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Bristol Harbour Railway
The Bristol Harbour Railway (known originally as the Harbour Railway) was a Standard-gauge railway, standard-gauge industrial railway that served the wharves and docks of Bristol, England. The line, which had a network of approximately of track, connected the Floating Harbour to the Great Western Railway, GWR mainline at Bristol Temple Meads. Freight could be transported directly by waggons to Paddington Station in London. The railway officially closed in 1964. In 1978, a heritage railway named the Bristol Harbour Railway was opened and operated by Bristol Industrial Museum. It uses approximately of the preserved line that runs adjacent to the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon. The line is a very popular visitor attraction in the city. Industrial line The Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and sister company the Bristol and Exeter Railway. The first part of the network opened in 1872 between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour. The route required a tunnel under S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fairbairn Steam Crane
A Fairbairn crane is a type of crane of an 'improved design', patented in 1850 by Sir William Fairbairn. There are numerous hand-powered versions around the world and one surviving steam-powered example in Bristol Docks, England. Innovative design The crane's innovation was in the use of a curved jib, made of riveted wrought iron platework to form a square-section box girder. This curved jib could reach further into the hold of a ship, clear of the deep gunwales alongside the quay. Designing a strong curved jib required Fairbairn's advanced theoretical understanding of the mechanics of a box girder. The tension forces were carried by the outer, convex surface of the girder which was made of back plates being chain-riveted together. The inner surface carried a compressive load. To avoid plate crumpling, it was made as a cellular structure: an inner plate and webs formed three rectangular cells, effectively box girders in their own right. The character of a box girder is to r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
