Free Kirk Bridge

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Free Kirk Bridge (1846-)

Opened on the North British Railway.

Description

This is a double track bridge which carries the East Coast Main Line. The original bridge was washed away in the floods of August 1948, leaving a single track spanning the gap where the missing bridge had been. It was replaced in December 1948 with a concrete and steel bridge with five spans. It was one of seven bridges carrying the main line which were washed away during the flooding of the 11th and 12th of August.

Tags

Bridge

Chronology Dates

11/08/1948North British Railway
Severe flooding on the 11th and 12th washes away seven bridges and causes six landslips on the East Coast Main Line. Only part of a parapet of the Free Kirk Bridge remained where a single track was left bridging the gap. The Penmanshiel Tunnel floods, with waters reaching almost to the tunnel roof. Large amounts of silt and rubble wash over the line at Grantshouse. With the line closed trains are diverted via Kelso.
24/12/1948North British Railway
The Free Kirk Bridge is replaced following flood damage in August. It is tested with A4 Pacific 60012 Commonwealth of Australia and Hunt Class D49/1 62706 Forfarshire on a train.

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

Drem to Edinburgh: Including Gullane, Haddington, Tranent, Musselburgh and Fisherrow Branches (Scottish Main Lines)

Edinburgh St. Margaret's: The Story of the 'Other' Edinburgh Depot of the North British Railway 1845-1967

Exploring Disused Railways in East Scotland

Last Trains: Edinburgh and South East Scotland v. 1
LNER Wagons: Volume 3: Scottish Area: Ex North British and Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway Wagons
North British Railway in Northumberland, The

North British Railway, Vol. 1 (Standard Railway History)

North British Railway, Vol. 2 (Standard Railway History)

Signalling and Signal Boxes along the North British Railway, Great North of Scotland Railway and the CLC Routes

South East Scotland (British Railways Past & Present)

The Castle and the Bear: A Brief History of the North British Railway

The North British Railway a History
The North British Railway, Volume 1, One,
The Vanished Railways of Old Western Dunbartonshire (Britains Railways/Old Photos)

Vanished Railways of West Lothian