Doe Lea Viaduct

Doe Lea Viaduct is a former railway viaduct near Carr Vale, Bolsover, Derbyshire, England.

Doe Lea Viaduct
Coordinates53°13′37″N 1°18′35″W
CarriesEx-Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
CrossesMidland Railway's Doe Lea Branch
LocaleCarr Vale, Derbyshire
Official nameBolsover Viaduct
Characteristics
Design8 brick arches[1]
Total length370 feet (110 m)
WidthTwin Standard Gauge Rail
Height70 feet (21 m)
History
OpenedFebruary 1897
ClosedDecember 1951

Location

The viaduct was originally, formally known as Bolsover Viaduct[2] and is often referred to as Carr Vale Viaduct. It was a substantial, double track structure carrying the LD&ECR's Chesterfield Market Place to Lincoln Central main line over the Midland Railway's Pleasley to Staveley Doe Lea Branch a short distance south of the latter's Bolsover Castle station.[3] The River Doe Lea passed through a culvert under the viaduct's western approach embankment.

The structure was also situated near Bolsover's "Model Village" at the bottom of Bolsover Hill.[4]

History

The viaduct, which consisted of eight[5][6] brick arches,[7] was opened to goods traffic in February 1897,[8] with passenger traffic following from 8 March.[9]

The section between Chesterfield and Langwith Junction (by then renamed Shirebrook North), was closed to passenger traffic by British Railways in December 1951, due to the unsafe condition of Bolsover Tunnel[10] and concerns over the safety of Doe Lea Viaduct, both of which were affected by colliery subsidence. Bolsover South and Scarcliffe were closed completely. Track lifting from Markham Junction, over the viaduct and on to Shirebrook North commenced immediately.

The viaduct itself was demolished on 24 August 1952 by the army using explosives.[11][12] This was filmed and the film later used in a commercial war film, becoming a bridge in war torn France.[13]

The viaduct was approached by substantial embankments from both ends. That from the eastern end was removed some years ago, but that from the western, Chesterfield, end is readily accessible as part of the Peter Fidler Reserve[14] and can be walked westwards for about 300 yards from the reserve's Point 11.

Modern access

The Doe Lea Branch is now the "Stockley Trail"[15] public bridleway from near Glapwell to near the location of Bolsover Castle Station. Anyone walking from the A632 end to Carr Vale Flash[16] nature reserve or beyond would walk under the viaduct, had it still been in existence.

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References

Notes
  1. Doe Lea Viaduct via PictureThePast
  2. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 46.
  3. Howard Anderson 1973, pp. 157,162.
  4. Booth 2013, p. 20.
  5. Ludlam 2013, p. 141.
  6. DVD 2005, 31-32 minutes from the start, stills.
  7. Haigh 1994, p. 106.
  8. Ludlam 2013, p. 139.
  9. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 16.
  10. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 39.
  11. Goode 1983, p. 18.
  12. Photos and articles about the viaduct Old Miner
  13. Haigh 1985, p. 38.
  14. Peter Fidler Reserve, Carr Vale: via derbyshirewildlifetrust
  15. Doe Lea Branch via Derbyshire: Stockley Trail
  16. Carr Vale Flash via derbyshirewildlifetrust

Sources
  • Booth, Chris (2013). The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway A pictorial view of the "Dukeries Route" and branches. Blurb. ISBN 978-1-78155-660-3. 06715029.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Cupit, Jack; Taylor, W. (1984) [1966]. The Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway. Oakwood Library of Railway History (2nd ed.). Headington: Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-302-2. OL19.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • DVD (2005). The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway - Memories of a Lost Route. Chesterfield: Terminus Publications. DVD, stills with commentary, 60 mins.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Goode, C.T. (1983). Railway Rambles on the Notts. & Derbyshire Border. Kingston upon Hull: C. T. Goode. ISBN 978-0-9508239-2-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Haigh, Bernard (1985). Bolsover Remembered. Bernard Haigh. OCLC 504569461.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Haigh, Bernard (1994). The Old Photographs Series: Around Bolsover. Chalford: Chalford Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7524-0021-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Howard Anderson, P. (1973). Forgotten Railways: The East Midlands. Newton Abbott: David and Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-6094-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ludlam, A.J. (March 2013). Kennedy, Rex (ed.). "The Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway". Steam Days. Bournemouth: Redgauntlet 1993 Publications. 283. ISSN 0269-0020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further Material
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