Newton Cap Viaduct now carries the main A689 and is not visible from the road or its approaches. There are 11 arches of 60 feet in span, giving a length of 276 yards. Rising 105 feet above the river bed.

Construction started in 1854 with the first freight crossing in 1856.
The line closed in 1968 and became a footpath until the road was diverted onto the viaduct as recently as 1993-95. The Bondgate tunnel also lies buried at the Bishop Auckland end, blocked in 1977.

The station at Beck Hole closed in 1914, but this sign still remains.

I strongly suspect its not been left standing alone for 100 years without getting the attention of a scrap man or railway collector. I would guess it was erected as part of the Moors Railway / Rail Trail.

Following on from yesterdays post, the remains of a second bridge on the same line.

The one crosses back over the Murk Esk again, near Murk Side

The original line between Grosmont and Beck Hole was opened in 1836 by the Whitby and Pickering Railway and was horse drawn. Steam came in 1845 when it was absorbed into the York and North Midland Railway.

The original line was closed in 1865 when a deviation was made to avoid the rope hauled incline at Beck Hole, although parts were later reused for summer services to Beck Hole and for goods.

Although the parapets are stone, the timbers in the river suggest the bridge itself was wooden.

The bridge to carry the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway over the valley at Staithes was originally built in 1875 but didn’t open to traffic until 1883. Extra braces were added in light of the Tay Bridge disaster in 1879.

A bell was installed on the bridge to warn of high winds when trains could not cross.
The viaduct was demolished in 1960 following the closure of the line, the northern abutment can still be seen.