Mystery Girder at Millfield

[PinzaC55]

I recently found this picture of Millfield station on the historicengland website. It's a photo I have never seen before and was taken between closure of the station in 1955 and closure of the signalbox in 1966, looking east towards Sunderland. What struck me as curious is the heavy girder stacked on the platform - I cannot understand what it was for ? It is the right profile for a turntable but the only nearby turntable was in Sunderland station sidings, and I can't think why it would be dumped here when it was taken out of use.There was no road access to this platform so it had to be brought by rail.
Any ideas ?

http://historicengland.org.uk/images-bo ... ard/383366

Incidentally the site is well worth trawling for railway photos in general.

[Hatfield Shed]

It's a great thread title!

I can only see one end of the plate girder, and it does look somewhat like a turntable bridge component but looks a little deep; however there are plenty more engineered structures applicable to the heavy industry in the area which it might derive from. From the railway's own armoury of such kit, it could be a weight relieving cantilever beam for heavy load moves under a line possession. These had to be assembled around the load, using a 'breakdown' crane or two to move the 'kit of parts'.

I can imagine that the hardstanding of a convenient redundant station platform would be a good place to temporarily place such pieces. If that is what it is, my guess would be that it was on its way on or off the job, and this was a convenient location to place it while the job was underway.

[PinzaC55]

Ah thanks that makes sense ! The local area was full of shipyards and engine works (not any more) and I know that some, notably Doxfords, often carried out of gauge loads. It seemed more logical to stick whatever-it-was in the sizeable yard just beyond the bridge but maybe that was part of the problem ?

[Bryan]

Don't think it is likely to be from an out of gauge load.
The beam would probably have an end section parallel to the rail so it could slot in rather than being angled.

How far from South Dock shed is this station?
In the NERA publication Servicing the North Eastern Locos there is a mention of South Dock Sheds turntable girders being renewed in 1022.
Could this be either the new or old ones?

[PinzaC55]

It is about 2 miles from South Dock. If the turntable was renewed in 1022 I am pretty sure it would be made of wood or wattle and daub It doesn't look remotely long enough (assuming we can see half of it) for South Dock.

[Bryan]

OOPs Fat fingers.
The book did mention a size of 42ft rather than a 60ft