Glenfinnan Viaduct

During a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the weather was cold and wet, although it created a gloomy almost mysterious shroud over the valley. The viaduct becomes a great leading line. This composition technique allowing an easy path for the eye to follow through the photo.

Part of the West Highlands line, the Glenfinnan Viaduct carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across a 1000 ft span, 100 ft above the ground. The West Highland Railway was built by Lucas and Aird. Construction of the extension from Fort William to Mallaig was built from 1897 to 1901. However, the viaduct was complete enough by 1898 to be used to transport materials across the valley.

A long established legend of the viaduct during construction was that a horse had fallen into the one of the piers during construction. However, evidence was not subsequently found in a scan in 1987. The same technology in 2001 used to scan the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct, the remains of a horse and cart were found within the large central pylon.