Craighead Viaduct
Location type
BridgeName and dates
Craighead Viaduct (1877-1952)Opened on the Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway.
Description
This was a seven span 727 ft double track viaduct over the River Clyde with metalwork built by the Dalmarnock Iron Works. This viaduct on the North British Railway's Hamilton branch crossed the River Clyde just south of Bothwell and east of Blantyre. The condition of the viaduct led to the line being cut back to Bothwell [North British], just to the north, in 1952. Formerly the line had continued south to Craighead Signal Box, Auchenraith, and Hamilton [NBR].
The ashlar piers of this viaduct have been removed, the stone recovered for other purposes.
Tags
Viaduct
| Nearby stations Blantyre Foundry Bothwell [North British] Blantyre Bothwell [CR] Burnbank Hamilton West Peacock Cross Bothwell Park Halt High Blantyre Fallside Uddingston East Hamilton [NBR] Uddingston [1st] Uddingston Hamilton Central | Craighead Signal Box Craighead Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Whistleberry Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Craighead Yard [Loaded] Blantyre Junction [CR] Craighead Junction Bothwell Castle Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Craighead BP Chemicals Siding Auchinraith Junction Blantyre Junction [NBR] Greenfield Shed Craighead Yard [Empty] Strathaven Junction C W Ireland Works Tourist/other David Livingstone Centre |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| 15/09/1952 | Glasgow, Bothwell Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway Hamilton [NBR] to Bothwell [North British] (excluded) closed to passengers due to the Craighead Viaduct over the Clyde having been undermined. (Also given as the 13th of September). Signal boxes along route closed but track retained until approx 1955. |
News items
| 28/01/2007 | Craighead Viaduct Piers to be demolished |
Books
 A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series) |  Forgotten Railways: Scotland |
