Gaunless Viaduct

[1][2] Bouch designed the viaduct in 1862 and it was built as four lattice truss spans supported on diagonally staggered, paired circular brick piers.

In 1899 work began to lay this second line, but it was found that the ironwork of the trusses was so badly decayed that they needed to be replaced.

[2] Several photographs exist showing the bridge at this time, still operating but with the spans supported by substantial timber shoring beneath them.

Low Butterknowle pit closed in 1956, Gordon House Colliery in 1961 and Cockfield Drift in 1962.

[2] After gradual closure of the intervening stations in the late 1950s, both passenger and goods services between Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle, across the viaduct, were withdrawn in June 1962.