Welland Viaduct
Welland Viaduct, Harringworth Viaduct or Seaton Viaduct, crosses the valley of the River Welland between Harringworth in Northamptonshire and Seaton in Rutland, England.
Welland Viaduct | |
|---|---|
The viaduct in 2006 | |
| Coordinates | 52°34′1″N 0°39′14″W |
| OS grid reference | SP915975 |
| Carries | Oakham to Kettering Line |
| Crosses | River Welland |
| Locale | Northamptonshire – Rutland |
| Official name | Welland Viaduct |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Maintained by | Network Rail |
| Heritage status | Grade II listed |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Brick |
| Total length | 1,275 yd (1.166 km) |
| Height | 60 ft (18 m) maximum |
| No. of spans | 82 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Structure gauge | RA10 |
| History | |
| Designer | William Henry Barlow |
| Constructed by | Lucas and Aird |
| Construction start | 1875 |
| Construction end | 1878 |
| Construction cost | £12,000 |
| Opened | 1880 |
| Location | |
The viaduct is 1,275 yards (1.166 km) long and has 82 arches, each with a 40 feet (12 m) span. It is the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in the United Kingdom. Built by the contractor Lucas and Aird, a total of 30 million bricks were used in the viaduct's construction. Completed during 1878, it has since become a Grade II listed building.
The Welland Viaduct is on the Oakham to Kettering Line between Corby and Manton Junction, where it joins the Leicester to Peterborough line. The line is generally used by freight trains and steam specials. In early 2009, a single daily return passenger service was introduced by East Midlands Trains between Melton Mowbray and St Pancras via Corby, the first regular passenger service to operate across the viaduct since the 1960s. There are now two return services between Melton Mowbray and London St Pancras each weekday. The viaduct is on a diversionary route for East Midlands Railway using the Midland Main Line route.