Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge

Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge
Monkwearmouth Bridge (left), Wearmouth Bridge (right), 2006
Coordinates54°54′33″N 1°22′59″W / 54.9093°N 1.3831°W / 54.9093; -1.3831 (Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge)
OS grid referenceNZ396573
Carries
CrossesRiver Wear
LocaleWearside
Official nameMonkwearmouth Bridge
Other name(s)
  • Wearmouth Railway Bridge
  • Sunderland Railway Bridge
OwnerNetwork Rail
Maintained byNetwork Rail
Heritage statusGrade II listed
Network Rail Bridge IDLEN3-260
Preceded byQueen Alexandra Bridge
Followed byWearmouth Bridge
Characteristics
DesignVierendeel truss bowstring arch
MaterialWrought iron
Longest span300 ft (91 m)
Clearance below86 ft (26 m)
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Electrified1500V DC
History
DesignerThomas Elliot Harrison
Constructed byHawks, Crawshay and Sons
Fabrication byJohn Waddell & Sons
Opened1879 (1879)
Location
Map

Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge (officially Monkwearmouth Bridge, also called Wearmouth Railway Bridge or Sunderland Railway Bridge) is a railway bridge built in 1879, crossing the River Wear at Sunderland and Monkwearmouth. The bridge lies adjacent to and upstream of the Wearmouth Road Bridge.

Originally built as part of the Monkwearmouth Junction Line, it provided the first direct railway link between Newcastle and Sunderland. The bridge is now used by Tyne and Wear Metro and Durham Coast Line services.