Guided tours of Somerleyton swing bridge on broads

Somerleyton swing bridge was built in 1905 to carry the double-tracked Norwich to Lowestoft line over the river, replacing a previous single-tracked bridge. 

Somerleyton Bridge. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Archant copyright 2011)

Operated by Network Rail, it still opens to allow river traffic several times a day using much of its original mechanical equipment - and every now and then is known to get stuck in position due to faults.

And now people are being offered a rare opportunity to tour the Edwardian bridge and its control tower.

A train crosses the swing bridge Picture: Courtesy of Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (Image: Courtesy of Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership)

Guided tours of the bridge will take place on Saturday, September 9 and Saturday, September 16 as part of the Lowestoft Heritage Open Days Festival.

READ MORE: Swing bridges to be upgraded

The Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project are organising the tours in collaboration with Network Rail.

The control tower Picture: Courtesy of Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

Network Rail Anglia operations manager, Ian Martin, said: “Somerleyton swing bridge is a marvel of Edwardian engineering which is usually out of bounds to the general public.

"As part of the Heritage Open Days Festival and through our great relationship with the Community Rail Partnership, it is a pleasure to give people the chance to see the original equipment first-hand.”

Boats wait for the bridge to raise Picture: James Bass (Image: James Bass)

Apply for tickets by emailing lowestoftcentral@gmail.com or you can purchase them at the Community Rail Shop and Tourist Information Office at Lowestoft railway station.

With its remote location within the marshes, those attending tours must be able to walk approximately one mile on uneven ground and be able to climb several steps. Those applying for tickets will be allocated a time slot and meeting point where they will be escorted to and from the bridge.

Somerleyton swing bridge can be seen at the bottom of the picture: Picture; Antony Kelly (Image: Antony Kelly)

The swing bridge is one of three on the Wherry Line, the others being at Reedham and Oulton Broad.