166207 passes underneath Jackdaw Bridge (near Frampton Mansell) on 30 December 2018 with the 2B90 09:24 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. This unusual bridge now carries a footpath through Westley Woods, but was originally built to carry an inclined plane, that lowered stone from Jackdaw Quarry, on the hillside near Westley Farm, to the Thames & Severn Canal in the valley below. The bridge, which is also known as Westley Bridge, or Skew Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel's assistant, Charles Richardson. It has a gradient of 1 in 2.9, and can be a bit difficult to climb when the track is muddy! |