Dandry Mire Viaduct

Work started on this part of the line in 1871 as part of the second contract let, with the original intent of crossing Dandry Mire Moss on an embankment rather than a viaduct. In 1873, it was reported that over 250,000 yd3 of material had been poured into the bog, which had just swallowed it all up, displacing the peat, so much so, that it formed ridges either side of the proposed embankment to a height of nearly 15 ft. The continual wet weather combined with the boggy nature of Dandry Mire, combined to prompt the builders to try a different approach. John Sanders, the main architect for the structures on the line, designed a viaduct, and J S Crossley was the chief engineer during the build…