page_title: Barnes Railway Bridge
section_title: University Boat Race
hierarchical_section_title: Barnes Railway Bridge / History / University Boat Race
caption_attribution_description: English: Image of 2003 Oxford &amp; Cambridge Boat Race approaching Barnes Railway Bridge (Oxford winners by one foot), seen from the North (Middlesex) side of the course. Taken by Pointillist and released into the public domain with no restrictions on re-use.
context_page_description: Barnes Railway Bridge is a Grade II listed railway bridge in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the London Borough of Hounslow. It crosses the River Thames in London in a northwest to southeast direction at Barnes. It carries the South Western Railway's Hounslow Loop Line, and lies between Barnes Bridge and Chiswick stations. It can also be crossed on foot, and is one of only three bridges in London to combine pedestrian and rail use; the others being Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges and Fulham Railway Bridge.
  The original bridge at this location was constructed during the late 1849 in accordance with a design produced by the civil engineer Joseph Locke; this structure, which consisted of two pairs of cast iron arch spans, bore a considerable resemblance to the original Richmond Railway Bridge, which was also designed by Locke. On 22 August 1849, the Barnes Bridge was opened to rail traffic. While Locke's incarnation of Barnes Bridge provided relatively trouble-free service, it has not seen use since the 1890s.
context_section_description: Over time, Barnes Bridge has become a recognisable landmark on the Thames. It is commonly referenced during the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, where it has been suggested that whichever crew is ahead at this point will go on to win the race. During 2003, the competing crews were in almost equal position approaching the bridge and Oxford ultimately won the race by just one foot.
  In recognition of its association with the boat races, the coat of arms which is present upon Barnes Bridge includes a light blue oar (representing Cambridge University) and a dark blue oar (representing Oxford University). During the first half of the twentieth century, it became common for the railway company to sell tickets to race spectators for access to the bridge as a means of generating revenue from the provision of a unique vantage point. However, in recent years, Barnes Bridge has been intentionally closed to pedestrian traffic during the boat race on the grounds of public safety.
caption: The Boat Race approaching Barnes Bridge. viewed from the Middlesex (north) bank in 2003 – Oxford ultimately won by only one foot
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