Royal Albert Bridge
Location type
BridgeName and dates
Royal Albert Bridge (1859-)Opened on the Cornwall Railway.
Description
This famous single track viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel crosses over the River Tamar from St Budeaux Ferry Road (east) to Saltash (west). It has two large trusses crossing in the centre and is a 19 span bridge. It is 2,200 ft long, crossing the water at 100 ft. It originally carried a broad gauge line. The ends of the two truss sections are marked 'I. K. BRUNEL, ENGINEER 1859'.
The main contractor was Charles John Mare (shipbuilding and engineering works) of Blackwall. Work began in 1848 and the 'Great Cylinder', upon which both trusses rest, was sunk in position in 1854.
A special crossed the bridge on the 11th of April 1859 and the bridge opened by Prince Albert on the 4th of May 1859.
Brunel was very ill, recovering in Cairo, when the bridge opened. He was later taken over the bridge on a couch in an open wagon because his health was so poor. He died on the 15th of September 1859.
The line was Broad Gauge until May 1892. Although the line was doubled (1860-1908) the portion over the viaduct was not and remains single track.
Tags
ViaductAliases
Saltash Viaduct02/07/2023
| Nearby stations Saltash St Budeaux Victoria Road St Budeaux Ferry Road Defiance Platform Weston Mill Halt Tamerton Foliot Devonport Admiralty Platform Keyham Camel^s Head Halt Ford Halt Ford (Devon) Dockyard [Devonport] Albert Road Halt Devonport Devonport Kings Road | Combe by Saltash Viaduct St Budeaux Junction Wearde Junction Wearde Mail Apparatus Weston Mill Viaduct Tamerton Bridge Lowhill Quarry Dockyard Junction [Devonport] Forder Viaduct Forder Lake Viaduct Keyham Viaduct Tavy Bridge Wivelscombe Viaduct Tourist/other RNAD Ernesettle Antony House |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
