Carlisle (Lune) Bridge Traditional Cache
adporter: this spot is just not secure enough for this cache, needs a rethinks, thanks to all who dropped in
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Cache on the base of one of the pillars on the south side of the river.
The Carlisle (or Lune) Bridge carries the Lancaster & Carlisle Railway over the River Lune on three main spans of 120ft clear.
The railway was designed by Locke, assisted by John Edward Errington, and forms the central section of the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow, almost all of which Locke engineered. This section was built by a consortium of Thomas Brassey, William Mackenzie and John Stephenson in 1844-1846, opening in 1847.
As with many early railway bridges and viaducts, the bridge was built with its main river spans in laminated timber for speed of construction. This enabled the line to open sooner and earn income, part of which was set aside to replace the timber spans later. As intended, they were replaced by wrought iron girders in 1866.
The river spans were rebuilt in composite steel and concrete construction in 1962-1963, using four main longitudinal steel girders, and cantilevered steel girders carrying the concrete deck slab. The line was then electrified, the whole length being declared complete by HM The Queen when she unveiled a plaque to that effect on Preston Station on 7 May 1974.
The rusticated masonry river piers with their rounded cutwaters are set at 130ft centres. There is an approach span of 33ft clear in masonry on the north bank, and seven such spans on the south bank.
The bridge carries the twin tracks of the railway and two large service pipes. There is a public footway on the eastern side of the deck (that terrifies me when I cross it).
There is a watercolour by W.H. Nutter in the Lancaster Museum entitled Lancaster 1847 that shows this bridge with its original laminated timber spans
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
oruvaq gur puriebaf
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