SEVERN RAILWAY BRIDGE DISASTER
One bridge that does not survive is the Severn Railway Bridge at Sharpness. For on the night of the 25th October 1960 two tanker barges were swept into it whilst bound for Sharpness in thick fog. Two spans dropped onto the barges which subsequently caused the cargo of petrol to ignite, setting the River Severn ablaze. Five men lost their lives that terrible night.
As a reminder of that fateful night the remains of the two barges, ARKENDALE H and WASTDALE H still lie in the Severn off Purton.
WASTDALE H
Loaded on the Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal
ARKENDALE H
Waiting to lock in at Swansea
ISBN 978-0-9532711-3-9
Price £4.95
Incredibly, despite over 50 years of tides sweeping over them, the barges remain in the Severn off Purton.
Three survived.
Tragically five crewmen were killed.
Thick fog lay across the Severn off Sharpness.
Two tanker barges laden with highly volatile oil products hit the Severn Railway Bridge.....
Severn Bridges
| Powys Bridges |
| Shropshire Bridges |
| Worcestershire Bridges |
| Gloucestershire Bridges |
| Severn Estuary Bridges |
| Dismantled Bridges |
| John Gwynn |
| Thomas Penson |
| Thomas Telford |
| John Fowler |
| Building the S.S.C. |