The Cherry Picker

Brunel's Railway Bridge over The Tamar

The bridge that finally joined the World to Cornwall 1862.

Wednesday was a classic winter day.

Bitterly cold, bright sunshine with not a breath of wind.

The Union Inn,

at Saltash, on the Cornish bank of River Tamar,

almost underneath Brunel's famous railway bridge which connects England.to Cornwall.

Foraging

No stone left unturned.

"Hello down there!"

"Hello up there!"

Whatever you do

DON'T LOOK DOWN!

 

Checking the progress

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is keeping a close eye on the major refurbishment 

of his 1859 railway bridge across the River Tamar at Saltash, as it nears completion.

The wine dark sea.

                                            But Achilles, 

                                            weeping, quickly slipping away from his companions,

                                            sat on the shore of the gray salt sea, and looked out to the wine-dark sea.

                                                                                                                        Homer   The Iliad

The Frontier Crossing

This train is at the half way point on Brunel's iconic 1859 bridge, over the River Tamar, at Saltash.

At this point it leaves England for the mystical, Celtic land of Cornwall.

The Saltash Railway Bridge High Diving Championship.

This competitor is going to attempt a triple somersault with two and a half twists.

The judges are in position and ready to award their scores.

At last! We wake to a day without rain.

A crystal clear sky,

with early morning mist rising from the River Tamar.

The only downside is that the car is frozen solid, 

 and it takes an age to get the doors open,

and even longer clear the windscreen.

But that is still a whole lot better than the incessant rain.

At last it has arrived!

Early on Sunday morning the road and rail bridges crossing the Tamar were shrouded in mist,

but it cleared to reveal

 that during the night the long awaited 20 metre Celtic Cross

 had arrived, been lifted into place and secured to its plinth.

The area around the Cross, Elwell Woods, which runs down towards the river, is being landscaped and replanted.

The Cross will be a fitting symbol to mark the gateway to the Ancient Celtic Country of Kernow.

Jacob's Ladder.

One of the many scaffolding structures which are needed for the renovation work on Brunel's famous railway bridge, built in 1859, which carries the main line into Cornwall.

Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho!

It's off to work we go.

The two year long, major refurbishment project of the 150 year old Royal Albert Railway Bridge, which spans the River Tamar at Saltash, is about halfway through.

It is easy to see what has been done and what is left to do.

The workers are preparing the working platforms, soon to be enclosed in a"tent",

 for the next section to be tackled. 

Here are some facts about the job.