Caledonian Railway Bridge, Railway bridge over River Clyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom
The Caledonian Railway Bridge stretches 214 meters across the River Clyde, supported by massive steel girders that carry multiple railway tracks. Granite-clad piers define the structure and connect the north and south banks of the river on this important rail transit route.
Built between 1876 and 1878, the structure became a crucial connection for the Caledonian Railway Company into Glasgow Central Station. For nearly a century after opening, it served the railway route until a reorganization in 1967 brought significant changes to rail operations.
The pillars display inscriptions in English and Ancient Greek, added by artist Ian Hamilton Finlay during Glasgow's European City of Culture celebration in 1990. These texts turn the structure into an artwork that is encountered daily by commuters and visitors.
The structure connects directly to Glasgow Central Station on the north side and forms part of the West Coast Main Line. Pedestrians and visitors can view it from various nearby points, though the bridge itself is reserved for rail traffic.
Four original granite piers of the earlier structure still stand in the river and are connected by decorative cast-iron frames. These details serve no structural purpose and remind us of the previous structure that once stood on this site.
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