Trivia: the most famous viaduct in Britain

[Cheshire Scot]

Going back to the question posed by the OP. If fame is synonymous with best known/most recognisable, then it has to be the Harry Potter Bridge, AKA Glenfinnan Viaduct.

It wouldn't be my choice; I think a lot of other viaducts have a far better claim to fame, recognition and appreciation, but from the general public viewpoint, it has to be Glenfinnan.

I wonder what proportion know it only as the 'Harry Potter Viaduct' and could not name it as Glenfinnan Viaduct - there will be many who can name it whether having been and seen it or crossed it, whether on the Jacobite or with Scotrail, or having done their research, but there must be many who can immediately recognise it but not name it.

 

[satisnek]

Going back to the question posed by the OP. If fame is synonymous with best known/most recognisable, then it has to be the Harry Potter Bridge, AKA Glenfinnan Viaduct.

It wouldn't be my choice; I think a lot of other viaducts have a far better claim to fame, recognition and appreciation, but from the general public viewpoint, it has to be Glenfinnan.

And before that, I would say Ribblehead, which became an icon during the Settle & Carlisle closure proposal of the 1980s.

But before that though... ? I would guess that in most cases it would have been your local/nearest one. I don't think viaducts ever captured the public's imagination in the same way as large bridges have always done.

 

[racyrich]

Don't think anyone's mentioned the Braithwaite Viaduct - the Bishopsgate Goods Yard. Lots of arches!

Braithwaite Viaduct, Bishopsgate Goods Yard, Wheler Street / Brick Lane E1 - Tower Hamlets | Historic England

historicengland.org.uk

And one I know from my uni days in Leicestershire, the disused John O'Gaunt viaduct

 

[Hagbard Celine]

Three viaducts local to me that haven't been mentioned yet, all long since closed.

1. Neithpath viaduct west of Peebles on the long since closed Caledonian line to Symington on the WCML. Curved skewed ashlar masonry arches with all of the stones being different shapes. Ornate parapets.

2. Leaderfoot viaduct. Red sandstone piers, notable for its height. Will feature in the next Indiana Jones film.

3. Roxburgh viaduct. Like Neidpath, curved skewed masonry arches, double track width and higher but not as long and on a larger radius curve. Wrought iron and wood pedestrian footbridge cantilevered off the base of the piers on the downstream side.

 

[WesternBiker]

I live not too far from the wonderful Wharncliffe Viaduct.

Oh yes, oft overlooked and (I think) the first major structure on the GWR designed by Brunel to be completed. The columns are "Egyptian Pylon" in style (cf The Clifton Suspension bridge) and the first to be built with hollow piers.

 

[Rescars]

How sad that none of Brunel's wooden viaducts in Cornwall remain to be marvelled at.

 

[robert thomas]

A bridge mainly crosses water, a viaduct mainly crosses land. The Forth Bridge and the Royal Border Bridge are bridges, not viaducts, because they mainly cross water.

My top ten viaducts, in alpha order so I don't have to choose:

Balcombe (Sussex Ouse)
Belah
Bennerley (Erewash)
Chappel (Colne)
Culloden
Digswell (Mimram)
Glenfinnan
Greenwich
Harringworth (Welland)
Ribblehead

I haven't included anything in Wales. I might change my mind if I ever went to Crumlin.

Neath viaduct mainly crosses water (canal & river)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Some interesting nominations thus far, but the most famous viaduct in Britain (as determined/recognised by the general public) surely has to be Glenfinnan, possibly, but not necessarily, closely followed by Ribblehead. After that, we could well end up with well over 100 different nominations for the 8 remaining "top ten" viaducts!

 

[Grumpy Git]

I'd suggest (as already mentioned upthread) that generally, a viaduct is where the construction has multiple spans. The Tay bridge goes against this convention though.

 

[snowball]

I'd suggest (as already mentioned upthread) that generally, a viaduct is where the construction has multiple spans. The Tay bridge goes against this convention though.

There are other bridges that have many spans that are not usually called viaducts, such as the Royal Border Bridge.

 

[D6130]

There are other bridges that have many spans that are not usually called viaducts, such as the Royal Border Bridge.

....and indeed the Forth Bridge - and the former Severn Bridge.

 

[SteveT]

Three viaducts local to me that haven't been mentioned yet, all long since closed.

1. Neidpath viaduct west of Peebles on the long since closed Caledonian line to Symington on the WCML. Curved skewed ashlar masonry arches with all of the stones being different shapes. Ornate parapets.

Kielder, also skew arches and with decorated spandrels and castellated parapets.

And fancy having one of these in your garden – Charlton viaduct (S&DJR) from the grounds of Kilver Court.

 

[D6130]

And fancy having one of these in your garden – Charlton viaduct (S&DJR) from the grounds of Kilver Court.

Nice photo! You can clearly see where the original single track stone arch viaduct has been widened to double track using brick arches.

Durham viaduct must be quite well known, as it appears in quite a few paintings and photos of the city....as well as providing rail passengers with an unparallelled panorama of the cathedral and castle.

 

[WesternBiker]

....and indeed the Forth Bridge - and the former Severn Bridge.

Oh yes! The former Severn (Railway) Bridge.

It must rank as one of the most significant (and visible) pieces of railway engineering to disappear almost completely. Diversions when the Severn Tunnel is closed would be so much more fun if it still existed!

 

[5562]

The Midland Railway built some fine viaducts in Derbyshire on its route to Manchester. In addition to the already mentioned Headstone at Monsal Dale I'd add:
New Mills viaduct which crosses the River Goyt.
The 2 viaducts at Chapel Milton which diverge just north of Chinley South Jct.
And the two at Millers Dale, notable due to their differing construction.

 

[TheBigD]

And one I know from my uni days in Leicestershire, the disused John O'Gaunt viaduct

Someone posted a few images on a Facebook group recently of John O'Gaunt viaduct showing the current state in stark detail with the water damage etc etc...

I'll try to find it and post a link if possible.

Edit: Not the one I was looking for but you can see the damage...

https://m.facebook.com/groups/DisusedRailwayWalks/permalink/618713362265322/

 

[Grumpy Git]

And the two at Millers Dale, notable due to their differing construction.

Good shout, I remember driving underneath those as a young boy and being wide-eyed at their height (I'd be about 5).

The older one is in much better shape than the newest too.

 

[Roger100]

When I lived in Berkshire I travelled over the Wharncliffe Viaduct more than most. Second was the viaduct on the Slough to Windsor branch line, with the wrought iron bowstring bridge over the Thames between Eton and Windsor. The Wharncliffe is known for its bat roosts, and part of the Slough to Windsor is home to hibernating ladybirds.

We have plenty of viaducts up here in County Durham, one of my favourites is Denemouth Viaduct on the Durham Coast Line at Horden where, according to Google Maps satellite view, there are steep ramps for the trains to negotiate either side.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Hardly the most famous but I love the one between Broughton and Barton which was clearly visible from the old A6.

 

[WesternBiker]

Second was the viaduct on the Slough to Windsor branch line, with the wrought iron bowstring bridge over the Thames between Eton and Windsor.

The viaduct over the fields at Eton featured very extensively in one of Tim Dunn’s episodes of ‘The Architecture the Railways built’ (as well as the bridge). I had not realised until the episode that the viaduct has several reverse curves.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Two nominations from me:

Firstly, Cefn Coed or Pontycapel Viaduct:

This was built in 1866 to carry the Brecon and Merthyr railway across the River Taff Fawr at Pontycapel. It was built on a curve, which is one of the viaduct's main points of architectural interest. The railway across it was closed in the 1960s, but it remains as a cycle and walking route, although I haven't crossed it.



Secondly, Walnut Tree Viaduct:

This was located above the southern edge of the village of Taffs Well, South Wales. It was originally built to carry the Barry Railway across a narrow gorge through which the River Taff, Taff Valley Railway and the Cardiff Railway passed, it was deconstructed in 1969, leaving only two of the support columns (see below) visible from the A470 road.

 

[matchmaker]

What about the viaducts at Cullen on the former GNOSR Coast route?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What about the viaducts at Cullen on the former GNOSR Coast route?

Certainly photogenic. Didn't that viaduct (at Cullen) get featured in a Rob Bell TV programme a few years ago?

 

[vlad]

Good shout, I remember driving underneath those as a young boy and being wide-eyed at their height (I'd be about 5).

The older one is in much better shape than the newest too.

The older one currently carries the Monsal Trail, whereas the newer is fenced off and gradually turning into a jungle.

Interestingly, there was a period soon after the Monsal Trail opened when it used the newer viaduct and the older was fenced off, so at least I can say I've walked over both.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned upthread, but to me there’s a distinction between the best known viaduct and the most recognised. Yes, loads of people will recognise Glenfinnan, but only be able to say “oh yeah it’s off Harry Potter”.

If the question is which viaduct are most people able to recognise and name, the answer may be very different

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned upthread, but to me there’s a distinction between the best known viaduct and the most recognised. Yes, loads of people will recognise Glenfinnan, but only be able to say “oh yeah it’s off Harry Potter”.

If the question is which viaduct are most people able to recognise and name, the answer may be very different

Indeed. Believe the OS are considering renaming the viaduct at Glenfinnan accordingly.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Surely Holborn Viaduct fails the 'more than three spans' test. In fact it is really one large road arch with a couple of small side arches for the pavements. Definitely a 'bridge' to me.

The Viaduct is considerably longer than that, as can be seen in the murals in one of the stairwells depicting its construction. It's not obvious because it's been built up to on each side. Shoe Lane passes under it as well as Farringdon Street. Its full length runs from the junction with Snow Hill, as far as Holborn Circus.

 

[casual onion]

Conisbrough viaduct, though now disused, is quite impressive. You can now walk over it too.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Maybe a viaduct crosses an entire valley whereas a bridge simply crosses an obstacle, (be that a river or whatever where the line/road is basically at the same level)?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

And then there's where a viaduct becomes a bridge! Queen Ethelfleda viaduct/Runcorn (Railway) Bridge. Majestic in its own right, but never in anyone's lists sadly.

Also, I'd say possibly the best definition would be a viaduct joins 2 locations of similar heights, bridges go up and over something. I.e. a bridge goes from land, gains altitude to traverse say a river, and back down the other side.
A viaduct would be between 2 hills either side of said river.

This is why in my selection, the QE viaduct runs from just outside Runcorn station (at height) until it becomes Runcorn bridge where it goes across the Mersey and then down to land level.