Ribblehead Viaduct model railway layout

Ribblehead Viaduct model railway layout

We are lucky to have been charged with making signs for customer layouts over the years.

Utilising computer-aided design,  it’s a joy to help realise the dreams of the enthusiasts to buy from us. One such particular layout Is the Ribblehead Viaduct. This incredible piece of British Heritage is not just important to model railway enthusiasts but is an integral part of local history. Let’s explore why features such as this have been immortalised in a customer's layout.

Victorian rail expansion

During the Victorian period, Britain saw huge innovation and industrialisation. The expansion of our railway networks formed a massive part of this and the so-called “Railway Mania” of the 1840s saw the start of billions being invested in railways. The increase to the rail networks enabled parts of the British Isles to be connected allowing for greater travel, spread of ideas and movement of goods for trade. This meant engineers were in demand for their ability to conceive ways that different terrains across the British isles could be accessed; the viaduct was one of those solutions. 

What is a viaduct?

Viaduct is a bridge that was conceived to connect to points of equal elevation which allow railways direct overpass cross wind valleys, rivers or other low-lying terrain features and obstacles. What sets it apart from being a bridge is that it is generally a much bigger structure than a standard bridge. It tends to be typified by its columns and archways that cut a distinctive thrust through the British countryside.

Ribble viaduct and the Settle and Carlisle line

In the late 1860s Midland Railway started work on the Settle to Carlisle line under the stewardship of John Sidney Crossley. The 72 mile long line had to cross through extremely difficult terrain. It was an extremely challenging build spanning a couple of years and many people sadly lost their lives during its construction. The viaduct has 24 arches each spanning 45 feet or 13.7 metres. The viaduct itself is 400m at 104 meters above the valley floor at its highest point. During the spring of 2021 network rail completed some much-needed restoration to the viaduct which is a Grade II listed structure. Is it any wonder that such a treasured piece of national heritage has become a feature of enthusiasts' layout?

Ribble Viaduct model railway layout

For those of us who are involved with model railways, we know only too well the amount of work that goes into the layout such as Ribble viaduct. To ensure the scale is correct takes patience, measurements and a lot of maths. Trackside Signs were proud to provide beautifully recreated signs for the station in the pub on this layout. As with all our valued customers, it was wonderful to be a part of the realisation of Allen’s vision.