The Shin Railway Viaduct (also known as the Invershin Viaduct or Oykel Viaduct) is a railway viaduct that crosses the Kyle of Sutherland.The viaduct carries the Far North Line between Inverness and Wick and Thurso.[1] Invershin railway station is at the north-eastern end of the viaduct, while Culrain railway station is a short distance to the south.

Shin Railway Viaduct
Coordinates57°55′26″N 4°24′04″W / 57.924022°N 4.401109°W / 57.924022; -4.401109
CarriesFar North Line
CrossesKyle of Sutherland
Characteristics
Longest span230 feet (70 m)
History
Engineering design byJoseph Mitchell and Murdoch Paterson
Construction end1868
Location
Map

History

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It was built for the Sutherland Railway by engineers Joseph Mitchell and Murdoch Paterson.[2]

The railway opened to traffic on 13 April 1868.[3]

Design

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It crosses the river with a single 230 feet (70 m) span, 20 feet (6.1 m) longer than that used at the Dalguise Viaduct by Mitchell four years earlier.[1] The deck which carries the track sits on top of rather than between the truss girders.[1] There are two semicircular stone arches in the approach viaduct to the south, and three to the north.[2]

A footbridge was added to the northern side of the viaduct in 2000. This is now part of National Cycle Network Route 1.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Paxton, Roland; Shipway, J. (2007). Civil Engineering Heritage Scotland: Highlands and islands. Thomas Telford for the Institution of Civil Engineers. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7277-3488-4.
  2. ^ a b Hume, John R. (1977). The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland: The Highlands and Islands. Macmillan of Canada. p. 312.
  3. ^ "Shin Railway Viaduct". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2015.