Ouse Valley Viaduct, Railway viaduct in Mid Sussex, England
The Ouse Valley Viaduct is a railway bridge in Mid Sussex, England, made of thirty-seven brick arches that cross the River Ouse valley. The structure stretches 450 meters (1,476 feet) and rises 29 meters (95 feet) above the valley floor, with each arch built from red brick.
The London railway company built the viaduct between 1839 and 1841 as part of the line connecting London and Brighton. Engineers John Urpeth Rastrick and David Mocatta designed the bridge, which allowed trains to cross the valley.
The Grade II* listed structure represents Victorian engineering excellence through its symmetrical arches, decorative balustrades, and traditional red brick construction methods.
Trains between London and Brighton cross the viaduct daily, and visitors can view it from paths in the valley below. The best views come from the fields around Balcombe, where the entire length is visible.
The piers contain hollow chambers with vertical slots that reduce weight while keeping the structure stable. This design allowed builders to use fewer bricks without losing strength.
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