Ingleton Viaduct

Ingleton Viaduct is a disused Victorian railway viaduct crossing the valley of the River Greta beside the village of Ingleton in North Yorkshire, England. Eleven stone arches, roughly 240 metres of length and a height of about 24 metres make it a landmark you notice from a distance, even though no trains have run across it for decades. Today it is a scenic sight for walkers and a favourite for anyone curious about railway history.

What kind of structure is it?

The viaduct belonged to the Ingleton branch line, which linked the networks of two rival companies. It has eleven arches, each about 17 metres (57 feet) wide, and runs for around 240 metres (800 feet), carrying the track high over the Greta valley. It is a Grade II listed structure.

How was it built?

The North Western Railway laid the foundations in 1849 as part of a planned route from Skipton to Tebay. That company ran into financial trouble and never finished the job. The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway took over and built the viaduct from late 1858 until May 1860, working to designs associated with engineers Joseph Locke and John Errington. The line opened to passengers on 16 September 1861.

Two stations, one village

The viaduct connected two separate stations in Ingleton, each built by a competing railway. The Midland station briefly opened in 1849 and closed again in 1850, then reopened in 1861. It marked the frontier between the Midland Railway to the south and the London and North Western Railway to the north, and trains from each company terminated there. Through running only began after the two companies merged in 1923. The station closed in 1954, and the village community centre now stands on the site.

What to see and how to plan a visit

• View the viaduct from the floor of the Greta valley to take in the full scale of the arches.
• Ingleton sits close to the Yorkshire Dales, so a visit pairs easily with a walk in the surrounding countryside.
• The structure is disused and part of the landscape rather than a ticketed attraction with opening hours.
• Bring a camera: the arches against the green valley photograph well, especially in morning or evening light.

Frequently asked questions

Do trains still cross the viaduct? No. The Ingleton line is closed, and the Midland station shut in 1954.

How many arches does it have, and how long is it? Eleven arches and about 240 metres in length.

When was it built? Foundations were laid in 1849, with the main construction between 1858 and 1860. The line opened in 1861.

Is it protected? Yes, it is a Grade II listed structure.

Why did Ingleton have two stations? Competing railway companies built one each, and trains from both terminated at their own station until the companies merged in 1923.

Is there an admission fee? The viaduct is a disused structure in the village landscape, not a ticketed attraction, so there is no charge to look at it.

Ingleton Viaduct is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Victorian engineering and British railway history: a big stone structure that outlasted the rivalry of the companies that needed it. A quiet stroll in its shadow makes it easy to picture a time when two stations in one village served two entirely separate railway networks.