Barrow Rail Bridge

Barrow Rail Bridge

Features

Barrow Rail Bridge is an early 20th century rail bridge over the River Barrow in south County Wexford.

The rail bridge may be an ideal filming location for scenes that need a rail bridge, for scenes that need a very long bridge, or for river scenes that need an interesting backdrop. The steel girder bridge has a striking visual quality. The bridge has a lot of character when viewed from land, the river, or on the bridge itself. When viewed along the line of the bridge, the parallel beams and girders give it an especially dramatic optical effect. The river adds to the bridge’s value as a filming location. The Barrow is particularly serene and impressive at this point, and its banks are wild and lush.

Barrow Rail Bridge was built in 1906. When it was built, it was one of the longest in Great Britain and Ireland. The bridge is composed of 11 riveted steel girder spans on concrete pillars. The piers of the bridge are cut limestone.

To let boats and ships through, one of the spans of the bridge rotates. The bridge is usually opened twice a day. The railway line that the bridge carries was closed to passenger trains in 2010. But the line is still maintained and operated by Iarnród Éireann. Freight trains still use the line, so it is not completely disused. Near the bridge is a small stone quay. On the western side of the bridge, the rail line enters a 150m long tunnel. Visible from the bridge and just down river, is the Great Island Power Station.

More Info

Dimensions: 650m in length.

Parking: on an access road, fits ~2 cars.

Nearest town: New Ross, 17km away.

Photographer: Gordon Wycherly