Listing

Two arch brick bridge over the River Cherwell, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Here S. W. A. Newton has captured a fine example of the impressive feats of engineering employed so frequently in the construction of the Great Central Railway. In order to maintain high speeds, tracks were laid at an easy gradient and generous curvature, and so heavy earthworks like this two arch brick underbridge carrying the Banbury Branch over River Cherwell were commonplace.
Construction of the railway itself was still in progress at the time this photograph was taken. Over the far side of the bridge tracks appear to be in the middle of packing with gravel, known as ballast. A rake of wagons bearing the contractor's name 'T. O. & Son' are partially obscured by the brick parapet. See on Route Map