Leaderfoot Viaduct

Today's the day  . . . . . . . . .  to cross the river

This magnificent structure near Melrose was built between 1862-65 for the Berwickshire Railway to carry the line over the River Tweed.

Built from red sandstone and brick, the Viaduct is over 900ft long  and supports the single track bed on 18 tall slender stone piers.  The semi circular arches each span 43ft - and at the highest point, the Viaduct is 126ft above the river. 

Freight and passenger services operated on the line until severe storms in August 1948 caused damage and severed the route between Greenlaw and Duns. Passenger trains over the Viaduct never restarted and eventually the line closed even for freight in 1965 . . . . .