Drogheda railway viaduct

Not sure what length it is despite passing over most days – the metal expanse 100m perhaps – there’s always gasps of oooohs and ahhhs and mammy help from tourists and train newbies when we pass over. Does the iron part date from the 1840s – always thought it looked a bit later – maybe there were stone arches crossing all the way originally?

Have to laugh at what a hole Drogheda looks from up there with the docks etc infront of the town – entirely misleading of course 🙂

There’s a lovely isolated terrace of Georgians perched up on ro-G’s side near the viaduct – early 19th century one-offs that do complement the landscape.
You can really appreciate how the town developed from up there, with Georgian merchant housing safely high up, with later Victorians even higher in the valley, while ‘artisan’ housing is left with the grimey smokey lowlands.

Anyone know what the brick chimney to the east of the viaduct is from?

From Michael Barry’s “Across Deep Waters: Bridges of Ireland” (1985): The Boyne Viaduct, opened in 1855, “is 536 metres long with 12 masonry arches on the south and 3 on the north side of the river. Most of the masonry came from quarries opened at the site of the viaduct. The lighter coloured stone used for fine detailing came from Ardbraccan and Milverton. It was conceived by the eminent Victorian engineer Sir John Macneill. James Barton, Chief Engineer of the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, designed and constructed it. Three spans, the centre one 81 metres long, are over the waterway, with a clearance of 27 metres above high water. Originally, the wrought iron centre spans carried double tracks. Because of increasing axel loads and extensive corrosion, it was decided in the 1920s to renew the centre spans. Designed by G B Howden, Chief Engineer of the GNR(I), a new steel centre portion was completed in 1932 by the Motherwell Bridge and Engineeering Company of Scotland. Before being removed, the old wrought iron lattice girders were used as support during the construction of the new structure. Double tracks at each end converge to interlaced tracks over the centre part of the viaduct.”

And one can only imagine the NIMBY objections to the embankment and bridge construction that continues for quite a distance to the north to ‘prepare’ the line for the drop in levels.

Thanks for that trace.
So did the line north of the valley not link to the south at all prior to 1855?

It’s a shame the original lattice section had to be removed – much more elegant and so typical of the early railway period. And just look at those fantastic corbely swag things flanking each end – remind you of the brackets on the extention to Grattan Bridge.
Such lanky structures are still dotted all over the UK, not many over here unfortunately.
The masonry coming from the site would explain the big heaps of sand and craters etc still dotted around nearby.

always wondered what the old bridge would have looked like crossing the river bandon on the west cork line…beautiful seting and it must have been a great way to see west cork!!!
all thats left today are the stone abutments…god a few billion and someone could really do the tourist board a favour plus the locals by reopening that line…oh well!!!