Shared description
Footbridge over the Paddington to the west railway, Stratton
Written by Brian Robert Marshall
The footbridge is of a fairly simple steel construction. It isn't certain when it was constructed but old maps from 1942 do not show it so it probably dates to the 1950s which is when the writer first saw it. In those days and up to 1968 when steam was still the prime mover on the railway the bridge was a popular location for trainspotting. Its main function was and is to provide access from the industrial area of Stratton St Margaret with its numerous factories and warehouses to the post-war housing estates of Walcot and the Parks. In the 1960s, when what was then Pressed Steel and is now BMW employed thousands of workers, the bridge was heavily used. There are now fewer workers and greater use of cars and motorcycles so the bridge isn't used so much. The bridge remains a valuable asset. However, because the bridge is relatively low it is having to be taken down as part of the Network Rail project to electrify the line between London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads and Swansea, first announced in 2009 then subjected to reviews since the 2010 General Election before being confirmed Link
The bridge is to be replaced with a temporary footbridge presently under construction Link
The footbridge is of a fairly simple steel construction. It isn't certain when it was constructed but old maps from 1942 do not show it so it probably dates to the 1950s which is when the writer first saw it. In those days and up to 1968 when steam was still the prime mover on the railway the bridge was a popular location for trainspotting. Its main function was and is to provide access from the industrial area of Stratton St Margaret with its numerous factories and warehouses to the post-war housing estates of Walcot and the Parks. In the 1960s, when what was then Pressed Steel and is now BMW employed thousands of workers, the bridge was heavily used. There are now fewer workers and greater use of cars and motorcycles so the bridge isn't used so much. The bridge remains a valuable asset. However, because the bridge is relatively low it is having to be taken down as part of the Network Rail project to electrify the line between London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads and Swansea, first announced in 2009 then subjected to reviews since the 2010 General Election before being confirmed Link
The bridge is to be replaced with a temporary footbridge presently under construction LinkCreated: Mon, 22 Sep 2014, Updated: Mon, 22 Sep 2014
9 images use this description: (all images taken in 2014)
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2014 Brian Robert Marshall.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
View images using this "Footbridge over the Paddington to the west railway, Stratton" Shared Description
View images mentioning the words [Footbridge over the Paddington to the west railway, Stratton] anywhere in text
Links for SU1685
This description is located in SU1685.
Other shared descriptions
Descriptions nearby
Related descriptions
- The Swindon College site, Regent Circus, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 35 images
- Iffley Road Gas Works, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 13 images
- Pickard’s Small Field, Gorse Hill, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 7 images
- New water feature, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 5 images
- Shopping precinct, The Circle, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 5 images
- Howse Gardens, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 4 images
- Great Quarry SSSI Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 2 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
