John Goss
r a i lway h e r i tag e t ru s t
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Balcombe Viaduct, over the Ouse Valley, is the finest in Southern England and one of the most elegant in Britain. Opened by the London & Brighton Railway in 1841, it was built to the design of the line’s engineer, John Urpeth Rastrick. The detailing of the Caen stone cornice, balustrading and Italianate pavilions (four at each end) (see also page 2) was contributed by the architect, David Mocatta. Construction materials were supplied by barge up the River Ouse, although today it is little more than a stream. Repaired by Railtrack in a rolling programme over four years to 1999, the specialist contractor took great care in sourcing replacement stone. The illustration showing scaffolding while the work was in progress demonstrates the magnitude of the restoration work.