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Chauntry Close, MAIDENHEAD, SL6 1TU

The bridge was designed Isambard Kingdom Brunel, engineer for the Great Western Railway. The railway from London to the West is carried across the River Thames on two brick arches, and the bridge was the widest and flattest in the world. Each span is 128 feet (39 m), with a rise of only 24 feet (7 m). The Thames Path passes under bridge, also known as the Sounding Arch because of its spectacular echo.

I defy anyone not to be moved by the sheer engineering genius, foresight, and confidence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's design for this bridge, which carries the Great Western Railway main line over the River Thames. The bridge actually has two of these arches, which at the time of their building in 1838 were the widest and flattest in the world. Each span is 128 feet (about 39 metres), with a rise of only 24 feet (about 7 metres). This arch is known as the Sounding Arch, because of its spectacular echo. There is a circular stone plaque giving these details on the bridge abutment just visible on the right side of the photo. It has been claimed that the board of the Great Western Railway did not believe that the arches would stay up under the weight of the trains and ordered Brunel to leave the wooden formwork used to construct the arches in place. However, Brunel simply lowered the formwork slightly so that it had no structural effect, but appeared to be in place. Later, when the formwork was washed away in floods, but the bridge remained, the strength of the arches was accepted. As built, the bridge carried two lines of Brunel's broad gauge track. Subsequently the bridge was widened, and now carries the four lines of standard gauge track that make up the Great Western Main Line out of London Paddington Station. The bridge also features in J M W Turner's 1844 painting entitled Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway, now in the National Gallery, London http://www.j-m-w-turner.co.uk/artist/turner-rain-steam.htm

The famous flat arch bridge built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1838, which everybody said would fall down. But it's still here in 2007.

Rather fine properties, seen from the Thames Path just south of Brunel's famous railway bridge (in Image).

When walking the upper reaches of the Thames Path, particularly between Hampton Court and Henley, it is hard to ignore the fabulous houses on the opposite side of the river. Many have sweeping lawns down to the river, boat houses or private jetties and cabin cruisers moored alongside. These houses are just downriver from Maidenhead Railway Bridge.

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.

Seen from the Thames Path.