Trowse Swing Bridge, Norwich and Others
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Visit websiteA Swing Bridge at Trowse was first built in 1845 with a single track. This proved a bottle-neck and was eventually rebuilt with double track in 1905. In 1986 the arrival of the overhead electricity supply necessitated a further rebuilding and there was a reversion to single track. The result is the only swing bridge in the world bearing overhead elecricity supply. The feed to trains is from a beam rather than a wire and this is continued on either side for a short distance.
At Reedham over the Yare, and at Somerleyton over the Waveney there are bridges rebuilt in 1905, both with a span of 42m. (137 ft.). At Oulton Broad the bridge was rebuilt in 1907 and carries a double track railway over the narrow waters between the broad and Lake Lothing.
By road: Off A1242, Trowse bridge can be seen from the Hardy Street bridge over the railway.
At Reedham, Riverside, a road along the bank of the river gives a good view.
At Somerleyton it is necessary to take a rough track from the marina.
In Lowestoft, the A1117 crosses the river parallel to the railway bridge.
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