Findhorn Viaduct, Forres
Not to be confused with another railway viaduct over the river Findhorn near Tomatin, this impressive box girder viaduct of 1858 is listed Grade A.
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The Inverness & Nairn Railway constructed a line as far as Nairn in 1855. The link to through Forres and Elgin to Keith was built by the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway in 1858. This company absorbed the Inverness & Nairn in 1861 and became a founder member of the Highland Railway in 1865. From 1863 Forres was an important junction as it was from here that the main Highland line headed southward towards Perth. When the shorter more direct route between Inverness and Perth was opened in 1897, this junction diminished in importance.
The viaduct lies west of the town of Forres on the line between Nairn and Keith and is still in use. It is a striking structure consisting of three 46 m. (150 ft.) spans only 5 m. (18 ft.)above the water. Like so many other Highland Railway structures it was designed by Joseph Mitchell (1803-1883). He was the son of the Chief Inspector who worked for Telford on the great road building programme in the highlands, and succeeded his father before turning to railways.
Photo credit: Anne Burgess / Findhorn Railway Bridge
By road: The viaduct is located on the west of the town and is visible to the north of the A 96, shortly east of the road crossing of the river Findhorn.
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