Asymetric Swing Bridge

My model of an asymetric swing bridge is based on the Northwich Road swing bridge on the Manchester Ship Canal at Stockton Heath, Warrington.

The Hayhurst Bridge was the world’s first electrically-operated swing bridge and it carries the A533, Chester Way, over the River Weaver in Northwich town centre. It is Grade II-listed.

Designed by Weaver engineer John Arthur Saner and installed in 1898, it was the first road swing bridge to be supported by floating pontoons.

Although an ideal subject for Meccano, it is always a challenge to get the struts right between pairs of non-parallel girders since available lengths and holes frequently don’t match up! Slotted strips help, as do the 5-hole 2″ strips, but another trick is to trap one end of a strip between the girder and an appropriate short strip bolted over it.

This model makes good use of a heavy roller bearing designed by the late Phil Bradley.