How do you build a railway viaduct?

HOW DO YOU BUILD A RAILWAY VIADUCT?

The valley where the viaduct is to be built needs to be surveyed to make sure it is suitable for the project.

The foundations are dug.

The foundations are filled with brick and concrete, and need a margin of at least half a brick.

A metal plate called a base plate is put in place, in order to support the weight of the pier.

The pier is then built.

For this, frames are used as the bricks and bricks are put in place.

The stone at the top f the pier is called an impost, these are shaped at an angle to support the arch.

To construct the arches, wooden frames called ‘centering’ are placed on top of the piers.

Stonework is then built around this frame.

The final stone to be placed in the arch is the keystone.

This stone pushes against the others and holds the whole structure together.

The centering is discarded, the railway tracks are laid and the viaduct is complete!

JANATH MEHMOOD & MEGAN FORREST