THE March meeting was very well attended.

Speaker Paul Barnett gave an illustrated talk titled ‘The Severn Railway Bridge’ the talk that focused on the life of this historic site including the Bridge disaster.

The talk covered the railway bridge’s design, and along the way to unravelled several myths by presenting some newly discovered evidence.

The Severn Railway Bridge was built in the 1870s by designer George Baker Keeling and the Severn Bridge Railway Company, primarily to carry coal from the Forest of Dean to the docks at Sharpness.

The bridge continued to be used for freight and passenger services until 1960.

The Bridge was constructed by Hamilston’s Windsor Ironworks Company Limited of Garston, Liverpool.

On 25 October 1960, in thick fog and a strong tide, two barges (named the Arkendale H and Wastdale H) which had overshot Sharpness Dock, collided with one of the columns of the bridge after being carried upstream.

Two bridge spans collapsed into the river.

As they fell, parts of the structure hit the barges causing the fuel oil and petroleum they were carrying to catch fire.

The speaker noted from his new research that the 1960 accident was not further ignited by gas from a fractured main.

Repair work was part under consideration when another collision occurred the following year, after which it was decided that it would be uneconomical to repair the bridge.

It was demolished between 1967 and 1970, with traces remaining, also including the barges that still can be seen at low tide.

Paul covered in detail the memorials that have been recently put in place on either side of the Severn, that will ensure the men that lost their lives, and the heroes that prevented the accident becoming even much worse are remembered.

A donation to the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (SVTEC) from our Society was also made, this will go towards the South Cerney Steam & Vintage gala in August that is a charity run event.

Wings and Wheels next meeting is on Thursday, April 13 at 8pm in Dursley Community Centre.

Group Captain Jock Heron OBE will give an illustrated talk titled ‘60 Years of Aviation Secrets - Area 51’ the talk will focus on the USAF’s top secret test site at Groom Lake, Nevada including once restricted information on spy planes.

For more information contact Rich on 01453 544489, or visit bit.ly/2ofNM7D