The original railway bridge over the River Ely. On the Penarth side of the original bridge a temporary timber viaduct 1,089 feet in length was built to connect the Llandough sidings. This construction presumably predated the opening of the Penarth Dock in May 1865 as it was utilised for the transportation of Radyr stone and most other construction items for the dock and associated infrastructure. An earthen embankment replaced this viaduct which was completed during 1871. The original timber bridge remained in use until a new bridge was constructed parallel to the original bridge which opened in September 1871. [008] The original of this photograph is held within the National Museum of Wales collections. [629] [Museum Reference : 70.102I/25] [20180207]

The 'new' River Ely bridge with stone buttresses is seen during construction with the original timber bridge to the rear. A TVR engine brings materials and work temporally stops as the photographer captures the scene for posterity. The photographer is not known but it seems to have all the hallmarks of Mr. Collings and Company. A deviation of the railway to meet the Llandough sidings and main line to Penarth Dock some 28 chains long was also constructed and it was in operation by June 1883. [008] The original of this photograph is held within the National Museum of Wales collections. [629] [Museum Reference : 70.102I/24] [20180207]

2001 - A photographic view from the Grangemoor Park dating from July 2001 taken by Dr. Mary Gillham M.B.E. to illustrate the diversity of our local wildlife but in the process recording our industrial and maritime heritage. The railway between Cardiff, Penarth and Barry is carried across the River Ely on the c.1883 bridge. A tribute indeed that much of our modern railway infrastructure is due to those Victorian designers, engineers and the skilled, and less skilled, men who built it. Sorry to be sexist, but I don't believe there were too many of the fairer sex working as bridge-builders in the 1880's. Please correct me if I am proven sexist in this respect!!

Another of the photographs from the archive of the amazing late Dr. Mary Gillham M.B.E. [048] [634] [635] [20180217] Many thanks to Alan Reeve at the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC) - www.sewbrec.org.uk - for permission to use this image on the Penarth Dock website.