Stechford Viaduct

[Heartland]

Network Rail has begun the repair of the viaduct over the River Cole at Stechford. This viaduct was completed in 1836 as part of the construction of the London & Birmingham Railway, engineer Robert Stephenson. What has not been noted, so far is how much work was done since construction. Made of brick, this viaduct was constructed at the time when bricks were generally hand made, but were often commercially sourced from brickyards, unlike the earlier canals, a generation before, where temporary brickyards provided the bricks.

In preparation for the repair work the bushes have been cut down, and the freshly exposed side of the viaduct wall has been used for a political statement. There are some refugees living in this area. For the transport historian the bricked up arch is of interest. There are two arches which are open. The central arch spans the Cole and the other crosses a footpath through to the park beyond. This path has been closed off for the repair work to be done.

Yet the existence of the other arch suggests that this was also a footpath once and the other side of the viaduct a footpath does commence and follows the Cole. There was once a water corn mill and a mill pool on the side of the present path and a path on the opposite side would have been a reasonable thoroughfare, but then the present land slope would not be consistent with a path. However this view is taken from underneath an arch of the later viaduct built to carry the branch railway to Aston. The construction of the earthworks for that newer structure could have led to the stopping up of the original path.

 

[Astoness]

thanks for the update heartland...lets hope that when this historial viaduct is cleaned up and repaired there will be no more graffiti..its a wonderful piece of engineering

lyn

 

[Radiorails]

I put this in a thread the other day, though this is more informative.

Railway infrastructure and engineering development

You are correct. It's the old Birmingham Central Goods Station later replaced by 'Stanier House' Is or was 'Stanier' house named after the railway engineer?

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Heartland]

On reading through early guide to the London & Birmingham Railway, it would seem that the original viaduct at Stichford (as it was then called) comprised 6 arches. The making of the Aston to Stechford Line may have led to the removal of some arches through the construction of the embankment approach to the new bridge over the Cole for that line.

 

[Heartland]

A set of the Aston to Stechford Rail plans have come up for auction. These are large scale London & North Western Plans that show the track arrangement at the time of reconstruction. They show the route of the Old Road that once crossed at the level crossing and the new bridge to the south of it. It would seem that the Cole was diverted or re aligned and may be the present viaduct on the main line was reconstructed then.