Another Inglis Bridge in die Wild

As the fine readers of Think Defence know, bridges are a particular interest here at TD Towers.

One of the precursors to the famous Bailey Bridge was the much less famous Inglis Bridge, designed by Charles Edward Inglis.

In the last article I posted on the Inglis Bridge I noted there were only a couple in existence in the UK, a rather sad state of affairs for such an important piece of military heritage, one in Wales over the River Monnow and one over the Basingstoke Canal.

 

Both these locations have a long association with the Royal Engineers.

 

Which brings me to an email I had today from Derek at the RE Museum (another fellow bridge enthusiast) about their efforts to identify a bridge in Emmerich, Germany.

I am a volunteer in the R E Museum, We received an e-mail enquiry from a man who lives in Emmerich ,Germany asking for help to identify an Inglis bridge that was still in use over a river called The Wild. I have recently visited the bridge and found out it was built in late 1945 , Possibly by British Sappers and has now been declared a war monument by the German Government. It is in very good condition and is now restricted to 16 tons

Ant there it is, over the Die Wild at Spiker Weg is none other than an Inglis

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m12!1m3!1d1257.345347284577!2d6.167719020252791!3d51.86147883794184!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1403523746738&w=640&h=480]

Fantastic stuff

emmerich-inglis-bridge-mkiii-01 emmerich-inglis-bridge-mkiii-02

 

It looks very much like a MkIII, which completes the set.

Like Monmouthshire and Basingstoke, Emmerich as a long history of association with the Royal Engineers.

Thanks Derek

 

PS

Did you all get the pun in the title!

PPS

Could you drive a FRES SV Scout over that bridge?

Think Defence

Think Defence hopes to start sensible conversations about UK defence issues, no agenda or no campaign but there might be one or two posts on containers, bridges and mexeflotes!

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. monkey

    @TD
    “Could you drive a FRES SV Scout over that bridge?”
    Not unless it was sent on a serious diet , its limit was 26 long tons

  2. Slightly Agricultural

    @TD
    “Could you drive a FRES SV Scout over that bridge?”
    I dunno, how much of a run up would I get? Might make it, but I wouldn’t be expecting to get back!

Leave a Reply