The Britannia Bridge

[@arthurerickson5162]

Wow! So much history in plain sight. Thanks for posting and looking forward to your next one.

[@peteryoung4957]

Thank you Dawn. I found this really interesting.

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

The original version of the Stephenson bridge is across the river Conwy. It is shorter than the Britania Bridge, but still in the original form, and still in use. I think that it is listed, and CADW have something to do with it. The Britania Bridge is now not enough for the amount of traffic using the road deck, but the rail deck was opened as single track, and remained single track ever since.

[@dieseldragon6756]

There's still spans for two tracks at the rail deck level (I have to confess; I've used the redundant span to cross the strait a couple of times) and the redundant now carries a few services across from the mainland, including part of the islands gas supply and several regional and international internet bearers. 😇

[@dieseldragon6756]

I know _Y Pont Britannia_ pretty well as it was the main link to my grandparents (Who lived on Anglesea) for the first 35 years of my life. Really blown away to learn the steel arches built to bear the extra weight of the new decks were put in place *before* the burnt out tubes were removed, though! 🤯 Little bit of trivia that'll surprise the Americans: The Britannia Bridge is one of very few double-deck bridges in the UK, the only other I know of being across the Tyne linking Newcastle with Gateshead, and - With the rail deck _above_ and a single-track road _below_ - It was built the opposite way around. 😋 Personally, I really miss Anglesea and the many happy times I had there. The pandemic changed a _lot_ of things for many of us, and sadly life isn't nearly so bright as it used to be... 🌃😔

[@andrewnormansell1518]

Really excellent! Thank you.

[@johndavidbaldwin3075]

The rail bridge by Conwy Castle is a mini version of the original bridge

[@dieseldragon6756]

Same overall construction technique, but a much shorter span. Stephenson did a *lot* of work along the North Wales line, including Conwy rail bridge and the flying arch he cut into the town wall to accommodate the railway in as historically sensitive a fashion as was possible. 👍

[@nicks4934]

The towers were built to include chains but were not needed

[@nicks4934]

The rocks were called the brittania rocks hence the name 😊

[@albrowne1035]

Just where in the structure of the Britannia bridge does this ball bearing go? & what was it's purpose?

[@russellosborn1684]

Designed by Husband & Co of Sheffield, worked on the bridge and the road network.

[@estebanfrisch2536]

But what was the ball used for? Did I miss something?

[@sddsddean]

Ball or roller bearings are commonly used to support bridge spans to allow for the expansion and contraction of the span during temperature changes in the weather.

[@estebanfrisch2536]

@@sddsddean thanks. Did the vid say that? Is my attention span shot?

[@sddsddean]

@@estebanfrisch2536 No, you're fine! I don't think it was mentioned in the vid, but as an ex civil engineer, I know thats what it was.