Refurbishing the GWR’s steel bridges

First published 2005 – updated August 2007

Bridges: pretty much taken for granted but they are, to say the least, a vital part of a railway’s infrastructure. The GWR has a rich variety of them - ranging from the spectacular Stanway viaduct and Greet Tunnel right down to foot bridges and culverts. In fact, there are 88 structures* that cross or are crossed by our railway between Cheltenham and Broadway.
When our railway was being built over a century ago, a favoured form of bridge construction - particularly rail-over bridges - was to use riveted steel girders. Most of our steel bridges have survived well over the past one hundred years, and are described by our bridge engineer John Balderstone as in “fair to average condition for their age” but most are now in need of refurbishment.

The two worst on the current running line were at Gretton and Gotherington, both of which have a fairly wide span over roads that pass diagonally beneath the line. The Gotherington bridge girders are particularly long and it is known by volunteer staff as the ‘skew bridge’ for fairly obvious reasons.  On the northern extension towards Broadway, the worst affected bridge is that which carries the B4632 over the line between Stanton and Laverton – this, again, is a ‘skew’ bridge.

The Gretton and Gotherington bridges were refurbished in 2004 and 2005, the work carried out by a local steel fabricating firm. This involved cleaning and repair, including the attractive steel lattice work parapets which, certainly in the case of Gotherington bridge, had succumbed badly to the elements. Finally these bridges were finished in chocolate and cream, replacing the original dour ‘battleship grey’.

Before: ‘Prairie’ tank locomotive no. 5199 crosses the unclassified road at Gotherington as it approaches the halt from Winchcombe, during the Harvest Festival of Steam in 2004. The corrosion beginning to affect the steelwork can seen. Photo: Darin Fryat

After: No. 7903 Foremarke Hall heads north with an Elegant Excursions train on February 26th 2005, crossing the newly refurbished Gotherington bridge. Photo: Ian Crowder.

“I don’t think the bridges were ever chocolate & cream,” says John. “In fact, I don’t think they have been painted since they were built and grey was pretty much standard throughout the country.” *

On the northern extension, the bridge carrying the unclassified Stanton road has similarly been refurbished and painted. The railway has put aside a budget for the ongoing refurbishment of the railway’s bridges. Major work on the B4632 skew bridge was expected to be completed towards the end of August 2007, the bridge having deteriorated to the extent that it became necessary to support the span with a propping tower.

The skew bridge carrying the B4632 road over the formation between Toddington and Broadway, in mid-August, 2007, looking south. Refurbishment was approaching completion and new light-coloured steelwork can clearly be seen, as well as repaired metal. Photo: Ian Crowder

Just north of Laverton there is a missing rail-over bridge.  This was removed with the permission of the GWR by Transco, in order to allow access for heavy plant in connection with a gas pipeline project. National Grid, successor to Transco, has agreed to fund replacement of this bridge and design work for a completely new span has been completed. Construction of this new bridge is likely to begin in 2008.

The next steel bridge to receive treatment on the running line is likely to be at Prescott. But a lot of remedial work has also been carried out on several of the railway’s brick bridges over the years, including the viaduct at Stanway.

For the record, this is the tally for the whole of the line owned by Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Plc from Cheltenham to Broadway:

• 16 Steel line-over bridges (such as Gotherington and Gretton)
• 5  Steel line-under bridges
• 12 Brick or concrete line over bridges
• 5  Brick or concrete line under bridges
• 39 Culverts
• 3  Siphons
• 1  Aqueduct (combined with a footbridge, near Stanway)
• 4  Footbridges (2 station, 2 alongside road bridges)
• 2  Tunnels (Hunting Butts and Greet)
• 1  Viaduct (15 arches, 50ft high)

Total: 88

* The trackbed through Cheltenham town centre is owned by the Borough Council who refurbished their steel bridges and painted them green.