Looking across the Redheugh Bridge and into Team Valley from the 26th floor of Hadrian's Tower (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) While the exact dates of … How to play with the water on the underside was a difficulty soon got over. The ground gave considerable trouble during construction; Stephenson recorded: In 1922 the trams were to start crossing the bridge, and the cast iron longitudinal members supporting the roadway were replaced with steel beams and a new deck was provided. In 1835 the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway (N&CR) Act authorised the line to approach Newcastle to a terminus at Redheugh, on the south bank of the River Tyne, close to the end of the present-day New Redheugh Bridge. The train proceeded to the Newcastle and Berwick station, where the company alighted and walked in procession to the Queen’s Head Inn, where a magnificent entertainment had been provided for the Directors and their friends, by the Mayor of Newcastle.

As the train passed steadily over the bridge the anxiety of the immense multitude seemed intense, and the scene was truly exciting, yet fearful—not only from the lofty eminence occupied by the train but, from the apparent narrowness and nakedness of the platform on which it rolled along.

It seemed from its noiselessness, rather an aerial flight, than the rattling sweep of the iron horse.Ordinary traffic appears to have used the temporary single line structure after this date.The eastern track was ready for an inspection by Captain Laffan, Inspecting Office for the Board of Trade, when he visited on 11 August 1849; a load test with four tender locomotives and eighteen wagons loaded with ballast, a total weight of 200 tons. Sign up to our newsletterOne of the busiest routes into Newcastle will be hit by major closures early in 2020.Council bosses say that the 15-year-old expansion joints on the bridge are now nearing the end of their lifespan and have begun to come loose.While the exact dates of the works have yet to be confirmed, it is understood that the crossing will be shut from 8pm on Friday night to 6am Monday morning for a minimum of two weekends in February.The £375,000 repairs could take longer depending on weather conditions and any other problems encountered by engineers.Council officers told a meeting of the Joint Tyne Bridges Committee on Thursday that the works would be organised to avoid clashing with Chinese New Year celebrations, Newcastle United home games, and any mainline rail closures that would usually see replacement bus services using the Redheugh Bridge to get to Central Station.However, council transport chief Coun Arlene Ainsley said that the bridge would re-open temporarily in such a scenario and then close the following weekend for the works to be completed.She added that the works may also have to be timed around any potential strikes on the Metro.Coun Ainsley said: “We have to think about the Metro strikes as well. Many difficulties occurred in driving the piles which considerably retarded the progress of the work, and, among others, the peculiar effect of ebb and flow during this operation is worthy of note. The height of this viaduct is one hundred and twenty feet to the level of the rails; it is built upon piles, which are driven between thirty and forty feet into the bed of the river. In addition, he promised a footway crossing; this was apparently not a sweetener to the Town Council, but a commercial decision, expected to bring in £250 a week. The cross-girders supporting the track were cast iron and by 1890 they were considered to require strengthening, which was done with steel box girders. The men worked with goodwill and soon succeeded in cutting several holes through the asphalt and timber. Notwithstanding, however, the unfavourable weather dense crowds assembled at every spot in this locality, where a view of the royal carriage could be obtained, and many remained for hours exposed to the weather in order that they might retain the places which at an earlier period of the morning they had secured. It was therefore found necessary to abandon the driving on many occasions during high water.