STOCKTON RAILWAY BRIDGES
"A suspension bridge for the railway was not used before so it was decided to test it. The first bridge failed due to lack of stiffness and excessive deflection, it had to be suported by trestles set in the bed of the river. It was replaced in 1844 by an iron trussed girder bridge by Robert Stephenson."
Bridges Over the Tees. C H Morris. 2000
There are two rail bridges at this location, the downstream one now being disused. The first rail bridge here, linking Stockton with the then small settlement of Middlesbrough, dated from 1830 and was the world's first railway suspension bridge, but was not a success, and was eventually replaced in 1844 by a 3 span trussed iron girder bridge designed by Robert Stephenson. Failure of similar designs elsewhere led to its being strengthened and eventually to its replacement by another bridge built alongside when the use of cast iron was prohibited on main line railway bridges. However Stephenson's 1844 bridge had its cast iron girders replaced in 1906 wth steel plate ones and it is still in use today unlike the later bridge which has became redundant and had its tracks lifted.
Railway traffic over the bridges increased enormously as Teesside developed and despite some recent industrial decline, still remains busy with both freight and passenger trains.
In 2008/2009 the Stephenson bridge was demolished and a new bridge erected in its place. Built of concrete and steel it is not yet in commission.
- Constructed - 1844 and 1882?
- Type - 1. beam, steel girder on masonry piers.
2. beam wrought iron plate girder on cast iron piers, concrete-filled, 5 spans (disused).
3. beam, concrete and steel, 4 span. - Position: Stockton-on-Tees.
- Grid Ref: NZ 446 179
