View underneath The Sounding Arch

Image: © Marathon Taken: 22 Sep 2013

Maidenhead Railway Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was built between 1837 and 1838. It is the bridge which appears in Turner's 'Rain, Steam and Speed' -see http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/joseph-mallord-william-turner-rain-steam-and-speed-the-great-western-railway This arch over the river nearest the towpath is known as 'The Sounding Arch' because of its echo. The brick arches are the widest and the flattest in the world, each of the two spans being 128 feet with a rise of only 24 feet. On the right is a central island in the Thames and the second arch is to the right of this. It is claimed that during the building of the bridge, the board of the Great Western Railway did not believe that the arches would stay up and ordered Brunel to leave the wooden framework used to construct the arches in place. However, Brunel lowered it slightly so that it had no structural effect, but appeared to be in place. Later on the framework was washed away in floods but the bridge remained and the strength of the arches was proved. This is the view from River Road which is also followed by the Thames Path.

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