Laigh Milton Viaduct

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Laigh Milton Viaduct (1812-1846)

Opened on the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway.

Description

The 1812 Laigh Milton Viaduct is thought to be the earliest surviving viaduct built on a public railway. The viaduct is 5 miles west of Kilmarnock. It is a four arch double track viaduct over the River Irvine. The engineer for the viaduct, as for the whole route, was William Jessop.

The viaduct was taken out of use in 1846 when the railway was realigned to the south. On conversion from a 4' 0'' iron plate line to standard gauge railway the viaduct and very tight curve at its east end were replaced with a new timber viaduct built to the south. The new line opened in 1847. Even the replacement route was replaced to ease a curve close to Gateside station and nothing at all remains of the bridge. The third viaduct is further south and remains in use today.

The Laigh Milton Viaduct steadily fell into disrepair with masonry falling from it, water damage to the cutwaters and tree growth along its length.

The western approach to the viaduct did see a reuse as the sidings for Fairlie Colliery No 3 Pit which began to the west at Lathe Mill Siding. Operation of the mine and the bings produced obscure the original alignment of the railway to the west.

To the east was Milton Lye, the junction (and later headshunt) for a mineral line running north to Busbie Colliery. The eastern approach route to the viaduct has been ploughed out although its flat course remains.

The viaduct was category 'A' listed in 1982.

With recognition of the unique nature of the viaduct the Laigh Milton Viaduct Conservation Project was formed. The viaduct was restored between 1992 and 1996. The masonry was repaired and new parapets and side fencing added. The trackbed was cleared and a short section of demonstration track has been laid.

The site can be visited and some parking is available nearby. Access today is via a path alongside the river. The viaduct can be seen from trains on the line to the south, it is on the north side of the present line (right side after leaving Kilmarnock).

Tags

Viaduct A listed River Irvine

Aliases

Milton Viaduct

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
10/11/2019

Facilities

Listing: A



Nearby stations
Gatehead
Drybridge
Springside
Crosshouse
Dreghorn
Riccarton and Craigie
Kilmarnock (St Marnocks)
Kilmarnock [1st]
Kilmarnock
Cunninghamhead
Kilmaurs
Gailes
Irvine Bank Street
Hurlford
Barassie
Fairlie Colliery No 3 Pit
Milton Lye
Gatehead Colliery Coal Pit
Gatehead Colliery Coal Pit
Lathe Mill Siding
Coal Pit
Fairlie Junction
Farmfield Pit
Thornton Colliery Coal Pit
Thirdpart Siding
Colliery
Busbie Colliery
Colliery
Busbie Coal Pit
Tourist/other
Craig Colliery Signal Box
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


Experimenting with a locomotive


The Kilmarnock and Troon Railway used horses to draw wagons.

William Bentinck, the 4th Duke of Portland and owner of the line, had George Stephenson's second Killingworth steam engine tested on the railway in 1816/17, driven by Robert Stephenson. The engine was too heavy for the plateway.

This was the first use of a steam locomotive in Scotland.


News items

13/09/2021Hit railway TV series showcases history of iconic North East landmark [Network Rail]
10/02/20217 pieces of architecture that shaped Scotlands Railway [ScotRail]

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

Britains Historic Railway Buildings: A Gazetteer of Structures and Sites

Britain's Historic Railway Buildings: An Oxford Gazetteer of Structures and Sites

National Series of Waterway, Tramway and Railway Atlases: Ayrshire v. 1h

Origins of the Scottish Railway System 1722-1844

The Oxford Companion to British Railway History: From 1603 to the 1990s

THE RAILWAY HERITAGE OF BRITAIN: 150 YEARS OF RAILWAY ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING.