Bollington Viaduct - Bollington, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 17.953 W 002° 06.388
30U E 559549 N 5905929
This 23 arch former railway viaduct used to carry the Macclesfield,
Bollington and Marple Railway over the River Dean and now carries the Middlewood Way.
Waymark Code: WM10YJN
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/12/2019
Views: 1
"In 1863, the towns of Marple, Bollington and Macclesfield
were facing economic depression. Local dignitaries and
especially the cotton mill owners of Bollington, hoped a new
railway would improve their fortunes. A railway scheme was
presented to parliament, and in 1869 the Macclesfield,
Bollington and Marple Railway opened.
The railway carried cotton, silk, coal and passengers, however
it always struggled to make a profit. The line later became part
of British Rail but was eventually closed as part of the Beeching
cuts in 1970. In 1985 the disused railway was redeveloped for
recreation as the Middlewood Way.
The scenic 10 mile / 16 km long Middlewood Way provides lots of
opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding. The Middlewood Way was constructed on top of a disused railway line, and officially opened in 1985."
link
Originally the railway line here was going to be built on an embankment but a nearby information board about the town of Bollington has the following information.
Why buid an expensive viaduct instead of a much cheaper earth and stone filled embankment?
Concerns about human health resulted in the viaduct being built. The area up to the nearby canal embankment was once a mosquito infested swamp next to the River Dean.
The local board of health thought that an earth embankment for the railway would trap stagnant air between the valley sides and the canal and railway embankments , producing a breeding ground for bacteria.
The arches of a viaduct on the other hand, would allow for air circulation which would flush away the bacteria infected air from the swamp.