Chappel Viaduct #3

The Chappel viaduct was built between 1847 and 1849 for the Colchester and Stour extension of the Eastern Counties Railway. Originally planned to be... more

by Martin Newman

Title

Chappel Viaduct #3

Artist

Martin Newman

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The Chappel viaduct was built between 1847 and 1849 for the Colchester and Stour extension of the Eastern Counties Railway. Originally planned to be a timber structure, the viaduct was built of locally made brick because of the additional cost of maintaining a timber structure. Approximately 600 men were involved in the construction, most of whom were local East Anglians. The cost of construction was approximately £21,000.

The viaduct consists of 32 arches of 30 feet (9 m) span, with a total length of 1,136 feet (346 m), and a maximum height of 80 feet (24 m). The piers consist of two shafts, separated by a 6 feet (2 m) opening, and joined at top and bottom by arches; each shaft contain a hollow void 4 feet (1.2 m) by 3 feet (1 m) maximum, partially filled with concrete to the level of the bottom arch. The running level of the viaduct has a gradient of 1 in 120

The viaduct became a listed monument in 1967,[7] and is thought to be the second-largest brick-built structure in England after Battersea Power Station.

During the commemoration events to mark 50 years since the end of the second world war, Chappel's beacon was transported by rail to a point on the viaduct where it could be seen from the playing field below, and lit after a ceremonial silence, the beginning and end of which were marked by the release of two maroons.

The first passenger train to Sudbury, carrying an official party from Colchester, ran on 2 July 1849.The viaduct currently carries the Marks Tey to Sudbury branch railway (Gainsborough Line), which connects regularly with trains to and from London's Liverpool Street Station.

Uploaded

May 29th, 2016