Goole railway swing bridge

Goole railway swing bridge crosses the Ouse with four fixed spans and one moving section. The design lets ships pass through while trains simultaneously used the route connecting Hull and South Yorkshire.

Thomas Elliot Harrison designed this bridge in 1869 for the Hull and Doncaster railway line. It was built as part of North Eastern Railway expansion in this area.

The bridge shows Victorian engineering thinking in its practical solution for river ships and trains. You can see how engineers tried to make two very different forms of transport work at the same location.

The rotating mechanism uses hydraulics to turn the moving span within 50 seconds so ships can pass through. The best time to watch this is during high water or when ships are arriving, making the operation particularly busy.

Construction used pneumatic caisson processes to sink cast iron cylinder piers deep into the riverbed. This advanced technique at the time ensured the piers reached solid bedrock for secure footing.

Location: Goole

Location: Kilpin

GPS coordinates: 53.71320,-0.84240

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:42