GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bordesley Viaduct: gwrbg2487

View showing the northern elevation of the viaduct with a Prairie tank on the down main line with a north bound freight, striding across the workshops of Birmingham into the city centre. The Bordesley viaduct was built entirely of brickwork with 60 main arches of an average span of 37 feet. The viaduct is 2,900 feet long, with a maximum height of 70 feet, where it passes over the River Rea. There is a rise of 18 feet 6 inches over the length. Built between 1849 and 1852 it originally carried two mixed gauge tracks, but between 1911 and 16th November 1913 the viaduct was more than doubled in width so it could accommodate five standard gauge tracks. A total of 10 million bricks were used during the widening. The main up and down lines used the original viaduct, while the relief up and down tracks and an up goods line were laid on the extension.

Robert Ferris

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