Lockleaze Footbridge

To Bristol or Bath: Muller Road
To Wales, The North or London: Lockleaze Road

History

This bridge was put in place during the 1930s when the lines up Filton Bank were quadrupled. Until then the crossing had been by way of boards on the level.

1930s

6029 King Edward VIII climbs Ashley Hill on the 25.5.36 with the up Bristolian while a local service tries to race it. The Bristolian was using brand new carriages.

1960s

A 68xx class loco passes under the bridge and heads towards the bridge at Lockleaze Road. © Gerald Peacock

1980s

47500 descends through Lockleaze with the 8.50 Swindon to Weston Super Mare on the 12.6.83

2004

The footbridge as approached from a footpath on Dovercourt Road.
The view along the bridge.
The view south shows the spot where the track is slewed across from what once was the relief line over to the formation of the main line. The resulting S bend was a great spot to take photos with a telephoto lens. 158870 climbs the hill.
The view north. The bridge in the background is that at Lockleaze Road
A zoomed view north.
On the 3rd July 2004 I caught Union of South Africa climbing the hill :)

2005

A view of the bridge taken from Lockleaze Road on 13.3.05. Relaying of track is taking place.

2006

18.2.06

Photographers waiting for 6201 Princess Elizabeth to climb the hill.
158964
66175
150244

Following months and months of arson attacks and vandalism Network Rail send out a crew to effect repairs to the bridge.
Big holes had appeared in the decking and new wood has gone down and is seen here being waterproofed.
British Transport Police have issued posters at the spot and miraculously no one has set fire to them... Most of the problems at the bridge could easily be cured by the police finally putting a stop to the local off-licence from selling booze to the under-aged.

2007

18.2.07

A couple of Voyagers pass under the bridge on 22.1.07.
158769 climbs Filton Bank on 18.2.07.
On 19.3.07 work began on enclosing the footbridge in anti-vandal caging.
143619 heads south.
Work in progress on 23.3.07.
I took the opportunity to get my last shots from the bridge before the cage was finished. 66027 heading north with an engineering train.
The bridge viewed later that same afternoon. The whole length had been enclosed in metal.
Workmen tinker with the bridge on 24.3.07.
Two views of the finished bridge taken on 19.4.07.

2008

30.6.08

Since my last visit the bridge has received a coat of paint to smarten it up and then been attacked again by the graffiti merchants.

2013

26.6.13

The bridge has been modified with a strip of roofing felt running through the middle.

2016

Work in progress to reinstate the four tracks up Filton Bank. New signalling has been put in place and a deep hole dug beneath the bridge. 19.5.16
A new access road has been constructed to the south of the bridge.
158766 passes by the continuing construction of a replacement bridge. 19.7.16