Wear Viaduct - Sunderland

[sss750]

Does anyone know what pre-NER railway company built the line over the river Wear at Sunderland. (Which company built the Wear river bridge just south of Monkwearmouth station)
Thanks

[52D]

No pre NER company involved as it was built 1879 for the NERs Monkwearmouth Junction line. This line joined the former Brandling Railway to the former Durham and Sunderland Railway.

[sss750]

The reason I ask is, I saw above the arches of the stone part of the viaduct (it must be 25 years ago now) some very large, maybe 9 inch squares, viaduct arch numbers that are not NER, so what company could they be from? I just presumed it was some pre-NER company that built the bridge to link the Brandling Jcn Railway north of the Wear to the Durham & Sunderland Railway which terminated at Sunderland station!

[sss750]

I seem to remember there were some on this side of the viaduct, as can be seen on the attached pic, on the arches in the boxed area. Can't remember if there were any on the other side of the line or other side of the river.

[52D]

The numbers were probably to identify rented arches for Industrial use.

[sss750]

No 52D, I'm afraid not, they were old rusty cast iron viaduct arch numbers, also there were no industrial premises under these arches.

[PinzaC55]

They were non-standard NER bridge arch numbers, the standard type being about 5 inches tall by 4 inches.
The NER officially never referred to "viaducts" , only "bridges" and the Wear one has never had a name.

[West_Stanley]

Is this the Wear Viaduct? Fast forward to 7:43

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc9gtJndKE4

[limitofshunt]

To which bridge are you referring? There are six bridges in continuity in the area:

LEN3/259 Southern approach arches (89m76ch - 89m79ch)
LEN3/260 Bridge over the River Wear
LEN3/261 Northern approach arches WEAR BRIDGE APPROACH (90m4ch - 90m8ch)
LEN3/262 Public road bridge SHEEPFOLDS ROAD
LEN3/263 Arches SHEEPFOLD SOUTH (90m9ch - 90m10ch)
LEN3/264 Public road bridge SHEEPFOLDS NORTH

The area highlighted on the map above includes bridges 261 and 262 - certainly at present the arches house Metro equipment - could these have been intended for workshops etc originally?



Jonathon

[PinzaC55]

I have just found my photo of plate number 5 and i will post it tomorrow.

[PinzaC55]

There you go


Wear bridge arch number par PinzaC55, on ipernity

[sss750]

PinzaC55, yes that's exactly the type I mean I saw on the arches! So they are non standard NER arch numbers you say?

[PinzaC55]

Yes. The NER also used enamel arch numbers in their house colours of chocolate and cream and there used to be a series of these on the viaduct at Forth Banks goods depot on the Carlisle line. In 1977 I asked BR to buy them and got about 10 of them for £5 , having to shin up a ladder from the P Way depot and unscrew them. 2 or 3 of them were badly corroded so I left them and you can still see them from the KEB if you have sharp eyes

[sss750]

Ok, If ever i'm up that direction on a train ever again i'll keep my eyes open for them!

[sss750]

PinzaC55, is it ok if I use your pic of the NER 5 Viaduct arch plate in a book on railway bridge and viaduct numbers ive written?