|
Rather more workaday is Netherton Tunnel, part of a rural line that took the villagefolk of Meltham - in the Pennine foothills - to the metropolis that is Huddersfield. All things are relative of course. The tunnel is a great case study of how changing geological conditions impacted on construction: its profile changes markedly from one end to the other, a distance of just 333 yards.
Our pair of featured viaducts lack the majesty of Leaderfoot or Conisbrough's sheer brutality. But they did the job asked of them - they weren't built for their looks. That said, Lasswade Viaduct, engineered by the ill-fated Thomas Bouch and curving elegantly over the River North Esk, now boasts a protective Grade B listing, so it clearly has value. Hiding in the wilds of Lancashire, Tottington Viaduct's claim to fame was that it formed part of a short branch that benefited from overhead electrification as early as 1913. So what's the big fuss about a century later?
After publishing the Crumlin Viaduct Handbook last month, we supplement it this time by offering the local newspaper's record of its formal opening. There's no salacious celebrity tat here, although there are many eulogies to Thomas Kennard, the bridge's designer, who achieved the status of true Victorian hero without ever taking his kit off or eating worms in a jungle.
Finally, Christmas is coming and you're no doubt struggling with the annual quandary of what colour socks to buy your loved one...or maybe even your husband. So why not invest in a present that offers a whole year of enjoyment until next Christmas when you can burn it to keep warm. Yes, the Forgotten Relics calendar is the smart way to cut your heating bills so why not place an order now. Click here or hit the 2014 Calendar link in the sidebar.
Have a fabulous festive season!
|
.
