Britannia Bridge fire

[Tomos y Tanc]

There's a great programme to mark the 50th anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Britannia bridge between Anglsey and the the Welsh mainland on iPlayer. The programme is in Welsh but it's subtitled and is a really good watch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08bx300/britannia-tan-ar-y-bont

 

[Ashley Hill]

Thanks for this,I've just watched it. Interesting that one of the firemen interviewed thought steam was still running in 1970. Also no mention was made of the section of tube displayed adjacent to the bridge even though one of the interviewees stood next to it. Was interesting to see the boys who started the fire interviewed too. It's a good compliment to the BTF film "Brittania-A Bridge" from which some of the footage was lifted.

 

[Springs Branch]

I remember hearing about the Britannia Bridge fire when it happened, and wondered at the time how such a destructive fire could occur on a bridge which was basically a wrought iron tube built to robust Victorian standards. It sounded as unbelievable as hearing "the Forth Bridge is on fire!"

I rationalised at the time the trackbed must have become heavily encrusted with a hundred-odd years of coal and coal dust falling from tenders and/or lubricating oil dripping from steam running gear, and it must have been this that burned out of control.

Now, 50 years later with the benefit of Google and Wikipedia, I can learn it was actually the tar-coated wooden roof on top of the tube which was on fire - which makes more sense.

 

[edwin_m]

Anyone know if the Conwy bridge (same construction but lower and shorter) also had a tarred wooden roof, and whether it still does?

 

[86247]

just watched the program on S4C, it was a very interesting program, just a pity 2 lads died during the reconstruction of the bridge.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The three Cl 40s stuck at Holyhead after the fire (one is briefly shown in the programme) had to be repatriated to the mainland by sea (via Barrow in F) because of restrictions on the Menai Road Bridge. I first travelled over the bridge in 1973 through the 'Up' tube , supported by the new arches, with the 'Down' tube in the course of being removed. It was all very exciting viewed from the front seat of a Met-Cam DMU.

 

[Llandudno]

Anyone know if the Conwy bridge (same construction but lower and shorter) also had a tarred wooden roof, and whether it still does?

Yes, the Conwy Bridge is of similar construction.

Since the Britannia Bridge fire, following the operation of a steam train through the Conwy Bridge tube, the track and tunnel has to be inspected immediately before the next train can run through the tunnel.

 

[quarella]

Thanks Tomos y Tanc. Most interesting.
http://www.2d53.co.uk/britanniabridge/menu.htm has the Fire Report and photos from immediate aftermath through the rebuilding.

 

[topydre]

Here's the Conwy tubes (taken from Conwy Castle, August last year).
There's no overall roof but it looks like there are roofs on the individual tubes; I'm not sure what material they are but it's not pitch (thank goodness!)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It looks like corrugated iron in that picture?

 

[Revaulx]

I remember hearing about the Britannia Bridge fire when it happened, and wondered at the time how such a destructive fire could occur on a bridge which was basically a wrought iron tube built to robust Victorian standards. It sounded as unbelievable as hearing "the Forth Bridge is on fire!"

I rationalised at the time the trackbed must have become heavily encrusted with a hundred-odd years of coal and coal dust falling from tenders and/or lubricating oil dripping from steam running gear, and it must have been this that burned out of control.

Now, 50 years later with the benefit of Google and Wikipedia, I can learn it was actually the tar-coated wooden roof on top of the tube which was on fire - which makes more sense.

When I was little I was fascinated by the Crystal Palace; not least because it seemed absurd that a building made of iron and glass could be totally consumed by fire.

Of course all the floors and many of the roof members were of wood. Also the proportion of wood increased following the move to Sydenham Hill.