Angarrack viaduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angarrack Viaduct |
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| Coordinates | 50°11′36″N 5°23′08″W / 50.193269°N 5.385473°W |
| Carries | Cornish Main Line |
| Locale | Angarrack, Cornwall |
| Heritage status | Grade II listed |
| Preceded by | Penponds Viaduct |
| Followed by | Guildford Viaduct |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Granite |
| Total length | 243 metres (797 ft) |
| Number of spans | 11 |
| History | |
| Constructed by | H Stevens, Ashburton |
| Construction begin | 1883 |
| Opened | 1888 |
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The Angarrack Viaduct is a railway bridge in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It crosses the valley of the Angarrack River in a village called Angarrack.
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About the Angarrack Viaduct
This impressive bridge is made of granite stone and has eleven arches. It carries the main railway line in Cornwall, known as the Cornish Main Line.
The viaduct stretches across the steep valley of the Angarrack River. This river is a smaller stream that flows into the River Hayle. The bridge is located between the train stations of Camborne and Hayle. The village of Angarrack itself spreads out along the valley, with parts of it even extending under the viaduct.
History of the Bridge
The Angarrack Viaduct you see today is not the first bridge built in this spot.
The First Bridge by Brunel
The original bridge at Angarrack was designed by a very famous engineer named Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He designed it for the West Cornwall Railway.
Brunel's bridge was made mostly of wood, resting on stone foundations. It was quite long, nearly 243 meters (about 800 feet), and stood about 30 meters (about 100 feet) high. The stone from Brunel's original foundations was later reused to build a sea wall near Penzance railway station. Today, you won't find any parts of Brunel's first wooden bridge.
Building the New Viaduct
Work on the current granite viaduct began in January 1883. The builder was Mr. H Stevens from Ashburton. He also built new bridges in Redruth and Guildford, which are nearby.
To get the stone needed for the new granite bridge, a short tram-road was built. This tram-road led to a nearby quarry owned by Mr. Gregor. The builders expected the foundations for the new bridge to be very deep, at least 9 meters (30 feet). The whole project was planned to take two to three years to complete.
The new Angarrack Viaduct was officially opened in 1888 by the Great Western Railway. Each of its eleven granite arches spans about 17 meters (56.5 feet). This viaduct is considered an important historical structure and is listed as a Grade II listed building.
See also
In Spanish: Viaducto del Angarrack para niños
