Rail bridges

Whitacre's 1839 railway viaduct

Built for the 1839 opening Stonebridge Railway to carry two lines of main line traffic over the River Bourne, on what was at the time the only London to Derby main line. This little bridge only carried rail traffic from 1839 to 1865. Not only did it suffer probably the first case of downgrading in history when the down line was lifted in 1843 just four years after opening but it was then made redundant completely when Whitacre Station was remodelled and moved with the opening of the line to Nuneaton.

These views of the viaduct were taken 9th April 2017.

West face of viaduct

West face - notice the similar stone mouldings to the 1839 bridges at the Swan and Halloughton Grange

East face of viaduct

Trackbed across bridge towards Coleshill

Raised trackbed clearly still visible - notice very level bank and change in height where the people are stood

Trackbed towards Whitacre. Current Junction is at the next hedge but travels across the photo.

Bridges in Use

The village has four major over bridges in the parish two of which are very early to railway history and both still in regular use. A record of them is here over the years.

Middle Lane bridge

An early railway bridge opening in 1839 as part of the Birmingham and Derby main line and continuously in rail use since. This bridge now has a preservation order on it and is a straight arch bridge. The track has now been lowered to allow full height container traffic to travel under its arch on the way to the container terminal at Birch Hill Coppice.

Hallougton Lane bridge

An early railway bridge opening in 1839 as part of the Birmingham and Derby main line and continuously in rail use since. This bridge now has a preservation order on it and is a skew arch bridge. The track has now been lowered and is slightly kinked when viewed from Middle Lane bridge which is to allow full height container traffic to travel under its arch on the way to the container terminal at Birch Hill Coppice.

Hoggrills End Bridge

Probably a turn of the century rivited plate girder bridge which has been heavily repaired and repainted circa 2010. Much wider than the other bridges since it used to cross both up and down relief loops. That is why there looks so much room underneath as it had to cross four tracks not the current two. The down loop was in use till around 1980 and its removal is recorded here.

Station Road Bridge