan of top and plan of bottom of standard below cap of column, second drawing is of plan of column, third drawing is of cup of column above bottom flange. Drawing is signed by Horace Kaye.

02 July 1854

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge] Air Pumps

Two drawings on one sheet both relating to the design of air pumps for bridge.

28 November 1855

Untitled [Two Drawings showing Section of the River Tamar on Centre Line of Bridge and Diagram showing Range of Spring and Neap Tides During the Summers of 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857]

Two separate drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of section of the River Tamar at Saltash on Centre line of bridge. Second drawing is a diagram shewing range of Spring and Neap tides during the summers of 1854, 55, 56 and 57.

1848-1857

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge – Gauge for Testing the Main Chains]

Eight drawings on one sheet. Drawings are of the gauge for testing the main chains including plan at A and plan at B.

10 May 1855

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge – Sketch showing Section and Plan of Scaffolding around Cap of Centre Pier and Cylinder]

Sketch of section and plan of scaffolding around cap of centre pier and cylinder.

[12 June 1856]

Royal Albert Bridge – Sections and Elevations of Pier No.7 West and Pier No.8 West

Two separate drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of pier No. 7 west with elevations of sections of pier. Second drawing is of pier No.8 West with elevations of sections of pier.

01 January 1854

Royal Albert Bridge – Details of Bearings of Tube on Main Side Piers

Drawing is of details of bearing of tube on main side piers including brickwork in cement.

[1845-1859]

Untitled [Royal Albert Bridge – Sketch of Pontoons arranged around Pier and Sketch of proposed cranes]

Sketches of proposed cranes for Royal Albert Bridge and arrangement of pontoons around pier.

20 June 1858

Untitled [Royal Albert Bridge Brackets etc for Pontoon Scaffolding]

Three drawings on one sheet relating to brackets for pontoon scaffolding. First drawing is of section at B, second drawing is of section at A and third drawing is of section at A.

1845-1859

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge – North West Side Plates Pier End Showing Line of Bend]

Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of an upper joint of the lower 2ft side plates showing the comparison in direction of bend in the old and new plates and the second drawing shows how the 'upper edge of the lower 2ft plates must be bent if the present plates now in place are used'.

12 February 1856

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge] – Pneumatic Cylinder for Central Pier

Eight drawings on one sheet. Drawings are of various sections of the cylinder including air cage and staircase with small enlarged sections.

[1845-1859]

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge] – Tide Velocity Guage Full Size

Two drawings on one sheet of tide velocity gauge. First drawing is a sectional elevation, second drawing is of side elevation.

13 May 1853

Cornwall Railway Royal Albert Bridge – Raising the Tube

Unlabelled set of nine drawings illustrating various sections and elevations showing the hydraulic presses and raising of the tube.

[1845-1859]

Saltash Bridge [Royal Albert Bridge] – Pontoon Framing for Floating Tubes

Four drawings on one sheet. First drawing is of Saltash pontoon transverse section at EF and at CD, second drawing is of section of pontoon framing, third drawing is of Irish pontoon transverse section at GH and at IK, fourth drawing is of plan of deck sleepers at AB.

26 January 1857

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