Inverness, Clachnaharry Railway Swing Bridge A view taken from the east showing the crescent shaped bridge sides of the swing railway bridge sitting in the closed position over the sealock basin. Clac ...

Description Inverness, Clachnaharry Railway Swing Bridge A view taken from the east showing the crescent shaped bridge sides of the swing railway bridge sitting in the closed position over the sealock basin. Clachnaharry signal box is clearly visible to the left.

Date 30/3/1999

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number D 64057 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 804826

Scope and Content Clachnaharry Railway Swing Bridge, Caledonian Canal, Inverness, Highland, from east This shows the swing bridge which was built in 1909 for the Highland Railway. The picket fence (foreground) is continued on the other side of the channel near the timber-clad signal box (far left) which warns trains when the bridge is open to canal traffic. Part of the timber structure which supports the bridge when it has been moved into an open position is visible adjacent to the centre of the span. Originally, a movable bridge which was built in 1862 for the Inverness & Ross-shire Railway, spanned the canal at this point. This replacement bridge is probably stronger but similar in style to the original bridge which was constructed of wrought iron. Ensuring that the canal was not blocked was the most important factor for the engineers when designing these bridges. The Caledonian Canal was designed by Thomas Telford (1757-1834) and built between 1803 and 1822 at a cost of £840,000. It was the first example of a transport network funded by the government in Great Britain. The 96.5km-long canal provides a route for boats travelling between the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean as it runs from the Beauly Firth at Clachnaharry, Inverness, to Loch Linnhe at Corpach. Only 35.4km of this length is man-made while the other 61km runs through four lochs: Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Unfortunately, at 4.2m deep, the canal was too small for most sea-going ships which led to it being altered and deepened between 1844 and 1847. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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