Penponds Viaduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penponds Viaduct |
|
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°12′18″N 5°19′22″W / 50.2051363°N 5.3227177°W |
| Carries | Cornish Main Line |
| Locale | Penponds, Cornwall |
| Preceded by | Hayle Railway structure 1837, then West Cornwall Railway structure 1852 |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Brick arches on stone piers. |
| Total length | 338 feet (103 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1888 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Penponds Viaduct is a special railway bridge in Cornwall, England. It carries the Cornish Main Line railway tracks. This means trains travel over it!
The viaduct is located west of Camborne. It crosses a small valley. Below it, you'll find the southern part of the Red River and a small road called Viaduct Lane.
Building the Railway Line
Long ago, in 1837, a railway company called the Hayle Railway built a line through this area. Their goal was to connect the towns of Hayle and Redruth. To handle a big change in height, they built a special sloped section called an inclined plane. This was just east of where the viaduct stands today.
Later, another company, the West Cornwall Railway, took over the route. They wanted a smoother, less steep path for the trains. So, they built a wooden bridge, called a timber trestle viaduct. This new bridge helped trains avoid the old inclined plane.
The Modern Viaduct
The Penponds Viaduct you see today was built much later, in 1888. The Great Western Railway built it. They were replacing older wooden bridges along the line. They also wanted to prepare the railway for two tracks instead of just one.
This strong viaduct is made from brick arches. These arches rest on sturdy stone supports called piers. It's a great example of old railway engineering!
See also
- Viaducto de Penponds para niños (in Spanish)
