Orchardhall Swing Bridge

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Orchardhall Swing Bridge (1911-1990)

Opened on the Bainsford Branch (Caledonian Railway).

Description

This swing bridge crossed the Forth and Clyde Canal and carried the 1911 goods only Bainsford Branch (Caledonian Railway) between its junction with the North British Railway at Bainsford Junction and Fouldubs Junction on the Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal), now owned by the Caledonian Railway.

The swing bridge was controlled by a signal box on the south west side of the line and south side of the canal. The box had an ungainly appearance due to the accumulator for the bridge being built to its rear.

The Falkirk Aluminium Works opened to the west, served from the east. This was to keep the line between the works and Fouldubs Junction open after it closed to the west in 1966. The box had closed in 1965, the canal it had crossed having closed in 1963 and the bridge became fixed. The single track line from Fouldubs Junction fell out of use in the mid 1980s and was officially closed around 1993.

The bridge was removed. The canal, by interesting comparison, was to re-open in the 2000s.

Tags

Swing bridge signal box
06/08/2019


Nearby stations
Thornbridge Halt
Falkirk Grahamston
Grangemouth
Falkirk High
Falkirk Camelon [1st]
Camelon
Camelon [1st]
Larbert
Polmont
Kincardine
Airth
Alloa Junction
Birkhill
Bonnybridge
Manuel
Lock 3 [1st] [FCC]
Bainsford Junction
Carron Cut
Lock 3 [FCC]
Lock 4 [FCC]
Abbots Iron Works
Lock 2 [Sea Lock] [FCC]
Falkirk Gas Works
Falkirk Aluminium Works
Forganhall Galvanising Works
TDG Nexus Grangemouth
Castlelaurie Iron Works
Blue Circle Cement Grangemouth
Russell Depot Grangemouth
Tourist/other
The Kelpies
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


Chronology Dates

23/11/1911Bainsford Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Orchardhall Swing Bridge to Fouldubs Junction opened, completing line.