“Railway Bridge” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue does it? But that is exactly what the Rosebank Bridge is. This 19th-century railway bridge has a fascinating story. Let’s journey back in time to uncover the secrets of the Rosebank Bridge.
Originally, a wooden railway bridge stood here in the 1850s. It was built to carry coal. The coal came from pits on the south bank at Cambuslang. It went to the Clyde Iron Works to the north. This original structure spanned 60 meters.
That original bridge was known as the Rosebank Bridge. It took its name from Rosebank House. Rosebank House stood about 130 meters southwest of here. The bridge was also called the Orion Bridge. This name is linked to a naval tragedy. George Burns owned Rosebank House at that time. His brother John was lost in the Orion tragedy. The paddle steamer ‘Orion’ sank.
Sadly, the original Rosebank Bridge burned down in 1919.
Later, in 1892, another bridge was erected alongside the Rosebank Bridge. It was intended to replace the older wooden structure. Instead, the new bridge provided a road connection. Crouch & Hogg, a Glasgow-based engineering firm, designed it. The bridge has three spans. Each span is about 30 meters long. Steel lattice girders make up the spans. They are supported by cylindrical masonry piers. These piers rise about 6 meters above the water.
For a road bridge, its construction seemed a bit flimsy. There was a weight restriction for vehicles using the bridge. In 1976, the Clydeford Bridge opened. It is located a quarter-mile to the east. It largely superseded the Rosebank Bridge. The Rosebank Bridge closed to traffic in 1986. This happened when the Bogleshole Bridge opened to the northwest.
Today, the Cambuslang Footbridge occupies the site of the original Rosebank Bridge. It was built in 1977. As you stand here, imagine the bustling activity of the past. Coal trains rumbled across the wooden bridge. Later, vehicles crossed the steel lattice girders. The Rosebank Bridge played a vital role in connecting communities. Though the original bridge is gone, its story remains. It connects us to Glasgow’s industrial heritage. A reminder of the past hidden in plain sight.