I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:
The Severn Railway Bridge (historically called the Severn Bridge) was a bridge carrying the railway across the River Severn between Sharpness and Lydney in Gloucestershire. It was built in the 1870s by the Severn Bridge Railway Company, primarily to carry coal from the Forest of Dean to the docks at Sharpness
On October 25, 1960, two tanker barges carrying oil and petrol, the Arkendale H and Wastdale H, collided with the bridge in thick fog, causing a span to collapse and ignite their cargo, resulting in a river fire and the deaths of five crew members.
The fire and explosions which resulted irreparably damaged the bridge and sank the barges and today they lay together on the mud in the middle of the river above the bridge and although attempts were made to salvage the vessels, they all failed. So that they would not float again both barges were ripped open with explosives. To this day they both lay there, clearly visible from the shore at Purton at low tide, a reminder of the Severn Bridge Disaster.
The Severn Railway Bridge itself was finally demolished in 1967. All that remains today is the circular stone structure of the swing bridge on the side of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. A large stone arch also remains on the landward side of the canal, the original abutment to the swinging section. Some piers reduced to their stone foundations and the wrecks of the petrol barges that caused the original damage are visible at low tide.
The river at this point has always been hazardous to shipping because of the strong tidal currents, which caused the 1960 collision.
The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 28/03/2025. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.