King Edward VII Bridge
Encyclopedia
The King Edward VII Bridge is a railway bridge spanning the River Tyne between Newcastle upon Tyne
and Gateshead
, in North East England
.
, and built by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company
in Darlington
. The bridge is rather inelegant but functional, consisting of four lattice steel spans resting on concrete piers. The total length of the bridge is 1150 feet (350.5 m) and 112 ft (34.1 m) above high water mark.
Originally trains used the High Level Bridge
to reach Newcastle Central Station
and had to leave the station in the same direction they had entered from, which involved the tedious task of reversing. The construction of the King Edward VII Bridge provided four more rail tracks, and a direct line through the station enabling trains to enter or leave from either side and thus eased rail congestion.
The bridge was opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on 10 July 1906. The total cost amounted to £500,000.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
.
History
The bridge was designed and engineered by Charles A. Harrison, the Chief Civil Engineer of the North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
, and built by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company
Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company
The Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company is a renowned bridge building and structural engineering company based in Darlington, England. It has been involved in many major projects including the Victoria Falls Bridge and the Humber Bridge.-History:...
in Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
. The bridge is rather inelegant but functional, consisting of four lattice steel spans resting on concrete piers. The total length of the bridge is 1150 feet (350.5 m) and 112 ft (34.1 m) above high water mark.
Originally trains used the High Level Bridge
High Level Bridge
The High Level Bridge is a road and railway bridge spanning the River Tyne between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in North East England.-Design:...
to reach Newcastle Central Station
Newcastle Central station
Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...
and had to leave the station in the same direction they had entered from, which involved the tedious task of reversing. The construction of the King Edward VII Bridge provided four more rail tracks, and a direct line through the station enabling trains to enter or leave from either side and thus eased rail congestion.
The bridge was opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on 10 July 1906. The total cost amounted to £500,000.