Almondell Viaduct
{{short description|Viaduct in West Lothian, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name = Almondell Viaduct
|image = Camps Viaduct from N.jpg
|caption = Camps Viaduct from the north
|alt = Camps Viaduct
|official_name =
|locale = East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland
|carries =
|crosses = River Almond
|maint =
|open =
|inaugurated =
|below =
|traffic =
|design =
|mainspan =
|length = 108 m (354 ft)
|height = 27 m (89 ft)
|lanes = One
|coordinates = {{coord|55.9001|-3.463|display=inline,title}}
|builder = J. & A. GRANGER, Esqs, Railway Contractors
|fabricator =
|begin = 1865-66
|complete = 1867
|rebuilt = 1885
|closed = 1959
|cost =
|mapframe-caption = {{Location map|Scotland West Lothian
|border = infobox
|float = center
|label = Almondell Viaduct
|position = right
|lat = 55.900000
|long = -3.463056
|width =
|caption = Location of the bridge in relation to West Lothian}}
}}
The Almondell Viaduct, also known as the Camps Viaduct, is a viaduct spanning the gorge of the River Almond in Scotland, located in East Calder, West Lothian, as well as the main canal feeder taking water from the Almond to the Union Canal at Lin's Mill near Ratho
The viaduct is built on nine high segmental brick arches atop rock-faced snecked rubble piers, and features rounded cut-waters in the river below.
History
This famous local landmark was built circa 1865-66 by J. & A. GRANGER, Esqs, Railway Contractors.[https://www.scottishshale.co.uk/stories/hounds-merry-makers-and-camps-viaduct/#&gid=2&pid=1], Dundee Advertiser, 21st Nov 1866 It opened to rail traffic in 1867, and remained in operation until 1959 as a single track Mineral Railway bridge on the Camps Branch of the North British Railway. Its purpose was to supply the now-closed Coltness Iron Works with limestone from the Raw Camps and East Camps Quarries in East Calder, where extensive quarries, brickworks and limekilns were once located.
It also supplied James "Paraffin" Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company at Pumpherston with Oil Shale for processing into Paraffin.{{Canmore|class=E|num=1015355|desc=Summary Record - Camps Viaduct|access-date=2 November 2021}}
On the 13th February 1880, the viaduct was the site of a significant railway accident when an axle broke on one of the rear wagons, derailing two wagons and the guard's van, which fell off the viaduct into the River below, tragically killing two guards and a telegraph boy.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} [https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4741], Railways Archive, Accident at East Calder on 13th February 1880 (Stub)
Due to the resulting damage to the structure, the viaduct underwent significant repairs and was possibly even rebuilt. Perhaps for this reason, many secondary sources appear to report the year of construction as 1885, whereas this was most likely the year in which it reopened.
The viaduct closed permanently to railway traffic in 1959, and all the rail tracks as well as adjoining Goods Sheds were subsequently removed.
The structure was Category B listed in 1971.{{HEScotland|num=LB7372|desc=MINERAL RAILWAY VIADUCT, RIVER ALMOND|fewer-links=yes|access-date=2 November 2021}}
It now lies within the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park, providing a convenient and scenic footpath and cycle path over the Almond gorge, while connecting the villages of East Calder, Pumpherston and Uphall Station.[https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst91211.html Camps Viaduct], Gazetteer for Scotland
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.scottishshale.co.uk/files/42352/ https://www.scottishshale.co.uk], Postcard - "Almondell Viaduct, East-Calder" (dated 1917). [Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry, Photographed by Robert Braid]
Category:Category B listed buildings in West Lothian
Category:Listed bridges in Scotland