Barmouth Bridge
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The Barmouth Bridge (Welsh: Pont Abermaw) is a railway viaduct that crosses the estuary of the River Mawddach on the coast of Cardigan Bay between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth in Gwynedd, Wales. A footbridge is incorporated on the landward side and pedestrians can walk by the side of the tracks across the river on payment of a toll of 60 pence (cycles 10 pence extra). The distance is about 900 yards. The viaduct carries the Cambrian Line, the main line of the former Cambrian Railways, which runs from Shrewsbury, England to Pwllheli.
The bridge was built by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and opened in 1867. As built, it included a lifting drawbridge section to permit the passage of tall ships, and at the time, was entirely constructed of wood. However, the drawbridge section, at the Northern end of the bridge, was rebuilt in 1901 as a swing bridge with two steel spans to allow the passage of tall ships. This facility is still available but rarely required.
Passenger train services over the bridge declined significantly during the 1960s, when the Ruabon to Barmouth line via Llangollen and Dolgellau was closed causing all traffic to take the longer and slower route from Shrewsbury via Machynlleth and Dovey Junction.
Serious doubts in 1980 concerning the safety of the ageing wooden structure under the weight of modern locomotives led to a ban on locomotive hauled trains, such that steam and diesel locomotive hauled tours were required to terminate at Fairbourne. The ban brought the immediate cessation of the diminishing freight traffic north of Tywyn, including explosives traffic to and from the factory at Penrhyndeudraeth. That traffic had to be re-routed via Maentwrog Road railway station and the Conwy Valley Line.
Following major repairs to the bridge, the weight restriction was relaxed in 2005, and both diesel hauled and steam hauled trains have again on occasion been allowed to cross. On the 13 April 1986 a British Rail Class 37, number 37427, was named "Bont Y Bermo" to celebrate an earlier (but short lived) re-introduction of locomotive hauled services across Barmouth Bridge following repairs in 1985/6.
The first road crossing of the Afon Mawddach is a toll bridge at Penmaenpool about five miles (8 km) further upstream and suitable only for motor cars and light vans. Heavier road vehicles must use the first public road bridge, which is at Dolgellau about ten miles (16 km) from Barmouth.
[edit] External links
- Aerial photo of Barmouth Bridge. Other map and aerial photo sources.
