When the enabling Act was passed in 1859 this bridge was intended to carry Great Western and London and North Western rails, which were of different gauges, to link the northern, western and southern rail systems. The differences between the gauges has been resolved and the bridge does presently carry services linking the Watford and Clapham junctions. The construction was by Brassey and Ogilvie to designs by Benjamin Baker and T.H. Bertram, who were the chief engineers of the two rail companies, and was opened 02/03/1863. Thomas Brassey (1805-70) was involved in the building of several of the Thames rail bridges and other major railway construction projects in the UK and world-wide. His son, who received an earldom, distinguished himself in naval matters, statesmanship and as a governor of the Australian state of Victoria, as well as managing to voyage some 300,000 miles in his own yacht.

O/S Co-ords:2656.7647
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Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries