Tower Bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

I took this picture while taking an open bus tour in London.

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When it was built, Tower Bridge was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever built ("bascule" comes from the French for "see-saw"). It was a hydraulically operated bridge, using steam to power the enormous pumping engines. The energy created was then stored in six massive accumulators so that, as soon as power was required to lift the Bridge, it was readily available. The accumulators fed the driving engines, which drove the bascules up and down. Despite the complexity of the system, the bascules only took about a minute to raise to their maximum 86 degrees.

Nowadays, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power, but since 1976 they have been driven by oil and electricity rather than steam. The original pumping engines, accumulators and boilers.

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Critiques | Translate

fkostas (397) 2008-06-22 21:15

I like this very much because it is a different perspective on a commonly photographed object. Very clear, was the Bus at a stop? Also, the blue sky seems unusual for London, which also makes the bridge different than most. I guess it was a rare blue day for London.

smash2707 (2516) 2008-11-10 11:30

I think, in general, people don't like tilted pictures that much, but I do, because I think they give you a different point of view and they can make a shot original. I like your tilted shot; I might have included a bit more of the tower and less sky lowering the camera a bit (I guess it wasn't possible on the bus). You did a great job considering being on the bus. Regards, Yvonne