Crimple Valley Viaduct

Crimple Valley Viaduct, also known as Crimple Viaduct and Crimple Beck Viaduct is a railway viaduct which crosses the Crimple Valley between Pannal railway station and Hornbeam Park railway station in North Yorkshire. It is a Grade II* listed structure.[1]

Crimple Valley Viaduct
Evening Star crosses Crimple Viaduct
Coordinates53°58′22.79″N 1°31′0.07″W / 53.9729972°N 1.5166861°W / 53.9729972; -1.5166861
CarriesHarrogate Line
CrossesCrimple Valley
LocaleNorth Yorkshire
Official nameCrimple Valley Viaduct
Maintained byNetwork Rail
Heritage statusGrade II* listed
Characteristics
Total length1,872 feet (571 m)
Height110 feet (34 m)
History
Opened1848[1]
Location
Map
Railways in Harrogate
to Northallerton via Ripon
closed to passengers 1967
Harrogate
Starbeck
Hornbeam Park
opened 1992
to York
Line to Church Fenton
closed to passengers 1964
Pannal

It is 1,872 feet (571 m) long and has 31 arches, each of 52-foot (16 m) span,[2] which reach a maximum height of 110 feet (34 m) above the Crimple Valley. The sharp bend in the track on the south side of the viaduct causes trains to reduce speed significantly, especially on the northbound journey.[3] Older Pacer rolling stock units are locally known to loudly squeal whilst passing around the tight bend due to increased pressure on the bogies and wheels.

It was completed in 1848[4] to designs by George Hudson for the York and North Midland Railway company and built of rusticated grit stone ashlar. The contractor was James Bray.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Crimple Valley Viaduct (1189723)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. ^ Lincolnshire Chronicle – Friday 11 June 1847
  3. ^ "Geograph:: Leeds to Harrogate railway (C) Derek Harper". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  4. ^ Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: North East England, by K. Hoole. David St. John Thomas. David & Charles, 1965
  5. ^ Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 16 September 1848