Arnabol Viaduct

Arnabol Viaduct
Coordinates 56°53′18″N 5°42′50″W / 56.8884075°N 5.7139169°W / 56.8884075; -5.7139169Coordinates: 56°53′18″N 5°42′50″W / 56.8884075°N 5.7139169°W / 56.8884075; -5.7139169
Carries West Highland Line
Crosses Arnabol Burn
Characteristics
Material Concrete
No. of spans 6
History
Engineering design by Simpson & Wilson
Construction start 1897
Opened 1901

The Arnabol Viaduct carries the West Highland Line over the Arnabol Burn.

History

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, and his nephew William Waddell, 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]

Design

The viaduct carries the single track line over the Arnabol Burn, and has a slight curve to the south.[7][8] It has six concrete spans, each of 50 feet (15 m).[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas 1971, pp. 92-95
  2. ↑ Miers, Mary (2008). The Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Rutland Press. ISBN 978-1-873190-29-6.
  3. ↑ Paxton, Roland; Shipway, J. (2007). Civil Engineering Heritage Scotland: Highlands and islands. Thomas Telford. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-7277-3488-4.
  4. ↑ Thomas 1971, pp. 95-96
  5. ↑ Thomas 1971, pp. 177-178
  6. ↑ Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 169. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. CN 8983.
  7. ↑ "Polnish, Arnabol Viaduct". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Google (30 December 2014). "Arnabol Viaduct" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Arnabol Viaduct". rcahms.gov. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Thomas 1971, pp. 100-101

Sources

  • Thomas, John (1971). The West Highland Railway. Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-02479-5.
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