Loch nan Uamh Viaduct
Location type
BridgeName and dates
Loch nan Uamh Viaduct (1901-)Opened on the Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway).
Description
This is an eight 50ft arch single track mass concrete viaduct between Arnabol Viaduct (to the east) and Loch nan Uamh No 116 Tunnel to the immediate north of the viaduct. The viaduct is at the east end of Loch nan Uamh (loch of the caves). It is also known as Gleann Mama Viaduct, for the glen to the east.
The viaduct has two sets of arches with a 'king' pillar in the middle - about the size of one of the arches. Counting from the north end, the viaduct crosses the A830 with the first arch, over the Allt a Mhanna and the beach with the third arch and over a dirt road with the fifth arch.
The line very much threads through the landscape here. Just to the east it is on the south bank of Loch Dubh, then crosses Arnabol Viaduct, runs along the side of a hill, crosses a spit of land, crosses the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct, plunges into a tunnel, then another tunnel and goes on clinging onto a hillside while it curves round the head of the loch.
Local
Princes Charles Edward Stuart left Scotland from the shore of Loch nan Uamh in 1746 after the unsuccessful Jacobite uprising. The The Prince's Cairn was built in 1956 by the 1745 Association. It is two thirds of a mile to the west of the viaduct. See also Glenfinnan Monument.
Tags
ViaductAliases
Loch nan Umbh Viaduct Gleann Mama ViaductFacilities
Listing: B
| Nearby stations Beasdale Lochailort Arisaig Morar Lech-a-vuie Platform Mallaig Glenfinnan Locheilside Loch Eil Outward Bound Corpach Kentallen Fort William [1st] Duror Fort William Banavie | Loch nan Uamh No 116 Tunnel Loch nan Uamh No 117 Tunnel Arnabol Viaduct Beasdale No 118 Tunnel Polnish House Beasdale No 119 Tunnel Beasdale Bridge Polnish No 107 Tunnel Polnish No 106 Tunnel Borrodale Tunnel Camas Driseach Depot Borrodale Viaduct Tourist/other The Prince^s Cairn Polnish Chapel Loch Ailort |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
An unfortunate horseIn 2001 radar scanning of the hollow, but rubble filled, 'king' pillar revealed the remains of a horse and cart which fell inside during construction. For many years their loss was associated with the Glenfinnan Viaduct but a survey by Professor Roland Paxton found no evidence at Glenfinnan but remains in the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct. Plaques commemorating the successful survey were erected at the viaduct and Glenfinnan station. |
