Hello Chums

The Spey Viaduct, between Spey Bay and Garmouth on the former GNoSR coast line to Elgin, is an impressive structure. Unfortunately, it has suffered a partial collapse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m87jlv97ro


With all best wishes.

John

That looks like river scour damage to the supporting pier(s) to me.

"Moray Council, which manages the trail, said the bridge would remain closed until further notice". Oh really! Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Tim

I saw that. As a former civil/structural engineer I am always dubious whether the local authorities who own these structures have the staff or knowledge to properly maintain them. Scour from the river undermining their foundations or corrosion of the beams or bearings are likely causes, all of which could have been identified from proper surveys. Shame, that's a cycle path out of action now, probably for some time.

Dave

Massive shame. I used to cycle across it fairly regularly. I'd be very surprised if it was repaired unfortunately.

Quote from: Moonglum on December 14, 2025, 05:47:29 PMThat looks like river scour damage to the supporting pier(s) to me.

Agreed - as well as the leaning pier that the BBC mentions that pier's partner, the one that would had more water flow against its base, appears to have tipped over completely.

This bridge is noted for its amazing 350 foot clear span, which while not record-breaking, was nevertheless a notable achievement for a clear-span truss at this period in history. The impressive appearance of this bridge is enhanced by its heavy truss members, which are contrasted by the graceful curve of the bowstring design.

In UK/European vernacular, the approach spans for this bridge are often referred to as lattice girders, although it does not feature a dense lattice web like that found on a traditional lattice girder like the Koblenz Bridge. In American vernacular, these approach spans would be classified as a Howe pony truss. They would be considered a Howe rather than a Double-Intersection Warren because the diagonal members pointing to the top and center of the spans are the heavier members (two pairs of angle with lattice), with counter members being two simple plates/bars.

This bridge has today been converted for pedestrian use. The bridge is an impressive structure that is worth the walk to.
Official Heritage Listing Information and Findings

Listed At: Category B

Discussion:

Historic Environment Scotland Number: LB14873

Canmore ID: 16961

Site Number: NJ36SW 20

Description
Blaikie Bros, 1886. Iron girder railway bridge, 350 foot bowed central truss and, on each side, 3 x 100 foot plain truss approach spans carried on circular ashlar piers with granite capitals.

Statement of Special Interest
Built for the Great North of Scotland Railway. Great length of this viaduct caused by wandering nature of River Spey. Bridge now part of Moray District Speyside Walk.

Canmore Notes:

Built by Blaikie Bros, Aberdeen, in 1886 for the Great North of Scotland Railway between Elgin and the Banffshire coast, to a design by Patrick Barnett, this is an awe-inspiring iron structure thrust between river and sky.

Its great length (290m overall) was determined by the Spey's habit of periodically changing channels in the broad level plain near its mouth. The solution was to build a great bowed central truss, 106.6m long and 13m high, with three 30.5m plain truss approach spans on either side, all supported on circular ashlar piers with granite capitals. When completed the bridge was tested with a load of 400 tons of gravel in 20 trucks; the bridge deflected by 29mm.

Now part of the Speyside Way from Spey Bay to Ballindalloch, the walker on the bridge can fully appreciate the confidence of Victorian engineering in erecting this cathedral of grey girders and trusses that arch above the ceaseless, turbid Spey.

This viaduct, built from 1883-86, was constructed to carry the Moray Coast Railway, part of the Great North of Scotland Railway, over the Spey and its floodplain 1 mile south of the coast. The river crossing was initially conceived as three separate bridges spanning the disparate channels, but it was decided to divert the river into a single channel to be crossed on a viaduct with embankment approaches.

The viaduct, 950 ft long, was built to carry a single-track railway. It has an impressive 350 ft long wrought-iron lattice bow girder span over the main channel of the river and three parallel-sided wrought-iron lattice girder approach spans of 100 ft at either end. The lattice members of the main arch, 41 ft deep at mid-span, rise from open box girders at each side of the deck. Cast-iron caissons filled with concrete form the piers of the viaduct. These were sunk to bedrock at depths of 25-35 ft except for the piers at the west end of the central span where it was necessary to sink them to a depth of 75 ft.

The viaduct, erected on a forest of staging, was designed by Blyth and Cunningham and Patrick Barnett, and the contractors for the ironwork of the superstructure were Blaikie Bros., Aberdeen. The contractor for the foundations and masonry was John Fyfe & Co., Kemnay.

At the time of construction, the main channel of the Spey ran to the east of the viaduct, and much of the construction work and work on the concrete spine wall to control the direction of the river was done in the dry. On completion of the bridge the river was diverted beneath the central span.

A huge shame
Such an impressive structure deserves repairs so I'd like to hear of any appeal for funds please

Quote from: Newportnobby on December 14, 2025, 10:22:24 PMA huge shame
Such an impressive structure deserves repairs so I'd like to hear of any appeal for funds please

I have forwarded your offer to Moray Council. You will no doubt hear from them requesting several million pounds in due course......

 

On a more serious note, is the structure listed? Even if it is, I wonder if realistically money would be forthcoming for what would no doubt be a very considerable cost to both repair the failed parts and check/make good the rest of the structure 

I can't help but also reflect that it is only by good fortune that nobody was on the bridge when it gave way and I would be very interested to know when it was last inspected, what kind of inspection/maintenance regime there was supposed to be and if it was actually observed..

Roy

Listed as Category 'B', Roy.

Similar to Grade 2 in England and Wales.

Reply #5 from @GlenEglise contains helpful details regarding the listing.

With all good wishes.

John

Quote from: Roy L S on December 15, 2025, 05:23:42 PMOn a more serious note, is the structure listed?

It is now - oh sorry, listed, not listing 

Quote from: Roy L S on December 15, 2025, 05:23:42 PMOn a more serious note, is the structure listed? Even if it is, I wonder if realistically money would be forthcoming for what would no doubt be a very considerable cost to both repair the failed parts and check/make good the rest of the structure 

It may also not be appropriate. If the structure is in poor condition and deteriorating then it may be better to relocate it to a museum style setting and replace it with something modern. There's not much point putting a decaying old bridge back if it's only going to fall apart anyway at some point in time. Preserving it out of situ might preserve it better at this point.