Reedham Swing Bridge

Reedham Swing Bridge, on the site of a Victorian swing bridge, is still in use at Reedham, Norfolk, England.^[3]

Key Information

Reedham Swing Bridge
Coordinates	52°33′32″N 1°34′21″E / 52.55887°N 1.57237°E / 52.55887; 1.57237
Carries	Wherry railway line
Crosses	River Yare
Locale	Reedham, Norfolk, England
Maintained by	Network Rail[1][2]
Characteristics
Design	Swing bridge
Width	54.5 feet (16.6 m)[2]
Clearance below	10 feet (3.05 m)[2]
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (56.5 in)
History
Inaugurated	1903
Replaces	Single-track swing bridge of 1840s
Location
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It carries the Wherry railway line, between Norwich and Lowestoft, across the River Yare near Reedham railway station.^[3]

The original single track bridge was commissioned by Sir Samuel Morton Peto in the 1840s to allow the passage of wherry boats, which were too tall to pass under conventional bridges.^[3] The current bridge dates from 1902 to 1903 prior to the doubling of the track.^[4][5]

The bridge is operated from the 1904 Reedham Swing Bridge signal box.^[3] In a typical year, it is opened 1,300 times.^[3]

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