Almond Valley Viaduct Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Lorgadh: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.

Lorgadh

Volunteer UK Reviewer - geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Information https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/United+Kingdom
Geocaching.com Knowledge Books http://support.groundspeak.com//index.php

More
Hidden : 12/15/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

A road side cache placed to give a good view of the Almond Valley Viaduct. You should be able to safely park within a few meters of the cache.

The 18th February 1942 marked the opening of the first railway line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. One of the most prominent features of the project was the Almond Valley viaduct.

The designers of the earliest railway thought that locomotives could only haul trains on the level, so the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway is built very level except for an incline that they worked by ropes at the Glasgow end.

The 'arches' as it is known locally, employed a number of people from the surrounding area to build the huge structure. The viaducts construction commenced in 1838 and was completed in 1842, when proud locals watched the first train pass over it. It was to become Broxburns best known landmark.

In designing a railway, the engineers try to ensure that the muck that they excavate from cuttings is the same quantity that they need to build an embankment across a valley. At the Almond Valley, there was not enough muck, despite the long cuttings around Winchburgh to the west so viaducts had to be built. A short viaduct of 7 arches crosses the main road at Broxburn, then a short piece of embankment but the rests had to be viaduct.

Made up of 36 arches, each 50ft in length by 70ft in height. The monumental structure spanned across a half mile of valley and the tumbling stream of the Almond.

In order to allow train speeds to increase, there was the need to strap the piers so that there was no risk of them splitting under the centrifugal force produced by the trains. You can see this by looking at the horizontal bands on the piers, which were constructed by using old rails. One all the rails were installed, it was possible to increase the speed for all trains in 1988 to 80mph.

The arches contain about over 1'105'000 cubit feet of solid masonry. Gibb and Son of Aberdeen, the well known bridge builders, erected the viaduct at a cost of £130'000, a fraction of what it would cost nowadays.

(The above text is a transcript from an excellent college documentary by Kyle McGivern and used with his permission. You can view the YouTube video at (visit link)

---------

If you'd like to take a closer look at the viaduct, there is an access road to the South of the cache location. You'll notice there is a '24 Hour Security' sign on the gate, however this has been left behind by the engineering company that recently carried out work on the viaduct.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng onfr bs gerr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us

Inventory

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?