Loch nan Uamh Viaduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch nan Uamh Viaduct |
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The viaduct carrying The Jacobite
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| Coordinates | 56°53′32″N 5°43′50″W / 56.8923382°N 5.7306558°W |
| Carries | West Highland Line |
| Crosses | Allt a' Mhama |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Concrete |
| Longest span | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Number of spans | 8 |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Simpson & Wilson |
| Construction begin | 1897 |
| Opened | 1901 |
The Loch nan Uamh Viaduct is a railway viaduct (which is like a long bridge) located in Scotland. It carries the West Highland Line, which is a train track that goes through the Scottish Highlands. This viaduct is famous for its beautiful design and a curious story about a horse.
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Building the Viaduct
The Loch nan Uamh Viaduct was built as part of the West Highland Line. This railway line was a big project to connect different parts of the Scottish Highlands. Construction on the viaduct began in 1897, and it was officially opened in 1901.
The West Highland Railway was built to Fort William by Lucas & Aird, but there were delays with the West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (Guarantee) bill for the Mallaig Extension Railway in the House of Commons as the Tory and Liberal parties fought over the issue of subsidies for public transport. This Act did pass in 1896, by which time Lucas & Aird (and their workers) had moved south. New contractors were needed and Robert McAlpine & Sons were taken on with Simpson & Wilson as engineers. Robert McAlpine & Sons was headed by Robert McAlpine, nicknamed "Concrete Bob" for his innovative use of mass concrete. Concrete was used due to the difficulty of working the hard schist in the area. McAlpine's son Robert, then aged 28, took charge of construction, with his younger son Malcolm appointed as assistant.
Construction of the extension from Fort William to Mallaig began in January 1897, and the line opened on 1 April 1901.
Viaduct Design and Location
The Loch nan Uamh Viaduct is made of concrete. It has eight arches, each about 50 feet (15 m) long. These arches are split into two groups of four. In the middle of the viaduct, there is a large concrete pillar, also called a pylon. No one really knows why it was designed this way.
The viaduct crosses a small river called the Allt a' Mhama, also known as the Mama Burn. This river flows into Loch nan Uamh, which is a sea loch (a narrow inlet of the sea) located north of the Ardnish peninsula. Right after the viaduct, heading north, trains go into a short tunnel.
The Mystery of the Entombed Horse
There's a famous story about a horse that supposedly fell into a bridge pier during construction. This legend was first linked to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, another bridge built around the same time.
Searching for the Horse
In 1987, a researcher named Roland Paxton from Heriot-Watt University decided to investigate this legend. He used a special fisheye camera to look inside the piers of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. He drilled holes into the only two piers that were big enough for a horse to fit inside. However, he didn't find any animal remains.
Discovery at Loch nan Uamh
Based on local stories, Paxton then turned his attention to the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct in 1997. He used the same camera method, but again, he only found rubble inside the piers. He didn't give up! In 2001, he returned to the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct with special radar equipment. This time, the radar helped him find something amazing: the remains of a horse and even a cart! They were found inside the large central pylon of the viaduct. This discovery proved that the old legend was true, at least for the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct.
