Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear 2006


Newton Cap Viaduct 2006


Newton Cap Viaduct 2006


Oblique view of traffic bridge close to Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


Oblique view of outer face of Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


Oblique view of road underneath Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


Close up of stonework on Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


View of stonework and undersides of Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


Third Oblique view of outer face of Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016


Oblique view of Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland and nearby housing July 2016


Fourth oblique view of Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear, Bishop Auckland July 2016

This railway viaduct crosses the River Wear. Construction began in 1854 and it was opened 1 April 1857 for the North Eastern Railway Company Bishop Auckland branch line. It is constructed of stone with ashlar dressings and brick-lined soffits. The line cost £30,000 per mile to build, especially due to the viaduct, which has eleven arches and rises 105 feet over the river. The viaduct's foundations had to be laid twenty feet below the riverbed, due to construction difficulties.
It was converted to a road bridge in 1994-5, and the deck was widened by four metres to accommodate footpaths.