Kilmarnock railway viaduct

Kilmarnock railway viaduct, known locally as The Viaduct, is a railway viaduct crossing the town centre of Kilmarnock, and was constructed between 1843 and 1850. The bridge begins at Kilmarnock railway station and leads to destinations in England. It is a most distinctive feature of the town centre with 23 masonry arches and defines the northern boundary of the town centre. It was built in the 1840s to enable the Glasgow–Kilmarnock line to continue to Carlisle.[1]

Kilmarnock railway viaduct
Scottish Gaelic: Drochaid-rèile Chille Mheàrnaig
Kilmarnock railway viaduct as viewed from Portland Street, 2007
Alternative namesThe Viaduct
General information
LocationKilmarnock, Scotland
Coordinates55.6119°N 4.4944°W / 55.6119; -4.4944,
Construction started1843
Completed1850
OwnerHistoric Environment Scotland

The structure is a Category B listed building and is owned by Historic Environment Scotland.[2]

History

The 23 arch railway viaduct was designed by John Miller and Thomas Grainger for the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway and built over the period 1843 to 1850. It enabled the railway to extend south towards Carlisle for connections to other locations in England. The viaduct begins at Kilmarnock railway station and continues over the Kilmarnock Water, leading to the south end of Kay Park.[1][3]

In 2008, the viaduct had blue uplighters installed (matching the colour of the local football team Kilmarnock F.C.), and in 2019, a £213,000 upgrade with multi-coloured LEDs took place. This allowed for the circuits to be controlled above the ground and were wired in parallel, which allows individual lamps to be replaced when necessary.[4]

Incidents and accidents

In April 2012, the bridge's safety had to be upgraded after a man was seriously injured after jumping 40 ft from the top of the railway viaduct.[5]

In February 2021, a stabbing occurred at the viaduct when a 24-year-old female was stabbed in Portland Street. The viaduct and surrounding area was cornered off by Police Scotland officers with forensic detectives carrying out investigations of the scene, with the area remaining closed to the public into the following day.[6]

References
  1. East Ayrshire Counci (June 2007). "John Finnie Street and Bank Street, Kilmarnock — Conservation Area Appraisal" (PDF). 8.4 The Kilmarnock Railway Viaduct. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Portland Street and Soulis Street, Viaduct (Lb35951)".
  3. Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 (Report). The Railway Heritage Trust. 2009. p. 8.
  4. Dunn, Ross (9 September 2019). "Kilmarnock railway viaduct's £213,000 lights upgrade to get underway". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  5. "Kilmarnock News". dailyrecord. 10 July 2023.
  6. Cameron, Lucinda (7 February 2021). "Kilmarnock incidents: Fundraiser for mother and daughter killed in Kilmarnock raises over £14,000". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.


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