Excellent film, thank you for it. I always think about the swing bridges when stuck at Sutton Bridge in the A17. There was yet another one on the Southwold Railway across the River Blyth, long gone although the present footbridge is a reminder of it.
Fantastic video, beautiful scenery I love swing bridges especially ones that carry railways across them. Fascinating watching one opening & closing & seeing the trains going over them. Awesome close up filming too of the workmen on the bridge, great feats of engineering still working a century later. Enjoyed this video thank you! 😊👍
These videos are so fascinating. Loved the Picc line as a kid, going from Uxbridge to South Ken and Covent Garden for the museums. Never get tired of watching these and listening to your commentary. Thanks for sharing your days with us!!
A worthy subject and well presented. There is another one, that alas, no longer carries the railway but now just carries the A17 over the River Nene at Sutton Bridge in the New Holland district of Lincolnshire. It is situated 9 miles west of King's Lynn and is still operational. The A17 is a horrible congested road so the loss of an East-West rail link was a very bad mistake.
I remember it well - 5 o'clock on a Summer Friday afternoon - guaranteed that there was a ship going to or leaving Wisbech! Turn the car engine off, recline the seat, and have a nap!
Excellent video ! I live in ths area, so am familar with all 4 bridges. I've kayaked under the Trowse swing bridge; it's very noisy when you're underneath it and a train goes over ! I wonder how these bridges survived when the maintanance of the St Olaves & Beccles swing bridges were cited as the reason for the Yarmouth Southtown - Beccles line closing. Maybe it was just an excuse.
@@norfolkngauge I've been over all of them too but the Somerleyton & Reedham ones very few times. You can hear trains trundling over Trowse bridge from Whitlingham Broad ! You're probably right re. cost of mainatanance.
My understanding was that the Beccles - Great Yarmouth line closed due to low levels of traffic. If I remember correctly this was before the Beeching cuts, and first the passenger service was discontinued, but freight traffic continued (just from Beccles to Haddiscoe?) for a few years after that. The piers of the former swing bridge over the Waveney, between Beccles and Aldeby on that line, are still in place, including the one in the middle of the river. You can walk to it from Beccles along the riverside path (which continues to Oulton Broad), or more directly along the former trackbed across Beccles Marshes from where it spilts from the remaining Beccles - Lowestoft line. (Pleasant trip to it by kayak from Beccles slipway, too.)
@@norfolkngauge They are indeed expensive to maintain. They are even more expensive to replace, which Network Rail are very reluctant to do. They have lasted beyond their anticipated working life and have become not just costly to maintain but also unreliable, often out of service, sometimes for extended periods, and an obstruction to traffic on the rivers.
I've found the following information about the red flags: "Reedham bridge swings on demand when there is one red flag flying from the control box. If two red flags are flying the bridge is inoperable." There were workers on bridge when I filmed so probably the bridge was locked for that reason. www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/water-depths/river-yare#:~:text=Reedham%20bridge%20swings%20on%20demand,if%20a%20train%20is%20imminent
Interesting. I find it quite amusing that two of them are both on the same line crossing the same body of water. Could perhaps use a bit less music and a bit more narration, in my personal opinion. I advise looking at Jago Hazzard for inspiration (one can NEVER go wrong with Jago Hazzard. well, almost never).
Good video, thank you for sharing
Excellent film, thank you for it. I always think about the swing bridges when stuck at Sutton Bridge in the A17. There was yet another one on the Southwold Railway across the River Blyth, long gone although the present footbridge is a reminder of it.
Beautifully researched and presented, thank you very much!
Fantastic video, beautiful scenery I love swing bridges especially ones that carry railways across them. Fascinating watching one opening & closing & seeing the trains going over them. Awesome close up filming too of the workmen on the bridge, great feats of engineering still working a century later. Enjoyed this video thank you! 😊👍
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
These videos are so fascinating. Loved the Picc line as a kid, going from Uxbridge to South Ken and Covent Garden for the museums. Never get tired of watching these and listening to your commentary. Thanks for sharing your days with us!!
Don't forget the two other swing bridges we had at Haddiscoe and Beccles on the old Beccles to Gt Yarmouth line. So at one point we had six!
Sutton Bridge also carried the railway on one side until 1959
Ok, I learnt something here lol, only ever think of Reedham totally overlooked other three!
Absolutely Beautiful. Locations Trains Birds Singing Just What I Need . Thanks 👍🛤️🚆😊
Thanks Highlighter 👋
A worthy subject and well presented.
There is another one, that alas, no longer carries the railway but now just carries the A17 over the River Nene at Sutton Bridge in the New Holland district of Lincolnshire. It is situated 9 miles west of King's Lynn and is still operational. The A17 is a horrible congested road so the loss of an East-West rail link was a very bad mistake.
I remember it well - 5 o'clock on a Summer Friday afternoon - guaranteed that there was a ship going to or leaving Wisbech!
Turn the car engine off, recline the seat, and have a nap!
@@rwm2986 The traffic is often stopped long enough for a nap throughout the A17, now 🤣
Oh How Free The People Are There. Away from cities too much traffic etc.
Excellent video !
I live in ths area, so am familar with all 4 bridges. I've kayaked under the Trowse swing bridge; it's very noisy when you're underneath it and a train goes over !
I wonder how these bridges survived when the maintanance of the St Olaves & Beccles swing bridges were cited as the reason for the Yarmouth Southtown - Beccles line closing.
Maybe it was just an excuse.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. After seeing the bridges & riding over them, I imagine the maintenance costs a fortune.
@@norfolkngauge
I've been over all of them too but the Somerleyton & Reedham ones very few times.
You can hear trains trundling over Trowse bridge from Whitlingham Broad !
You're probably right re. cost of mainatanance.
My understanding was that the Beccles - Great Yarmouth line closed due to low levels of traffic. If I remember correctly this was before the Beeching cuts, and first the passenger service was discontinued, but freight traffic continued (just from Beccles to Haddiscoe?) for a few years after that.
The piers of the former swing bridge over the Waveney, between Beccles and Aldeby on that line, are still in place, including the one in the middle of the river. You can walk to it from Beccles along the riverside path (which continues to Oulton Broad), or more directly along the former trackbed across Beccles Marshes from where it spilts from the remaining Beccles - Lowestoft line. (Pleasant trip to it by kayak from Beccles slipway, too.)
@@norfolkngauge They are indeed expensive to maintain. They are even more expensive to replace, which Network Rail are very reluctant to do.
They have lasted beyond their anticipated working life and have become not just costly to maintain but also unreliable, often out of service, sometimes for extended periods, and an obstruction to traffic on the rivers.
Lovely! What do the red flags on the swing bridges mean?
I've found the following information about the red flags: "Reedham bridge swings on demand when there is one red flag flying from the control box. If two red flags are flying the bridge is inoperable." There were workers on bridge when I filmed so probably the bridge was locked for that reason. www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/water-depths/river-yare#:~:text=Reedham%20bridge%20swings%20on%20demand,if%20a%20train%20is%20imminent
@@norfolkngauge Interesting, thank you!
I take it the overhead line on the bridge is a neutral section, or is it a fully energised section?
It's powered, but the section over the bridge is a fixed rail with the wires terminating either side.
Interesting. I find it quite amusing that two of them are both on the same line crossing the same body of water.
Could perhaps use a bit less music and a bit more narration, in my personal opinion. I advise looking at Jago Hazzard for inspiration (one can NEVER go wrong with Jago Hazzard. well, almost never).
4:32 they turn the bridge for one boat? Great.
Please let the info stay some seconds more; remember one can't watch while trying to read.
Thanks for watching