Among Isambard Kingdom Brunel's finest achievements was the crossing over the River Tamar at Saltash for the Cornwall Railway. The Royal Albert Bridge celebrated its centenary on 2 May 1959 and, for that summer only, the ladders and platforms, which gave access to the interior of the tubes but normally partially obscured the lettering on the end of the towers was removed. Consequently, as an unidentified large prairie tank emerges into the sun with a down goods train on Sunday 16 August 1959 we have a clear view of the whole bridge. On the Devon shore preparations are being made for the new road bridge and the ground is being cleared for the approach road behind the embankment and bridge carrying the Southern Region main line into Devonport and Plymouth.

Steam In Cornwall
© Trevor B. Owen