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PHOTO
GALLERY GROUP 11
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Timber Viaducts.
The Blackwater Rail Trail, managed by Essex County Council,
runs from Witham to Maldon East, utilising as much as possible of
the old Great Eastern Railway's branch line between these two towns.
The two timber viaducts at Wickham Bishops, designated as Ancient
Monuments and restored by Essex County Council in 1995, intrigued
member Ralph Rawlinson so much that he persuaded Essex member Brian
Eley to visit the site and take a few photos. Brian responded by
taking about fifteen, and the best of them appear below.
Brian reports
that the two viaducts are separated by a short embankment that appears
to be part of someone's garden; this explains why the photo of the
southernmost viaduct (nearest Maldon) was taken from the road. The
northern viaduct is more interesting and accessible (there is a
footpath alongside the river, running right underneath it). He goes
on to say that, unfortunately, some of the Baltic Pine used is rotting
away already and it certainly won't last the 120 years or so of
the original.
A sign alongside
claims that these are the only two surviving timber railway viaducts
in the country which, if taken to mean England, is correct. There
is a recently strengthened one on the Highland main line near Aviemore
and the more famous one at Barmouth in North Wales. (Ralph Rawlinson)
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Top: A
lovely study of the north viaduct at Wickham Bishops, looking upstream.
It's a miracle that these viaducts survived at all. The line closed
in September 1964, and these timber structures then spent 31 years
without any maintenance whatsoever. However, it is reasonable to
expect that the GER constructed them from high quality, seasoned
hardwood which helped to ensure their survival. September 2005.
(Brian Eley)
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Above:
A close up of the north viaduct, showing the transverse bracing
used to strengthen the structure. Many associate timber viaducts with
north American railways, but they were not unknown in the UK because
they were cheap. Even I.K. Brunel was tempted he saved money
on several west country branch lines by constructing 'hybrid' viaducts
with masonry piers and a timber superstructure. The last of these,
on the Truro-Falmouth branch, was replaced in the 1930s. September
2005. (Brian Eley) |
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Above:
A view
beneath the decking of the north viaduct. The long timbers on the
right were the load-bearing ones that would have taken the weight
of passing trains. No doubt there was a low speed limit for crossing
this structure, which must have creaked as the trains passed overhead.
September 2005. (Brian Eley) |
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Above:
A view of the south viaduct at Wickham Bishops, taken from the
nearby road. There is no footpath on this part of the trackbed, which
obliges explorers of the old line to take a detour. Nonetheless, full
marks to Essex County Council for listing these structures and ensuring
their survival. September 2005. (Brian Eley) |
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Above:
Staying on the theme of viaducts, this is a view of Crook-of-Lune
East Viaduct taken from the south. Crook-of-Lune is a tight loop in
the River Lune, which forced the railway builders to cross the river
twice in about 100 yards. The viaducts are situated about mid-way
between Halton and Caton, north east of Lancaster. August 2005. (Ralph
Rawlinson) |
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Above:
This
is Crook-of-Lune West Viaduct the one that has recently been
re-decked by the local authority. At low tide, pools form at the foot
of the piers and trap fish until the water rises again. This was a
favourite spot for the crews of freight trains to pull up briefly
and do some 'fishing-made-easy' one of the more unusual perks
of life on the footplate. August 2005. (Ralph Rawlinson) |
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Above: To
complete the selection of viaducts on this page, this is Cahirsiveen
Viaduct in the Republic of Ireland. (Spellings vary depending on
which atlas or gazetteer you are using, and when it was published!)
This viaduct is situated in County Kerry, in the far south west
of the 'Emerald Isle', and used to carry a branch of the Great Southern
& Western Railway from Tralee to Valentia Harbour. Our photographer
reports: 'It is a pity that the bridge at Cahirsiveen is
rusting slowly away. If you do choose to cross it, please take care
there are steel plates that are paper thin and peppered with
holes now.' September 2005. (Bob Prigg)
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