Carnon viaduct

The Carnon viaduct is a railway bridge with nine stone arches that spans the river valley in Cornwall. The structure rises approximately 100 feet (30 meters) above the landscape and carries trains on the line connecting two towns.

The original structure was designed in the 1860s as a timber bridge and later replaced with a stone version in the early 1900s. This upgrade became necessary as the wooden framework deteriorated over time.

The structure represents how railways transformed Cornwall and connected communities that were previously isolated. Passengers traveling on modern trains still experience the same crossing that linked the region together.

The viaduct carries regular train service on an active railway line in Cornwall. The best way to experience it is either by traveling on the trains that cross it or by viewing it from ground level in the valley below.

The foundations were built using innovative engineering methods, with metal caissons sunk deep into muddy ground to reach solid bedrock. This advanced technique was uncommon at the time and solved a major construction challenge.