Bridge 379 in Leicester
Bridge 379 was a double girder span supported on brick abutments and a central support pillar. It was built to carry the Midland Railway's Leicester to Burton line over the London Extension, the former eventually running over the route of the old Leicester & Swannington Railway. 379 originally carried a double track line, but this was singled and the line became a freight only branch. This May 1977 photograph shows the south side of the bridge, with the span that crossed the main running lines. The girder deck was replaced in the 1950's as the sulphurous smoke from the locomotives passing beneath it had caused the original girder to corrode. The Midland Railway had allowed provision for the Leicester to Burton line to be quadrupled in required, and this can clearly be seen in the lengths of the abutments. Upperton Road bridge can be seen in the distance. See on Route Map
