Barrow Bridge

{{short description|Railway bridge in southeast Ireland}} {{for|the model village in Bolton, England|Barrow Bridge, Bolton}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox bridge  | name = Barrow Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | image = File:Barrow Railway Bridge-geograph.org.uk-2725314.jpg | image_upright = | alt = A boat passing through the opening of Barrow Bridge with 3 tug boats helping | caption = A photo of Barrow Bridge open with a boat passing through. | coordinates = {{coord|52.28146|-7.00138|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = | carries = Trains | crosses = River Barrow | locale = County Kilkenny and County Wexford | official_name = | other_name = Barrow Viaduct<br>Barrow Railway Bridge | named_for = | owner = | maint = Iarnród Éireann | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = pratt truss | material = steel | material1 = | material2 = | length = {{convert|2131|ft|m|abbr=on}} | width = | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = | number_spans = | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = {{convert|26|ft|m|abbr=on}} | life = | architect = Sir Benjamin Baker | designer = | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = | builder = Sir William Arrol | fabricator = Sir William Arrol and Co. | begin = 1902 | complete = 1906 | cost = | open = 1906  | inaugurated = | closed = 2010<ref name=AnTaisce/> | replaced_by = | traffic = }}

'''Barrow rail bridge''', (or the Barrow viaduct), is a pratt truss<ref name=Hamond1990/> type of railway bridge that spans the river Barrow between County Kilkenny and County Wexford in the south east of Ireland. This rural landmark with a length of {{convert|2131|ft|m|abbr=on}} is the longest bridge on the river.<ref name=Duffy2007/> It was second longest bridge in Ireland<ref name=archiseek/><ref name=Duffy2007/> and the third longest rail bridge in the British Isles.<ref name=archiseek/><ref name=Duffy2007/> Designed by Sir Benjamin Baker and built by the firm of Sir William Arrol. It is known locally as ''Barrow Bridge''.

Part of a development to improve cross-channel passenger services.<ref name=Duffy2007/><ref name=IarnrodEireann/> The steel truss single track bridge was built between 1902 and 1906 by English and Irish railway companies, it operated passenger services between Rosslare Harbour and Waterford until 2010. It is maintained by Iarnród Éireann, the Irish rail operator.<ref name=IarnrodEireann/>

This bridge is one of six rail bridges of 45 bridges on the Barrow.<ref name=Duffy2007/> It spans the river just upstream from its confluence with another of the three sisters the River Suir. Close to Great Island Power Station near Cheekpoint. It is the last bridge on the river Barrow and opens approximately twice daily to permit shipping and yachts to pass upstream to New Ross.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In 2021, reports in local media suggested the bridge would be permanently opened to shipping.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=Barrow Bridge must not be left in open position says rail advocacy group |url=https://waterford-news.ie/2021/06/05/barrow-bridge-must-not-be-left-in-open-position-says-rail-advocacy-group/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Waterford News & Star |language=en-GB}}</ref> This proposal was later reversed. After a collision with a ship in February 2022, Irish Rail announced plans to pin the bridge open in December 2022 to perform repair works.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=Barrow Bridge repair will run into millions |url=https://waterford-news.ie/2022/11/29/barrow-bridge-repair-will-run-into-millions/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Waterford News & Star |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2024, the repair project on the bridge was confirmed as part of a capital investment plan in the South East region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Re-opening the Barrow Bridge is a top priority for Waterford and south east region |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/news/re-opening-the-barrow-bridge-is-a-top-priority-for-waterford-and-south-east-region/a437966102.html |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==History==

It is an important element of the early 20th century transport heritage of Kilkenny and Wexford. Built as a joint venture between the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Company (FRR + H Co) and the Great Southern and Western Railway and Great Western Railway. The bridge forms part of the Limerick-Rosslare railway line, which was extended in 1906 to improve cross-channel passenger services from Rosslare Strand to Waterford.<ref name=Duffy2007/><ref name=IarnrodEireann/> After the Tay Bridge and Forth Bridge it was the third longest rail bridge in Britain and Ireland.<ref name=archiseek/><ref name=Duffy2007/>

==Design== This elegant and pragmatic bridge represents a striking rural landmark on the River Barrow. Designed by the consulting engineer to the Rosslare & Waterford Railway,<ref name=rowanBaker/> Sir Benjamin Baker.<ref name=archiseek/> Baker had been responsible, with Sir John Fowler, for the design of the Forth Rail Bridge,<ref name=rowanBaker/> and had designed the Keady viaduct and Tassagh viaduct.<ref name=rowanBaker/>

The steel bridge was supplied and built by the building contractor Sir William Arrol ''Sir William Arrol and Co.''. The Glaswegian firm were engineers and bridge builders, of Dalmarnock, Scotland.<ref name=archiseek/><ref name=rowanArrol/> Arrol had also worked on the Forth Rail Bridge.

The track used 87lb bullhead rail. The timber sleepers were "laid in 45-foot lengths".<ref name=IarnrodEireann/> The signalling system was Electric Train Staff (ETS) with lower quadrant semaphore signals.<ref name=IarnrodEireann/> This single track was the longest railway bridge in Ireland at a length of {{convert|2131|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=archiseek/>

==Description == This bridge is one of six rail bridges crossing the Barrow and is one of 45 bridges on the river.<ref name=Duffy2007/> On the rail line there is a short tunnel on the Kilkenny side. It stands {{convert|26|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the high water mark,<ref name=archiseek/>

Each of its 13 main spans of {{convert|148|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=archiseek/> are supported on twin cast iron piers.<ref name=Hamond1990/> The third span from the Kilkenny side can be electrically pivoted open from a cabin atop the span to allow ships to pass through. The end spans are {{convert|144|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=archiseek/>

In 2014 it was listed by An Taisce in its "''Buildings at Risk Register''".<ref name=AnTaisce/> An Taisce records "''The structure does not appear to be maintained and there are obvious signs of deterioration.''" and that "''a conservation management plan should be applied to it, to help preserve our rail heritage''".<ref name=AnTaisce/>

==References== ===Footnotes=== <references>

<ref name=archiseek> {{cite web|title=1906 - Barrow Railway Bridge, Co. Wexford - Architecture of Kilkenny, Architecture of Wexford - Archiseek - Irish Architecture|url=http://archiseek.com/2014/1906-barrow-railway-bridge-waterford/|website=archiseek.com|date=18 March 2014}} </ref>

<ref name=Duffy2007> ({{Harvnb|Duffy|2007| pp=41,43,150}}) </ref>

<ref name=AnTaisce>{{cite web|title=Buildings at Risk Register|url=http://www.antaisce.org/sites/antaisce.org/files/23312132.pdf|publisher=An Taisce|date=2014|page=59|access-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120055731/http://www.antaisce.org/sites/antaisce.org/files/23312132.pdf|archive-date=20 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=rowanArrol> ({{Harvnb|Rowan|2012| p=|loc=[http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/6698/arrol-william%28sir%29%26Co.%23 ARROL, WILLIAM (SIR) & CO.]}}) </ref>

<ref name=rowanBaker> ({{Harvnb|Rowan|2012| p=|loc=[http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/7196/BAKER-BENJAMIN%28SIR%29%23 BAKER, BENJAMIN (SIR) ]}}) </ref>

<ref name=Hamond1990> ({{Harvnb|Hamond|1990|p=80}}) </ref>

<ref name=IarnrodEireann> {{cite web|title=ASSET MANAGEMENT OF THE BELLVIEW – ROSSLARE STRAND LINE AFTER SERVICE WITHDRAWAL|url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/downloads/asset_management_of_the_bellview-rosslare_strand_line.pdf|website=nationaltransport.ie|publisher=Iarnrod Eireann}} </ref>

</references>

=== Sources === {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |last1=Duffy|first1=John |title=Barrow bridges and related aspects|date=2007|publisher=John Duffy|location=Tullow, County Carlow |isbn=9780955418419}} *{{cite book |last = Hamond |first = Fred |title = Industrial Archaeological Survey of Kilkenny |language = English |year = 1990 |publisher = Kilkenny County Council |location = Ireland |url = http://www.kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Services/Heritage/Kilkenny-Ind-Arch-Survey.pdf }}. * {{Citation |author = NIAH |title = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Building Survey |language = English |year = |publisher = Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service |location = Ireland |oclc = |url = http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/Surveys/ |access-date = 21 May 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160606123702/http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/Surveys/ |archive-date = 6 June 2016 |url-status = dead }}. * {{Citation |last = Rowan |first = Ann Martha |title = Dictionary of Irish Architects : 1720 - 1940 |language = English |year = 2012 |publisher = Irish Architectural Archive |location = Dublin |oclc = 820381559 |url = http://www.dia.ie/ }}.

=== Further reading === * {{cite book |last1=Duffy|first1=John |title=Barrow bridges and related aspects|date=2007|publisher=John Duffy|location=Tullow, County Carlow |isbn=9780955418419|ref=none}} {{Refend}}

== External links == * {{cite web|title=1906 - Barrow Railway Bridge, Co. Wexford - Architecture of Kilkenny, Architecture of Wexford - Archiseek - Irish Architecture|url=http://archiseek.com/2014/1906-barrow-railway-bridge-waterford/|website=archiseek.com|date=18 March 2014}} * {{cite web|title=Barrow Bridge, GREAT ISLAND, WEXFORD|url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KK&regno=15703910|website=buildingsofireland.ie}}

Category:Railway bridges in the Republic of Ireland Category:Buildings and structures in County Wexford Category:Bridges in County Kilkenny