The Solway Junction Railway

The Solway Junction Railway Synopsis

The first edition of this book was published in 1990 and has not been available for many years. This second edition has been reformatted and includes new photos. Designed as a short cut across the Solway to link the Cumbrian coalfields with Scotland the principal feature of the Solway Junction Railway was the Solway Viaduct. The line opened in 1869 to freight and then in 1870 to passengers. Within a few years the problems of gales and frost became apparent with the viaduct severely damaged by icebergs coming down the estuary when the great freeze of 1880/81 began to thaw. Although needing repairs in 1914 the viaduct was saved by its usefulness during the war, but in 1921 it became evident it needed major repairs and was closed to traffic.