Sunderland, Wearmouth Railway Bridge

HER Number:
4979

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Sunderland, Wearmouth Railway Bridge

Place:
Sunderland

Map Sheet:
NZ35NE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Railway Transport Site

Site Type: Specific:
Railway Bridge

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
The railway bridge, built in 1879, was designed by T.E. Harrison, the Chief Engineer of the North Eastern Railway. When built it was the largest hog-back iron girder bridge in the world. Its dull design, however, has led it to be perpetually overshadowed by the neighbouring road bridge. The bridge has a single span of 300 feet (91.4 metres) at 86 feet (26.2 metres) above high water. The bridge led south to rail tunnels totalling 1,000 yards (914.4 metres) in length on the approach to Sunderland station. LISTED GRADE 2

Easting:
3962

Northing:
5742

Grid Reference:
NZ39625742

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 4979 >> I. Ayris, The River Wear Trail Board Ten - The Bridges; I. Ayris & S.M. Linsley, 1994, A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Tyne and Wear, p 21; List Entry 1207051