414 



DETAILS OF HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE. CHAP. XVII T. 



HIGH LEVEL bKIDGE E LEVATION OF ONE ARCH 



PLAN OP ONE ARCH. 



without disturbance or racking of the other parts oi the 

 bridge, it was arranged that the ribs of every two 

 adjoining .arches resting on the same pier should be 

 secured to the springing-plates by keys and joggles ; 

 whilst on the next piers upon either side the ribs 

 remained free and were at liberty to expand or contract 

 according to temperature a space being left for the 

 purpose. Hence each arch is complete and independent 

 in itself, the piers having simply to sustain their vertical 

 pressure. The arches are six in number, of 125 feet 

 span each ; the two approaches to the bridge being 

 formed of cast-iron pillars and bearers in keeping with 

 the arches. 



The result is a bridge that for massive solidity may 

 be pronounced unrivalled. It is perhaps the most 

 magnificent and striking of all the bridges to which 

 railways have given birth, and has been worthily styled 

 " the King of railway structures." It is a monument of 

 the highest engineering skill of our time, with the 

 impress of power grandly stamped upon it. It will also 

 be observed, from Mr. Leitch's masterly drawing, placed 

 as the frontispiece of this book, that the High Level 



