Railway Swing Bridge And Approach Viaducts, Bowling Harbour, Forth And Clyde Canal

The Railway Swing Bridge and Approach Viaducts at Bowling Harbour were built in 1896 for the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway, designed by engineers Crouch and Hogg, with construction by Robert McAlpine and Sons.

The main span features a steel N truss riveted swing span, pivoted near the west end and supported on a hollow mass-concrete abutment that contains remains of hydraulic operating gear, wheels, and tracks for the span's rotation. The exterior of the abutment is finished in pink concrete, channelled to resemble masonry, topped with a grey concrete cope. A round-arched door on the east face provides access to the interior. The pylons at both ends of the span are similarly treated, featuring a moulded projecting cope.

The eastern approach viaduct consists of seven spans, with two sets of three mass concrete segmental arches linked by a steel span. The arches have moulded arch rings, and the abutments are treated as pilasters. The spandrels are channelled like the main span abutment. The parapet of all spans is made of grey concrete, with a moulded string course at the base and a moulded cope on top. The central steel span is flanked by pylons that rise from the pilasters. Most of the arches, except for one, are now used as storage spaces.

The western approach viaduct has four concrete arches similar to those on the eastern approach, along with a plate girder span that crosses the main road and footpath. The four western arches are infilled with terracotta brick and feature three round-arched openings each, with the central opening larger than the flanking ones. The arches have moulded voussoirs, and the supporting columns are similarly designed with simple moulded capitals. The plate girder span, constructed by Somervail and Co of Dalmuir, has been deepened by adding a narrow band of steelwork on the north side. The western abutments and wing walls are made of pink channelled concrete, as is the pier near the west end that provides immediate support.