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The Woolston Floating Bridge was a cable ferry that crossed the River Itchen in England between Woolston and Southampton from 23 November 1836〔(Port cities website- Southampton floating bridge )〕〔Southampton. A pictorial peep into the past, Southern Newspapers Ltd 1980〕 until 11 June 1977.〔Southampton Echo, June 1977〕 It was taken out of service when the new Itchen Bridge was opened. Initially there was one ferry, built and owned by the ''Floating Bridge Company'', increased to two in 1881. In 1934 they were sold to Southampton Corporation.〔''The Illustrated History of Southampton's Suburbs''. Jim Brown. 2004. ISBN 1-85983-405-1.〕 By 1977, they were operating side by side during the day with a single ferry late in the evening. There was a bus terminus at either side of the crossing, connecting foot passengers with the centre of Southampton and the road to Portsmouth. ==Technology== When introduced in 1838, it wa a wooden-hulled chain ferry designed by engineer James Meadows Rendel.〔 Initially there was one pair of chains across the river, both being used for propulsion. With the introduction of the lighter iron-hulled ferry No 2 in 1854, only the north chain was used for propulsion, the second chain being for guidance only. In 1879 a pedestrian-only ferry was introduced, followed by a second in 1881 to service the growing workmen traffic heading for the Thorneycroft shipyard just downstream from the crossing. This necessitated the installation of a second set of chains to allow both types of ferry to operate simultaneously. In 1880 the ferry was still using chains,〔Southampton. A pictorial peep into the past. Southern Newspapers Ltd. 1980〕 replaced by cables between 1878 and 1887. They are first seen in pictures of Floating Bridge No. 7, built in 1892 by Day, Summers and Co.〔 Each rope weighed nearly 2 tons and had an average life of nine months in normal use. Each end was attached to a short length of chain that was connected to counterbalance weights housed in chain wells to maintain tension. As the ropes stretched with use, chain links were removed to compensate. Floating Bridge No. 11 and the two subsequent ferries were powered by diesel engines. Originally the ferries were lit by oil lamps. Ferry No 3 was fitted with gas lamps from new in 1862 but reverted to oil in 1869. In the early 20th century, electric lights were fitted to No 8, powered by a steam-driven dynamo, replaced by a Lister diesel in 1949.〔Farewell to the Floating Bridges. SCT & SUIAG. 1977〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Woolston Floating Bridge」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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