Here are a some nice photos of Balcombe Ouze Valley viaduct ...
Somewhere I have figures for how many bricks, man-years it all was in the making.
Let me see ...
- 11 million Dutch bricks.
- 96 ft high.
- 1475 ft long.
- Grade 2 listed building.
- Designers John Urpeth Rastrick & David Mocatta.
- £38500 to build.
- Built 1841.... opened in 1842 .... still carries over 100 trains / day.........fantastic achievement..... beautiful!
Surely worth a visit, if not a whole day out!
Oh you didn't dance?
No-one asked!
Perhaps next time -eh! :-)
3 comments:
That's a lot of bricks.
Quite remarkable, Berry.
Have you counted them all?
Is that height recorded from mean sea-level?
Thanks for the contribution.
Matter of fact I did do a probability guesstimate on the bricks and it came up wanting. In discussion with those who know I was advised that many of the bricks were in fact broken and several deliveries were not of sufficient quality. Although adjustments to the sums paid were made, the useless bricks were used in the foundations and became a part of the structure. Taking this into account renders a new perspective. In fact there is just a single brick discrepancy. Yes and I think I know why and where that is. A man called Pauline inscribed a brick in 1944 with his German surname and this was removed on account of hostilities but never actually replaced. This is the reason I never ever travel on that section of the line. It's just not safe!
This section has laid wasted in the byways of our passage. Not that passage Ken!
Any intention to revive the feverish delight with which we once played so merrily is suffering from the incrustations of time. Our numbers are dwindling and not always of own own choice.
The sadness of which we often sang is engulfing us now in a very personal way that is having a very profound effect. We are truly saddened and humbled by our losses this last 12 months. May you each rest in peace and breathe your brilliance into our midst. It was our privilege to have kept your company and witnessed your talent. You gave us pleasure unsurmounted and your like will not cross our paths again. You will be sorely missed but not forgotten. Thank you so very much.
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