Craighead Viaduct

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Craighead Viaduct (1877-1952)

Opened on the Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway.

Description

This was a seven span 727 ft double track viaduct over the River Clyde with metalwork built by the Dalmarnock Iron Works. This viaduct on the North British Railway's Hamilton branch crossed the River Clyde just south of Bothwell and east of Blantyre. The condition of the viaduct led to the line being cut back to Bothwell [North British], just to the north, in 1952. Formerly the line had continued south to Craighead Signal Box, Auchenraith, and Hamilton [NBR].

The ashlar piers of this viaduct have been removed, the stone recovered for other purposes.

Tags

Viaduct


Chronology Dates

15/09/1952Glasgow, Bothwell Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway
Hamilton [NBR] to Bothwell [North British] (excluded) closed to passengers due to the Craighead Viaduct over the Clyde having been undermined. (Also given as the 13th of September). Signal boxes along route closed but track retained until approx 1955.

News items

28/01/2007Craighead Viaduct Piers to be demolished

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

Forgotten Railways: Scotland