Doe Lea Viaduct | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°13′37″N1°18′35″W / 53.22694°N 1.30972°W Coordinates: 53°13′37″N1°18′35″W / 53.22694°N 1.30972°W |
Carries | Ex-Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway |
Crosses | Midland Railway's Doe Lea Branch |
Locale | Carr Vale, Derbyshire |
Official name | Bolsover Viaduct |
Characteristics | |
Design | 8 brick arches [1] |
Total length | 370 feet (110 m) |
Width | Twin Standard Gauge Rail |
Height | 70 feet (21 m) |
History | |
Opened | February 1897 |
Closed | December 1951 |
Location | |
![]() |
Doe Lea Viaduct is a former railway viaduct near Carr Vale, Bolsover, Derbyshire, England.
Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The viaduct was originally, formally known as Bolsover Viaduct [2] and is often referred to as Carr Vale Viaduct. It was a substantial, double track structure carrying the LD&ECR's Chesterfield Market Place to Lincoln Central main line over the Midland Railway's Pleasley to Staveley Doe Lea Branch a short distance south of the latter's Bolsover Castle station. [3] The River Doe Lea passed through a culvert under the viaduct's western approach embankment.
The structure was also situated near Bolsover's "Model Village" at the bottom of Bolsover Hill. [4]
The viaduct, which consisted of eight [5] [6] brick arches, [7] was opened to goods traffic in February 1897, [8] with passenger traffic following from 8 March. [9]
The section between Chesterfield and Langwith Junction (by then renamed Shirebrook North), was closed to passenger traffic by British Railways in December 1951, due to the unsafe condition of Bolsover Tunnel [10] and concerns over the safety of Doe Lea Viaduct, both of which were affected by colliery subsidence. Bolsover South and Scarcliffe were closed completely. Track lifting from Markham Junction, over the viaduct and on to Shirebrook North commenced immediately.
The viaduct itself was demolished on 24 August 1952 by the army using explosives. [11] [12] This was filmed and the film later used in a commercial war film, becoming a bridge in war torn France. [13]
The viaduct was approached by substantial embankments from both ends. That from the eastern end was removed some years ago, but that from the western, Chesterfield, end is readily accessible as part of the Peter Fidler Reserve [14] and can be walked westwards for about 300 yards from the reserve's Point 11.
The Doe Lea Branch is now the "Stockley Trail" [15] public bridleway from near Glapwell to near the location of Bolsover Castle Station. Anyone walking from the A632 end to Carr Vale Flash [16] nature reserve or beyond would walk under the viaduct, had it still been in existence.
Chesterfield Market Place railway station was a former railway station in the centre of the town of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.
Arkwright Town railway station was in Arkwright Town, Derbyshire, England.
Bolsover South is a former railway station in Carr Vale, Bolsover, Derbyshire, England.
Scarcliffe railway station is a former railway station in Scarcliffe, Derbyshire, England.
Shirebrook North railway station was a station on the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway running from Chesterfield to Lincoln in the East Midlands Region.
Warsop railway station is a former railway station in Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire, England.
Edwinstowe railway station is a former railway station in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, England.
Fledborough railway station is a former railway station south west of Fledborough, Nottinghamshire, England.
Clifton-on-Trent railway station is a former railway station between North Clifton and South Clifton in eastern Nottinghamshire, England.
Doddington and Harby railway station is a former railway station on the Nottinghamshire border with Lincolnshire, England.
Skellingthorpe railway station is one of two former railway station in Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, on the border with Nottinghamshire.
Bolsover Tunnel is a disused and infilled twin-track railway tunnel between Carr Vale and Scarcliffe in Derbyshire, England.
Fledborough Viaduct is a former railway viaduct near Fledborough, Nottinghamshire which is now part of the national cycle network.
Boythorpe Viaduct was a railway viaduct in Chesterfield, England.
Staveley Town is a disused railway station in Staveley near Chesterfield in England.
Bolsover Castle is a former railway station in Bolsover, Derbyshire, England.
Palterton and Sutton is a former railway station between Palterton and Sutton Scarsdale, Derbyshire, England.
Glapwell is a former railway station in Glapwell, Derbyshire, England.
Pleasley West was a railway station on the Doe Lea line in Pleasley, Derbyshire, England on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. It opened in 1886 and closed to scheduled services in 1950, though it was served by excursion trains until 1964.
The Doe Lea branch is a mothballed railway line in Derbyshire, England. It connected the Derbyshire towns of Chesterfield, Staveley and Bolsover to the Nottinghamshire town of Mansfield. It also had a branch line to Creswell via the Derbyshire town of Clowne.