Morar Railway Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 56°57′46″N5°48′57″W / 56.9629°N 5.8159°W /56.9629; -5.8159 |
| Carries | West Highland Line |
| Crosses | River Morar |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Concrete |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1897 |
| Opened | 1901 |
| Location | |
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TheMorar Railway Viaduct is a railway viaduct that carries theWest Highland Line over theRiver Morar.
TheWest Highland Railway was built toFort William byLucas and Aird, but there were delays with the West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (Guarantee) bill for theMallaig Extension Railway in theHouse of Commons as theTory andLiberal parties fought over the issue of subsidies for public transport. This Act did pass in 1896, by which time Lucas and Aird (and their workers) had moved south.[1] New contractors were needed andRobert McAlpine & Sons were taken on with Simpson & Wilson as engineers. Robert McAlpine & Sons was headed byRobert McAlpine, nicknamed "Concrete Bob" for his innovative use ofmass concrete.[2] Concrete was used due to the difficulty of working the hardschist in the area.[3] McAlpine's son Robert, then aged 28, took charge of construction, with his younger son Malcolm appointed as assistant.[4]
Construction of the extension from Fort William toMallaig began in January 1897, and the line opened on 1 April 1901.[5][6]The Morar Railway Viaduct is a Category Blisted building.[7]
The viaduct carries the northern extent of theWest Highland Line over theRiver Morar, a short river linkingLoch Morar to the sea.[8]
It has three arches of rusticated concrete, and carries a single track of railway.[7][8] The B8008 public road and the river go through the larger middle arch, which is of 90 feet (27 m) span, and an unmarked road through the south arch.[8][9]
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