RAILSCOT | Divie Viaduct

Divie Viaduct

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Divie Viaduct (1863-1965)

Opened on the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway.

Description

This disused tall seven arch single track masonry viaduct still stands. The viaduct is 477 ft long overall with 7 arches spanning 45 ft, the highest being 105 ft high.

The engineer was Joseph Mitchell and contractor George Meakin [Contractor] of Birkenhead. Construction began in 1861, the year the Act for the line passed.

The viaduct is south of the former Dunphail station.

Today it carries the Dava Way (Dava Way ).

Aliases

Dunphail Viaduct

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67

Facilities

Listing: B

Nearby stations Dunphail Dava Rafford Dallas Dhu Halt Brodie Dalvey [Forres] Forres [2nd] Forres Forres [1st] Auldearn Kinloss [3rd] Kinloss [2nd] Advie [2nd] Castle Grant Platform Advie [1st]	Mills of Airdrie Plantation Railway Rafford Bank Timber Siding Scurrypool Bridge Dallas Dhu Siding Bowmanhill Ballast Siding Dava Summit Findhorn Viaduct [Forres] Forres South Junction Forres West Junction Forres Shed Tourist/other Ardclach Bell Tower Dallas Dhu Distillery Lochindorb Castle Brodie Castle Dalvey House
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.

Parapet for aesthetic effect

The viaduct is on the same 1 in 80 gradient as the line - leading to a curiosity. To give the viaduct a regular appearance the parapet is 2 feet high at the south end and 7 feet high at the north!

Inscriptions

On the trackside of the north parapet is a tablet reading

Inverness and Perth Junction Railway.

The first turf of this railway was cut by the Right Honourable the Countess of Seafield 17th October 1861,
and the line was completed and formally opened on the 9th September 1863.
The Foundation stone of this viaduct was laid by Lady Elma Bruce on the 20th October 1861 and works were completed on 3rd August 1863.
Contractor George Meakin Birkenhead
Inspector John Maylap Forbes

The south parapet trackside has another tablet reading

Inverness and Perth Junction Railway

The works of this railway were executed under the authority of the following directors, viz:

The Honourable Thomas C. Bruce Chairman;
Alexander Matheson esq of Ardross and Lochalsh M.P. Deputy Chairman;
His Grace the Duke of Athole;

His Grace the Duke of Sutherland;
The Most Noble the Marquis of Breadalbane;
The Right Honourable, the Earl of Seafield;
The Honourable Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat;

Sir Robert Menzies of that ilk, Baronet;
Sir Gordon Cumming of Altyre, Baronet;
Sir Kenneth MacKenzie of Gairloch Baronet;
Cluny MacPherson of Cluny MacPherson;

Major Cumming Bruce of Dunphail;
Major Fraser Tytler of Aldour;
Fineas Mackintosh esq of Raigmore
George Loch esq Barrister at Law, London.

Engineer in Chief - Joseph Mitchell FRSE,
Assistant Engineers - W A M Patterson, John Robinson, Hay MacDowall and John Robertson.
Contractors - George Meakin, Cowans and Mackay MacDonald and Grieve Wilson and Son and J and A Granger