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Historic viaduct in appeal for funds

A report to the Trustees, drawn up by their engineering advisors, reveals that the isolated, exposed structure, located in Cumbria some five miles west of Kirkby Stephen, has suffered serious frost damage during the recent unusually hard winter.

The damage mainly consists of examples of frost and snow damage to piers and side walls, and breakdown of the water-proofing. With an estimated cost of repair of well over £30,000 the Trust is anxious to ensure that repairs to this attractive slender curving viaduct can be completed before the onset of a further winter. 

The Trust is therefore appealing for funding assistance towards the cost of urgent repair work on this elegant Grade 2-listed structure. This comes at a time when the Trust is already committed to a programme of bridge repairs on its popular Northern Viaducts Way walk which includes two other Bouch-designed viaducts just outside Kirkby Stephen.

Smardale Gill viaduct links the two parts of the path through the Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve owned by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and is used as a footpath by permission of the Trustees of the Northern Viaduct Trust. 

The Trustees are anxious to state that continued use of the viaduct for this purpose continues to be perfectly safe, but most strongly remind visitors that activities such as bungee-jumping or abseiling are not permitted as they may cause further damage to the structure with a risk of personal injury.

Smardale Gill Viaduct was built as part of the South Durham & Lancashure Union Railway, effectivbely linking the west coast to the east, and is best known amongst enthusiasts as the route which includes Stainmore summit.

The viaduct curves its way across the narrow valley of Scandale Beck about three miles west of Kirkby Stephen. Constructed of locally quarried limestone the viaduct has 14 arches of 30 feet span, and a total length of 553 feet.

It carried the railway 90 feet over the beck below and was built by Mr Wrigg, a contractor from Preston at a cost of £11,298. Mr Wrigg also built the section of railway from Tebay to just east of the viaduct at a cost of £44,216.

Unlike Podgill and Merrygill viaducts, Smardale Gill was built wide enough for double track, but never carried more than a single line of rails.

The deteriorating state of this viaduct in the 1980s, some 20 years after final closure of the railway, was the impetus to the formation of the Northern Viaduct Trust in 1989. Smardale Gill Viaduct was acquired from the British Railways Board and its restoration completed in 1992.

Donations should be sent to the NVT Treasurer, 26 Pembroke Drive, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 5BB.

More information on the Trust and its activities may be found at www.nvt.org.uk or from the Chairman, Gordon Biddle at 01539 560 993.