Welland Viaduct
Welland Viaduct, also known as Harringworth Viaduct and Seaton Viaduct, is a railway viaduct which crosses the valley of the River Welland between Harringworth in Northamptonshire and Seaton in Rutland.
It is 1,275 yards long and has 82 semicircular arches, each of which has a 40 feet span.
Designed by John Underwood of the Midland Railway.
It was completed in around 1878, and is the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in Britain.
Welland Viaduct lies on the Oakham to Kettering Line and carries the twin track non-electrified line between Corby and Manton Junction, where it joins the Leicester to Peterborough line.
Due to the structure’s size, age, exposure and inaccessibility, the original brickwork was suffering from extensive weathering and structural deterioration. As part of the Network Rail Structures maintenance programme, Birse Rail was remitted to carry out structural repairs to the viaduct. Traditional methods and materials were employed alongside modern access techniques to return the structure to its former glory and to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the viaduct as well as the enjoyment of generations to come.
The viaduct was built using Williamson-Cliffe bricks. Repairs have employed other types of bricks, leaving a patchwork appearance.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia