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Ireland's Most Interesting Bridges
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19-08-2010 10:41am#1LISPOLE VIADUCT, CO.KERRY
Okay, change of idea, most interesting bridges rather than most beautiful! I will kick off with this pic of Lispole Viaduct on the former Tralee & Dingle Railway. The viaduct is interesting for all sorts of reasons:
*It was situated on a falling gradient the bottom of which was on the central span of the bridge.
*The viaduct was in such poor condition by the 1930s that double-heading across it (two locomotives) was forbidden but in practice was frequently ignored. This was due to trains being pushed too fast down the 1:29 gradient in the westerly direction, and drivers heading for Tralee being afraid that if they stopped to detach a locomotive they would not be able to restart their train on the incline.
*Scene of a serious goods train accident in 1907.
*The fact that it refuses to die some 57 years after the last train passed over it.
Gradient profile: www.chestermodelrailwayclub.com9
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It's also a narrow guage bridge.
<Image Snipped>
This is a viaduct on the former Farranfore to Valentia Harbour rail line. It is located in Kells, Co.Kerry. It spans a fairly sizable valley on the line between Kells and Killorglin.
Ah, back in the days we had a little ambition.
I actually found the broadmeadow viaduct to be quite a nice bridge... even after it took on a "dramatic" new form courtesy of Irish Rail.
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This bridge is on the former Mallow/Waterford line which closed in 1967 and is still in good shape. I was out on it in the mid-1970s and great views can be had up and downstream. It is probably most famous for its role in the 1966 movie "The Blue Max" which starred George Peppard, James Mason and Ursula Andress.
Guess I will have to wait to hear back from Paudie before the pics can reappear - sorry. In the meantime the fascinating pics are available on Paudie McGrath's Photography website here:http://www.fermoyireland.50megs.com/thebluemax.htm
In the meantime a pic of the viaduct:
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The iconic Luas landmark. The bridge spans a gap which in the days of the Harcourt Street line was a small single arch stone bridge! The cable-stayed bridge has a main span of 108.5 metres and the pylon height is around 50 metres.
Photo: www.archiseek.com/0 -
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Another strange bridge - not in appearance but in the tales that go with it - see here: http://www.inver.org/ceantar/des.htm
Located not far from the former ESB Bellacorick power station the bridge crosses the Owenmore River and seems a tranquil enough place. There is a legend that says you will be married if you do something (?) on the bridge - I can't remember what or find a link but I know I was married quite soon after being there! The more interesting prophecy connected with the bridge is that it will never be completed and to this day the last block of stone is still missing!
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I'm not sure if this counts, because the bridge itself is fairly ordinary, but the style of the gateway building on one end of it is apparently unique to this country. It's Dromana Bridge in west Waterford.
http://www.abandonedireland.com/Dromana.html
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Surprisingly this structure still survives although its surroundings have changed massively since I first set eyes on it back in the late 1960s. Back then a small road passed beneath, the handrails and telegraph poles still clung precariously to the bridge and it was an altogether nicer spot for a photograph. The bridge dates from 1849/51.
This interesting piece from http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/sport/road-bowling/chetwynd-viaduct/ describes the local competition of tossing an iron bowl/ball over the viaduct:
Chetwynd Viaduct, Cork-Bandon Road
The "Everest" of Road Bowling - The Chetwynd Viaduct - was conquered after decades of attempts, on September 8th, 1985. Watched by over 10,000 people, Hans Bohllen from West Germany lofted a 28 oz. bowl over the viaduct clearing the top by ten feet.
The event was sponsored by Murphy Brewery Ireland in association with Bol-Chumann Na hEireann as part of the Cork 800 Celebrations. The winner Hans Bohllen from the Ost-Friesland Club in Germany recieved a prize of five thousand pounds.
Three Irish bowlers, all Cork based, Bill Daly, Eamonn Bowen and Dan O'Halloran, also successfully lofted the viaduct with the 16 oz. bowl and shared another Murphy prize of one thousand pounds.
Bohllen arrived complete with his ramp, which has been part of the German tradition since their association was founded in 1645 and is used by every member of their 22,000 strong association. Bohllen lofted successful on his third attempt though the bowl touched a girder on its way down. His fourth attempt soared ten feet over clearing all obstacles. Hans Bohllen had made history on that Sunday of September 8th, 1985. He had truly overcome that invincible obstacle that has stood unconquered since 1849 when it was built.
Some Cork bowl players attempted the same feat down through the decades. At the turn of the twentieth century it is claimed that Dan Hurley from Bandon lofted the viaduct and was presented with a medal for his achievement, but there are no records to show what type of bowl was used or from where the actual loft took place. In the early 1930s, Bill Bennett from Killeady in West Cork is said to also have succeeded but again there are no written records of this attempt.
In 1955 the first official attempt was made. In March of that year the event was watched by 6,000 spectators. Mick Barry from Waterfall succeeded in bounding a 16 oz. bowl over the viaduct. Barry's brother Ned and Mick himself both struck the upper iron work with a 28 oz. bowl.
The viaduct is 90 feet high and 21 feet wide. Dr. George Reilly, then a lecturer in mathematical physics in University College, Cork was asked by Cork Examiner journalist, Val Dorgan to give a theoretic account of what it would be to loft the Chetwynd Viaduct. Dr. Reilly said that to get a 28 oz. bowl over the viaduct, one must stand back about 45 feet, pitch it at an angle of 77 degrees and give the bowl a velocity of at least 20 feet per second.
To this day the Chetwynd Viaduct still straddles the Cork-Bandon road although the last train to pass over was on March 31st 1961.0 -
Empire o de Sun wrote: »This is my favorite in ireland. The bridge that never was. Not sure about its history, was it supposed to be a rail link between the two westerly railways, before the Phoenix Park Tunnel was built. I have no idea.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swt5bcgg2mh2&scene=53213111&lvl=2&sty=o
Nope, this has been aired before it was a private footbridge built on the Guinness Estate for estate workers... there is a thread somewhere which I will link to when I find it.
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The Roughty River Bridge at Kenmare in Co.Kerry dates from the 1930's and replaced an earlier suspension bridge at the same location. While not exactly a thing of beauty it is unusual looking and seems positively alien in rural Kerry.
More paintings like this available here: http://www.neidin.net/joan/0 -
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Judgement Day wrote: »Hands off - the sooner you're banned from here the better!
as you well know JD there won't be a train rolling over most of these old bridges ever again. phew that was some rant and rave over there wasn't it? I needed several GB's to get over it all. there are some truly wonderful structures out there to be admired, i rather like what they have done over the shannon at Carrick with the suspended walkway on one side of the bridge (if anyone has pics) same could be done to help widen a few of our older bridges - it would for example be a good way of widening the Moy bridges in Ballina (were they have built an absolutely pointless foot bridge.)0 -
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Like something from the Wild West or that you might knock up yourself, this structure was the scene of a serious accident on the 9th August 1867. Two people died and an unknown number were injured. Poor quality rails rather than defects in the bridge were found to be responsible. The unfortunate injured were transported by goods wagons out the Harcourt Street line to a point near Loughlinstown Hospital, from where they were carried across the fields to "A+E" 1860s style! A 21st century type disaster with 19th century type emergency services.
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Judgement Day wrote: »Nope, this has been aired before it was a private footbridge built on the Guinness Estate for estate workers... there is a thread somewhere which I will link to when I find it.
I think this is it:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=20557271990 -
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Judgement Day wrote: »Dainty and obscure this fairytale structure is at the Vartry Reservoir nr.Roundwood in Co.Wicklow.
This is indeed a quirky structure in a lovely area. I'd love to revisit and find a way through the first locked gate to walk across!0 -
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When is a gate lodge a bridge - well at Ballysaggartmore where 'Keeping up with the Jones' (in-laws) got out of hand. Arthur Kiely-Ussher built the towers as an entrance to his demesne, and intended grand house, but as the money ran out the family had to be contented with living in a more modest farm house on the estate. The full story to this fascinating place is told below. I haven't been there for years but I doubt that much has changed. The fact remains that it is a bridge over a stream - the Ballywayna - and is worthy of inclusion here as one of Ireland's most interesting bridges.
http://www.liosmor.com/thetowers.html0 -
Judgement Day wrote: »Nope, this has been aired before it was a private footbridge built on the Guinness Estate for estate workers... there is a thread somewhere which I will link to when I find it.
From Infrastructure: Oddities of irish infrastructure.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=66599005#post66599005
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:49VREt_CtmMJ:www.fingalcoco.ie/YourLocalCouncil/AboutFingal/OtherServices/Architects/PublicBuildings/FileDownload,22093,en.pdf+strawberry+beds+bridge&hl=en&gl=ie&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjAuzXeUtDFFfHksMgyeOqblfQ_nOVc-oSVSU-HySbjYTQFpPf_jFgCJr8gJuB9ZVRFJS-H03sDljLr1ugoalrwi6VEsy-EsjEgZ3Y4VGc2755ZP6vsxc6wGF702M72CeQPZirt&sig=AHIEtbS1dhnGdg3B1Lury4hXwT_dYWx--g0 -
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Keeping up the matrimonial theme of the thread I include the former Harcourt Street line viaduct at the Brides Glen nr.Loughlinstown. When I was last on the viaduct in the 1970s it was in a quiet secluded spot but since the 'developments' at Cherrywood I suspect that this is no longer the case - I won't go back in case it spoils my memories of the place. I think that I'm correct in saying that the eventual extension of the Green Luas line (B2) to Bray will see track back on the viaduct? http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/luas_bray_fassaroe/route_selection/Pages/default.aspx
The viaduct as seen from below.
The view westwards from the top of the viaduct.
Both views by kind permission of John Burke.
More pics on his Flickr site here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnnyghia1302/3551248780/in/photostream/0 -
When I was a child growing up in Bray we regularly used to make the short trip to Enniskerry for picnics, and the twisty little road to the village that follows the course of the River Dargle from the N11 passed this picturesque footbridge - reminiscent of the earlier one at the Vartry Reservoir.
This is Lawrence photograph from the National Library of Ireland and the collection can be viewed online at: http://www.nli.ie/en/udlist/photographs-collections.aspx0 -
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I think the LUAS bridge at Dundrum sweeps over the junction nicely
I do quite like that bridge. Firstly it's cable stayed which is far more aesthetically pleasing and more interesting engineering than the usual "ah sure we'll put up some concrete peirs and stick some concrete decking on top, it'll do like". Secondly, it's down low and the area around it is very accessible to the public so you can actually walk around it, see it from some great angles and of course, the engineering of the bridge is all on show which is fantastic.
The bridges in #13 #27 and #33 are really nice, I like how they've taken what would be a fairly regular bridge and really made it into something interesting and different. The chetwynd viaduct in #14 is also rather handsome, it's a shame it doesn't have its deck on.0 -
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There are two more of the Vartry style bridges at Bohernabreena
they are actually links to the valve houses to allow the reservoirs be drained, normally locked off
Although you do see kids in the summer jumping off. hideously dangerous as there is up to 48-inch pipe entrys directly below.0 -
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Judgement Day wrote: »Keeping up the matrimonial theme of the thread I include the former Harcourt Street line viaduct at the Brides Glen nr.Loughlinstown. When I was last on the viaduct in the 1970s it was in a quiet secluded spot but since the 'developments' at Cherrywood I suspect that this is no longer the case - I won't go back in case it spoils my memories of the place. I think that I'm correct in saying that the eventual extension of the Green Luas line (B2) to Bray will see track back on the viaduct? http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/luas_bray_fassaroe/route_selection/Pages/default.aspx
The viaduct as seen from below.
The view westwards from the top of the viaduct.
Both views by kind permission of John Burke.
More pics on his Flickr site here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnnyghia1302/3551248780/in/photostream/
Nice viaduct and very well hidden. Not as well known as the "arches". But I'm trying to find a snap I have of the alignment across it, littered with beer cans, condoms and camp fire remains.:D Seriously.
My personal faves are Gleensk viaduct and Chetwynd for sheer scale and beauty.0 -
Another one from the Tralee & Dingle Light Railway to finish me for today. Hard to believe that this peaceful spot on a bend on the N86 Tralee/Dingle road was the scene of carnage on May 22nd, 1893. A fair special from Dingle containing passengers and a consignment of pigs ran away down the notorious Glen-na-galt bank (3 miles of falling gradient at 1:30) and crashed off the western side of the viaduct. The train was estimated to be travelling at 40 mph when it derailed instead of the regulation 6 mph! The three railway men on the footplate were killed in the crash and 13 passengers were injured some seriously. The full Board of Trade report into the accident is available as a pdf file and makes fascinating reading: http://www.tdlr.org.uk
Some of the points undercovered during the enquiry found that the train was being driven by a locomotive inspector not familiar with the line, that the railway equipment itself was defective and that that the railway had been built on the cheap thereby leading to overly steep inclines and sharp curves - literally cutting corners to save money. Although some slight easing of the curves was carried out in the years following the accident it was not until 1907 that a new bridge and associated deviation was completed. See photo and map below - by kind permission of Ted Polet. His website: http://www.narrowgauge.nl/site/english/tdsurvey.htm contains other drawings and photographs of the Tralee & Dingle today.
And below the 'new' 1907 deviation bridge which is still in situ today.
Interestingly the insignificant Finglas River was crossed by no less than four bridges in close proximity -the two pictured here, the Tralee/Dingle road bridge and a short distance north of the accident scene the Castlegregory branch of the T&D also crossed the river but sadly only the abutments survive today hidden in the trees.
Further fascinating information about the T&D is available at: http://www.tdlr.org.uk/0 -
Judgement Day wrote: »Dainty and obscure this fairytale structure is at the Vartry Reservoir nr.Roundwood in Co.Wicklow.
can u walk on it or is it closed off???0 -
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I think this bridge near Ardnacrusha dam is interesting, because its representative of a more modern Ireland in its infancy. A very distinctive structure that still stands out in the locality. Similar structures are present along this particular man made water channel to divert the shannon to the power station. A stunning piece of infrastructure for those who can appreciate the enormity of it in the late 1920s.
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One final contribution from me tonight. The Bord na Mona Shannon rail bridge, that runs into the Former Ballinasloe Grand Canal branch (converted to rail use). A modern structure by all accounts and built at considerable cost to link the oul turf with a power station. Little known railway crossing of the shannon, but beautiful all the same.
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