Yesterday we began our walk by crossing the mightily impressive Wetheral Viaduct (officially called Corby Bridge) which crosses the River Eden and is 100 feet tall. It was built between 1830 and 1834 to carry the Carlisle to Newcastle railway and has five arches.
Built for the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company, it still carries the double-track Tyne Valley Line over the River Eden and includes a cast iron footpath connecting Wetheral with Great Corby. This was added to the north face in 1851, because so many people were trespassing on the trackbed, in order to cross. Initially, a half-penny toll, each way, was charged, having risen to a penny by the time the station closed in 1956 (train services resumed in 1981). Pedestrian passage is now free.
Sadly it has also seen a number of suicides.
After our walk along the river bank we returned the same way and crossing the bridge at Wetheral Station we saw a bride and groom were having some official photographs taken there. I quickly took some pictures and actually got into a conversation with the groom Luke. He shouted across his contact details and asked I send him any pictures which I have done.
Walking back along the footpath a goods train whizzed past.
