Brandon Viaduct
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Brandon, Coventry, CV8
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Visit websiteThe London & Birmingham Railway (L&BR) was an early railway company from 1833 until 1846, at which date it became a constituent part of the London & North Western Railway. The 112 mile (180km) long railway line that the company built between London and Birmingham was, when it opened in 1838, one of the first intercity railway lines in the world, and the first railway line to be built into London. It survives to the present day as the southern section of the West Coast Main Line.
The line was engineered by Robert Stephenson. It started at Euston Station in London, and travelled north-north-westward until reaching Rugby, where it turned west to Coventry and thence to Birmingham, In Birmingham the line terminated at Curzon Street Station, which it shared with the Grand Junction Railway (GJR), whose platforms were adjacent. This provided a link to the Liverpool & Manchester Railway (L&MR). Although less than 12 m. (40 ft.) high this is an attractive viaduct across the river Avon. It has nine semi-eliptical arches and at each end three smaller semi-circular arches. Built in sandstone, it is a fine structure. It has been celibrated by being the subject of a drawing by J.C. Bourne.
By Road: Main Street, Brandon, the road linking Brandon to Wolston, passes beneath the viaduct.
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Engineering Timelines - Robert Stephenson
Stephenson's Works - former offices of Robert Stephenson & Co's locomotive works.
Structurae - Robert Stephenson