Moss Bay Branch Bridge Drawing

Drawing with plans, elevations and section of Cleator and Workington Junction Railway bridge number 101 on the Moss Bay branch over the London and North Western Railway, 1883. Drawing no. 10.

The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway was built to serve the steel mills and iron works located along the Cumbrian coast, linking them with iron ore and coal mines in the area. The line was built in competition with the London and North Western Railway. The railway's mainline was operated by the Furness Railway, but the company operated its own locomotives on branches serving the iron works and pits. The first part of the line opened in 1879.

The railway served two iron works at Moss Bay via branches from the mainline. The Derwent Ironworks was served by the Derwent Branch whilst the Moss Bay branch served the Moss Bay Ironworks to the south. Both branches crossed the London and North Western Railway via rail-over-rail bridges. The bridge in this drawing which served the Moss Bay iron works crossed the line at an angle.