Border Counties Bridge

Border Counties Bridge was a 19th-century railway bridge across the River Tyne just west of Hexham, Northumberland, England. The bridge used to carry the Border Counties Railway over the River Tyne at Border Counties Junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.

Border Counties Bridge
Border Counties Bridge
Coordinates	54.9821°N 2.1207°W / 54.9821; -2.1207
OS grid reference	NY923652
Carries	Formerly, Border Counties Railway
Crosses	River Tyne
Locale	Northumberland
Owner	British Railways at the time of demolition in 1959
Preceded by	Hexham Bridge
Followed by	Constantius Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Beam bridge[1]
Material	Wrought Iron[1]
Pier construction	Cast Iron and Masonry/Concrete[1]
No. of spans	5
Piers in water	4[1]
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks	Formerly, 1
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)
History
Construction end	1856[1]
Opened	1856 (1856)
Closed	1 September 1958 (1958-09-01)
Border Counties Bridge Location in Northumberland

Border Counties Railway
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Status	Closed
Locale	Roxburghshire, Scotland Northumberland, England
Operation
Commenced	11 December 1855
Opened	2 April 1858 (1858-04-02)
Completed	24 June 1862
Closed	1 September 1958 (1958-09-01) (except Reedsmouth–Bellingham, closed 11 November  1963)
Events
Merged into	North British Railway - 1860
Merged into	London North Eastern Railway - 1923
Merged into	British Railways - 1948
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map Waverley Route to Edinburgh Riccarton Junction Waverley Route to Carlisle Saughtree Scotland England Deadwater Kielder Lewiefield Halt Plashetts Plashetts Colliery Waggonway portion of line flooded by Kielder Water Falstone Thorneyburn Tarset Charlton Bellingham Wansbeck Railway to Morpeth Reedsmouth Countess Park (1859–1861) Wark Barrasford Chollerton Chollerford (later Humshaugh) Wall Newcastle & Carlisle Railway to Carlisle Border Counties Bridge Border Counties Junction Hexham Newcastle & Carlisle Railway to Newcastle

History

The Border Counties Railway was authorised by Parliament in 1854.[1] The bridge was part of that railway and linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, near Hexham, with the Border Union Railway at Riccarton Junction. The first section of the route was opened between Hexham and Chollerford in 1858, the remainder opening in 1862.[2]

The bridge was beset with problems from its construction when the temporary wooden structure erected initially to allow a crane access, was swept away by floods. The abutments at the south end had to be moved eastwards to avoid scouring of the river at its original site. Both weight and speed restrictions have always been a feature of the bridge. The bridge was reportedly damaged by floods in August 1948 and was given temporary repairs sufficient to keep the line open for a time.

The condition of the bridge was a major factor in the eventual closure of the line, the cost of repairs being considered prohibitive. Regular passenger trains ceased on 13 October 1956 although the line (and the bridge) remained open for goods traffic until 1 September 1958.

The bridge was demolished in 1959.[1] Today, the remains of the piers can still be seen in the river.[1]

References

1. "Border Counties Bridge - Hexham". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
2. Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. CN 8983.

Next crossing upstream	River Tyne	Next crossing downstream
Constantius Bridge A69 road	Border Counties Bridge Grid reference: NY923652	Hexham Old Bridge
Next railway bridge upstream	River Tyne	Next railway bridge downstream
Warden Railway Bridge Tyne Valley line	Border Counties Bridge Grid reference: NY923652	Wylam Railway Bridge Formerly North Wylam loop, now National Cycle Route 72
Next road bridge upstream	River Tyne	Next road bridge downstream
Constantius Bridge A69 road	Border Counties Bridge Grid reference: NY923652	Hexham Bridge A6079 road