LIFTING

Trip Away Day 3#

Tower Bridge in London was completed in 1894.

To allow the passage of large vessels this has to be a moveable bridge which can be opened to accommodate boat traffic. The mechanism to open the bridge is hidden in the two towers. Until 1976 steam power was used to pump water into hydraulic accumulators which powered the engines.

Each deck is more than 30 meters wide and can be opened to an angle of 83 degrees. Nowadays it is only raised about 1,000 times a year - so I was lucky to see this.
The bridge opened to enable an old Thames Barge to pass through. A double delight !