Saturday, March 10, 2007

World's Oldest...........




..... surviving public railway viaduct. Laigh Milton Viaduct, formerly called Milton Bridge, was built between 1809 and 1811 and opened in 1812 carrying the Kilmarnock - Troon Railway. This bridge was used until 1846 and the line carried both coal and passengers. Circa 1816, George Stephenson's steam engine, The Duke, owned by the Duke of Portland who was also the Chairman of the railway, hauled coal on the line - predating the Rocket by some years.

The above view is from the North, with the bridge carrying the current Kilmarnock - Troon line visible beyond; the view below is from the South.

The railings and the coping stones are modern, approximated to the correct period style, but have no real basis for existence apart from current Health and Safety rules. The bridge was saved from collapse and preserved in 1995-1996.

1 comment:

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

You know your bridges and couldn't be fooled by the Atlantic Bridge, but plumped the wrong way --

Thanks for commenting on my truth-meme a few weeks back.
The answers have now been revealed at http://ackworthborn.blogspot.com/2007/03/and.html