Glenfinnan Viaduct ─ The West Highland Line¸ Scotland
Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in
Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It was built between July 1897
and October 1898 at the cost of £18,904. Located at the top of Loch
Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the
Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.
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| Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films
and television series, including Ring of Bright Water, Charlotte Gray,
Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny, and three films of the Harry
Potter film series. Photo ─ Link |
The 21-arch single track viaduct was one of the largest engineering
undertakings using concrete without reinforcing when it was built by Sir
Robert McAlpine. Glenfinnan Viaduct forms part of the Mallaig extension
of the West Highland Railway which was constructed between 1897 and
1901. Built entirely of concrete, the viaduct consists of 21 arches,
each spanning 15m and has a maximum height of 30m offering spectacular
views down Lochaber’s Loch Shiel. According to myth, during construction
a cart-horse and driver were killed when they fell into one of the
piers while dumping their load, and were buried in the concrete. Recent
research has shown that the incident happened at Loch Nan Uamh Viaduct,
further down the line, near Arisaig, and the driver survived. Memorial
plaques are at the latter viaduct and at Glenfinnan Station Museum.
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The Glenfinnan Viaduct features on some Scottish banknotes. The 2007 series of notes issued by the Bank of Scotland depicts different bridges in Scotland as examples of Scottish engineering, and the £10 note features the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Photo ─ Link |
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