Morar Railway Viaduct | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 56°57′46″N5°48′57″W / 56.9629°N 5.8159°W Coordinates: 56°57′46″N5°48′57″W / 56.9629°N 5.8159°W |
| Carries | West Highland Line |
| Crosses | River Morar |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Concrete |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1897 |
| Opened | 1901 |
| Location | |
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The Morar Railway Viaduct is a railway viaduct that carries the West Highland Line over the River Morar.
The West Highland Railway was built to Fort William by Lucas and 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] The Morar Railway Viaduct is a Category B listed building. [7]
The viaduct carries the northern extent of the West Highland Line over the River Morar, a short river linking Loch Morar to the sea. [8]
It has three arches of rusticated concrete, and carries a single track of railway. [7] [8] The B8008 public road and the river go through the larger middle arch, which is of 90 feet (27 m) span, and an unmarked road through the south arch. [8] [9]
Mallaig is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. The local railway station, Mallaig, is the terminus of the West Highland railway line and the town is linked to Fort William by the A830 road – the "Road to the Isles".
The Highland Railway (HR) was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921, operating north of Perth railway station in Scotland and serving the farthest north of Britain. Based in Inverness, the company was formed by merger in 1865, absorbing over 249 miles (401 km) of line. It continued to expand, reaching Wick and Thurso in the north and Kyle of Lochalsh in the west, eventually serving the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness, Perth, Nairn, Moray and Banff. Southward it connected with the Caledonian Railway at Stanley Junction, north of Perth, and eastward with the Great North of Scotland Railway at Boat of Garten, Elgin, Keith and Portessie.
Glenfinnan is a hamlet in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. In 1745 the Jacobite rising began here when Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised his standard on the shores of Loch Shiel. Seventy years later, the 18 m (60 ft) Glenfinnan Monument, at the head of the loch, was erected to commemorate the historic event.
The West Highland Line is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.
The A830, also known as the Road to the Isles is a major road in Lochaber, Scottish Highlands. It connects the town of Fort William to the port of Mallaig.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland, built from 1897 to 1901. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.
Morar is a small village on the west coast of Scotland, 3 miles (5 km) south of Mallaig. The name Morar is also applied to the northern part of the peninsula containing the village, though North Morar is more usual. The coastline of the area forms part of the Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development.
Fort William railway station is a railway station serving the town of Fort William in the Highland region of Scotland.
Glenfinnan railway station is a railway station serving the village of Glenfinnan in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the West Highland Line. Glenfinnan Viaduct is about 0.7 miles (1 km) to the east of the station.
Morar railway station is a railway station serving the village of Morar in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line.
Mallaig railway station is a Category C listed railway station serving the ferry port of Mallaig, Lochaber, in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is a terminus on the West Highland Line, 41 miles (66 km) by rail from Fort William and 164 miles (264 km) from Glasgow Queen Street.
The West Highland Railway was a railway company that constructed a railway line from Craigendoran to Fort William and Mallaig. The line was built through remote and difficult terrain in two stages: the section from Craigendoran to Fort William opened in 1894, with a short extension to Banavie on the Caledonian Canal opening in 1895.
The Mallaig Extension Railway is a railway line in Highland, Scotland. It runs from Banavie Junction (New) on the Banavie Pier branch of the West Highland Railway to Mallaig. The previous "Banavie Junction" closer to Fort William was renamed "Mallaig Junction" upon opening of the Mallaig Extension Railway. The line is still open as part of the West Highland Line.
Fort William Junction is a railway junction on the West Highland Line in Scotland, located to the east of Fort William railway station. It is where the railway to Mallaig connects with the Glasgow to Fort William railway.
The Loch nan Uamh Viaduct is a railway viaduct that carries the West Highland Line.
The Borrodale Viaduct is a railway viaduct that carries the West Highland Line over the Borrodale Burn.
The Arnabol Viaduct carries the West Highland Line over the Arnabol Burn.
The Larichmore Viaduct is a railway viaduct in Scotland that carries the West Highland Line over the Brunery Burn.
The Banavie Railway Swing Bridge carries the West Highland Line across the Caledonian Canal at Banavie.
Banavie Pier railway station was the terminus of a short branch and was at first known as Banvie, opened by the North British Railway in 1895. The station's location was just above the impressive flight of locks on the Caledonian Canal known as "Neptune's Staircase", Banavie, Highland council area, Scotland.
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