Railway Swing Bridge over the Ouse at Goole 2023

The railway swing-bridge over the River Ouse at Goole was designed by Sir William Armstrong and opened in 1869. It’s Grade II listed and has a couple of different names: Hook Bridge (if you come from Hook) and the Skelton Viaduct (if you live in Skelton) but if you’re on a train it’s more than likely the railway swing-bridge over the River Ouse at Goole.

Following our Goole by Barge exhibition at Goole Museum, Lou and I were delighted to be invited to visit the railway swing-bridge over the River Ouse at Goole and photograph it as part of the repair and refurbishment project with Network Rail in partnership with Amco Giffen and Goole Museum.

We met engineer Rob Sellers who gave us a guided tour of the engine room and explained the workings and complexities and challenges of repairing and refurbishing a 155 year old hydraulically powered and Grade II listed railway swing-bridge. The locking bolts, lifting gear and cylinder mechanisms had become unreliable – the existing system had been operational since 1868 but was showing signs of wear, and upgrades to the swing bridge were required to keep it operational for another 155 years or so.

This is one of two posts documenting our visit.  Thanks to Alex Ombler at Goole Museum, Rob Sellers at Amco Giffen and Network Rail for making it happen.

The bridge images in the first gallery are taken from the railway line, bridge pier and signal room. The second gallery of photographs were taken by engineer Rob Sellers.