| |
Report extracted from the Railway Heritage Trust Annual Report and Accounts 1999/2000
We reported in 1990/91 on repair and restoration of the beautiful Smardale Gill Viaduct now in the care of the Northern Viaduct Trust. This fourteen-arched structure was built in 1861 by the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway, as part of its line from Tebay to Barnard Castle The Stockton & Darlington Railway operated the line; both companies later became part of the North Eastern Railway.
East of Smardale Gill the route passed under the Midland Railway's Smardale Viaduct, carrying the Settle and Carlisle line north of Kirkby Stephen (West) Station. The Barnard Castle line continued eastwards to Kirkby Stephen (East) Station over Podgill and Merrigill Viaducts to reach the site of Belah Viaduct, Barras and, over Stainmore Summit, Bowes and Barnard Castle it was perhaps the most impressive of all railway routes across the Pennines.
The spectacular Belah Viaduct, 317m long, 59.7m high and with sixteen spans in wrought and cast. iron, was undeniably one of the great sights of the railway system in northern England. It was swiftly demolished after closure of the line in 1962. The more modest masonry viaducts at Podgill and Merrigill remained in situ.
Designed by the engineer Sir Thomas Bouch, Podgill Viaduct was constructed by Chambers 8 Hilton for a single line of railway, but, was doubled in width in 1889; the two stages of construction are identified by differences in the masonry. It is listed Grade II, With a maximum height of 25.6m, the eleven arches of Podgill Viaduct stand virtually invisible in a wooded valley close to the hamlet of Hartley.
 
A jointly funded project led by the Northern Viaduct Trust has been started, to provide a public footpath eastwards along the former railway, from the B6259 highway at Stenkrith, between Kirkby Stephen and the village of Nateby, and leading across Podgill Viaduct to be linked to other established rights of way in the vicinity, including the Coast-to-Coast Path inspired by Alfred Wainwright and to an existing public park.
Some repairs to the masonry of Podgill Viaduct have been carried out, together with clearance of tree growth and waterproofing of the former track-bed. The surface of the deck over the viaduct has been raised by about 300mm, enabling walkers to see over the parapets, which are of unusual height and incorporate distinctive cast iron safety refuges.
When completed in 2001, this attractive path will enhance public access to this beautiful part of the Upper Eden valley. From the path, Wild Boar Fell is clearly to be seen to the south and, to the north-east, Cross Fell and the Northern Pennines. It is still possible, too, to hear the sound of trains: from Podgill Viaduct, Kirkby Stephen Station complete with its newly erected footbridge may be seen 2.5 kilometres away to the west where freight and passenger trains run along the Settle & Carlisle line.
Two large lineside signs were erected by the LNER to mark the Stainmore Summit, which attained an altitude of 417m above sea level This height may be compared with the 3 56m al Aisgill Summit on the Settle & Carlisle line and with the 372m attained by the M62 in West Yorkshire, England's highest motorway. Both signs were rescued after closure of the line: one is at the Railway Centre and Museum at. North Road Station Darlington the other is at the National Railway Museum at York.
Sponsor: Rail Property Ltd, London
Contractor: P. Mawdsley, Appleby
|
