Aln Valley’s viaduct appeal's flying start

THE ALN Valley Railway raised £70,000 in two weeks to repair the seven-arch Cawledge Viaduct, the most significant structure on its route into Alnmouth. The £100,000 appeal will enable stage one of the repairs to Cawledge Viaduct to start towards the end of 2021. Although track has been relaid, with a test train run in April 2019, and ballasting then completed, it has now been discovered that the waterproof membrane has failed and the drains are blocked. The viaduct – thought to be the country’s oldest – also carries a 10in gas main. This means the track and sub-base will have to be removed and it is hoped this work will be completed by 2022. After that, rope-access contractors will repair the damaged brick and stonework.