This cache is placed close to the only ‘rolling railway bridge’ of this type in England. Earlier caches close to the bridge, by Cazz83 and DuncScott, are now archived. The excellent material from them has been used as the basis for this new cache description and their contributions are acknowledged.
In the 1870s, a new branch line of the Furness railway was planned, whose route crossed the Ulverston Canal. This rolling bridge, carrying the railway lines, was designed to be moved horizontally clear of the canal, so that shipping could continue to use the waterway. The bridge was completed in 1880. On the main canal path, an excellent display shows how the bridge worked. On the far side, is a tall brick ‘accumulator tower’ that housed the hydraulic system that operated the rams that moved the bridge.
The line was mainly used for freight traffic to and from North Lonsdale Ironworks, which lay on the site now occupied by GSK, although there was also a daily passenger train to Priory Station, near Bardsea until 1912. The line beyond the ironworks was closed in 1917. In 1952, the bridge was sealed shut and the last passenger train, for railway enthusiasts, ran over it in 1961. The last freight train used the line in 1994 and the track was lifted in 2000.
Much of the bridge structure is still visible from the walkway that crosses the bridge, although the mechanism of the bridge has now fallen into disrepair. It has grade II listed status since it holds an important place in the design and technological development of bridges.