CYCLISTS heading under one of the 49 arches of the magnificent railway viaduct at Whalley, probably blissfully unaware that they were getting a close-up view of a wooden of Victorian engineering.
It total, a staggering seven million bricks were used to build the 605 metre-long viaduct which was commissioned by the Blackburn and Bolton Railway Company.
Chief engineer Terrence Wolfe Flanagan and his team of builders and labourers began work in 1846 and work was completed four years later.
To mark the occasion a 15 coach train was provided to convey the 340-strong workforce across the viaduct which, given its footings were on marshy ground, was a masterpiece of construction.
So many people wanted to enjoy a ‘ride in the sky’ that day, 12 constables armed with truncheons were employed at Whalley Station.
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