The Larichmore Viaduct is a railway viaduct in Scotland that carries the West Highland Line over the Brunery Burn.
Larichmore Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 56°54′44″N 5°49′18″W / 56.9123°N 5.8216°W |
| Carries | West Highland Line |
| Crosses | Brunery Burn |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Concrete |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1897 |
| Opened | 1901 |
| Location | |
 | |
History edit
The West Highland Railway was built to Fort William by Lucas & Aird, but there were delays with the West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (Guarantee) bill for the Mallaig Extension Railway in the House of Commons as the Tory and Liberal parties fought over the issue of subsidies for public transport. This Act did pass in 1896, by which time Lucas & Aird (and their workers) had moved south.[1] New contractors were needed and Robert McAlpine & Sons were taken on with Simpson & Wilson as engineers. Robert McAlpine & Sons was headed by Robert McAlpine, nicknamed "Concrete Bob" for his innovative use of mass concrete.[2] Concrete was used due to the difficulty of working the hard schist in the area.[3] McAlpine's son Robert, then aged 28, took charge of construction, with his younger son Malcolm appointed as assistant.[4]
Construction of the extension from Fort William to Mallaig began in January 1897, and the line opened on 1 April 1901.[5][6]
It was listed as a Category B listed building in 1980.[7]
Design edit
The viaduct crosses the Brunery Burn close to the A830 road.[8][9] It has three arches, with a centre span of 50 feet (15 m), and a radius of curvature of 200 metres (660 ft).[10]
References edit
- ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 92–95
- ^ Miers, Mary (2008). The Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Rutland Press. ISBN 978-1-873190-29-6.
- ^ Paxton, Roland; Shipway, J. (2007). Civil Engineering Heritage Scotland: Highlands and islands. Thomas Telford. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-7277-3488-4.
- ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 95–96
- ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 177–178
- ^ Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 169. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. CN 8983.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Larichmore Railway Viaduct over Brunery Burn (Category B Listed Building) (LB292)". Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ Google (1 January 2014). "Larichmore Viaduct" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Larichmore Viaduct". canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (1997). "Transactions of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland". The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland: Transactions (v. 140-144): 45. ISSN 0020-3289. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
Sources
- Thomas, John (1971). The West Highland Railway. Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-02479-5.