BRIDGES

Soundtrack
The Crossing - Jan Garbarek

"the riveter fixing 900 rivets in a single day. With the final one inserted on 22nd October 1885, the structure was substantially complete, weighing in at 588 tonnes and able to withstand a rolling load of 354 tonnes.
Confining the uncooperative Spey to a preferred course was a battle which took many men many months to win. The structural integrity of the bridge and its approach embankments were compromised by flooding on several occasions. Despite this, goods trains began to roll across the viaduct on 10th April 1886. Passenger services followed three weeks later. Its cost exceeded the original £25,000 estimate by £15,000.
On 4th May 1968, the structure retired with the closure of the line. Dismantling of the railway got underway in the autumn but the viaduct survived due to the costs of safely salvaging it. In 1980, Moray District Council lifted any remaining threat of demolition by taking control of the viaduct and, a year later, it became part of the Speyside Way footpath."