Ouse Valley Viaduct
The Ouse Valley Viaduct was completed in 1842 as part of the construction of the railway line into the new Brighton Station. The viaduct was engineered by John Urpeth Rastrick, who had previously been involved in building some of the world's earliest steam locomotives, and had built a cast-iron bridge over the river Wye.
TransportHeritage.com describe the viaduct as "Probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain".
Geometry
The viaduct has thirty-seven arches topped by ornamental balustrades, and features distinctive double-arched "cutouts" in each arch pier designed to further reduce the amount of material needed to build it. The viaduct is a classic subject for photography, since its dead-straight construction causes the spaces through each arch to line up, creating a unique view through the length of the viaduct's structure.
The viaduct is a Grade 2 Listed Building, and is still in heavy use today (and still much-loved by photographers!).
The same construction initiative produced the Brighton London Road Viaduct, which has essentially the same underlying design but is built to a curve. Although the London Road viaduct is now more difficult to view (because of the subsequent urban building around its base) it has the advantage of being easier to visit.
See also:
External links
- The Brighton Line (YeOldeSussexPages.com)
- Ouse Valley Viaduct (www.transportheritage.com)
- Ouse Valley Viaduct (Google image search)
- Ouse Valley Viaduct (Wikipedia)
| Brighton Station – London Road Viaduct – London Road Station – Ouse Valley Viaduct– Clayton Tunnel |
