GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro4019

A series of bridge tests were carried out on 25th March 1934. The photograph shows the static load test being performed on the plate girder bridge over Grange Road / Station Road adjacent to Knowle & Dorridge station. Members of the Great Western Railway (Civil) Engineering Department are measuring the bridge deflection with rods placed against the underside of the girders. Great Western Railway 4-6-0 60xx (King) class locomotives; No 6001 ‘King Edward VII’ and No 6014 ‘King Henry VII’ are on the down relief line with No 6017 ‘King Edward IV’ and No 6005 ‘King George II’ alongside on the up relief line. Each of these locomotives (including tender) weighed about 135tons. Both pairs of locomotives are facing towards Lapworth. The new Relief lines were built on the south-west side of the existing track at this location (119m 0c). Knowle & Dorridge station is on the right (at 118m 75c). Compare with the original bridge at this location ('gwrkd3894').

This photograph is Solihull Central Library record reference No 1789, courtesy R Waring.

Robert Ferris

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