Why Is There An Old Blackfriars Railway Bridge?

On the Thames next to Blackfriars Railway bridge there are some old red coloured columns left over from a previous bridge, when was that from then and when did it become abandoned? Here's the story and an animated timeline of the Thameslink core that explains all ...

With thanks to Dave McCormick for additional research and assistance.

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

Why do I feel like this is a pre-show for Secrets of Thameslink? Always been fascinated by Blackfriars because of the fact the station's a bridge and the platforms span the Thames. Interesting to learn more about it

[margaretrobertson]

My son was project manager for the New Blackfriars station, so proud of his achievements. 👌💖

[DengG]

That was an incredible amount of information in such a short video. Really interesting!

[rogerperkins]

The bridge, having been widened, now bears longer 12-carriage platforms that straddle the river, giving fabulous views up and down the Thames. Fascinating video, Geoff. What a complex history!

[markbowerbank]

Great video as ever Geoff. The reason they left the old bridge supports in place was to protect the supports of the bridge upon which Blackfriars Thameslink Station now stands. If you look, you'll see that the upstream supports are squared-off, whilst the downstream ones are streamlined. The original builders made the downstream side streamlined to stop the supports from being worn away by the incoming tide and to "encourage" river traffic to bounce off if necessary.

Because the old bridge had rounded supports, the normal river current is neatly diverted around both bridges (along with any poorly piloted river traffic). If they'd demolished the old bridge supports, that would have exposed the squared-off upstream supports for the newer bridge to the river current and to river traffic.

I might be wrong, but I think at one point the proposals for extending and enlarging Blackfriars Station also included building the concourse out over the river using the old LC&DR bridge supports.

Apart from it being cheaper to leave the old bridge supports in place, they also serve to protect the current bridge from being worn away.

[forthbrdge]

Another excellent video Geoff. As a railroad bridge engineer I appreciate the mention of the “feat of engineering” associated with the removal one viaduct and excavation of the new underground crossing in two weeks. Swapping out critical structures in relatively short periods of time is one of the most interesting challenges of the profession.

[asherwerner]

I have fond memories of standing on the bridge waiting for the train home to Brighton after a long day at work, looking eastward towards the London bridge and the tower.
The view makes it (for me) the best station in London.
It's also very easy to get from national rail platform to underground platform even during rush hour

[SteveB]

This video really highlights just how long it's been since i have been to London, Holborn Viaduct station and the old bridge were still in use the last time i was there! Being from south London i used to spend a lot of time in and around London back in the 70's and 80's, but i doubt i would recognise i lot of it today.

[alanenglish]

I was only there yesterday! Was telling my partner about the old Holborn Viaduct station, as I had to sign it as a guard in the early 80's but never did work a service into there. Needless to say, she was not impressed or well .... I enjoyed the video!

[Cadwaladr]

Interesting stuff. Near where I live in Minneapolis there's some former bridge remains too. It took me a while to figure it out, but there's one pier still in the river and one on the east bank. I found out that it was called the lower bridge, connecting 6th Ave SE to 10th Ave S, built in 1874, it was a lightweight iron deck truss bridge, and it proved not to be strong enough for motor vehicle and rail traffic and was closed in 1937, and then demolished for scrap during WWII.

[TonyLightfoot]

Traveled from Blackfriers last year. Without a doubt one of the best views of London from any railway station.

[LukeHarpercouk]

Blackfriars is one of my favourite stations just for that astonishing view especially during sunset

[regenjo]

Post office was a good name for the underground station since there is only one in London.

[cholmondley]

Recently Ive been trying to find out what happened to Holborn Viaduct station and got some conflicting information but your video cleared it all up and was fantastic and full of useful history. Thanks Geoff

[noahbowie]

I love Blackfriars station. It's so impressive and has an incredible view that's better than any other station in London.
My top 5 London Termini
1- St Pancras
2- Kings Cross
3- London Bridge
4- Blackfriars
5- Paddington

[chriskeene]

I think I heard once that they didn't want to remove the old pillars as doing so might disrupt the foundations of the bridges in use

[BarneyLeith]

I used to use the Thameslink line a lot. When I first started using it, I would arrive at King's Cross from out of town and then have to cross the road and walk a bit to get to King's Cross Thameslink. How wonderful then, when the Thameslink platforms in the basement of St Pancras were opened and it was no longer necessary to risk my life crossing Pentonville Road. Even better when I could get a train direct from Stevenage to St Pancras and onwards to Blackfriars. The extended Blackfriars station is a marvel - a great improvement on how it used to be. I have often looked at the redundant pillars and wondered what had happened to the London Chatham and Dover Railway bridge that they used to support. Now I know!

[rogerking]

OK, my head is still spinning from information overload, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for talking about railway stations and not train stations.

[AllThingsRailways]

Yes Geoff!! I knew in one of your old videos you told us this would be a talking point for the future! It's going to sound cliched now as a few people have commented this, but I never knew! Thank you.

[the_ent]

I always wondered what they were and why they were just left in the middle of the Thames. Really appreciate all the time and work that goes into these videos.