59. Two visits to the Tower Bridge, 20 & 27 Jan

By popular demand, two trips were arranged to Tower Bridge for a short conducted tour of the above-ground bridge and steam engines, and a special tour of the southern Bascule Chamber. These tours only run in the quiet winter months because of bridge lifting leaves visitors only about a metre space to avoid being squashed (see below). They are limited to 12 people, Assembling at the North West entrance, most of Team 1 (right) with the Shard in the background at the start of the two-hour tour.

The special tour goes by way of the high level walkways; on a good day the views can be wonderful. The brave can also lie down on a glass panel over the road way. It’s supposed to take the weight of elephants! During this part of the tour a brief history of the planning, construction, use and abuse of the bridge is given. The latter, for the curious, includes double-decker buses ‘jumping’ over the gap formed by the opening bridge and an aeroplane flying between the bridge and the walkway.
Normally out of bounds to the public, the Bridge’s Senior Technical Officer took us to the Bridge Control Room, still with the Edwardian switchgear in place, down about 100 steps into the immense Bascule Chamber below river level and the Machinery Room, which houses the impressive hydraulics that power the lifting of the Bridge. Various modern control systems and hydraulic pumps have now replaced the steam-powered lifts.

It’s big! This is the Bascule into which the southern part of the bridge counterbalance descends as the bridge opens. Right is Team 2 crossing their fingers that the bridge would not be opened – the big light grey ‘roof’ sweeps down, past the yellow barrier, when the bridge lifts, demolishing Nigel et al.
But, you have to climb out. Here, Team 1 climbs out of the bascule chamber in silence, but not for long as we reach road level and walk to the power house. Today, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power, but since 1976 they have been driven by oil and electricity rather than steam. We visited the original pumping engines, accumulators and boilers which are now exhibits within Tower Bridge Exhibition’s Engine Rooms. The arrangements for coal fired steam are still there, complete with manufactures plates showing their UK pedigree.
Both Teams were given the option of a super Guildhall Lunch, arranged by the Clerk. Just the thing for a descent into the abyss.