andybarton Posted May 27, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 27, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Brunel's incomparable railway bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead The widest, flattest brick arch in the world. R8/DMR/19 [ATTACH]39221[/ATTACH] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 27, 2007 Posted May 27, 2007 Hi andybarton, Take a look here Brunel's genius. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MrEd Posted May 28, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 28, 2007 Wide angle at its best. Attractive colors too. Thanks for sharing. Ed. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zanydave Posted May 28, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 28, 2007 Like the angle here. Great composition. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted May 28, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 28, 2007 Very strong...like the comp. andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzo Posted May 29, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 29, 2007 Lovely detail, angle and colours Andy. Fantastic framing of the trees below and on the right side. Azzo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 29, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted May 29, 2007 Thanks folks. Turner had a slightly better angle than I did, when he painted what must be my favourite painting. Growing up in this town, this bridge has been part of my life for ever, yet it still never ceases to amaze me. We'd have trouble making such an arch today. If we'd stuck to Brunel's broad gauge, we'd have 400 mph trains by now... [ATTACH]39607[/ATTACH] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 29, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted May 29, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here's a snap of the bridge in context. Note the 1770's road bridge in the background, carrying the main A4 across the Thames, as seen in Turner's painting on the left. At one time, the Great Western Railway stopped to the East of the Thames, just west of Taplow. It wasn't until Brunel built this bridge that the west of England was connected to London by the railway. [ATTACH]39608[/ATTACH] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted May 30, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 30, 2007 Here's a snap of the bridge in context. Note the 1770's road bridge in the background, carrying the main A4 across the Thames, as seen in Turner's painting on the left. At one time, the Great Western Railway stopped to the East of the Thames, just west of Taplow. It wasn't until Brunel built this bridge that the west of England was connected to London by the railway. [ATTACH]39608[/ATTACH] Two fine photos, and the Turner is enough to nourish my soul. Every time I am in London, I make a point of visiting it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzo Posted May 30, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 30, 2007 Andy, Have you ever seen Turner's Malta painting ? It is LOVELY ! Azzo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted May 30, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 30, 2007 I seem to remember reading that the bridge originally only carried two tracks and it was widened by Brunel some years after it was built, that would account for the "patch" shown in your excellent view. Also I think there were predictions of collapse by the doubters and it was quite a time before he was allowed to remove the timber trestles used in the construction. Your second view always looks better mid-Winter when the leaves are off the trees, then one can really appreciate the two arches- why can't they cut down those trees on the islet? Well done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted May 30, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 30, 2007 Andy, Have you ever seen Turner's Malta painting ? It is LOVELY ! Azzo Ivan, What is that one called and do you know where it is to be seen? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted May 30, 2007 If it was previously narrower, then that is very interesting. His broad gauge tracks were significantly wider, of course. There is a similar collapse story about the Guildhall in Windsor, but Sir Christopher Wren also knew what he was doing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted May 30, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 30, 2007 Thanks folks. Turner had a slightly better angle than I did, when he painted what must be my favourite painting. Growing up in this town, this bridge has been part of my life for ever, yet it still never ceases to amaze me. We'd have trouble making such an arch today. If we'd stuck to Brunel's broad gauge, we'd have 400 mph trains by now... [ATTACH]39607[/ATTACH] Andy, I had always loved the Turner picture but never knew that that was where it was! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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