West Wylam Bridge. Photo by Northumberland County Council, 1997.

West Wylam Bridge, Grade II*. Railway bridge now disused. 1876 by William George Laws for the North-Eastern Railway Co. Wrought-iron. A long single span with the roadway suspended from two parabolic arches. Said to be the earliest use of this form of construction to carry railway. Built as part of the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway. (1)

Three ribs spanning 240ft and carried a double track: an early example of its type. Constructed in wrought iron by Hawks Crawshay and Sons of Gateshead. The railway was closed in 1968 but the bridge is used as a pedestrian river crossing. (2)

West Wylam railway bridge opened in 1876 and completed the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway. This allowed the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway's trains to use the north bank line through to Newcastle. The wrought iron bridge has an 80 yard arch from which the beck is suspended. It is believed to be the first bridge of its kind in the world. (3)

NZ 112 642. A single span wrought-iron arch railway bridge at West Wylam on the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway of 1876. Possibly the first arch rib bridge to support a suspended railway track. (The bridge is shown, but not annotated, on OS 6" 1967 at NZ 1114 6428). (4)