In another case of ‘found by the YouTube algorithm’, an excellent video presentation titled ‘Alan Hayward on Railway Bridge Disasters and Other Mishaps‘, with a very large railway focus, but not exclusively so, watch it to find out more.
The talk very much shows how structural engineering is a field that is of endless improvement; what was once perfectly acceptable as a standard, now wouldn’t be built in the same way.
The presentation does hint at the challenges associated with such an old rail system as the UK has, with bridges of less than perfect design, now getting very long in the tooth, facing heavier traffic, contraints on maintenance (budget cut backs for example), and the realities of climate change bringing higher river levels, heavier rainfall and much more.
All in all a very interesting video and certainly a good watch if you’re into engineering disasters!
Ryan Hogg 