The LNER Encyclopedia

I worked on Keadby Bridge as a S&T linesman in 1953, I was sent to try and make some sense of
the electrics as there was a thought of lifting the bridge.
I got the biggest shock ever, some of the relays had match sticks between the contacts
which the previous linesman had put in to enable the bridge to lift, thus taking all the
safety aspects out. after several days we managed to lift the bridge minus the match sticks. A great site. We had no fear, my mate sat on the bridge end and went up with it.
Oh for a camera shot!!
I also looked after the canal draw bridge the relays were in the same state there, load of match
sticks.
I left Keadby in 1953 and returned to Doncaster.
Frank Thomas

It must have been a rare case to lift the bridge by the early 50s, so I can see how the bodge could have occurred.

No one much complained about the bridge being fixed closed as the majority of river traffic was either towed along by motor tugs/ or hauled in motor-powered keels by the 1930s. Gainsborough had faded as a river port by the 20s, and I doubt any sea-going sailing vessels visited the place much after that time.

It's a majestic bridge, but flawed right from the start- on hot days the expansion of the bridge deck would prevent it from closing completely! The technology around the bridge was also quite interesting: The GCR's experimented with three-aspect signalling based on American practice- very high-tech for the time. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers Volume 203 (1917) has very detailed reports on both the design/operation of the bridge, and the new signalling. Interesting, stuff.

cheers for your insights. I don't suppose you took pictures of the control room back then...?!

Any ideas as to the date of the last opening?



Still happens even nowadays.
Brand new bridge on the A19 / A63 over the Ouse on the Selby Bypass I don't know how many times it has stuck open in summer due to heat. Causing traffic problems in Selby when traffic is forced back to the old route.

Bryan. Answer- I'm not sure, but most sources say 1955. It was locked in the down position during works to widen/ heighten the road side in 1960.

Somewhere in the depths of the NRM's object collection is the original engineers' model of the bridge at 1/96 scale. It was loaned to Scunthorpe museum a few years back. It was a good 6ft long- and quite a sight!

p.s- people who are interested in the bridge might be interested in Longbone, B. 'An Illustrated History of Scunthorpe's Railways'. (Irwell Press 1996). ISBN 1 871608 51 1

It actually discusses the whole Scunny region, including some useful detail on Keadby loco shed, MSLR swing bridge and the later 'KGV' lifting bridge.

will

Im surprised it hasnt been removed before now... probably prohibative in expense (not to mention the disruption to traffic for months on end)

wehf is the author of the scunny book an ex BR driver who transferred from Tweedmouth by any chance. Im going on the name being fairly unusual and a Longbone transferred to scunny when 52D was in its death throes. I always regret missing a talk in a pub near Keadby by Mr Longbonr regarding the bridge.