Shot of the Day
After lunch I went with Tootlepedal to Rowanburn with the intention of walking down the old railway to the viaduct at Rowanburn Foot. Lang Sandy was there to greet us when we arrived looking suspiciously like the William Wallace statue we saw recently. Lang Sandy is also an old Scots name for the Grey Heron.
These rowan berries are a lovely contrast against the green foliage
One of the few railway huts that have survived.
A good supply of logs for woodburners
We passed through the gate......
........and continued down the track.
When I stopped to take this photo of the butterfly I didn't notice the bee until I down loaded the photos
We soon arrived at the viaduct to find a strong security fence to prevent the public from crossing but someone had made a hole large enough to get through but we heeded the warning and decided we'd get better photos from the riverside.
We found this to be a wonderful piece of Victorian engineering. The viaduct was built on a curve and the angles of the stonework looked almost impossible. All this was done without the aid of computer design.
The holes in the stonework would enable some kind of apparatus to grip them and be hoisted into position.
Satisfied we scrambled back up the banking and made our way back to the car and home to Wauchope Cottage for tea and biscuits. I intened to return to Canonbie after tea to try and get a Canonbie view for the show on Saturday but it got too gloomy for picture taking.
That one at the bottom is making me feel seasick. Nifty pictures though.
ReplyDeleteLooking up at the supports made me feel dizzy.
DeleteI wonder if those are pinkish lichens on the viaduct supports. It's an amazing thing. I wish I could study how it was made.
ReplyDeleteNice set of photos Sandy. Rowanburn Foot viaduct is so very much like the 'Big Water of Fleet' viaduct only the river Liddel is much wider and deeper underneath.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be a common design in viaducts Jim.
DeleteThe old railway hut brings back many memories for me as I explained on Tootlepedals blog.
ReplyDeleteI've just spoken to George Laidlaw and he can remember it as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. Thank you for suggesting the walk.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure
DeleteYour photos of this magnificent bridge, like Tootlepedal's, are wonderful. I especially like your shot of the day. Both your blogs mention the holes in the stones to help lift them into place: how heavy are the stones? They don't look all that large, but things are often not what they seem!
ReplyDeleteThe stones are too large for physical handling so some sort of hoisting apparatus would be needed.
DeleteI love that viaduct! I wonder if the pinkish color is from lichens.
ReplyDeleteThe bridge is made from red sandstone giving it a pinkish appearance.
ReplyDeleteSorry-I wasn't hounding you for an answer-I couldn't see my first comment when I left the second and of course forgot I had. That's interesting sandstone!
DeleteIt would be interesting to know where it was quarried as there is no red sandstone quarries locally.
ReplyDelete