Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request The Bridge By Asda in Woodchurch...?

Theres a low bridge before the motorway and before asda in woodchurch/prenton. I think its woodchurch road the road were the swan pub is, anyway,
Is it true about when it was first built an open top bus when under it and someone got there head tuck striaght off?
just wondering if anyone knows anything coz that story has always amazed me and Im not sure if its really true or just a story

The bridge is the rail bridge for the Wrexham-Bidston (Borderlands) Line

Can't find any history on the bridge though

Take it you are going on about the railway bridge by Durley Drive. A doubledeaker bus clears that with quite a bit of space left over, so unless it was an extremely tall person, I'd say it is a myth.

standing up i think

Don't forget its the floor you stand on, on a bus, not the roof, so standing up on a open top bus there is still loads of space above your head. I've never heard that story myself, That bridge was known as the commodore bridge.

The stated height clearance was always 13'-3" (disregard the Euro-Crap measurements)under the Woodchurch Rd railway bridge. As Neston Vasey says, a d/deck bus clears it with oodles to spare. Never heard the de-capitation story before.

The present bridge was erected in the 1930's when Woodchurch Road was widened. MAYBE the original, smaller bridge was lower. I have never seen a photo of the original bridge. Has anyone else ??

B'head only had two open top d/deckers, both AEC "B" types which ran from 1921 to 1925/6. Reg.Nos. CM 1711-12. They ran mainly on the Moreton route. So maybe ...... ?? After those, Leyland Leviathans with covered tops took over and it's been covered top decks ever since.

Come to think of it, B'head had another 3 (?) open toppers from the mid fifties onward. At least they became open toppers after trying to go under the low bridge in Green Lane. Only the buses returned to service. The drivers didn't !

during the boy scouts jamborie which was held at Arrow park in 1917 {think that is the correct year} a boy scout was standing up on the top deck of an open top bus and was killed when his head struck the railway bridge at the bottom of woodchurch road. One can only assume he was a very tall person for this to have happened unless he was fooling arround and standing on one of the seats

The jamboree was 1929 i think and that would be before this bridge was erected according to Pinz.

I was going to post earlier that buses clear this with ease. But, then it occurred to me, even though the bridge may have been in the same position, the road below it may have been higher. It's a possibility that the road was dug deeper afterwards.

I live near here, I've seen about three trains in all that time.
They need to put a station here (I think they were at some point), as there's loads of space and there's no station for about 3 or 4 miles.

There is a plan that being lurking for years that gets dusted off regularly, to build at new station at the Woodchurch Rd. railway bridge. The 3rd rail would be extended from Bidston Station via Upton. You would then have a direct electric train service to/from L'pool. So easy to do.

This could have been done years ago. Too much time spent faffing around and no action !

Heard (but think it's twaddle myself) that, once upon a moon ago, someone got brained on the Wallasey Village station bridge and was only saved because the bus was going relatively slow after moving off?

As for 3rd rail electrification of the Bidston-Wrexham line, I'm all for it but I think they should re-open the spur between Bidston and Wallasey Village again so routes between West Kirby and New Brighton are better. I mean personally I'd like to see the Wirral Way reinstated and a rail junction leading from Leasowe to Upton so all sorts of connections can be made but hey! That's a little off-topic rant for you!

The story about the boy scout is mentioned in one of the wirral books but i cant remember which one. I think (not sure though) that the monument in the grounds of the hospital are in his memory. Apparently he was a foreign scout. I will have a look in some of the books i have and post any info

i was just about to brush this story off as just a story someone made up and they told to me but seems now it must be true wow a horrable way to died you'd think there would be some sort of plack on the bridge in his memory