Athlone Railway Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Athlone Railway Bridge

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| image = Railway Bridge over the Shannon, Athlone - geograph.org.uk - 113118.jpg

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| caption = View of the bridge

| coordinates = {{coord|53.4272|-7.9459|type:landmark_region:IE|display=title}}

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| carries = Trains

| crosses = River Shannon

| locale = Athlone

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| other_name = White Bridge

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| heritage = Listed in NIAH

| id = 15004129

| id_type = NIAH Number

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| preceded =

| followed = Custume Bridge

| design = Viaduct

| material = Steel

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| length = {{convert|542|ft}}

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| number_spans = 6

| piers_in_water = 4

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| num_track = 1

| track_gauge = {{convert|1600|mm}}

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| architect =

| designer = G.W. Hemans

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| builder = Messrs. Fox and Henderson

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| begin = {{circa|1850}}

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| opened = {{circa|1851}}

| inaugurated = {{start date|1851|07|21|df=yes}}

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The Athlone Railway Bridge, also known as the White Bridge, is a railway bridge over the River Shannon at Athlone, Ireland.{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Tom|work=Westmeath Independent |archivedate=19 November 2015|accessdate=19 November 2015 |url=http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/07/06/4005365-protesters-athlone-railway-bridge-demonstration-is-criticised-/ |date=6 July 2011 |title=Protester's Athlone railway bridge demonstration is criticised |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119092932/http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/07/06/4005365-protesters-athlone-railway-bridge-demonstration-is-criticised-/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=2 August 2013 |url=http://advertiser.ie/athlone/article/62862/white-bridge-boat-crash-driver-gets-trial-date |archivedate=6 August 2013 |first=Finian |last=Coghlan |title=White Bridge boat crash driver gets trial date |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806094825/http://advertiser.ie/athlone/article/62862/white-bridge-boat-crash-driver-gets-trial-date |url-status=dead |work=Athlone Advertiser }}

History and Technical Details

The bridge was built in 1851{{cite web |url=http://www.realizedvision.com/railways.php |title=Railways |year=2000 |website=Realized Vision |publisher=Institution of Engineers of Ireland |accessdate=18 April 2014}} and took 18 months to complete.{{cite web |url= http://www.athlone.ie/history/buildings-of-note|title=Buildings of Note |author= |year=2014 |website=Athlone |publisher=Athlone Town Council| accessdate=18 April 2014| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626012749/http://www.athlone.ie/history/buildings-of-note| archivedate=26 June 2014}} The bridge is {{convert|542|ft}} long. It was designed by G.W. Hemans, and built with a central span which can be opened to accommodate tall sailing craft. The iron-work was shipped to Limerick and then was transferred to Athlone by barge. The twelve cylindrical pillars are each {{convert|10|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.{{cite web |url= http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/transport/midland-great-western-rai/athlone/the-railway-viaduct-athlo/|title=The Railway Viaduct, Athlone |author= |year=2014 |website=Ask About Ireland |publisher=Changing Libraries Initiative, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. |accessdate=18 April 2014}} The opening central span is {{convert|120|ft|abbr=on}} in length, but this was changed to a fixed section in 1972.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

The bridge is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage under number 15004129.{{cite web |url= http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WM®no=15004129|title=Shannon Railway Bridge, Grace Road, Athlone, County Westmeath |author= |year=2014 |website=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |publisher=Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |accessdate=18 April 2014}}

References

Category:Bridges completed in 1851

Railway Bridge

Category:Railway bridges in the Republic of Ireland