The Cullen Viaduct is a former single-track railway viaduct at the Moray Firth in Cullen, Moray, Scotland.[1] Containing eight arches,[2] it formerly carried the Great North of Scotland Railway line between Portsoy in Aberdeenshire and Elgin in Moray. Crossing the Burn of Cullen[3][4] and the A98, it was built as a result of a refusal by Seafield Estate, to the south, to have the line encroach on its land.[5]

Cullen Viaduct
Pictured in 2011
Coordinates57°41′32″N 2°49′49″W / 57.6921°N 2.8303°W / 57.6921; -2.8303
CarriesGreat North of Scotland Railway (formerly)
CrossesBurn of Cullen
A98
LocaleCullen, Moray, Scotland
Characteristics
MaterialStone
History
Opened1886 (138 years ago) (1886)
Statistics
Daily trafficno
Tollno
Location
Map

Work on the viaduct was completed in 1886,[6] under the guidance of engineer P. M. Barnett; it is now a Grade B listed structure.[5]

The line closed in 1968, and the viaduct is now used as a recreational path, part of the Moray Firth Trail and the Sustrans national cycle path.[5][6]

Three other structures are located further to the east: a single span connecting North Deskford Street to the main road, a four-arch viaduct spanning North Castle Street[7] and a four-arch bridge at the foot of Seafield Street (part of the A98), under which vehicles and pedestrians pass.[5]

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Panorama of Cullen, looking west

References

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  1. ^ Perth, West Railway Bridge Archived 21 February 2022 at the Wayback MachineCanmore
  2. ^ Maxtone, G.R. (2005). The Railways of the Banff & Moray Coast. Keith & Dufftown Railway Association. p. 38. ISBN 0-9547346-1-0.
  3. ^ "Burn of Cullen from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Cullen, Seatown, Cullen Burn Viaduct | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Cullen Viaduct". Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b Cullen Seatown: Conservation Area Character AppraisalMoray Council
  7. ^ "Cullen, Castle Street Viaduct | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2024.