Dutton Viaduct

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Dutton Viaduct
Pendolino on dutton viaduct 16381784526.jpg
Dutton Viaduct
Coordinates53°16′59″N 2°37′43″W / 53.28294°N 2.628576°W / 53.28294; -2.628576Coordinates: 53°16′59″N 2°37′43″W / 53.28294°N 2.628576°W / 53.28294; -2.628576
CarriesWest Coast Main Line
CrossesRiver Weaver
LocaleDutton, Cheshire
Heritage statusGrade II* listed[1]
Characteristics
Total length500 yards (457 m)[2]
Clearance below60 feet (18 m)[2]
History
OpenedJuly 1837[3]
Location

Dutton Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Coast Main Line where it crosses the River Weaver and the Weaver Navigation between the villages of Dutton and Acton Bridge in Cheshire, England (grid reference

 WikiMiniAtlas
SJ581764), near Dutton Horse Bridge. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

The viaduct was constructed during 1836, being declared complete on 9 December of that year. It was the longest viaduct on the Grand Junction Railway (GJR),[3] as well as being an early example of a major railway viaduct. The viaduct was built at a cost of £54,440 (equivalent to £5,240,000 in 2020).[4] The engineers were Joseph Locke and George Stephenson,[1] while William Mackenzie was its contractor.[5]

Since entering use in July 1837, Dutton Viaduct has remained in regular use. During its operating life, it has been subject to changed both minor and major; during the 1960s, the line across the viaduct was electrified, necessitating the installation of overhead lines and supporting metalwork across its length. It became a listed structure during the early 1990s, and has its line speed increased to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h) as a part of the wider West Coast Main Line route modernisation programme.

History[]

Background[]

Dutton Viaduct was constructed as a key element of the Grand Junction Railway (GJR), one of the first major railways in the world.[3] The GJR's main designers, the accomplished engineers Joseph Locke and George Stephenson, both actively designed the viaduct, which was necessary for the line to successfully traverse the River Weaver. The route, which has been surveyed by Locke, was relatively free of major engineering challenges, save for the section that would become Dutton Viaduct.[6]

The appointed contractor for its construction was William Mackenzie.[1] Although unsuccessful, Dutton Viaduct was the first project to which Thomas Brassey, another noted contractor, would submit a tender for. Brassey had lost out to Mackenzie on this occasion due to the latter having estimated the cost of its construction roughly £5,000 lower than the former's bid.[5] Brassey did, however, get appointed as contractor for the works on the GJR, such as the smaller Penkridge Viaduct.[6]

Dutton Viaduct has a height of 60 feet (18 m) and a length of 500 yards (457 m),[2] and comprises a total of 20  deep segmental arches.[1] Primarily composed of red sandstone, it has been estimated that roughly 700,000 cubic feet (20,000 m3) of stone was used in its construction. The stonework features ashlar dressings, projecting copings, and cutaways on two of the arches that span the river. The pillars of the viaduct have deliberately splayed bases, which give the structure a greater degree of stability.[1]

The viaduct would be constructed at a final cost of £54,440 (equivalent to £5,240,000 in 2020).[4][1] Construction largely took place during 1836, with the structure being declared complete on 9 December of that year. It was noted at the time for, despite being a major undertaking at that time, there were no recorded losses of life or event any serious injury incurred during the viaduct's construction. Its completion was marked by a large civic celebration.[1] On 4 July 1837, the first GJR trains to carry passengers across the viaduct were run; regular operations proceeded thereafter.[3]

Operational history[]

By the 1880s, the Dutton Viaduct was being regarded as perhaps one of George Stephenson's finest viaducts.[7] Victorian authors that wrote of the structure often praised its aesthetic qualities.[8]

During the 1960s, the West Coast Mainline was electrified; to facilitate the installation of overhead lines, numerous steel pylons were installed across the viaduct. During the early 1990s, Dutton Viaduct was formally listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 for its special architectural or historic interest.[1] During the 2000s, work completed as a part of the wider West Coast Main Line route modernisation work led to the permitted line speed across the viaduct being permanently raised to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h); as a consequence of this work, the refuges across the structure intended for use by trackside workers fell out of use.[9]

During September 2017, a 'near miss' incident was recorded when line-side contractors carrying out a structural inspection on the viaduct crossed the tracks between the obsolete refuges in breach of the red zone regulations. Due to the limited trackside clearance available, Dutton Viaduct has been designated as a 'red zone prohibited area' during the previous decade, meaning that workers are not permitted on the line when trains are running unless separated by a permanent fence.[9]

During early 2020, Network Rail applied for permission to conduct repairs upon Dutton Viaduct; centering upon comprised stonework in one of the arches, the remedial work has been described as being sympathetic to the bridge's historic construction and designed to blend in with the original materials used.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Dutton Railway Viaduct". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c The Grand Junction Railway, The Wolverhampton Exhibition of Commerce and Services, archived from the original on 10 July 2008, retrieved 25 November 2007
  3. ^ a b c d Webster, Norman W. (1972), Britain's First Trunk Line, Adams & Dart, p. 86, ISBN 978-0239001054
  4. ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Walker, Charles (1969), Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder, London: Frederick Muller, p. 14, ISBN 0-584-10305-0
  6. ^ a b Rolt, L. T. C. "George and Robert Stephenson: The Railway Revolution." Amberley Publishing, 2009. p. 22.
  7. ^ Frederick Smeeton Williams. "Our Iron Roads: Their History, Construction and Administration." Bemrose, 1885. p. 187.
  8. ^ Bradshaw. "Bradshaw‛s shilling handbook of Great Britain and Ireland: Section III." W. J. Adams, Bradshaw & Blacklock, 1860. p. 33.
  9. ^ a b "Near miss between a train and line-side workers on Dutton Viaduct, Cheshire, 18 September 2017". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  10. ^ Okell, Nathan (16 April 2020). "Plans submitted to repair damage to Grade II-listed Dutton Viaduct". Northwich Guardian.

External links[]

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