Victoria Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Victoria Viaduct, originally called the 'Victoria Bridge', is a rail bridge spanning the River Wear
in North East England
, carrying the mothballed Leamside Line. The bridge was commissioned by the Durham Junction Railway and designed by Thomas Elliot Harrison. It was based upon the Roman
bridge at Alcántara
, Spain
. Built from 1836-8, the viaduct was named after the then-new monarch, Queen Victoria
and was officially opened on 28 June 1838 (the queen's coronation
day), although it did not open to traffic until 1839.
The bridge formed part of the main line linking Newcastle upon Tyne
and London
until the line was routed through Durham
in 1872. The line was closed to passenger trains following the Beeching Axe
. The bridge continued to carry freight until the closure of the freight terminal at nearby Follingsby in 1991, following which the bridge was mothballed. The bridge underwent heavy renovation between 1989 and 1990.
The Leamside Line is increasingly involved in re-opening consultations, meaning that in the future, the viaduct may be recommissioned to carry both freight and passenger services over the River Wear
once again.
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, carrying the mothballed Leamside Line. The bridge was commissioned by the Durham Junction Railway and designed by Thomas Elliot Harrison. It was based upon the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
bridge at Alcántara
Alcántara
Alcántara is a municipality in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain, on the Tagus, near Portugal. The toponym is from the Arabic word al-QanTarah meaning "the bridge".-History:...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Built from 1836-8, the viaduct was named after the then-new monarch, Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and was officially opened on 28 June 1838 (the queen's coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
day), although it did not open to traffic until 1839.
The bridge formed part of the main line linking Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
until the line was routed through Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
in 1872. The line was closed to passenger trains following the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. The bridge continued to carry freight until the closure of the freight terminal at nearby Follingsby in 1991, following which the bridge was mothballed. The bridge underwent heavy renovation between 1989 and 1990.
The Leamside Line is increasingly involved in re-opening consultations, meaning that in the future, the viaduct may be recommissioned to carry both freight and passenger services over the River Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
once again.