Arnside Viaduct

Last updated
Arnside Viaduct in 2007 Arnside Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 324585.jpg
Arnside Viaduct in 2007

Arnside Viaduct is a viaduct carrying the Lancaster to Barrow railway line over the River Kent. Construction started in 1856, finished in 1857 and expanded to a two-track railway in 1863. [1] It received a mjor upgrade and repair in the 21st century. It is approximately 505 meters long, with a total of 51 piers. It is situated where the River Kent disgorges into Morecambe Bay. It is located in the county of Cumbria but very close to the county of Lancashire border. It is cited as a major tourist attraction. [2] [3] As it goes over the River Kent, it is sometimes referred to as the Kent Viaduct. It is notable in that it was the first viaduct in the world to use water jetting to dig the piles in construction. [4] It was substantially rebuilt and strengthened in 1915 to allow wartime supplies to and from Barrow. [5]

Contents

21st-century reconstruction and repair

Because of its age and its being in an estuary that is also subject to bore tides, the viaduct deteriorated over time, and so speed limits were imposed on trains. Although the bore is smaller than the River Severn, there is considerable turbulence at the viaduct. [6] This combination of factors meant a major repair was due, but this could not be done without a total blockade and closure. [7] [8] The viaduct also has further restrictions in that it is in an area of Special Scientific Interest and also a National Park. The Arnside and Silverdale location is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A 16-week line closure was thus planned for 2011. [9] As part of the upgrade and repair, jointed rails were replaced by continuously welded rail reducing the noise and enabling quieter journeys. The journey times were also reduced. [10] The closure was 16 weeks duration. [11]

Money was later made available to allow construction of a walking and cycling path across the viaduct. [12] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Settle–Carlisle line</span> Railway line in northern England

The Settle–Carlisle line is a 73-mile-long (117 km) main railway line in northern England. The route, which crosses the remote, scenic regions of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines, runs between Settle Junction, on the Leeds–Morecambe line, and Carlisle, near the English-Scottish borders. The historic line was constructed in the 1870s and has several notable tunnels and viaducts such as the imposing Ribblehead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribblehead Viaduct</span> Railway viaduct in North Yorkshire, England

The Ribblehead Viaduct or Batty Moss Viaduct carries the Settle–Carlisle railway across Batty Moss in the Ribble Valley at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, England. The viaduct, built by the Midland Railway, is 28 miles (45 km) north-west of Skipton and 26 miles (42 km) south-east of Kendal. It is a Grade II* listed structure. Ribblehead Viaduct is the longest and the third tallest structure on the Settle–Carlisle line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendal</span> Cumbrian town in England

Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, England. It lies within the River Kent's dale, from which its name is derived, just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morecambe Bay</span> Estuary in northwest England

Morecambe Bay is an estuary in north-west England, just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 120 sq mi (310 km2). In 1974, the second largest gas field in the UK was discovered 25 mi (40 km) west of Blackpool, with original reserves of over 7 trillion cubic feet (tcf). At its peak, 15% of Britain's gas supply came from the bay but production is now in decline. Morecambe Bay is also an important wildlife site, with abundant birdlife and varied marine habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnforth</span> Town and civil parish in Lancashire, England

Carnforth is a market town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England, situated at the north-east end of Morecambe Bay. The parish of Carnforth had a population of 5,560 in the 2011 census, an increase from the 5,350 recorded in the 2001 census. The town is situated around 7 miles north of Lancaster, 17 miles south of Kendal, 40 miles east of Barrow-in-Furness and 28 miles north-west of Settle. The town is also close to the Cumbria/Lancashire border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Lune</span> River in Cumbria and Lancashire, England

The River Lune is a river 53 miles (85 km) in length in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnside</span> Human settlement in England

Arnside is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, historically part of Westmorland, near the border with Lancashire, England. The Lake District National Park is located a few miles north. Travelling by road, Arnside is 10 miles (16 km) to the south of Kendal, 25.3 miles (40.7 km) to the east of Ulverston, 35.2 miles (56.6 km) to the east of Barrow-in-Furness, 13 miles (21 km) to the north of Lancaster and 14.3 miles (23.0 km) to the east of Grange-over-Sands. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,301, increasing at the 2011 census to 2,334.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grange-over-Sands railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Grange-over-Sands is a railway station on the Furness Line, which runs between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster. The station, situated 15+1⁄2 miles (25 km) north-west of Lancaster, serves the town of Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kents Bank railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Kents Bank is a railway station on the Furness Line, which runs between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster. The station, situated 17+1⁄4 miles (28 km) north-west of Lancaster, serves the village of Kents Bank in Cumbria. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnside railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Arnside is a railway station on the Furness Line, which runs between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster. The station, situated 12+1⁄4 miles (20 km) north-west of Lancaster, serves the village of Arnside in Cumbria. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barmouth Bridge</span> Railway bridge across the Mawddach estuary

Barmouth Bridge, or Barmouth Viaduct is a Grade II* listed single-track wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the River Mawddach near Barmouth, Wales. It is 900 yards (820 m) long and carries the Cambrian Line. It is the longest timber viaduct in Wales and one of the oldest in regular use in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlisle railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Carlisle railway station, or Carlisle Citadel, is a Grade II* listed railway station serving the cathedral city of Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It is on the West Coast Main Line, 102 miles (164 km) south-east of Glasgow Central and 299 miles (481 km) north north-west of London Euston. It is the northern terminus of the Settle and Carlisle Line, a continuation of the Midland Main Line from Leeds, Sheffield and London St Pancras. It was formerly the southern terminus of the partially-closed Waverley Route from Edinburgh. It is so named because it is adjacent to Carlisle Citadel, a former medieval fortress. The station is owned by Network Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sellafield railway station</span> Railway station in Cumbria, England

Sellafield is a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. The station, situated 35 miles (56 km) north-west of Barrow-in-Furness, serves Sellafield in Cumbria. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

The Ulverstone [sic] and Lancaster Railway Company was short-lived as a business but the line that it built is still in daily use. The line runs from Lindal-in-Furness to Carnforth where it joins what was then the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway. The intermediate stations are: Cark and Cartmel, Kents Bank, Grange-over-Sands, Arnside and Silverdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hincaster branch line</span>

The Hincaster branch was a single-track railway branch line of the Furness Railway which ran from Arnside on the Furness main line to a junction with the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at Hincaster. Intermediate stations were provided at Sandside and Heversham, with the main engineering work being a substantial 26-arch viaduct over the River Bela near Sandside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yealand Redmayne</span> Human settlement in England

Yealand Redmayne is a village in the civil parish of The Yealands, in the Lancaster district, in the county of Lancashire, England. In 2011 the former parish of Yealand Redmayne had a population of 326.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welland Viaduct</span> Viaduct crossing the valley of the River Welland in Rutland, England

Welland Viaduct, Harringworth Viaduct or Seaton Viaduct, crosses the valley of the River Welland between Harringworth in Northamptonshire and Seaton in Rutland, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medway Viaducts</span> Bridge in Cuxton, England

The Medway Viaducts are three bridges or viaducts that cross the River Medway between Cuxton and Borstal in north Kent, England. The two road bridges carry the M2 motorway carriageways. The other viaduct carries the High Speed 1 railway line linking London and the Channel Tunnel. All three bridges pass over the Medway Valley Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smardale</span> Human settlement in England

Smardale is a small village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Waitby, in the Eden district, in Cumbria, England. In 1891 the parish had a population of 36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay Cycle Way</span> Cycle route around Morecambe Bay in NW England

The Bay Cycle Way is an 80-mile (130 km) cycling route around Morecambe Bay in Lancashire and Cumbria in north west England. Most of it forms National Cycle Route 700, while other sections are waymarked as NCN 6, NCN 69 and NCN 70.

References

  1. ↑ "Arnside Viaduct | Co-Curate". co-curate.ncl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  2. ↑ Mason, Lisa (2017-06-03). "Arnside - Six interesting things to see". Lancaster District Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  3. ↑ "Arnside Station and Viaduct". Visit Cumbria. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Arnside Viaduct – Spectacular Engineering - Lake District". 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  5. ↑ "Arnside Online, Cumbria, England - Local History". www.arnside-online.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  6. ↑ "Geograph:: Arnside Viaduct © Arnold Price". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  7. ↑ "Case Study - Arnside Viaduct". Engineering Integration. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  8. ↑ "VITAL REVAMP FOR ARNSIDE VIADUCT". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  9. ↑ "Reconstruction of Arnside Viaduct". www.networkrailconsulting.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  10. ↑ "Repaired Arnside viaduct 'to cut travel times'". BBC News. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  11. ↑ "Rail services resume as Arnside Viaduct reopens". Rail UK. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  12. ↑ "Artist impressions released of proposed Arnside walking and cycling viaduct". The Westmorland Gazette. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  13. ↑ "Arnside viaduct on track for new footpath and cycle bridge". Lancaster Guardian. 2018-11-26.

54°12′19″N2°50′20″W / 54.2054°N 2.8390°W / 54.2054; -2.8390

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.