Kielder Viaduct: Difference between revisions
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The viaduct was conceived in a joint project of the [[Border Counties Railway]] and the North British Railway as part of the former's extension to Riccarton Junction. The project was completed in 1862 but the Border Counties Railway had been absorbed by the North British Railway two years earlier. In order to meet with the approval of local landowner the [[Duke of Northumberland]] who had a shooting lodge nearby, the viaduct was built in a [[Scots baronial style|Baronial]] style and decorated with a battlemented parapet and faux [[arrow slits]].<ref name="rennison">{{cite book|title=Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England|first=Robert W.|last=Rennison|edition=2nd|publisher=Thomas Telford|location=|year=1996|page=28|isbn=0727725181|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Bv2BrOMo8cIC&pg=PA28}}</ref> Robert Nicholson had been the engineer responsible for building the first section of the line but, on his death in 1855, his nephew John Furness Tone (1822–1881)<ref name="toneobit">{{cite web|url=http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/article/10.1680/imotp.1882.22011|title=Obituary. John Furness Tone, 1822–1881|publisher=Institution of Civil Engineers|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> took on the task of completing the project and it was under his direction that contractors William Hutchinson and John Ridley built the viaduct.<ref name="rennison"/> The arches are constructed at a skewed angle and each stone had to be individually shaped.<ref name="forgottenrelics">{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/gallery/kielder.html|title=Kielder Viaduct|publisher=Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> |
The viaduct was conceived in a joint project of the [[Border Counties Railway]] and the North British Railway as part of the former's extension to Riccarton Junction. The project was completed in 1862 but the Border Counties Railway had been absorbed by the North British Railway two years earlier. In order to meet with the approval of local landowner the [[Duke of Northumberland]] who had a shooting lodge nearby, the viaduct was built in a [[Scots baronial style|Baronial]] style and decorated with a battlemented parapet and faux [[arrow slits]].<ref name="rennison">{{cite book|title=Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England|first=Robert W.|last=Rennison|edition=2nd|publisher=Thomas Telford|location=|year=1996|page=28|isbn=0727725181|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Bv2BrOMo8cIC&pg=PA28}}</ref> Robert Nicholson had been the engineer responsible for building the first section of the line but, on his death in 1855, his nephew John Furness Tone (1822–1881)<ref name="toneobit">{{cite web|url=http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/article/10.1680/imotp.1882.22011|title=Obituary. John Furness Tone, 1822–1881|publisher=Institution of Civil Engineers|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> took on the task of completing the project and it was under his direction that contractors William Hutchinson and John Ridley built the viaduct.<ref name="rennison"/> The arches are constructed at a skewed angle and each stone had to be individually shaped.<ref name="forgottenrelics">{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/gallery/kielder.html|title=Kielder Viaduct|publisher=Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> |
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The railway company had hoped to tap the coal traffic from [[Plashetts]] but this proved disappointing, although there was some traffic from forestry.<ref name="brontyne">{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/kdrlwy.html|title=North Tyne - Kielder Railway Viaduct|publisher=Bridges On The Tyne|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> Passenger traffic was always limited, though the line did open up the North Tyne valley and was in part responsible for the increase in population there.<ref name="brontyne"/> The North British Railway now had a route between [[Edinburgh]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] via [[Hexham]] but it compared poorly with the route via [[Berwick-upon-Tweed|Berwick]], taking almost five hours to complete the journey.<ref name="brontyne"/> |
The railway company had hoped to tap the coal traffic from [[Plashetts]] colliery that opened in the 1850s but this proved disappointing, although there was some traffic from forestry in the area.<ref name="brontyne">{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/kdrlwy.html|title=North Tyne - Kielder Railway Viaduct|publisher=Bridges On The Tyne|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> Passenger traffic was always limited, though the line did open up the North Tyne valley and was in part responsible for the increase in population there.<ref name="brontyne"/> The North British Railway now had a route between [[Edinburgh]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] via [[Hexham]] but it compared poorly with the route via [[Berwick-upon-Tweed|Berwick]], taking almost five hours to complete the journey.<ref name="brontyne"/> |
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On 1 January 1923 ownership of the viaduct, along with the rest of the line, passed to the [[London and North Eastern Railway]] and thence to the North Eastern region of [[British Railways]] on [[nationalisation]] in 1948. The line through Kielder lost its passenger service on 15 October 1956 and closed completely on 1 September 1958 and the viaduct's future became uncertain when the £167 million Kielder reservoir project was begun in 1976, a substantial part of the route of the old line being lost under the waters. However, steps were taken by the Newcastle and Northumberland Society<ref name="brontyne"/> to protect the viaduct itself by encasing the bases of its piers in concrete and waterproofing the bridge deck.<ref name="rennison"/><ref name="brontyne2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/kdrlwy.html|title=North Tyne - Hexham to Kielder|publisher=Bridges On The Tyne|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> The structure is now a [[Scheduled Monument]] and forms part of a footpath from which walkers can enjoy the views from the top of its arches.<ref name="forgottenrelics"/> |
On 1 January 1923 ownership of the viaduct, along with the rest of the line, passed to the [[London and North Eastern Railway]] and thence to the North Eastern region of [[British Railways]] on [[nationalisation]] in 1948. The line through Kielder lost its passenger service on 15 October 1956 and closed completely on 1 September 1958 and the viaduct's future became uncertain when the £167 million Kielder reservoir project was begun in 1976, a substantial part of the route of the old line being lost under the waters. However, steps were taken by the Newcastle and Northumberland Society<ref name="brontyne"/> to protect the viaduct itself by encasing the bases of its piers in concrete and waterproofing the bridge deck.<ref name="rennison"/><ref name="brontyne2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/kdrlwy.html|title=North Tyne - Hexham to Kielder|publisher=Bridges On The Tyne|accessdate=24 August 2009}}</ref> The structure is now a [[Scheduled Monument]] and forms part of a footpath from which walkers can enjoy the views from the top of its arches.<ref name="forgottenrelics"/> |
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Revision as of 23:17, 28 August 2009
Kielder Viaduct | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kielder skew viaduct, built to carry the Border Counties Railway over Deadwater Burn | |
| Coordinates | 55°13.47′N 2°34.78′W / 55.22450°N 2.57967°W |
| Carries | Footpath |
| Crosses | Deadwater Burn |
| Locale | Kielder, Northumberland |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Skew viaduct |
| Material | Stone |
| Total length | 392 feet (119 m) |
| Longest span | Seven spans of 40 feet (12 m) |
| No. of spans | 7 |
| Piers in water | 3 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Furness Tone |
| Construction start | 1858 |
| Construction end | 1862 |
| Location | |
 | |
Kielder Viaduct consists of seven semicircular masonry skew arches and was built in 1862 to carry the North British Railway across marshy land, which following flooding to create Kielder Water, became the place where Deadwater Burn joins Bakethin Reservoir.[1] Now closed to rail traffic the bridge is used as a footpath.
History
.jpg)
The viaduct was conceived in a joint project of the Border Counties Railway and the North British Railway as part of the former's extension to Riccarton Junction. The project was completed in 1862 but the Border Counties Railway had been absorbed by the North British Railway two years earlier. In order to meet with the approval of local landowner the Duke of Northumberland who had a shooting lodge nearby, the viaduct was built in a Baronial style and decorated with a battlemented parapet and faux arrow slits.[2] Robert Nicholson had been the engineer responsible for building the first section of the line but, on his death in 1855, his nephew John Furness Tone (1822–1881)[3] took on the task of completing the project and it was under his direction that contractors William Hutchinson and John Ridley built the viaduct.[2] The arches are constructed at a skewed angle and each stone had to be individually shaped.[4]
The railway company had hoped to tap the coal traffic from Plashetts colliery that opened in the 1850s but this proved disappointing, although there was some traffic from forestry in the area.[5] Passenger traffic was always limited, though the line did open up the North Tyne valley and was in part responsible for the increase in population there.[5] The North British Railway now had a route between Edinburgh and Newcastle via Hexham but it compared poorly with the route via Berwick, taking almost five hours to complete the journey.[5]
On 1 January 1923 ownership of the viaduct, along with the rest of the line, passed to the London and North Eastern Railway and thence to the North Eastern region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948. The line through Kielder lost its passenger service on 15 October 1956 and closed completely on 1 September 1958 and the viaduct's future became uncertain when the £167 million Kielder reservoir project was begun in 1976, a substantial part of the route of the old line being lost under the waters. However, steps were taken by the Newcastle and Northumberland Society[5] to protect the viaduct itself by encasing the bases of its piers in concrete and waterproofing the bridge deck.[2][6] The structure is now a Scheduled Monument and forms part of a footpath from which walkers can enjoy the views from the top of its arches.[4]
References
- ^ "NY6392 : Kielder Viaduct". Geograph. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ a b c Rennison, Robert W. (1996). Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England (2nd ed.). Thomas Telford. p. 28. ISBN 0727725181.
- ^ "Obituary. John Furness Tone, 1822–1881". Institution of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Kielder Viaduct". Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "North Tyne - Kielder Railway Viaduct". Bridges On The Tyne. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "North Tyne - Hexham to Kielder". Bridges On The Tyne. Retrieved 24 August 2009.