BERKELEY ROAD TO LYDNEY (Severn Bridge Railway, GWR/Midland Joint)
7th March 2006

The Severn Bridge Railway ran between Berkeley Road and Lydney by way of the Severn Railway Bridge. It became part of the Severn & Wye Railway and later became a Midland/GW joint line. The section from Lydney to Sharpness closed in 1960 after two spans of the bridge were destroyed after being hit by the petroleum barges "Arkendale H" and "Wastdale H". Berkeley Road to Sharpness remains open for freight although it is not often used.
Engineer's Line Reference: SAW

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The site of the branch platforms at Berkeley Road, looking towards the junction from the first bridge over the branch, SAW 00 22. 20th July 2008. OS: SO716001
The site of the branch platforms at Berkeley Road, looking towards the junction from the first bridge over the branch, SAW 00 22. 20th July 2008. OS: SO716001
 A similar view taken on 19th January 1992. OS: SO716001
A similar view taken on 19th January 1992. OS: SO716001
 Looking towards Sharpness from bridge SAW 00 22. 20th July 2008. OS: SO716001
Looking towards Sharpness from bridge SAW 00 22. 20th July 2008. OS: SO716001
 Berkeley station site looking towards Sharpness. April 1991. OS: SO684004
Berkeley station site looking towards Sharpness. April 1991. OS: SO684004
The site of the station at Berkeley. The remains of a platform can be seen on the right. April 1991. OS: SO684004
The site of the station at Berkeley. The remains of a platform can be seen on the right. April 1991. OS: SO684004
 Bridge SAW 3 25 just outside Sharpness. 20th July 2008. SO673014
Bridge SAW 3 25 just outside Sharpness. 20th July 2008. SO673014
 The High Level road/rail bridge at Sharpness Docks. April 1991. OS: SO673028
The High Level road/rail bridge at Sharpness Docks. April 1991. OS: SO673028
 The platform ends at Sharpness. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
The platform ends at Sharpness. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
The remains of the platforms at Sharpness station. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
The remains of the platforms at Sharpness station. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
 A view of Sharpness station prior to closure. (Photographer unknown).
A view of Sharpness station prior to closure. (Photographer unknown).
 Sharpness. A close up of one of the former flower beds on the old Lydney-bound platform. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
Sharpness. A close up of one of the former flower beds on the old Lydney-bound platform. 16th April 1991. OS: SO675027
 Sharpness station site seen from the road bridge (SAW 4 18). 6th April 2006.
Sharpness station site seen from the road bridge (SAW 4 18). 6th April 2006.
Looking towards the cutting that leads to the Severn Bridge from the road bridge at Sharpness station (SAW 4 18) . 16th April 1991. OS: SO676028
Looking towards the cutting that leads to the Severn Bridge from the road bridge at Sharpness station (SAW 4 18) . 16th April 1991. OS: SO676028
 A similar view from bridge SAW 4 18 at Sharpness, taken on 6th May 2006. OS: SO676028
A similar view from bridge SAW 4 18 at Sharpness, taken on 6th May 2006. OS: SO676028
 The cutting curving towards the river. 16th April 1991. OS: SP677029
The cutting curving towards the river. 16th April 1991. OS: SP677029
 Half way through the approach cutting. 16th April 1991. OS: SP679031
Half way through the approach cutting. 16th April 1991. OS: SP679031
The cutting between Sharpness station and the bridge, looking towards Sharpness. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678032
The cutting between Sharpness station and the bridge, looking towards Sharpness. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678032
 The approach viaduct on the Sharpness side of the Severn Railway Bridge. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
The approach viaduct on the Sharpness side of the Severn Railway Bridge. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
 Approach viaduct detail showing a bearing plate and locking mechanism where the swing bridge joined the fixed viaduct. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
Approach viaduct detail showing a bearing plate and locking mechanism where the swing bridge joined the fixed viaduct. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
 Looking back towards Sharpness from the approach viaduct. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
Looking back towards Sharpness from the approach viaduct. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
Part of the locking mechanism for the swing bridge, high on the approach viaduct of the bridge. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
Part of the locking mechanism for the swing bridge, high on the approach viaduct of the bridge. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678033
 The base of the swing bridge on the Sharpness side of the bridge. Although a contract was let to demolish these structures for some reason it was not completed. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
The base of the swing bridge on the Sharpness side of the bridge. Although a contract was let to demolish these structures for some reason it was not completed. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
 The swing bridge remains. 27th October 2009. OS: SO678034
The swing bridge remains. 27th October 2009. OS: SO678034New
 Another view of the swingbridge pier. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
Another view of the swingbridge pier. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
The swing bridge base from above showing the remains of the bearing. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
The swing bridge base from above showing the remains of the bearing. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
 Standing at the base of the swingbridge pier is this slightly unhelpful and inaccurate steel sculpture. 27th October 2009. OS: SO678034
Standing at the base of the swingbridge pier is this slightly unhelpful and inaccurate steel sculpture. 27th October 2009. OS: SO678034New
 Detail of one of the arched openings on the swing bridge tower. The pulley is left over from the never-completed demolition contract. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
Detail of one of the arched openings on the swing bridge tower. The pulley is left over from the never-completed demolition contract. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
 A 1917 postcard showing the bridge from the Sharpness side. with the swingbridge nearest the camera.
A 1917 postcard showing the bridge from the Sharpness side. with the swingbridge nearest the camera.
The swing bridge over the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. This section was built to double track width although it only ever carried a single track.
The swing bridge over the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. This section was built to double track width although it only ever carried a single track.
 The top of pier 1 of the bridge, seen here on the foreshore where if was left after demolition. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
The top of pier 1 of the bridge, seen here on the foreshore where if was left after demolition. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
 Detail of the top of pier 1 showing one of the bearing plates. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
Detail of the top of pier 1 showing one of the bearing plates. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
 Smashed up stonework around the top of pier 1. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
Smashed up stonework around the top of pier 1. 16th April 1991. OS: SO678034
At low tide it is possible to see the remains of several bridge piers on the river bed. I believe these are piers 10 to 14 counting from left to right. 1st July 1989.
At low tide it is possible to see the remains of several bridge piers on the river bed. I believe these are piers 10 to 14 counting from left to right. 1st July 1989.
 A large section of pier tube on the Sharpness foreshore. 27th October 2009.
A large section of pier tube on the Sharpness foreshore. 27th October 2009.New
 The remains of four bridge piers in the channel. (Image courtesy of Google Earth).
The remains of four bridge piers in the channel. (Image courtesy of Google Earth).
 The bases of two of the columns that made up pier 21 of the bridge, seen here when exposed at low tide. Piers 2 to 18 used paired cast iron columns filled with concrete. Piers 19 to 21 used four of the same columns as they carried the largest spans. 28th June 1989. OS: SO670040
The bases of two of the columns that made up pier 21 of the bridge, seen here when exposed at low tide. Piers 2 to 18 used paired cast iron columns filled with concrete. Piers 19 to 21 used four of the same columns as they carried the largest spans. 28th June 1989. OS: SO670040
A fragment from one of the cast iron tubes that formed part of pier 21.
A fragment from one of the cast iron tubes that formed part of pier 21.
 The bridge seen some time after the disaster showing the two missing spans and the temporary shoring under the adjacent span. (Photo courtesy of Edgworths 2000 from his Flickr photostream).
The bridge seen some time after the disaster showing the two missing spans and the temporary shoring under the adjacent span. (Photo courtesy of Edgworths 2000 from his Flickr photostream).
 The bridge being demolished. (Photo courtesy of Edgworths 2000 from his Flickr photostream).
The bridge being demolished. (Photo courtesy of Edgworths 2000 from his Flickr photostream).
 A 1913 postcard showing the bridge from the Lydney side.
A 1913 postcard showing the bridge from the Lydney side.
Plan of the bridge, western side.
Plan of the bridge, western side.
 Plan of the bridge, eastern side.
Plan of the bridge, eastern side.
 Victims of the Severn Railway Bridge Disaster. At low tide the wrecks of the barges
Victims of the Severn Railway Bridge Disaster. At low tide the wrecks of the barges "Arkendale H" and "Wastdale H" can be seen on the sand bank upstream of the bridge. Both barges were lost along with most of their crew in 1960. 16th April 1991.
 The barge wrecks seen on 20th July 2008.
The barge wrecks seen on 20th July 2008.
After two attempts to fell the western approach viaduct by explosives one pier remained stubbornly upright. It was later winched over where it can still be seen today. 28th June 1989. OS: SO669041
After two attempts to fell the western approach viaduct by explosives one pier remained stubbornly upright. It was later winched over where it can still be seen today. 28th June 1989. OS: SO669041
 View across the bridge from pier 15 after the tanker accident. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
View across the bridge from pier 15 after the tanker accident. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
 Looking towards Sharpness across the gap. The top of damaged pier 16 is nearest the camera with pier 18 visible in the distance. Pier 17 is missing along with its two associated spans. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
Looking towards Sharpness across the gap. The top of damaged pier 16 is nearest the camera with pier 18 visible in the distance. Pier 17 is missing along with its two associated spans. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
 Severn Bridge Station, on the western side of the bridge. The Midland type signal box in 1976. OS: SO667043 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Severn Bridge Station, on the western side of the bridge. The Midland type signal box in 1976. OS: SO667043 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Despite having been closed since 1960 the box still survived on 28th June 1989. Inside, the frame was missing but the stove was still present and the fire bucket hooks were present by the entrance. OS: SO667043
Despite having been closed since 1960 the box still survived on 28th June 1989. Inside, the frame was missing but the stove was still present and the fire bucket hooks were present by the entrance. OS: SO667043
 The rear of the signal box which is perched high on the approach embankment. 28th June 1989. OS: SO667043
The rear of the signal box which is perched high on the approach embankment. 28th June 1989. OS: SO667043
 Occupation underbridge immediately west of Severn Bridge station. 6th April 2007. OS: SO667042 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Occupation underbridge immediately west of Severn Bridge station. 6th April 2007. OS: SO667042 (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Severn Bridge station looking towards Lydney in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Severn Bridge station looking towards Lydney in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
The same view on 28th June 1989. OS: SO667043
The same view on 28th June 1989. OS: SO667043
 Severn Bridge station seen from above the tunnel. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
Severn Bridge station seen from above the tunnel. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
 The northern portal of Severn Bridge Tunnel. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
The northern portal of Severn Bridge Tunnel. 25th May 1964. (Photo from the D.J. Norton collection by kind permission of Mark Norton)
 A similar view taken in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
A similar view taken in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Looking out of the northern portal of the tunnel in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
Looking out of the northern portal of the tunnel in 1976. (Picture courtesy of Pete Dainty).
 Map of the route.
Map of the route.
 Extract from the 1953 OS 1 inch map sheet 156 showing the course of the line.
Extract from the 1953 OS 1 inch map sheet 156 showing the course of the line.
 
Related Links: [ British Movietone News item on demolition of the bridge. ]
 
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
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