Bridge : Cogan Station footbridge

What a difference a year makes!

Well, almost a year – the top photo was taken in February 2019, the lower just a few days ago, and the transformation is obvious.

This is the pedestrian footbridge, built in the late 19th century to carry Cardiff- or Barry-bound train passengers over the tracks at Cogan railway station. This section of the Cardiff to Barry line opened to rail traffic on 20 December 1888 so I assume the footbridge was built prior to that but I haven’t been able to find an exact date.

As there are several old footbridges similar to this one crossing the local lines, I was a little surprised to find that this particular bridge is Grade II listed. Here’s how it’s described on the British Listed Buildings website:

Square cast-iron balusters with ball finials; foundry plates 'George Smith & Co, Glasgow'. Wrought iron lattice girder rails to stairs and bridge; cast iron handrail.
Steps have wooden treads and cast-iron risers with pierced quatrefoils. At turn of stairs half landing supported by cast-iron Italianate quattrocento style Corinthian columns on fluted plinths; pierced cast-iron angle bracing. Bridge has wooden decking; rails strengthened by five bulbous braces which pass under decking. Two modern lamps on N side of bridge.

As my photographs show, the footbridge has recently been given a facelift. According to their website, the refurbishment work was carried out by Centregreat Rail & Engineering. The project involved the

installation of a temporary footbridge, removal of the existing span from site for workshop refurbishment, surface preparation & painting, steelwork repairs & strengthening, replacement of timber deck & treads with a load bearing FRP [fibre-reinforced plastic?] alternative, installation of LED hand rail and upgrading of the station platform lighting.

There’s no mention of the paint job, nor any explanation for the choice of colour scheme – a hefty discount on ‘Lollipop pink’ at the local paint shop perhaps? – and it hardly seems appropriate for a Victorian railway bridge. But I certainly am glad the footbridge has been renovated rather than replaced, and it did look rather cheery on a grey winter's day.