Glenesk Viaduct (Dalkeith)
editGlenesk Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Top of the Glenesk Bridge before conversion to the Borders Railway, taken in 2008 | |
| Coordinates | 55°52′19″N 3°04′37″W / 55.872°N 3.077°W |
| Carries | Railway traffic |
| Crosses | River North Esk |
| Locale | Dalkeith |
| Official name | Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, Glenesk Bridge, Bridge No. 12 |
| Other name(s) | Glenesk Viaduct, North Esk Bridge, Glen Arch |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Stone arch bridge |
| Material | Stone |
| Width | 17 feet (5.2 m) |
| Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| No. of spans | 1 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Miller \ James Jardine |
| Construction start | 1829 |
| Construction end | 1831 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Glenesk Viaduct carries the Borders Railway over the River North Esk. It is located between Dalkeith and Sheriffhall, Midlothian, Scotland and is just to the north of Eskbank railway station. The alternative names are the North Esk Viaduct and Glenesk Bridge No. 12. [1]
Characteristics
editThe bridge is a single span stone arch bridge which carries the railway above the River North Esk. It is 60ft[1] or 18.3m high.[2] Unlike neighbouring Dalhouse Viaduct, it was only built to accommodate a single track railway and is therefore only 17ft wide.[1] The bridge was restored in 1994 and
The bridge was designated as a Category B listed structure in 1971, that of which has significant regional importance without much alteration. However, subsequent research in 1993 found the bridge to be one of the oldest surviving railway bridges in Scotland, dating back as far as 1829, older than the Midlothian Viaduct. It was originally though that this structure was a railway bridge that replaced an older structure but this was found not to be the case and so as a result was reclassified in 1994 as a Category A listed structure, that of which has national significance.[3]
History
editWhen the railway bridge was actually built is disputed. It has been suggested it was either built in 1847 or between 1829 - 1831.[1]. The earlier bridge has been suggested to have been built by an engineer associated with Thomas Telford called James Jardine. It was originally built for the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway which was later swallowed up by the the Waverley Route. The bridge reopened in 1847. The railway closed in 1969, along with the associated infrastructure as part of the Beeching Report. It wasn't until 1993 or 1994 that the bridge was fully restored and opened as a cycleway and pathway by the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust, with a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust and the Edinburgh Green Belt Way.[1][4]. This formed the northern section of the Penicuik–Dalkeith Walkway which ran from Dalkeith to Hardengreen. However this closed in
http://canmore.org.uk/site/144954/edinburgh-and-dalkeith-railway-glenesk-bridge-bridge-no-12 http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/borders-rail-works-starts-on-historic-link-1-2786591 http://www.engineering-timelines.com/bibliography/bibliography.asp#CEH%20SLB http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/0079423614Z.00000000067?journalCode=pma http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S2_Bills/Waverley%20Railway%20%28Scotland%29%20Bill/Final_ES.pdf http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1223
Borders Railway
editThe bridge was closed following a compulsory purchase by Network Rail under the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act in 2008. However, a legal dispute followed with the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust as the bridge was only purchased for £10,000, which they claimed was only a fraction of what it was truly worth at over £560,000.[5]
On 6th September 2015, after two years of construction, the Borders Railway opened which now uses the bridge.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Edinburgh And Dalkeith Railway, Glenesk Bridge, Bridge No. 12". Canmore. 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Communities hope to reap Borders Railway benefits". Edinburgh Evening News. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Glenesk Railway Viaduct: Reference: LB1445". Historic Scotland. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ "Glenesk Bridge". Engineering Timelines. 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Network Rail to face tribunal over purchase of iconic Borders rail bridge". Edinburgh STV. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.