Brunel’s viaduct receives a makeover

An historic Dudley landmark has been undergoing a major restoration, ahead of its new use as part of the West Midlands Metro network. PETER PLISNER finds out what’s been done to the structure

It might seem like just another Victorian viaduct, but this one is special because the chief engineer was the famous Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Not only that, but the structure was originally timber-built and later encased with masonry to become the way it looks today. Parkhead Viaduct, which is 164 yards long, was built in 1849 as a multi-span wooden structure comprising eight timber trusses supported on trestles with driven timber piles. It curves to the east on a radius of about 40 chains. It’s said that the original wooden structure was needed because of soft ground in the area. However, even with its lightweight construction, historical notes suggest that the viaduct’s wooden piles still showed signs of sinking. Its strengthening and encasement in bricks, which took place in 1877, cost…

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RAIL (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 1023

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