44:
568:
550:
532:
514:
403:, a former apprentice of Stephenson's, was selected to serve as the resident engineer, being responsible overseeing the day-to-day work at the site. Reportedly, the construction of the Royal Border Bridge consumed 8 million cubic feet (227,000 cubic metres) of stone; the inner part of the arches alone required 2.5 million bricks. Many of the same techniques that had been employed in the construction of Newcastle's
388:. The greatest height of the structure is 38.4 metres, which is located at the deepest point of the riverbed below. Possessing a total length of 658 metres, each of the bridge's over-arch spans measures 18.6 metres. The contract for the bridge's construction pertained to a one-mile length of the route; the non-masonry sections consist of earth embankments.
451:
Bridge, somewhat alleviating pressure from investors. This decision proved beneficial as, while the permanent structure had been intended to be completed in July 1849, it was not ready to carry rail traffic until March 1850. On 29 August 1850, the bridge was officially opened in a ceremony officiated by the reigning monarch,
282:. It has 28 arches, each spanning 60 feet (18 m). The railway is carried 37 metres (121 ft) above the river level. During 1989, it was electrified as a part of the wider East Coast Main Line electrification scheme. Between 1993 and 1996, the structure underwent significant repair work for the first time in a
497:
During early 2010, plans were mooted for the installation of a night-time illumination scheme upon the Royal Border Bridge; at the time, this measure was promoted as being a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of Robert
Stephenson. Originally meant to be operational by November 2010,
450:
While the permanent structure was still under construction, several temporary timber viaducts were deployed and used by early train services, as well as by construction-related traffic. In this fashion, the overall route could be opened without having to wait for the completion of the Royal Border
441:
flowing in the river would be broken up on contact with the bridge; this process was aided by the embedding of several iron bars into the masonry for greater strength. This feature was covered by later alterations to the piers, which were performed as a part of measures made to accommodate for an
485:
After having stood for 143 years as a major part of the East Coast Main Line, the Royal Border Bridge underwent significant maintenance for the first time during 1993. The restoration program, which was largely focused upon repairs to the 15 land based arches, was undertaken as a joint project
369:, albeit this work was performed under Stephenson's supervision. In particular, Stephenson typically played a hands-on role in the design of the key bridges along the envisioned route, although some of the detailed work was commonly performed by other figures as well.
372:
The viaduct, which is constructed on a gentle curve, was a conventional masonry structure. It consists of 28 arches, 15 of which being over land to the south of the River Tweed and 13 over the river itself; these were set out in two groups separated by a stop pier.
506:
filed its application for a permanent lighting system to be installed. During 2016, the bridge was fitted with colour-changing lights; the installation being completed in time for the structure's 160th anniversary.
310:
and construction work had commenced by July 1845. While much of the line was completed within two years of this date, work upon several major structures, including the Royal Border Bridge, had barely begun.
549:
567:
433:
The first elements of the structure to be completed were the 15 land arches, along with the stop pier; during the construction of the remaining arches, this functioned as a
574:
335:
322:
and the Royal Border Bridge itself, was necessary to traverse terrain features. In the case of the Royal Border Bridge, it was required to take the line over the
1131:
410:
During the designing of the structure, particular attention was paid to the foundations of the bridge. Firmly anchoring the bridge involved the driving of many
479:
1266:
1111:
1066:
1281:
785:
775:
407:
were shared with this structure as well. At the height of construction activity, the workforce is believed to have involved upwards of 2,700 men.
556:
531:
470:
to accommodate the installation of electrification gantries. As a consequence of the Royal Border Bridge having been recognised with Grade 1
513:
365:. Regardless of Stephenson's presence at the YN&BR, the majority of the planning and engineering was undertaken by the civil engineer
1256:
596:
Bruce, George
Barclay (1851). "Description of the Royal Border Bridge over the River Tweed, on the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway".
357:
The company's chief engineer, and thus the individual most crucial to the completion of the desired line, was the noted railway engineer
726:
1261:
538:
478:
infrastructure used was specially designed for a reduced visual impact on the bridge and had to be reviewed and approved by the
61:
817:
520:
391:
On 15 May 1847, the foundation stone for what would become the Royal Border Bridge, which was then simply referred to as the
1159:
710:
43:
339:
299:
249:
1271:
779:
741:
502:, damaged underwater cables, delaying the illumination and preventing some lights from functioning. In January 2012,
459:; it was at this event that the Queen consented for the structure to be formally named as the Royal Border Bridge.
334:. During 1847, Hudson was instrumental in the merger of the N&BR with another of his business interests, the
314:
In order to construct the line along the surveyed route, the completion of several major structures, such as the
399:-based construction firm McKay & Blackstock were appointed to build the structure, while the civil engineer
302:(N&BR) company, which was formed in 1845 under the control of the prolific railway financier and politician
599:
237:
756:
1286:
503:
404:
315:
54:
694:
1276:
1121:
1096:
1034:
925:
430:
were constructed which, along with several steam-driven pumps, worked together to keep out the water.
920:
810:
1235:
1220:
790:
641:
935:
482:
prior to its installation. The installation allows for electric traction to traverse the bridge.
385:
559:
A panorama from up-river, showing all 28 arches of the Royal Border Bridge over the River Tweed
456:
422:
above; this task was considerably aided by the application of a patented
Nasmyth steam-powered
366:
306:. Almost immediately following its founding, the N&BR's proposed line was authorised by an
1195:
1126:
1091:
803:
463:
400:
342:(YN&BR). This combined entity sought to complete a continuous line between the British
253:
437:. The river piers were deliberately shaped at water level in such a manner that sheets of
8:
1230:
319:
1141:
1086:
945:
327:
211:
21:
16:"Berwick viaduct" redirects here. For the small road bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed, see
1116:
362:
358:
307:
245:
241:
169:
1181:
1071:
1044:
1039:
844:
491:
287:
577:
A Virgin Trains East Coast
Service crosses Royal Border Bridge, Berwick upon Tweed
471:
426:. In order to control and effectively drain away water at the site, several deep
411:
227:
1146:
1101:
854:
452:
331:
268:
230:
219:
96:
17:
1250:
1007:
997:
830:
795:
475:
303:
76:
63:
1171:
1166:
1106:
1076:
1029:
1024:
1012:
1002:
905:
467:
343:
418:, which could be reached only by going through roughly 12 metres of dense
1215:
1210:
1176:
1081:
992:
987:
977:
972:
930:
826:
423:
323:
207:
106:
256:. Despite its name, the bridge does not in fact span the border between
1225:
1205:
1019:
982:
959:
940:
915:
910:
895:
396:
215:
1200:
1191:
1186:
875:
487:
427:
378:
351:
283:
849:
434:
261:
486:
between the newly founded railway infrastructure maintenance firm
900:
859:
415:
374:
267:
The bridge is 659 metres (2,162 ft) long and constructed in
257:
233:
223:
419:
381:
347:
275:
272:
298:
The Royal Border Bridge has its origins in the ambitions of
727:"Berwick Royal Border Bridge illumination plans submitted."
279:
48:
Royal Border Bridge, showing 20 of the bridge's 28 arches.
499:
438:
377:
is used throughout the structure, which is complete with
20:. For the larger road bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed, see
466:
electrification program, the structure was modified by
384:
that form the arches' undersides, and covered by stone
595:
541:
Royal Border Bridge with 27 of the 28 arches in view
523:
Royal Border Bridge with 25 of the 28 arches in view
264:, which is approximately three miles further north.
711:"Royal Border Bridge plan lights up tourism hopes."
236:built between 1847 and 1850, when it was opened by
252:and is still in regular use today, as part of the
1248:
636:
634:
825:
632:
630:
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
618:
616:
614:
811:
757:"Royal Border Bridge Lighting Installation."
286:-led project, which was partially funded by
1267:Grade I listed railway bridges and viaducts
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
611:
1282:Grade I listed buildings in Northumberland
818:
804:
680:
678:
676:
674:
672:
670:
668:
666:
664:
662:
361:, who was the son of the railway pioneer
659:
1249:
799:
1160:Longest rivers of the United Kingdom
742:"Royal Border Bridge Illuminations."
340:York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway
250:York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway
13:
1257:Railway viaducts in Northumberland
14:
1298:
780:University of Newcastle upon Tyne
776:Information from the SINE project
769:
498:weather conditions, particularly
566:
548:
530:
512:
42:
326:at a site close to the town of
293:
1262:Bridges across the River Tweed
750:
735:
719:
703:
600:Institution of Civil Engineers
598:Minutes of Proceedings of the
589:
462:During 1989, as a part of the
150:
1:
786:Details on the repair project
582:
504:Northumberland County Council
445:
300:Newcastle and Berwick Railway
958:(upstream to downstream by
646:Network Rail Virtual Archive
7:
10:
1303:
1122:Ladykirk and Norham Bridge
1097:Dryburgh Suspension Bridge
336:York and Newcastle Railway
145:659 metres (2,162 ft)
15:
1272:Bridges completed in 1850
1155:
1055:
954:
884:
868:
837:
747:, Retrieved: 25 May 2018.
700:, Retrieved: 25 May 2018.
698:engineering-timelines.com
480:Royal Fine Art Commission
196:
191:
183:
175:
165:
160:
149:
141:
133:
128:
120:
112:
102:
92:
53:
41:
34:
1059:(upstream to downstream)
888:(upstream to downstream)
248:). It was built for the
244:(son of railway pioneer
29:Bridge in Northumberland
338:(Y&NR) to form the
137:Brick, faced with stone
695:"Royal Border Bridge."
367:Thomas Elliot Harrison
1132:A1 River Tweed Bridge
642:"Royal Border Bridge"
240:. It was designed by
1287:East Coast Main Line
1092:Drygrange Old Bridge
838:Administrative areas
464:East Coast Main Line
401:George Barclay Bruce
254:East Coast Main Line
1137:Royal Border Bridge
204:Royal Border Bridge
73: /
36:Royal Border Bridge
1277:Berwick-upon-Tweed
1142:Royal Tweed Bridge
1087:Leaderfoot Viaduct
955:Major tributaries
946:Berwick-upon-Tweed
442:extra rail track.
328:Berwick-upon-Tweed
212:Berwick-upon-Tweed
176:Construction start
22:Royal Tweed Bridge
1244:
1243:
1117:Coldstream Bridge
1060:
963:
889:
732:, 6 January 2012.
716:, 4 January 2010.
405:High Level Bridge
363:George Stephenson
359:Robert Stephenson
316:High Level Bridge
308:Act of Parliament
246:George Stephenson
242:Robert Stephenson
200:
199:
170:Robert Stephenson
1294:
1072:Neidpath Viaduct
1058:
1045:Blackadder Water
1040:Whiteadder Water
957:
887:
845:Scottish Borders
820:
813:
806:
797:
796:
763:
754:
748:
745:visitberwick.com
739:
733:
730:thejournal.co.uk
723:
717:
714:thejournal.co.uk
707:
701:
692:
657:
656:
654:
652:
638:
609:
608:
593:
570:
552:
534:
516:
492:English Heritage
395:, was laid. The
288:English Heritage
184:Construction end
152:
88:
87:
85:
84:
83:
78:
77:55.772°N 2.014°W
74:
71:
70:
69:
66:
46:
32:
31:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1292:
1291:
1247:
1246:
1245:
1240:
1151:
1112:Hunter's Bridge
1067:Carlow's Bridge
1057:
1051:
956:
950:
886:
880:
864:
833:
824:
772:
767:
766:
755:
751:
740:
736:
725:Daniel, Brian.
724:
720:
708:
704:
693:
660:
650:
648:
640:
639:
612:
594:
590:
585:
580:
579:
578:
576:
571:
562:
561:
560:
558:
553:
544:
543:
542:
540:
535:
526:
525:
524:
522:
517:
448:
296:
129:Characteristics
121:Heritage status
81:
79:
75:
72:
67:
64:
62:
60:
59:
49:
37:
30:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1300:
1290:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1242:
1241:
1239:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1163:
1162:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1147:Berwick Bridge
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1102:Mertoun Bridge
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1063:
1061:
1056:Major bridges
1053:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1048:
1047:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1016:
1015:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
966:
964:
952:
951:
949:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
892:
890:
882:
881:
879:
878:
872:
870:
866:
865:
863:
862:
857:
855:Northumberland
852:
847:
841:
839:
835:
834:
823:
822:
815:
808:
800:
794:
793:
788:
783:
771:
770:External links
768:
765:
764:
749:
734:
718:
709:Black, David.
702:
658:
610:
587:
586:
584:
581:
573:
572:
565:
564:
563:
555:
554:
547:
546:
545:
537:
536:
529:
528:
527:
519:
518:
511:
510:
509:
453:Queen Victoria
447:
444:
344:capital cities
332:Northumberland
295:
292:
238:Queen Victoria
228:Grade I listed
220:Northumberland
198:
197:
194:
193:
189:
188:
185:
181:
180:
177:
173:
172:
167:
163:
162:
158:
157:
154:
147:
146:
143:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
126:
125:
124:Grade I listed
122:
118:
117:
116:Northumberland
114:
110:
109:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
82:55.772; -2.014
57:
51:
50:
47:
39:
38:
35:
28:
18:Berwick Bridge
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1299:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1164:
1161:
1158:
1157:
1154:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1054:
1046:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1014:
1011:
1010:
1009:
1008:Ettrick Water
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
998:Leithen Water
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
968:
967:
965:
961:
953:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
893:
891:
883:
877:
874:
873:
871:
867:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
842:
840:
836:
832:
831:Great Britain
828:
821:
816:
814:
809:
807:
802:
801:
798:
792:
791:Tweed bridges
789:
787:
784:
781:
777:
774:
773:
761:
758:
753:
746:
743:
738:
731:
728:
722:
715:
712:
706:
699:
696:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
671:
669:
667:
665:
663:
647:
643:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
617:
615:
606:
602:
601:
592:
588:
575:
569:
557:
551:
539:
533:
521:
515:
508:
505:
501:
495:
493:
489:
483:
481:
477:
476:overhead line
473:
472:listed status
469:
465:
460:
458:
457:Prince Albert
454:
443:
440:
436:
431:
429:
425:
421:
417:
413:
408:
406:
402:
398:
394:
393:Tweed Viaduct
389:
387:
383:
380:
376:
370:
368:
364:
360:
355:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
312:
309:
305:
304:George Hudson
301:
291:
289:
285:
281:
277:
274:
270:
265:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
232:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
195:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
171:
168:
164:
159:
155:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
108:
105:
101:
98:
95:
91:
86:
58:
56:
52:
45:
40:
33:
27:
23:
19:
1136:
1127:Union Bridge
1107:Kelso Bridge
1077:Tweed Bridge
1030:River Teviot
1025:River Leader
1013:Yarrow Water
1003:Caddon Water
906:Innerleithen
762:, June 2016.
759:
752:
744:
737:
729:
721:
713:
705:
697:
649:. Retrieved
645:
604:
597:
591:
496:
484:
468:British Rail
461:
449:
432:
409:
392:
390:
371:
356:
313:
297:
294:Construction
266:
203:
201:
142:Total length
26:
1082:Yair Bridge
993:Quair Water
988:Manor Water
978:Holms Water
973:Talla Water
931:St Boswells
827:River Tweed
424:pile driver
324:River Tweed
271:except for
208:River Tweed
107:River Tweed
80: /
55:Coordinates
1251:Categories
1182:Great Ouse
1035:River Till
1020:Gala Water
983:Lyne Water
960:confluence
941:Coldstream
916:Galashiels
911:Walkerburn
896:Tweedsmuir
869:Flows into
760:can.ltd.uk
583:References
446:Operations
428:cofferdams
397:Cumberland
226:. It is a
216:Tweedmouth
206:spans the
65:55°46′19″N
969:Cor Water
876:North Sea
607:: 219–44.
488:Railtrack
414:into the
379:brickwork
352:Edinburgh
320:Newcastle
284:Railtrack
68:2°00′50″W
926:Newstead
850:Scotland
651:14 April
435:buttress
386:cladding
262:Scotland
210:between
192:Location
166:Designer
153:of spans
134:Material
921:Melrose
901:Peebles
860:England
416:bedrock
382:soffits
375:Masonry
278:to the
276:soffits
258:England
234:viaduct
231:railway
224:England
161:History
103:Crosses
97:Railway
93:Carries
1172:Thames
1167:Severn
885:Towns
474:, the
455:, and
420:gravel
348:London
280:arches
113:Locale
1216:Tweed
1211:Clyde
1177:Trent
936:Kelso
412:piles
273:brick
269:stone
1231:Eden
1226:Nene
1221:Avon
1206:Spey
1196:Ouse
653:2013
490:and
350:and
260:and
214:and
202:The
187:1850
179:1847
1236:Dee
1201:Tay
1192:Ure
1187:Wye
500:ice
439:ice
346:of
318:in
218:in
151:No.
1253::
829:,
778:,
661:^
644:.
613:^
605:10
603:.
494:.
354:.
330:,
290:.
222:,
156:28
1194:/
962:)
819:e
812:t
805:v
782:.
655:.
24:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.