Eskmeals Viaduct

The current Eskmeals Viaduct was completed in 1868 as part of the Furness Railway, and has 18 spans to a length of 16 chain with the original red sandstone piers, crossing the River Esk and associated salt marshes in west Cumbria. The first bridge at the site, sometimes referred to as Esk Viaduct, was 320 yard long, 25 ft high at is maximum, and had 36 spans. The original structure was partially destroyed by fire at its southern end on 28 June 1850. As the structure was largely timber in construction, to prevent it spreading, workers destroyed a section in the middle leaving a damaged or destroyed section of 60 yard in the 320 yard viaduct. The line between Bootle and Ravenglass was opened…