taken 11 years ago, near to Coleraine, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland
The Bann railway bridge, Coleraine (7)
The Bann railway bridge, covered by sheeting, during the major renewal works on the line between Coleraine and Castlerock. The bridge and railway are not shown on the Google map. See the satellite photograph.
The railway between Coleraine and Castlerock closed during July 2012 to facilitate a major reconstruction of the line. It is due to re-open in April 2013. A second phase of the work (due in 2014) will install new signalling and see the closure of Castlerock signal cabin.
The present bridge, carrying the Belfast – Londonderry railway across the River Bann, opened in 1924 replacing an earlier bridge slightly further upstream. It is 800 ft long and has eleven spans. It cost £100,000. The span to the west of the operating house is known as a bascule span and lifts to allow ships to pass below. It has a signalling arrangement which prevents a train being the block section when the bridge is not lowered.