Friockheim Viaduct
Location type
BridgeNames and dates
Friockheim Viaduct (1848-1857)Friockheim Viaduct (1863-1867)
Friockheim Viaduct (1878-1908)
Opened on the Aberdeen Railway.
Description
This fine eight arch double track masonry viaduct crossed the B965 'Station Road', Vinney Water and Lunan Water, and had castellated parapets. It was on the Friockheim Junction to Glasterlaw Junction ('Friockheim Fork') curve which opened and closed on a number of occasions.
The parapets were castellated along their length and the arches were elliptical and ribbed. It was 620 ft long overall.
It was built by the Aberdeen Railway to allow trains from Arbroath to run north to Montrose [CR] and Aberdeen.
The curve opened in 1848 but closed in 1857 due to lack of traffic, with passengers from Arbroath changing at Guthrie.
It reopened in 1863 and closed again due to lack of traffic in 1867.
Finally, with competing traffic expected on the new parallel North British Railway through Montrose opened in 1881, it reopened in 1878.
The viaduct required significant remedial work around 1902, a combination of repairs and due to the increase in the weight of locomotives. Two arches were filled in with brickwork and an arch replaced with a girder over the roadway. Two arches were fitted with wooden strengthening.
The curve closed again in 1908 and did not reopen. Track was lifted for the war effort in 1917. Friockheim Junction closed in 1917.
The viaduct was demolished in the 1980s.
Tags
ViaductExternal links
Canmore site recordNLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
| Nearby stations Friockheim Glasterlaw Guthrie Leysmill Colliston Auldbar Road Carmyllie Letham Grange Farnell Road Cauldcots Denhead Inverkeilor Cuthlie Arbirlot Clocksbriggs | Friockheim Junction Glasterlaw Junction Legaston Quarry Border Quarry Guthrie Junction Leysmill Quarry Guthrie Gate Woodside Farm Bridge Slade Quarry Tourist/other Border Signal Box Guthrie Castle Colliston Castle Milldens Crossing Muirmills Level Crossing Letham Grange Hotel |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| / /1847 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Viaduct built, 189m in length. (Date often given as 1840, which is very unlikely.) |
| / /1850 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Junction (excluded) to Glasterlaw Junction (excluded) closed. Friockheim Viaduct out of use. Guthrie used as exchange. |
| 01/04/1863 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Junction to Glasterlaw Junction re-opened. Friockheim Viaduct brought back into use. |
| 01/11/1867 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Junction (excluded) to Glasterlaw Junction (excluded) closed again. Friockheim Viaduct out of use. |
| 16/07/1878 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Junction to Glasterlaw Junction re-opened. Friockheim Viaduct brought back into use. |
| / /1914 | Aberdeen Railway Friockheim Viaduct out of use. Line lifted in 1917 for war effort and Friockheim Junction box closed. |
