PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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4 - THE OPENING His Royal Highness, the Prince Albert officially opened the Bridge on Monday May 2nd 1859, which was another day of celebration. Thousands of people from both sides of the river turned out to witness the event: everyone that is except for Mr Brunel, whose health was failing, no doubt due to the pressures of the tasks he was undertaking. The royal train had left Windsor at 6 that morning, conveying the Prince to the junction of the South Devon Railway and Cornwall Railway, where it arrived at 12 Noon. Five minutes later it departed down the tracks of the Cornwall Railway to arrive at a special platform that had been constructed on the Devon side of the Bridge. Here the Prince was introduced to the local dignitaries and the engineers and the Mayor of Saltash gave an address, to which Prince Albert responded. He then re-boarded the train for the slow journey across the Bridge and through Saltash Station to Coombe Viaduct. As the train entered the eastern portal a Blue Ensign was hoisted, followed by the raising of the Royal Standard when the train reached the central pier. At the western portal the flag of St George was hoisted. After examining Coombe Viaduct, which in complete contrast to the Royal Albert Bridge was built entirely of timber, His Royal Highness re-boarded the train again for the short journey back to Saltash Station. From here, he and the official party walked across the Bridge to the eastern side, where he declared the Royal Albert Bridge well and truly open. A cold luncheon was served in a marquee within the works at Saltash Passage and afterwards Prince Albert boarded the Admiralty yacht Vivid to continue with his busy schedule. The saddest part of the day was the fact that the train carrying the Mayor of Truro and important Cornish guests broke down on the way up from Truro and had to await a replacement locomotive from Plymouth. It was prevented from reaching Saltash by the arrival and consequent occupation of the line of the royal train, although the Mayor did manage to arrive in time for lunch. Brunel did eventually visit the Bridge but was so unwell that he had to be drawn across it on an open wagon upon which had been placed a couch for him to lay on. On the following day a special train left Plymouth at 10.20am taking some 800 guests to Truro for a special luncheon laid on by the Mayor of Truro. The Cornwall Railway and the Royal Albert Bridge were opened to public rail traffic on Wednesday May 4th 1859. Brunel died on September 5th 1859 and he is buried in London at the Kensal Green Cemetery. Not long afterwards, some of his friends on the Board of the Cornwall Railway had the legend "I K Brunel, Engineer, 1859" placed over the archways at each end of the Bridge. This was cast by the Plymouth Foundry for the princely sum of £15.
The Royal Albert Bridge at the turn of the last century
The Royal Albert Bridge and the Saltash Ferry, June 1939
The Royal Albert Bridge in the 1950s
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