Listing

Brackley viaduct under construction

Photographed looking south around 1896, this is a wonderful snapshot of viaduct construction. Built to span the Great Ouse river and flood plain, the 22 arch 755 foot structure at Brackley was arguably the London Extension's single most impressive engineering achievement. The wooden planks of various lengths which are projecting from the arches are for the navvies to stand on whilst they complete the brickwork between each of these impressive spans. Note the wooden bridge centrings lying at the foot of the slope, and the contractor's temporary railway that runs parallel with the viaduct before turning around the embankment and up the far side of the valley. See on Route Map