Landore Viaduct

The valley crossing provides a panoramic view of Landore, Kilvey Hill, the Liberty Stadium and the Swansea Enterprise Park.

[1] Headed by the noted civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the line initially opened during 1850 through to the city of Swansea, although construction activity continued on other sections for decades more.

Following the surveying of the local landscape, it was decided that the optimum site was located around 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) north of the river mouth in Swansea Bay.

[1] The superstructure of the viaduct was mainly composed of timber, which is believed to have been Canadian pitch pine, augmented with wrought iron fixtures and pinnings.

The steelwork for the structure was produced by Chepstow-based manufacturer Edward D. Finch & Co., and the wrought iron elements were made locally by Palmer of Neath.

[1] Prior to the commencement of construction, a relatively expensive land acquisition phase had to be conducted; there were a large number of buildings that fell directly in the path of the viaduct.

[2] Further difficulties were presented by the ground itself; due to the presence of earlier mining activities, the soil's stability had been negatively affected in some areas.

[1] Between 1978 and 1979, the nationalised railway operator British Rail undertook another series of modifications, including the replacement of the wrought iron deck girders with new steel beams.

[1] As a result of multiple alterations to the structure, all that survives of Brunel's viaduct are the five original masonry piers located to the west of the Tawe.

In addition, several stumps of the timber piers can be found the river bed while some sections of hidden timberwork remain but had been entombed by the 19th century extension of the viaduct's eastern embankment.