Opened on 1st November 1876, the 14-mile Wye Valley Railway crossed the river three times - at Monmouth, Tintern and at Penallt / Redbrook. The latter involved a single-track curved structure of five girder spans, perched on four pairs of cast iron columns. The Penallt Viaduct carried the line for around 300 feet over the England/Wales border between Redbrook Station (Gloucestershire) - noted for its floral displays - and Penallt Halt (Monmouthshire) which opened in 1931 to serve the nearby Penallt village. The Boat Inn sits in the viaduct's shadow.
In 1955, a footbridge was added on the west side, of the viaduct offering pedestrians a safe alternative to crossing the river rather than walking along the railway. Four years later, passenger services came to an end and on January 6th, 1964 freight services ceased on the Wye Valley line north of Tidenham.
The bridge is in need of significant repairs and has been the subject of a recent, but unsuccessful bid for National Lottery Funding.
The footpath passes under the abandoned railway by an underpass.
View of the railway decking remains
View from the Monmouthshire bank at Penallt
View towards the Gloucestershire side of the river. Penallt Halt was located towards the top right of the photograph.
The Boat Inn - the bridge provides the only direct access across the English / Welsh border between Redbrook Village and the Boat Inn at Penallt - otherwise there is a long drive around!
remains of the railway decking
An ominous crack in the top of a cast iron pier.
View under the viaduct - Wolfman Jack must have been a bit of an acrobat to apply that graffitti!
Some Great Western Railway "spear" fencing pokes through the undergrowth on the Gloucestershire abutment.
For a full selection of views of Penallt Viaducts click here: http://www.jhluxton.com/Railways-an...elics/Wye-Valley-Railway-GWR/Penallt-Viaduct/
For other features of the Wye Valley Railway: Click here: http://www.jhluxton.com/Railways-and-Tramways/Railway-Remains-and-Relics/Wye-Valley-Railway-GWR
John
In 1955, a footbridge was added on the west side, of the viaduct offering pedestrians a safe alternative to crossing the river rather than walking along the railway. Four years later, passenger services came to an end and on January 6th, 1964 freight services ceased on the Wye Valley line north of Tidenham.
The bridge is in need of significant repairs and has been the subject of a recent, but unsuccessful bid for National Lottery Funding.
The footpath passes under the abandoned railway by an underpass.
View of the railway decking remains
View from the Monmouthshire bank at Penallt
View towards the Gloucestershire side of the river. Penallt Halt was located towards the top right of the photograph.
The Boat Inn - the bridge provides the only direct access across the English / Welsh border between Redbrook Village and the Boat Inn at Penallt - otherwise there is a long drive around!
remains of the railway decking
An ominous crack in the top of a cast iron pier.
View under the viaduct - Wolfman Jack must have been a bit of an acrobat to apply that graffitti!
Some Great Western Railway "spear" fencing pokes through the undergrowth on the Gloucestershire abutment.
For a full selection of views of Penallt Viaducts click here: http://www.jhluxton.com/Railways-an...elics/Wye-Valley-Railway-GWR/Penallt-Viaduct/
For other features of the Wye Valley Railway: Click here: http://www.jhluxton.com/Railways-and-Tramways/Railway-Remains-and-Relics/Wye-Valley-Railway-GWR
John
