Woodroad Viaduct
Bridge in Cumnock / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Woodroad Viaduct, also known as Bank Viaduct or Templand Viaduct, is a viaduct carrying the Glasgow South Western Line over the Lugar Water at Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Since April 1971, it has been recognised as being a category A listed building.[1][2]
Woodroad Viaduct | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 55°27′31″N 4°15′24″W |
Carries | Railway Line |
Crosses | Lugar Water |
Locale | Cumnock |
Characteristics | |
Total length | 229m |
Height | 49m |
No. of spans | 14 |
Clearance below | Glaisnock Water |
History | |
Opened | 1850 |
Location | |
The Woodroad Viaduct, which comprises 14 semi-circular arches, was designed by the civil engineer John Miller and built by the contractor James McNaughton. Construction was complicated by the presence of several coal workings in the vicinity, as well as the Lugar Water itself. It is largely composed of locally sourced white sandstone. The viaduct was completed during 1850, after which services of the Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) commenced across it. It has been claimed that Miller considered the structure to be his finest work.[3]
Today, the viaduct is still in service and carries the Kilmarnock to Dumfries section of the main line from Glasgow to Carlisle. During the 21st century, national railway infrastructure company Network Rail formed a partnership with the Woodroad Regeneration Forum to preserve and maintain the Woodroad Viaduct for the long term; several future upgrades have been reportedly planned for the structure.