Crimple Valley Viaduct Explained

Bridge Name:Crimple Valley Viaduct
Official Name:Crimple Valley Viaduct
Carries:Harrogate Line
Crosses:Crimple Valley
Locale:North Yorkshire
Maint:Network Rail
Length:1872feet
Height:110feet
Open:1848
Coordinates:53.973°N -1.5167°W
Heritage:Grade II* listed

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.

It is 1872feet long and has 31 arches, each of 52feet span,[1] which reach a maximum height of 110feet 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.[2] 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[3] 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.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Lincolnshire Chronicle – Friday 11 June 1847
  2. Web site: Geograph:: Leeds to Harrogate railway (C) Derek Harper. www.geograph.org.uk. en. 7 October 2019.
  3. Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: North East England, by K. Hoole. David St. John Thomas. David & Charles, 1965
  4. Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 16 September 1848