1957 The transportation of a bridge girder from Butterley Ironworks in Derbyshire.

The film begins colour footage of one of the Pelham Bridge girders being sprayed with paint at Butterley Ironworks yard at Codnor in Derbyshire. This is followed by black and white footage of the last of four large bridge girders being lifted on to a Bowmer and Kirkland Scammell low loader using two steam railway cranes. The focus then shifts to the loading of one of the longest girder sections (95ft) on to a special bogie vehicle with rear steering supplied by Bowmer and Kirkland. Initially the front drive unit is lined up with the rear at the correct distance using a taught rope as a guide. In concert the steam cranes then lift the second girder off a flatbed rail carriage, move into position and lower it on to the front and rear bogie units. The load then begins its journey to Lincoln by first manoeuvring carefully out of the yard and on to the main road. It is shown passing through residential areas and negotiating a difficult corner in Alfreton.
Notes:
Pelham Bridge in Lincoln was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 27 June 1958. The steel structure of the bridge was supplied and erected by Butterley Company Limited of Derbyshire. The bridge is supported on rubber bearings, the first time that this technology was used in the UK. The architects were Robert Atkinson and Partners, London.
© The Media Archive for Central England

[@rowenatwynham8905]

The Butterley Ironworks on this video is actually at Ripley, not Codnor, a few miles away. The site where the loading was is now a modern housing estate. Sold off to developers shortly before the works closed for good after over 200 years of business. A once major employers, ruined by greedy asset strippers.

[@petedemaio168]

Thank you for uploading this. Really enjoyed it. I liked following the journey on modern street view as I watched noticing the same houses, generally. Swanwick and Alfreton. Little things like: what is now the New Life church in Church Street had a pointed roof on the top. We left the girder in Mansfield Road, I wonder where the destination was in this pre-M1 time?

[@20122017]

Glad you enjoyed the video. The girder was on its way to Lincoln, part of Pelham Bridge.

[@stephenlee2571]

Yes where was it going 65 years ago,what part of the built environment does it form, does it still stand? Got to admire the can do attitude of the time.Butterley company long gone, but their ironwork still holds up the roof of St Pancress station,such skill lost forever