Arkeeos
Member
There is 2 in Mansfield, drury dam viaduct and kings mill viaduct.
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Long or high railway bridges you can walk over
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Falcon1200
Established Member
Yes indeed, it is quite a high viaduct and in regular use as a path to St Luke's High School. It is featured extensively, with some good photos, in the book 'The Paisley and Barrhead District Railway' (Jack Kernahan, Lightmoor Press 2016). Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the viaduct is that it was hardly ever used for rail traffic and represents a huge waste of the Caledonian Railway's money.
Over the Afon Ogwen at Tregarth.
The cycle route called Lôn Las Ogwen emerges from a tunnel directly onto a viaduct.
Images from Mudandroutes.
Bus routes pass each end.
The cycle route called Lôn Las Ogwen emerges from a tunnel directly onto a viaduct.
Images from Mudandroutes.
Bus routes pass each end.
Dr Hoo
Established Member
It is clearly labelled "Corby Bridge" on the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey map. I just thought that that 'name' would be helpful for folk looking it up.
Morayshire
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Pinus contorta
Member
The viaduct at Kielder is neither long nor high but it is interesting to look at because it is skewed
gimmea50anyday
Established Member
Newton Cap Viaduct, Bishop Auckland.
Used to be on the route from Darlington th Durham via Bishop Auckland. Crossing the wear Valley it headed towards Willington and Brancepeth before picking up the ECML south of Durham at Relly Mill. It now forms part of the A689 Toronto bypass and gives a brilliant view of the wear valley and of the Kynren set
Used to be on the route from Darlington th Durham via Bishop Auckland. Crossing the wear Valley it headed towards Willington and Brancepeth before picking up the ECML south of Durham at Relly Mill. It now forms part of the A689 Toronto bypass and gives a brilliant view of the wear valley and of the Kynren set
There are actually four viaducts on the old line between Swalwell and Consett which passes through Rowlands Gill. Going west from the Nine Arches at Lockhaugh, there's a second over the river Derwent in the village of Rowlands Gill, then beyond Lintz Green station there's a short one over Fogoes Burn and finally one over Pont Burn. This last is the highest and longest on the route, 250 yards long and 120 feet high. They're all fully accessible on the Derwent Walk Railway Path.
Thanks. Had my Rowlands Gill viaducts mixed up. Do you know the name of the one south of town. Can't see it on the OS map or openstreetmap,
Nottingham59
Established Member
I'm not sure that I would want anyone making a special journey to just walk over Lady Bay Bridge in Nottingham!
Bevan Price
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Some are bridges that aren't spectacular. Am rating them (not added it to the map page yet) to give an idea.
As its now a road bridge, a 1 out of 5 in this case.
Morayshire
Member
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Another one for the collection.
Balmossie viaduct on the former Dundee to Forfar line. Currently a footpath/cycleway.
https://canmore.org.uk/site/234090/dundee-balmossie-railway-viaduct
Balmossie viaduct on the former Dundee to Forfar line. Currently a footpath/cycleway.
https://canmore.org.uk/site/234090/dundee-balmossie-railway-viaduct
The only name I can find for it is Rowlands Gill viaduct I'm afraid. Growing up there in the 1970s I didn't have any curiosity about the names !
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/guide/rail-bridge-viaduct-walks.html
Thanks for all your suggestions. I've guestimated a rating for each bridge to give an idea of what's worth a trip.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I've guestimated a rating for each bridge to give an idea of what's worth a trip.
Sorry to be pedantic, but the Cawledge Viaduct in Northumberland isn't disused, it has both a Heritage Railway and a foot/cyclepath on it. You have kindly provided a link to the Aln Valley Railway website which has a drone video of a steam train on it !
What a splendid map! Looking at it, this nudges me to mention the 8-arch viaduct at Glenluce in Galloway. This is quite close to the A75. Others will know how accessible it is for walkers.
D365
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Apologies for this minor diversion, but since we've got a lot of bridge know-how gathered, I was hoping that somebody could help me identify a bridge that I visited in my early childhood and simply cannot recall the name of.
It's a blue painted metal bridge, situated on a reasonably high [and probably ex-railway] embankment. At the time, the bridge was gated off from pedestrian access; we had to walk down a stairs, off the embankment and down to a small wooden footbridge. What amazed me was that these bridges (the blue bridge in particular) was seemingly only crossing over a little stream!
It was definitely in the England, about an hour's drive from Cambridge, but I can't remember anything beyond that.
It's a blue painted metal bridge, situated on a reasonably high [and probably ex-railway] embankment. At the time, the bridge was gated off from pedestrian access; we had to walk down a stairs, off the embankment and down to a small wooden footbridge. What amazed me was that these bridges (the blue bridge in particular) was seemingly only crossing over a little stream!
It was definitely in the England, about an hour's drive from Cambridge, but I can't remember anything beyond that.
Thanks.
Luce Viaduct, http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/gallery/luce.html has a good write up. Seems to be blocked off.
Came across quite a few disused viaducts with no access. Seems such a waste.
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Unless it jogs someone's memory, your best hope is to look at a website of disused rail lines, then follow them on an OS map (which usually shows the route of old rail lines quite clearly), then google (streetmap or images) each location you come to. There's a Blue Bridge (place name) in Halstead near a disused rail line, but I couldn't see the bridge the name referred to.
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Nottingham59
Established Member
I find railmaponline is very good: https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php
The viaducts of the disused Ingleton branch line are worth a look. Ingleton Viaduct is already mentioned upthread. Another favourite is the Lowgill Viaduct, which is the one that is clearly visible from the West Coast Mainline (or indeed M6) just north of Oxenholme.
Although it is not possible to walk over many of these structures, it is possible to walk under and around them. For example, the Lowgill and Waterside viaducts are part of the Dales Way long distance footpath.
The Ingleton branch line Wikipedia page has photos of all the viaducts:
Although it is not possible to walk over many of these structures, it is possible to walk under and around them. For example, the Lowgill and Waterside viaducts are part of the Dales Way long distance footpath.
The Ingleton branch line Wikipedia page has photos of all the viaducts:
Ingleton branch line - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
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Waterside is lovely viewed from the road.
My favourite train spotting site when I was a kid! You can get the numbers of locos on the main line and you're standing right next to anything on the Walton Old Junction loop. It is, incidentally (as you'll know) a historic viaduct, built by Joseph Locke as part of the original Grand Junction in 1835.
Came across this while searching for a (free to use) photo of Aurs Burn Viaduct : https://assets.publishing.service.g...torical-railways-estate-forward-programme.pdf
Its a list of bridges, mainly over disused lines, that historic railway estates has plans for..
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So far, I've kind of avoided viaducts with no access (which includes the operation ones... ) as there are just way too many of them, but as its in open hilly countryside, and you can walk up to it, I'll add it.
Its a list of bridges, mainly over disused lines, that historic railway estates has plans for..
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Just read up on the line - it parallels the Settle and Carlisle - would make a great rail trail if the viaducts could be reopened.
So far, I've kind of avoided viaducts with no access (which includes the operation ones... ) as there are just way too many of them, but as its in open hilly countryside, and you can walk up to it, I'll add it.
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2392
Member
A friend of mine was most taken by the sight of the aforementioned Causey Arch beside the Tanfield Railway. OK he didn't go all the way down into the valley of the Causey Burn, even so it's quite a stunning view. Which is even better if you walk from the car park along the valley, which twists and turns hiding the 'Arch from sight at first, thus heightening the view of the Arch. Urban legend has it that the designer/builder committed suicide before the first train went over the Arch, as he thought it would collapse under the weight of that train........ Back in the eighties the Burn was really badly polluted by the Ever Ready Battery factory, though since it's closure it has started to clear.
UK Rail bridges and viaducts you can walk over - Tourist Guide - SWC
rail bridge and viaducts to walk over
www.walkingclub.org.uk
Getting photos for the list. Some pretty impressive structures!
Try geograph.org.uk. pix of Uk sorted by 1km grid square.UK Rail bridges and viaducts you can walk over - Tourist Guide - SWC
rail bridge and viaducts to walk over
Getting photos for the list. Some pretty impressive structures!
Mikey C
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Not especially long and high, but there's a useful crossing of the Thames on the Marlow branch, just south of Bourne End, where a footbridge has been added to the 1895 rail bridge. Indeed the Thames Path national trail goes over it.
Dave S 56F
Member
Not sure if this counts but in Cleckheaton where I live is the station approach viaduct known locally as harry mann dam viaduct on the London north western railway Leeds new line from Mirfield to Leeds it was built for easier road and pedestrian access to Cleckheaton L.N.W.R. railway station rather than passengers walking up the steep spen lane A643 road to get to the station.
What an interesting typo. However I think it should be Haltwhistle.
I these are the same structure listed twice.
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