Shiplake Railway Bridge, Railway bridge in Henley-on-Thames, England
Shiplake Railway Bridge is a railway bridge spanning the River Thames to connect Shiplake in Oxfordshire with Wargrave in Berkshire along the Henley Branch Line. The structure operates with a single track today, though the supporting cylinders for the second unused track remain visible.
Built in 1897, the bridge replaced an earlier timber structure that had served since 1857. This wrought-iron construction with cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete represented a significant upgrade to the area's transport network.
The bridge location marks the starting point of the annual Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta, a summer event bringing communities together for water sports.
The structure is well-visible from the river and is traversed daily by local trains. The best views are from nearby riverside paths and adjacent bridges.
In the 1990s, local officials proposed converting the unused track supports into a public footway. The plan would have transformed it into a popular tourist attraction.
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