Waterford and Kilkenny Railway

[1] The aim was to create a series of railways which would connect Waterford, Cork, Dublin and Galway.

Work began in 1846 but the line didn't open until 12 May 1848 due to delays in waiting for other railway companies to finish connecting track.

[2][3] The line reached Seapoint Hill in 1850 and the rest of the track to Waterford was completed in 1853 with the opening of the station at Dunkitt.

[7] The line from Thomastown to Jerpoint Hill, completed in 1850, was the section which needed the viaduct across the river Nore.

Captain William Moorsom was the engineer who designed the structure of lattice woodwork beginning the work in 1846.

Throughout the 1850s there were reports on the safety of the structure and while all agreed it was safe it was still recommended to replace it with an iron viaduct which would need less maintenance.