A bowed 350-foot iron truss and six approach spans carry the former coast railway across the Spey’s shifting channel.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1886
- Architect / designer
- Blaikie Brothers
- Type
- Long iron-girder railway viaduct on ashlar piers
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB14873)
- OS grid reference
- NJ 34590 64184
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The crossing centres on a large bowed truss, flanked on each bank by three shorter plain-truss spans. Circular ashlar piers with granite capitals support the long iron structure and distribute the route across the broad river corridor.
Its story
Blaikie Brothers built the viaduct in 1886 for the Great North of Scotland Railway. Its exceptional length allowed for the Spey’s wandering course; after railway closure, the bridge became part of a recreational route.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises an ambitious transport structure shaped directly by river behaviour and coastal-railway engineering.
What to notice
- The deep bowed central truss.
- Repeated approach spans on both banks.
- Circular stone piers with granite caps.
Reading the surroundings
Use only the recognised path and follow current closures or maintenance signs. Keep clear of exposed edges and never climb the ironwork or piers.
Timeline
- 1886 Blaikie Brothers completed the crossing for the coastal railway.
- Post-railway period The viaduct gained a new role within a walking route.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
No current structural report or definitive path-status notice was independently reviewed.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Speymouth Railway Viaduct, LB14873 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB14873 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NJ 34590 64184 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms record identity and archival context. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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