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  THE SEVERN RAILWAY BRIDGE 1879-1960  
 

 

  
 

25 October 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the runaway tanker vessels Wastdale H and Arkendale H severing the 1879 vintage Severn Railway Bridge. As well as the tragic deaths in the collision, the transport geography of Gloucestershire was also impoverished by the loss of the first crossing downstream of Gloucester to be built across Great Britain's longest river. In particular, children from Sharpness and Berkeley could no longer attend school in the Forest of Dean without their 14xx 0-4-2T and auto coaches taking a lengthy detour through the county town.

 
 

 

  
    
 

25 October 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the runaway tanker vessels Wastdale H and Arkendale H severing the 1879 vintage Severn Railway Bridge. As well as the tragic deaths in the collision, the transport geography of Gloucestershire was also impoverished by the loss of the first crossing downstream of Gloucester to be built across Great Britain's longest river. In particular, children from Sharpness and Berkeley could no longer attend school in the Forest of Dean without their 14xx 0-4-2T and auto coaches taking a lengthy detour through the county town.

 

 

 

 

25 October 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the runaway tanker vessels Wastdale H and Arkendale H severing the 1879 vintage Severn Railway Bridge. As well as the tragic deaths in the collision, the transport geography of Gloucestershire was also impoverished by the loss of the first crossing downstream of Gloucester to be built across Great Britain's longest river. In particular, children from Sharpness and Berkeley could no longer attend school in the Forest of Dean without their 14xx 0-4-2T and auto coaches taking a lengthy detour through the county town.

Happier days however are recalled by Gloucestershire artist Rob Rowland in these paintings with 4085 "Berkeley Castle" hauling a scheduled passenger train towards Gloucester under the Lydney viaduct (above) and ex GWR 4300 Class 6341 heading west across the Severn Bridge with the returning annual Parkend to Weston Super Mare excursion, below.

 


  

This picture of 6341 also appears on the cover of "Rails To The Forest", focusing on the Severn and Wye Railway from Berkeley Road to Norchard 1945 - 2010, written by Bob Marrows for the Dean Forest Museum Trust, published by Silver Link and available from the Dean Forest Railway shop priced £17.99.

 

 

   
  This picture of 6341 also appears on the cover of "Rails To The Forest", focusing on the Severn and Wye Railway from Berkeley Road to Norchard 1945 - 2010, written by Bob Marrows for the Dean Forest Museum Trust, published by Silver Link and available from the Dean Forest Railway shop priced £17.99.