Description and History of Site:-
Originally built with three spans across the River Gaunless at West Auckland, Co. Durham, but after being damaged by flood water it was rebuilt with four spans in time for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in September 1825. George Stephenson who was the chief engineer of the SD&R may have had an influence in the design. The works of the fabricators John & Isaac Burrell were in Orchard Street, Newcastle, adjacent to Stephenson's own works in Forth Street.
The four 12ft 5in (3.78 m) wrought iron lenticular (leaf shaped) trusses rest on cast iron trestles. The 2.4 in (6 cm) diameter wrought iron rods that form the top and bottom members of the truss are fixed by the five vertical balusters that are cast around them and extend up to support the timber deck.
The bridge was bypassed in 1842 and its trusses replaced with girders in 1901. The original ironwork was preserved and its current position, in the car park of the National Railway Museum, York, represents its fifth re-assembling. The abutments can still be seen at West Auckland (NZ 18627 26497).

Further Reading and References:-
W W Tomlinson (1914) The North Eastern Railway, its rise and development. p107
Barbey M F, Civil Engineering Heritage - Northern England, Thomas Telford, 1981

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Key Words :- river gaunless lenticular truss preserved rail bridge

Viewing the Site :- Erected in car park outside National Railway Museum, York.

Address :- Leeman Rd, York, North Yorkshire, YO26 4WT
Grid Ref :- SE 59319 52024
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.960908 , Long -1.097401
Local Authority :- York City Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - North Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site conserved
Site Dates :- 1825 -
Record Date :- 18 August 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Charles Morris