The viaduct was opened on 16 November 1863 to carry the Berwickshire Railway, which connected Reston with St Boswells, via Duns and Greenlaw.

[1][3] Freight trains continued to run across the viaduct as far as Greenlaw until 19 July 1965.

[2] The arches, each of 43 feet (13 m) span, are of brickwork, and the abutments, piers and walls are of rustic-faced red sandstone.

Some later strengthening of the abutments and piers with old rails and buttresses on the southern valley side is very obvious.

[2] To the east of the viaduct, the River Leader flows into the Tweed from the north.