Corn Field Viaduct by Pete Costick
Storm brewing over viaduct
Balcombe Viaduct, (also known as the Ouse Valley Viaduct), Sussex, England.
An extremely elegant railway viaduct that still carries the main London to Brighton main line over the River Ouse.
It runs straight and is 1,475ft long with 37 spans, at its highest point, the bridge is 96ft above the river.
Completed in 1841, when the railway was opened in Haywards Heath, it is a towering testament to the skill of early Victorian engineers.
Designed by engineer John Urpeth Rastrick in association with architect David Mocatta for the London & Brighton Railway.
Restored 1996-99, it is now a grade II listed building.
Constructed using 11 million bricks, which were brought from Holland to Newhaven then up the Ouse, which was then navigable, by barge.
The viaduct’s arches are semi-circular and constructed in red brick. Each spans 37ft. The piers are tapered both side and end-on and divided in two by 10ft wide weight-saving voids, which are capped by six-ring brick arches. Thus the whole has a slender appearance.
The parapets of Caen stone and take the form of classical balustrading. This stone is also used for string courses, pier caps and the two small italianate pavilions set at each end of the bridge.
Caen stone or Pierre de Caen, is a light creamy-yellow Jurassic limestone quarried in northwestern France near the city of Caen and was used extensively in England. Perhaps the most famous buildings in Caen stone are Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Canterbury cathedral
Comments
great shot Pete – love the perspective
Thanks Susan, much appreciated
– Pete Costick
Lovely moody shot
j
Many thanks Jesika
– Pete Costick
I love the light and mood of this. Is this the Balcombe Viaduct? I used to get the train up to London every day over this!! :)
Hi, you are correct, this is Balcombe Viaduct. It’s quite local for me and I’d stopped there one evening, just as a thunder storm was approching in the distance.
– Pete Costick
Lovelly shot Pete, love the contrast between the crops and the sky.
Thanks Mark
– Pete Costick
Very nice shot Pete, That new Nikon looking good…
Cheers Mark, yes this is new material on my latest Nikon
– Pete Costick
first of all, what an extraordinary perspective!! I can’t imagine (being in the US) looking up from a cornfield and finding such an amazing structure!!!! A viaduct!! Still in use? And how fabulously beautiful it is!!!! And the clouds just top it all off!!! What an incredibly unusual mood you’ve created here!!! I see by the note above mine that you’re talking about a new Nikon … may I ask what you’ve gotten thanks!!!
Hi Lois, yes, the viaduct is a very impressive example of Victorian engineering. I’ve added some history and technical info above, so if you go and take a second look you’ll learn more about it. I was surprised to find corn growing below the viaduct myself as, last time I was there, it was just a field of grass. It still carries the London to Brighton main line trains.
This photo was taken using a tripod one evening as a thunder storm approached in the distance, rumbling around me, with the odd big drop of rain warning of the oncoming downpour, hence the dark clouds. Regarding my Nikon camera – my current avatar shows my trusty 25 year old Nikon FE2 film camera, but I have recently indulged myself in a D300 which, still having the same Nikon F mount system, allows me to use my 25 year old 24mm, 50mm, 55mm Micro & 105mm Micro manual AIs lenses. What camera and kit are you using Lois? Best regards, Pete.
– Pete Costick
This reminds me of Roman viaducts. Very beautiful.This goes immediately into my cherished collection of favorites. I hope that you enjoy viewing my gallery as much as I enjoyed viewing yours. Wonderful work.
Thank you for your kind words and for favouriting. I did enjoy viewing your gallery, liked the dogs in particular.
– Pete Costick
Great shot, nice composition, foreground is intersting too, enjoyed the extra info…
Thanks Jason, appreciate your comments. Extra info became a bit lengthy I’m afraid, but some may find of interest.
– Pete Costick
nice work Pete, excellent composition
Many thanks for your comments Anthony, much appreciated.
– Pete Costick
Very nice!
Thank you so much for your kind words Rita
– Pete Costick